I had no idea how many people and experiences Bella would bring to my life. After seeing the monarchs near Santa Cruz on Christmas Eve, fellow Airstreamers John & Susan Barrett reached out to let me know of a large (relatively unknown) Monarch Grove near their home south of San Louis Obispo. They were generous to invite me down for a day to explore and see the return of the migration – a symbol of the health of our planet.
The previous year – the first year the pandemic impacted the planet – the monarchs almost didn’t register a presence. They were at such low volumes, the community that tracks their migration wondered if they’d be back. With gratitude (and more than a little joy), John and Susan were happy to share the group that had returned in 2022. I pray for a strong environment so we continue seeing them for generations.