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I was in the shower when a memory popped up out of nowhere. I was in fifth grade. My aunt was driving me to school that morning. We pulled up to an intersection, and she fell asleep at the wheel. I shook her awake. She opened her eyes slowly and said, “I’m sorry, I’m still
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In January of 2021, I started Beth’s Botanicals. I’ve always had a passion for herbal medicine and loved making my own homemade remedies for family and friends. It wasn’t until my sister said, “You should sell your products,” that the seed was planted. That little nudge turned into something much bigger. Soon after, Beth’s Botanicals
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A Turning Point In November of 2020, I escaped to McCall, Idaho—a quaint mountain town surrounded by pine trees and silence. I had just experienced a painful breakup with my first relationship since my divorce, and the pain in my chest felt unbearable. I needed solitude. I needed answers. As I reflected on that relationship,
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The violence continued. While my aunt was in prison (more on that story here), I took care of the two cats she left behind. One of them wasn’t doing well, and eventually, it crossed the rainbow bridge. I was heartbroken, but then my father told me he was going to get me a new kitten.
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My grandfather noticed something was missing from the barn—his antique electric fencer. He asked if I would go down to the trailer and see if my dad had taken it. The short walk from my grandparents’ house to the trailer felt longer than it was. I dreaded every step. I never knew what kind of
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Growing up in Meridian, Idaho, during the 90s, my father was well known by the police department and is instantly recognizable by his thick, dark hair and the biggest permed mullet in town. His signature look included a full beard and a cigarette in hand. He loved laughing at his own jokes and flirted shamelessly
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I was 12 years old, desperate, and living in survival mode. I was living in a trailer on my grandparent’s property with my father, who was addicted to meth and other drugs. He was paranoid, abusive, and couldn’t hold a job. It was one of the scariest times of my life. I longed for connection—especially