She Never Planned to Stay in Alaska... Then This Happened

KELLY (02:16.096) Hey everyone, it's Kelly with Sugar Spice and Spirits. I am coming to you live from Alaska. I am here with my best friend L'Donna, and we've got a really intriguing story, but I have a question first. How many times in your life? Have you had that little oops moment or my gosh, what have I done? And you think it's the biggest mistake of your life, and it turns out to be the most phenomenal opportunity you've ever experienced, that's what we're gonna talk about today. all the way from Alaska. But I'm here with Mindy and Natalie as well. And unfortunately, they're still back in Texas, which we love Texas. If you saw one of our previous episodes, we're very proud of Texas. So if you haven't seen it, go back and look at it because it's pretty funny. L’Donna (02:46.476) Thank you. KELLY (03:11.028) But before we get started, we're gonna start with our sip of the day. So we are three hours difference in our time. So it's a little early here where we are. So L'Donna and I are starting out just with our regular coffee. And you know, we had the occasional little Bailey's thrown in there, just to kind of give us a little kick in our coffee. So it's really good. So L'Donna made the coffee. If it's not Keurig, I don't know anything about it. So but she makes good fresh coffee. L’Donna (03:11.213) Good. KELLY (03:38.4) Natalie and Mindy, what are you guys starting out with? I know it's a little bit later over there, so you may have an excuse. It's not five o'clock yet, but close enough. Somewhere, right. Mindy Price (03:46.716) Listen, it's it's five o'clock somewhere, okay? So in honor of L'Donna, I am doing what I have created called an Alaskan mermaid. You can kind of see the hint of blue tint here, which is Sprite Zero with some Blanco tequila and mermaid skinny syrup, which has kind of a coconutty flavor. And my gosh, ladies, is it delicious? What you got, Nat? L’Donna (03:50.155) Thank KELLY (04:13.117) It sounds good. Natalie Pilkinton (04:15.255) I have a little mermaid too. I low put a little too much blue coraco in here, but hey, let's go. KELLY (04:18.944) Her mer her mermaids got that fan going. so guys, if if so what is so funny about the whole mermaid thing is L'Donna has a group of friends and they call themselves the mermaids. And I I got to meet some of them this week and they're awesome. So cheers to my my three other co-hosts today and and to the mermaids, Lisa and Angie and Sonia and Kathy, and I don't think I'm I didn't get to meet Liz. L’Donna (04:20.628) Yeah. KELLY (04:47.572) But I met the rest of them. So they were really some really cool chicks. We had a good time. So cheers to them. And quick drink real quick. Mm. wow, that's good. So funny we'll we'll start off like this. Funny story is I I knew L'Donna for for several years. I met Mindy through L'Donna, and we've got this great friendship. And then Natalie just got to meet L Laddonna. Mindy Price (04:52.926) Yes. L’Donna (04:53.942) Cheers. KELLY (05:15.402) through the podcast. So it's kind of cool. But L'Donna's from the Texas area, Lake Jackson Angleton, south of Houston, you know, our our Mexico to Natalie's Canada, like we always talk about. But it's a funny story how L'Donna got here. She's a fantastic nurse. And yeah, so she she's she's a transplant from Texas up here to Alaska. So L'Donna, why don't you kind of give us a breakdown of your story? L’Donna (05:27.504) But. KELLY (05:43.45) And how you got to be a resident of Anchorage well, not Anchorage, Alaska, Palmer, Alaska. L’Donna (05:50.186) Pretty close to the same. was just looking for, my kids were all out of the house, I was becoming an empty nester and I was just looking for some type of adventure. I love to travel, so I decided to take on a traveling nurse position and I was going through all the different areas that had a traveling nurse position and I... KELLY (05:52.042) Possibly. L’Donna (06:18.932) clicked the button, thought I was going to Arkansas and I ended up in Alaska. So here I am almost five years later, still in Alaska, now living here and enjoying the beauty of the state. Natalie Pilkinton (06:25.58) I mean KELLY (06:34.908) Well, I I will I will tell you I I I'm sorry, Mindy, I'm I'm here and she's been the best tour guide. Y'all I I told her I said I'm gonna have to pay for your next oil change because we have probably put about three thousand miles on her on her car. But it's been it's been fabulous. So anyway, I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mindy. Go ahead. Mindy Price (06:35.732) So I've Mindy Price (06:53.396) Okay, I'm used to it. All right. So one of the things, L'Donna, I've known you since elementary school. And whenever I heard you were going to Alaska, it was like, what? You're going where? And if you would have asked our friends if we were taking wagers on whether you would stay, we never imagined that. So you make this huge mistake. You're just like, my gosh, what have I done? KELLY (06:55.316) Mm-hmm. KELLY (07:06.964) Mm. Mindy Price (07:22.012) And then you just went and you embraced it. You knew it was not going it didn't have to be anything that was permanent. You could do the whole traveling thing and you ended up staying. I mean, what was it that made you know, my gosh, this is what I want to do? Natalie Pilkinton (07:37.719) Think we're glossing over the mistake. Like that was said so quickly. Like, what what was the mistake? How how did you end up in Alaska again? L’Donna (07:47.496) The mistake was I selected, which I thought was Arkansas, but it was Alaska. So the mistake was the wrong state that I thought I was going to for a short 13-week contract. Natalie Pilkinton (07:55.191) So you're on Natalie Pilkinton (08:00.849) We're going next door. Yeah. So you were on like the nursing website where you pick your next destination or where so you're you're trying new adventures or empty nester, you know, like let's go. This is nothing, nothing big, right? But Mindy said it's out of your character. And so Arkansas's close. You can drive home on the weekend you're or drive home on your days off. But no, you went to Alaska. And then when did you realize you had select Alaska versus Arkansas? Like, was it right after or was it? L’Donna (08:06.842) Mm-hmm. Natalie Pilkinton (08:31.061) A little bit further down when you got some paperwork and emails. KELLY (08:34.324) So I I I well, I'll tell you what's so funny. She was at my house and I I was working from home and she was at my house and she she was very frustrated and and was ready for a change. And so she was sitting there and I was typing and all of a sudden I heard her say, crap. And I said, What's the matter? And I looked, she didn't have her glasses on. She said, I think I chose the wrong one. And I said, What? She goes, I don't think I'm going to Arkansas. And I said, Where are you going? She goes, L’Donna (08:35.014) I'm airw- Go ahead. KELLY (09:03.686) Alaska and I'm like, my God. I said, hit the back button. She said, Too late. I said, Well, you better pack your parka girl because it's gonna be cold. Cause you went in the wintertime. Right, right, but like in November, right? Yeah. Natalie Pilkinton (09:05.93) huh. L’Donna (09:18.117) In November. Yeah, I I finally realized it was Alaska when it popped up with the town was and it said Anchorage and I was like, Natalie Pilkinton (09:31.969) That's not an Arkansas. That's not the Arks. my goodness. L’Donna (09:33.411) That's not in Arkansas. KELLY (09:35.988) But what what's so funny, we're we were driving down the road and I looked up and I said, there's a Houston, Alaska She goes, Yeah, right up the road. So, you know, there could have been an Anchorage, Arkansas. I don't know. L’Donna (09:46.82) I mean, I so, yeah. It's just not the typical thing that you hear. But I haven't always been this adventurous. Mindy can vouch for that. Being in high school, I was always kind of quiet and shy. Of course, I have friends and I did things with people, but I was more of the quiet, shy, always home by 10 o'clock and in bed. Never was like a big party or anything. KELLY (09:49.278) But I I I think L’Donna (10:12.196) to go on these adventures and venture out and just be able to go anywhere by myself and do anything by myself has been so much fun and so much of an eye-opener of being able to broaden your horizons and see the world or see the country and just enjoy life. KELLY (10:33.588) Well, and I I know you say that you're an introvert. And again, I I didn't meet you until we met through our kids, playing softball and everything. So but you even though you and you were, you were quiet, but you weren't standoffish, you were quiet, but you never have a problem at all meeting someone. And so you know, I think that's one thing that is not not unique to to some women. They're you know, you got someone someone they're gonna come in and they're just gonna rule the room. And you've got some that just kind of very quietly and subtly come in, but yet by the time it's over, everyone has gravitated towards them. And I I that's what I think a lot about L'Donna, because she's not afraid to speak. She's done some even though she's a nurse, she's done some marketing and and I think that that has certainly kind of helped. But I think one thing that is really cool is that our generation, the Gen X generation, I like the fact that that you you you took You took the mistake and you embraced it and turned it into a moment of, you know what? I'm just gonna make the best of it and and and look at you now. I mean, you have a fantastic career. And and speaking of careers, we're gonna shift gears a little bit. At some point during this five years, she decided to take a slight break from nursing and you became a flight attendant for a while. So she went to United and she flew to Tahiti and Paris and her kids got to go with her. So you know, I think a lot of us would would live vicariously through you because you've done things where you're like, just screw it. I'm gonna try it. This is awesome. And what great stories you have you have to tell. And and it just I I guess the message is that, you know, don't for everyone out there, if you see a challenge or you see a mistake, don't be afraid to to just grab it and say, Okay, well I gotta make the best out of it. And L’Donna (12:12.833) you. KELLY (12:29.746) And you you can certainly follow L'Donna's lead because she has certainly made the best out of it. So yeah, that's I mean, this is I mean, that's kind of like us in this podcast. We had no idea what we were doing with this podcast. We're like, okay, we'll just hit record and go. Well, there was so much more to it, but we've got followers all over the world: Ireland, Scotland, well, Vietnam, everywhere. And we're like, okay, we're not sure how that happened. But we just took an opportunity, ran with it, and L’Donna (12:31.197) Mm-hmm. KELLY (12:57.768) It's just you know, it's it's been phenomenal, you know, all the way around. So what are y'all what are y'all's thoughts? Mindy Price (13:04.36) Well, I wanna go back to L'Donna where you get to Alaska. You know, your kids are older, you don't have anybody living at home, and you just decided I'm gonna do this. And Kelly, you mentioned Gen X a while ago. We think about our generation and how we grew up and our parents are like, Hey, see ya. Just be home when the lights are out. And we just go. We figured it out. We made up our own fun. We we didn't have cell phones or anything and you just L’Donna (13:26.025) Mm-hmm. KELLY (13:28.703) Okay. Mindy Price (13:30.644) I don't know if that's a generational thing that you were just able to do that or what it was. I'd asked you offline, I was like, what what made it you be able to do that? And you did have a marketing role, kind of like marketing and sales. And that was a little bit outside of your personality. And you actually flourished in it. But I think you decided that helping others in the way that's more hands-on as a nurse, you preferred. But how in the world? Did you get to Alaska? I know by airplane, okay, but how did you get there? L’Donna (14:01.502) I flogged my arms. Mindy Price (14:07.932) And then in the middle of the winter, which never did I think of you as a snow bunny, now I do, of course, but say that yeah, I I think I wanna stay. Like walk us through that. L’Donna (14:13.566) Yeah, of course. L’Donna (14:21.032) So when I first came to Alaska, it was pretty funny because it was very cloudy and I couldn't see anything like any of the mountains or anything. I didn't even know that they existed, let's be honest. Like two days later, it got sunny and all of sudden there was like these gorgeous, beautiful, breathtaking scenery and I I fell in love with it. And every day I is... It's just a beautiful day and I feel so blessed to be able to be here. My contract was 13 weeks and I was loving it so much that I just kept extending my contract, extending my contract. And then when I got to April, I was like, okay, well maybe I'm gonna go home. Well, John and some of my other friends that I met here were like, why would you go home now? The summer is coming and that's the best part of Alaska. And so I extended my contract and I had so much fun. went camping in a tent, which you ladies know me. I am not a roughen it girl. I'm very girly. So I went camping in a tent. went hiking. And then when the winter came back around, I went skiing. I did so much things, so many adventures that I had never ever done before and absolutely just fell in love with being outdoors and the scenery and I stayed here almost a year, I extended my contract as far as I could extend it, and then they me go home for 30 days. And then I came back and worked full time here and accepted the job. And I still am working at the exact same place that I started my contract out. Even when I left for a year to go to United to work, I still stayed PRN and would work a day or two when I would come back home. So I, yeah, yeah. Natalie Pilkinton (16:10.625) So much for travel nurse, right? Like you you really thought like you sign up to go and travel and see different things and you went to Alaska and Alaska stole your heart. L’Donna (16:19.579) Alaska has a way of doing that. A lot of people say that. Natalie Pilkinton (16:23.735) Kelly, you better bring your ass back. That's all I gotta say. KELLY (16:25.792) Y'all, let me let me tell you what. so and and don't get me wrong, I love Houston. I love the coast. You know, when when I because I literally was talking to L'Donna about this yesterday, I said, you know, we have we have we woke up every day and got dressed and we have not slowed down. And for those of you that don't know, it does not get dark here right now. It doesn't get dark until like 11 30 or 12, almost midnight. So Mindy Price (16:26.588) Yeah. KELLY (16:56.264) And then then it starts getting light again about four thirty or five. So when Mindy said a minute ago, when you if your mama said, Be home when when the sun goes down, well, guess what? Wow. So Natalie Pilkinton (17:06.605) You ain't giving up. L’Donna (17:07.723) In the summer, you'd never go home here. KELLY (17:09.992) Yeah, yeah. I think the other night was the only night it was like literally dark, but it was only for but it was real cloud cloudy, but it was only for a couple of hours. And it was it it's just it's it's been a weird thing 'cause when we first got here, I landed at like about nine forty five or ten o'clock at night and the the pilot came on and said, Hey guys, it's you're in Alaska, this is what it is. So and and everyone on the on the plane had the had the shades down. And all of a sudden everyone threw those shades up. And I was like, what time did he say it was? Because I know what time I left. And it the sun was shining and it was bright and it was just crazy. So when I when they picked me up, they took me to we went to eat and we went to this really cool place in and I I think it was Palmer, and we walked in and it was 10 45, 11 o'clock at night, bright sunny day, and we walked in on a Wednesday, mind you, and it was wall to wall people. And they were drinking and partying. And I was like, do these people work around here? What do they do? So come to find out it was a pilot bar. So it was, you know, pilots from UPS and FedEx and they were on their off time. So they didn't really have a schedule. But I was like, wow. I'm like, this is crazy. These people don't ever sleep. And then we left about one o'clock in the morning and it was still bright outside. And I was like, wow. And so L'Donna sleeps with a mask on because it's it's so light outside. But we just but we Natalie Pilkinton (18:35.157) Right. Yeah. KELLY (18:37.972) For those of you, you know, Mindy and I live in Brazoria County, which is so south of south of Houston, south of Harris County, and we always make a funny joke that no matter where you go, you can't get away from Brizzouria County. So come to find out, we we left yesterday. We we drove five hours to go to this really cool place on the on one of the very tips of of Alaska called Hom Homer Spit is what was Homer, but there was a section called Home. Welcome to the Homer Spit. I'm like, Okay, whatever. But there was a there was this bar, it was a total dive bar with I mean a million dollar bills hanging all over the all and we'll post some pictures, but it was called the salty dog, D-A-W-G. And on the way to the salty dog, come to find out some of my friends up, I have 11 friends up here in Alaska that are up here fishing. And so we stopped by. And took a picture with them. And it's like I told I told L'Donna it doesn't matter where you go, Brazoria County is going to be somewhere in the house. And so it was, it was, it was so funny. That it was just great. But when we went to the to the salty dog, we met some ladies from Ukraine. the the and Mindy, you'll love this. The bartender was from Dublin, and she had that very strong Irish accent, and it was just L’Donna (19:38.87) Thank KELLY (20:01.362) Yeah, she fun, fun place. Just it's like like I said, I I applaud L'Donna for for her adventurous spirit. And it did take me five years to get up here also because she'd say, Come visit me. I'm like, Hell no, it's cold up there. And but I you know what, honestly, I can't wait to come back in the winter now. Because we we see the mountains and they're beautiful and there's just like little bits of snow on it. But I told her I said, You're right, I can't wait to to come see and experience it. in in the wintertime, yesterday when we were driving to the to the to the bar, all of a sudden L'Donna like whips over and I'm like, What are you doing? And she goes, Look over there and there was a a mom and a c and a and her calf, moose. And they were just grazing and like kinda like a cow does in Texas. And I thought, Wow. So we said and I so I'm filming it and Ladonna's well, Kelly, we gotta go. So but L’Donna (20:49.493) Thank KELLY (20:56.626) Yeah, but just I'll never forget the one time Mindy went remember when L'Donna sent us the picture of it was so the it was covered with snow and she goes, Yep, trying to get to work and here comes this moose, big old horns just walking across the road and I'm like, Wow, okay. L’Donna (21:11.986) Yeah, they have the right away in the traffic and they'll be right there with you. KELLY (21:16.094) Yeah. Yeah. So it's just you know, I c I can certainly see why she fell in love with it. And you know, I always talk about I can't ever leave the coast. I love the water and stuff. And L'Donna's new new mantra is I don't ever wanna I don't ever wanna be any place where there's not a mountain. And I remember living in Colorado walking out on my balcony and to the excuse me, to the left I could see Pikes Peak and to the right, really, really far off. It looked very small, but you could see I think it's Long's Peak from from the Rocky from the Rocky Mountains. And it's very humbling. You you you look at all the beautiful things that that God ha has has put you know, he put us on this earth and and you feel very sometimes very insignificant when you look out and you see just all the fabulous things about about this this planet. And and it's it's a very sort it's a very spiritual has a very spiritual impact on you. It did it did on me anyway. But it just yeah. And so so yeah, so Sugar Spice and Spirits is gonna have to come up and do definitely an on site live podcast in the in the wintertime. But it's yeah, you guys, it's just it's beautiful up here. It's beautiful. Let's go. Let's go. Natalie Pilkinton (22:27.445) I'll do it. Let's go. Mindy is already talking. Let's go. I'm ready. So L'Donna, I do I do have a question for you. How did you end up going from like so you travel, went there as a travel nurse, then what made you part of your transition to be a flight attendant with United? L’Donna (22:31.709) Let's go, come on ladies. L’Donna (22:47.452) the traveling, I wanted to travel, I wanted to go see places. Yeah, it's all about travel and adventures for me. And honestly, with going and being able to do the flying with United, it was, I got to go to one of the places that was huge on my bucket list and that was Tahiti. And I'm forever grateful for that aspect. And I'm forever grateful for all the fun places I got to go and being able to take my... KELLY (22:54.942) Well and it Natalie Pilkinton (22:55.115) So L’Donna (23:14.298) My daughter and I went to, during Christmas, to a Christmas market in London just on a weekend, just on a whim. So it's so fun that you can be able to just, well, where do I want to go today? Let me just go to the airport and see what I can get on. Mindy Price (23:27.422) So, L'Donna, you'd kind of mentioned this in high school, you were more quiet. You weren't gonna be the one that was staying out late or very adventurous. Was there something that just triggered inside of you? Like w because I I know somebody might be listening right now and they might go, that sounds great, but I could never, or that's so not my personality. And do you feel like a completely different person or was that person there all along? I mean tell us what happened with this whole new L'Donna. L’Donna (23:59.472) Yeah, well, I think, you know, being young and just growing up in a small town and then adventuring out into like the bigger world. I went to work as a nurse in Houston and then I worked at a children's hospital and then they asked me one day to go out and help them market, which me being shy going out and talking to people, what? And I just, went out and did some marketing with one of the marketing reps and then a month later they offered me the position and And then I started having these speaking engagements in front of like insurance companies and hospitals. And I think that's where I found my voice and my, what do you want to call it? My ability to be more open and be more extroverted versus being the introverted person that I was. I don't see that I'm an introverted person now. I feel more extroverted now. But as growing up, I felt I was very introverted. Mindy Price (24:59.636) So for somebody that they because you go to a new place and you just make friends. Like you you are, yeah, we all okay, Kelly, since the moment I met that girl, she'll talk to anybody. That was not what I thought about you, you know, before. And now, I mean, and it's been a while that you've had this side of you where you will go and you will just you just spread your smile and you just are, you know, welcoming to everyone. But give some if you have any advice to give to somebody that is Natalie Pilkinton (24:59.735) So it was L’Donna (25:06.009) Yeah. KELLY (25:11.53) Mm-hmm. Mindy Price (25:29.402) shy that wants to do things but doesn't. I'd love to hear is if there's something you could say that might inspire somebody. L’Donna (25:37.742) Well, I would say, you know, don't listen to that inner voice that's holding you back. You know, take that adventure, take that trip. You never know where you're going to end up and you never know if that is your destiny of where you're supposed to be, where your peace is going to be. I feel like coming here to Alaska, even though I left my two very best friends and my children in Texas, I feel like coming to Alaska, I found my peace. And of course I found an amazing man who is also my peace So I would just say, don't listen to that little voice that keeps holding you back. Let it go, spread your wings, enjoy life, experience those things because life is very short and you never know what the next day is gonna bring. So don't hesitate to just go after those adventures and enjoy life. KELLY (26:33.566) Yeah. Natalie Pilkinton (26:33.805) Think it starts with the yes. Like I I'm always say yes to the podcast. Say yes, but it's it's say yes to the challenge. Say yes to what scares you. I mean, within reason, but there's always gonna be family members, there's always gonna be friends, like, you can't go, you can't do that. What are you doing? That's not you. Like push that, push them down. Like go up, go. 13 weeks. What's it gonna hurt? Really? Like, what is it gonna hurt to go and try and see and do? And look what all it opened up. I mean, you just never know. And it really kind of started with that marketing. You stepped outside of your comfort zone. Like it was that one little trigger, like, what? You want me? Like it's it's that me. I'm looking around. You talking to me? Okay, let me go. Let me try. And it's just saying yes and taking that baby step. You know, it's it's like we always. L’Donna (27:17.581) Absolutely. It's like I'll try anything once. Natalie Pilkinton (27:21.995) it's like what do you L’Donna (27:24.383) And if it doesn't work, then okay, I'm good. Move on to the next. No, didn't hit anything. Natalie Pilkinton (27:27.157) Right. It didn't hurt anything. Right. But you also got to say, Hey, I tried it. Remember that one time I I thought I was going to Arkansas and I ended up in Alaska. Whoa, it's a story. You know, if it so what are you afraid of? Like what's your fear? L’Donna (27:35.367) It's a story. L’Donna (27:44.043) What's my fear? I don't feel like I'm a fearful person. I'm afraid of bears. Okay. I mean, we don't have snakes here, so I don't have to be afraid of snakes, but I have to be afraid of bears. But in general, don't really, I'm not really too afraid of anything. I just, you know, just walk with life and roll with the punches as they come. KELLY (27:49.798) Natalie Pilkinton (27:51.851) Yeah. Natalie Pilkinton (28:11.797) Yeah. I think that's really, really important. KELLY (28:14.184) Well, you you definitely you definitely have some great some great stories and experiences because you didn't have that that fear factor. And and I think I mean and it's not that the fear wasn't there. You just said, you know what, I I'm gonna overcome it and you you know, you can always go home, you can always change and do what you're doing. I mean, I got out of healthcare for, you know, after what, thirty-five years and went to work with a real estate investing company as as their educator. And had the same thing, had to get up and and speak in front of people and about something that I was not completely familiar with. And that's how I met Natalie. the na Mindy and Natalie were were already at the company and have have now I feel like I have a a a less of a fear to stand up in front of people and talk about things that I'm not sure about. Medica medicine, yes, absolutely. But for me to stand up and educate people, and I had great two great mentors in Mindy and Natalie. And you know, Mindy, for those of you who might be a little bit of afraid of standing up and speaking and being a great leader, Mindy's your go-to gal. She's got a great Inside The WHY and and does leadership coaching and and everything. And then Natalie, if you're looking for some real estate advice or you're looking for a new home or anything or an investing, Natalie's your go to girl. I've got a company in Louisiana, Mississippi and Louisiana for non-medical home health, and then of course L'Donna. is up here and she's she's the third friend of mine that has gone to into being a flight attendant after all their kids have gone and and all of a sudden it's like well I don't want to be at home all day long with my husband so I think I'll try something different. So it's just the the opportunities are out there for for anyone and everyone male male and female both. You know we're we're all Gen Xers. But I I just I just feel like for the ladies out there, like like Natalie said, what what's your fear factor, you know, just try to crawl over that hurdle and and you may you may turn that oops moment, that mistake moment into the best the you know the best time and the best years of your life. I mean, what when when Natalie asked what what Ladonna's fear was, I think we've all talked before my fear KELLY (30:33.458) Is that regret? It's not regretting what you did because you learn from it. It's regretting what you didn't do. If you wake up that one day and you're like, dang, you know, I I wish, you know, I wish I would have made that phone call because that person's no longer here with us, or I wish I would have gone on that trip, or I wish I would have gone to see this because now it's not no longer there. just waking up and saying, L’Donna (30:37.864) That's it. KELLY (30:59.156) You know, I wish I would have. That to me is is my is my biggest regret. And there's very few Gen Xers that that I know that are like, no. I you know, sh point me in that direction and I'm and I'm off. And I think that's I think that's amazing. I think that's amazing. And I I think you have a great story to to tell and you're a perfect example, Adonna, of of why you just run with it and go. L’Donna (31:21.926) Well, one thing I want to say is now I'm still doing in a nursing type of role. I'm not working as a floor nurse. Sometimes I fill in and help out, but I work as the director of staff development for a company of about 300 employees. So I do all the education and all of the orientation for all the employees. So I feel like I am, I am able to take my expertise, take my experience of being around the. traveling and going to different places and be able to use that to encourage and enhance the rest of my 300 employees that I help educate and mentor and guide them in their purpose now and help them to find their purpose. So it's very much an amazing thing and I feel very fulfilled and happy here. KELLY (32:17.502) That's awesome. Natalie Pilkinton (32:18.913) That's good. It's like, you know, we're not, we're not reinventing ourselves. We're just adding another chapter, you know, in person, better view as we move through this. Like as we move through life and we start these new chapters, and it's you're not ending the book or close, like it's just you're moving on to the next chapter. Your kids are gone, you've raised them, you've you've lived life. And now it's like, okay, what do I do? Now you've got the Alaska chapter and you've got multiple chapters within that, you know, or sub chapters. And I think. L’Donna (32:24.068) Right. Natalie Pilkinton (32:48.587) You know, the reason why we're really good at it is we've already had to roll through all this stuff like when we were younger from dial up internet to yeah, you know, getting up as as Mindy would say, to deal with the antenna and the rainstorm to fix the to fix the TV so we could see. So anyway, I just think that one way ticket to Alaska is just another Tuesday for some of us. But kudos to you. I I mean that's an amazing story. KELLY (32:56.944) Yeah. Natalie Pilkinton (33:13.985) You know, my cousin lived in Alaska. He has one of those stories, and I guess this will be a time to tell it. He so I was in high school, and he and his buddies had just graduated. They sold one of their cars and then they they bought camping gear with the money from the car, put it in the van, and four guys took off on a trip to drive to Alaska. So they're driving to Alaska and they get to Washington to do the ferry over. And him and his buddies had a huge fight. So two of them take off. And then they end up going on a bus, falling asleep on a bus, trying to make it further or closer to Alaska. And they were going further into Canada. So they they get off the bus, end up staying in a motel and helping the woman who owned the motel with like odd and end jobs so that they could get some money to get back. Almost got in a fight with some like Native American, Native Indians or whatever on at this bar. And she's like, You guys need to really leave now. Like, you gotta go. Like, this isn't good. So they left and Went on the bus, got the right bus, ended up getting to Alaska. And right as where the ferry gets off, my aunt had got a call that they had received, found luggage and camping gear that had all their name and information on it. So they took their camping gear and had to find to get that camping gear in Alaska. So my aunt got them to their camping gear. My bless my aunt, she was aged so much by this this. Particular cousin. They get the camping gear. They have no vehicle, but they're sitting there with their camping gear that this old couple had found. And they're on the side of the road. And who drives by but the Scooby-Doo van that his friends are in? So it was the friends driving by. By this time, it's been about two weeks. They pick them up and get them back in the van. So thank goodness, I guess, that they were reunited. I don't know. And then they were two weeks too early. for fishing because they wanted to go deep sea fishing and and do all of that, you know, catch stuff like those those stories we see on A E. So they got there two weeks early and they had to camp. We were shipping them top ramen because that was the cheapest thing to ship so they could actually have something to eat. And they were just literally camping and making it on a campfire. They ended up doing the deep sea fishing and all of that. I think he went out like two or three seasons. Natalie Pilkinton (35:35.862) And I remember the the best thing that I got out of the whole thing was he came back with this little used tin, a little yellow tin, and he gave it to me and it was like half used. And I'm like, what am I supposed to do with this? He's like, that's Bert's bees. That's the best stuff you'll ever get. And that was before they sold out. But that's what all the fishermen would use is the Burt's Bees. You it's like came in the little bomb tin, you put it on. And and his stories from Alaska, he's got more. He has L’Donna (35:49.674) haha Natalie Pilkinton (36:00.993) He has so many more. Like he could write a book. Like he's he's just crazy with the stu if it's gonna happen to him and it's gonna be weird, it'll happen to him out of everybody. So but his Alaska stories are fabulous. KELLY (36:12.126) Well, it's you know, like I said, and I I know we're trying to wrap up talk about stories, you know, when when you realize that there's, you know, twenty five people here, one of my good friends from from high school, Shanna, hey Shanna, she lives up here. We we were gonna try and stop by and see her yesterday and and I texted her and she said, hey, we're in Sterling. stop by and see us. We had literally just driven through Sterling. I was like, my God. So we kept going and I said, We'll try to catch you on the way back. it was it was late when we when we finally left because when you walk outside and it's still daylight you don't really know what time it is. So we didn't get to stop and see her. But a lot of my friends from high school come up and visit and they take them fishing and kayaking and everything. And there's just there's so much to do up here. I think about we talked about I said you know hold on I would love for your mermaid ladies to come down and visit. And then I thought what am I gonna take him to do? We can go to Galveston but L’Donna (36:53.312) Thank L’Donna (36:57.056) Cheers. L’Donna (37:00.8) Mm-hmm. KELLY (37:09.748) I mean, and don't get me wrong, I love Texas, I love Houston and and where we are, but you know, I can take him to see a little traffic. I can take him to see, you know, we can see the high rises. Of course they all have, but it's it's one of those things that we have done something different every day. And and driving and shopping and just seeing everything, it's just been it it's you know, the Alaska cruise is here and it's just been it's been great. And and like I said, just Even if you do plan to s go somewhere just for a visit, there's a lot of people that have said they came for a visit and they just never left. And that's like when Natalie said, You Kelly better get your butt home. I yeah, I I told I called them and I said, I called them, I called my husband and everything. Said, guys, guess what? We're L'Donna and we were already looking at the calendar yesterday when we could, you know, when we could make it back up here because it's just it's you know, it's just beautiful. And L’Donna (37:46.13) Mm-hmm. KELLY (38:04.108) whether it's Alaska, whether it's Arkansas, whether it's Hawaii, it doesn't just get outside your own your own comfort zone, your own backyard and and experience life. The United States has tons of things to do. and, you know, for those for for our listeners who are outside of the United States, come on over and visit and and hopefully, you know, let us know if you're coming by and and we'd love to see you. And and for those that, you know, just want to have a little bit of adventure. L’Donna (38:22.014) Thank KELLY (38:32.746) Just step outside that box just a little bit and and live your life and experience it and and have great stories to tell your friends and your kids and and just lay your head down at night and think, wow, you know what? I I I made a good choice. It was an oops at first, but I made the best of it. So, you know, do you guys have any any other closing, not closing arguments, that's not arguments, but closing thoughts or or anything like that that we wanna that we wanna share? L’Donna (38:57.155) Hahaha! KELLY (39:01.534) I know we have tons of other stories that we could that we could tell that are funny, but I know we're kind of running out of time. And I Mindy's Mindy's got a meeting, so so she's she's gotta teach someone how to lead and speak and everything. So Mindy Price (39:12.884) Well the one thing you made me think of your dad, it's never too late. Him starting the business that you all have now that's so successful and he didn't start it till his mid-50s. And there are people that don't start until their mid-sixties and seventies. And the way that we all take care of ourselves compared to you know what we know. I mean, there's just so much that we're accessible to. And so reinventing yourself, it's never too late, no matter where you're at. KELLY (39:23.807) Mm-hmm. Mindy Price (39:40.076) And I love that you're embracing where you are, L'Donna, and you've bought a home and that it is, you know, that is home base, but you still love to travel and you love to have people experience so much of life there in Alaska. Before we wrap, because you never know who's watching this. Is there one piece of advice for somebody visiting Alaska for the first time that had you known XYZ? Or I don't know. Is there any piece of advice that you give to people? L’Donna (39:48.345) Yes, I do. L’Donna (40:11.897) There's so much to do here. So I would say make sure that you, you know, do your research before you come in because everything is kind of spread out. There's a lot to do, but it's spread out. So make sure that you have your, your, um, do your. L’Donna (40:29.561) The word just went out of my head. Do your invent, yeah, yeah, there you go. Make sure you do it and see where, know, make the most of the time here. Cause there, I mean, it depends on what you like to do. Like today, Kelly and I are gonna go see a glacier cause she hasn't seen a glacier. So, I mean, it just depends on what you like to do. If you like to, if you're a hunter or a fisher, what time of the year you come. If you, if you like to go hiking, there's just so many beautiful. Natalie Pilkinton (40:31.031) Itinerary Mindy Price (40:31.049) Do your homework. L’Donna (40:57.259) adventures and trells here that you can go on hiking, beautiful waterfalls as well. I just would say make sure you have your itinerary planned out when you come here because you can get easily distracted and not get to do the things that you set out to do. KELLY (41:08.233) Mm-hmm. KELLY (41:12.85) So and and and she's right. There's something for everyone. We we we went the other day, she and I and Lisa went to the ski resort here and we got on the gondola and went up to the very top and and it was just you know about a five minute ride it but it was it was beautiful, you know, beautiful scenery. And I looked down, I'm like, there's some crazy people walking up this mountain. I'm like, I just nope, nope, nope. And they got up there and and we were at L’Donna (41:32.217) Mm. KELLY (41:42.357) We were having a cocktail at the bar, of course, and here they came with their hiking stuff. And I thought, Y'all people are crazy. You know, but they road the gondola down. But and L'Donna asked him, you how long did it take you? And they said, about an hour and a half. And and so you've you've got some some people out here that just they it's kinda like it was in Colorado. They they just they're so not I don't call them outdoorsy, but just very adventurous and and love nature and want to get out and experience it and L’Donna (41:49.163) Yeah. KELLY (42:11.718) when we were headed to the to the salty dog yesterday and we stopped by and we saw wes and craig and jeff and and d dean I'm sorry I forgot the other guy's name because I I didn't know him. But they it's it's been kind of rainy since we've been here. L'Donna and them said last week it was beautiful. It's been a little cloudy and rainy here, but we can we can still see the beautiful scenery. But one thing that we didn't get to see on the way to the Salty Dog yesterday was there's there's a few glaciers and there's some volcanoes and we couldn't see it because the clouds were so low and it was so overcast. But you know, I guess I gotta come back and see it. So but that's what that's what Jeff was saying. I didn't realize that Jeff's older brother actually there's some cabins up here and it's called Bear Paw, right? L'Donna wasn't it called Bear Paw? Right outside of Anchor Point. Yeah, right outside of Anchor Point. And Wes was telling us Wes Mizerkowitz was there and he w he's here fishing, and he was telling us that that L’Donna (42:58.283) Mm hmm. Bear paw. KELLY (43:08.98) the Jeff's older brother built that log cabin y'all was beautiful built it log by log and there were some carvings yeah and there were some carvings actually in the in the wall that his mom had done and now there's there's several cabins there. I don't know if they rent them out or not, but Jeff and them come every year and they do the salmon fishing and they went you know did a charter fishing and L’Donna (43:17.503) gorgeous. KELLY (43:35.581) And even though it was a little rainy and stuff and the fishing was not so great, Wes was like, it was his first time here. He said, I I'm just here for the adventure. He, you know, and Jeff was like, Yeah, I'm sorry that that the fishing has been great. Wes was like, no, no, no. This has just been the time of my life because it it's just, it's, it's great. You know, our our you know, Mindy, your husband and and my late husband used to go to Colorado and go elk hunting every year. And that was a time for the girls to go, yeah, we go shopping. So it it's just you You just like you said, get get out there and make sure you know what you want to do. And because l it's spread out all over the place, but we have we have done so many fun things. if if there's something up here for everyone. So whether it's a summertime or wintertime, I can't ski, but I can sure go sit there and watch the skiers come down. But it that ski resort was just it was beautiful. It was beautiful. So L’Donna (44:27.207) One thing at the ski resort, if you do go to the ski resort, I suggest going in the winter time and going to the Nordic Spa. It is a beautiful outdoor area. They have hot tubs, cold plunges, relaxation tubs, saunas, steam rooms, an exfoliation room. But when you are sitting out, there's not a better feeling in the world than sitting out in the hot tub and it's snowing. while you're sitting out there. It is absolutely gorgeous, amazing. And I would say definitely put that on your winter bucket list in Alaska. KELLY (45:03.604) Awesome. Awesome. Any anything else, anyone? I think we've I think we've done two things. We've we've we've hit on the fact that don't be afraid to take a chance. Take that leap of faith. you hopefully you won't regret it. I don't think you will. It like you said, if you regret it, at least it's something that you learned. And secondly, get your butts up to Alaska. It's a pretty it's a pretty cool place. So It's and right now Southwest Southwest does fly to to Alaska, which my mom was a flight attendant for Southwest for a short period of time, so sometimes I get to fly with all of her points. But she getting I think you what you said that that it's seasonal. because a lot L’Donna (45:41.938) It's seasonal. They just started flying here this May was their first time. So it was like mid May to like mid September. So it's just seasonal. KELLY (45:51.475) Right, right. So then then I think you fly to Seattle and then you can get on Alaska Airlines from there to to get up here and stuff. So but yeah, it's it's beautiful. So yeah, definitely put it on on your bucket list. So if if you guys out there are are interested and you wanna want a little more information about Alaska, let us know. We hook you up with L'Donna. but like I said, if you want some if if you want some great leadership advice how to do how to be a great Mindy's a fabulous speaker. If you if you've not heard her, you need to look her up. Inside the Why is her is her company and her website. It's it's amazing. Natalie can get you set up with some great property if you want to invest, or if you're looking for a home, or you need to sell your home. And then you know, if you're looking for someone to take care of your loved one in Louisiana or Mississippi, you can look us up at Personal Home Care Services. But we really hope you just subscribe. we give some great business advice. We give definitely some life advice. sometimes it's pretty funny you can hear the coffee pot beeping the in the background. So but yeah, it's sugar spice and spirits dot com. We would love to hear from you. if you have some great stories to tell about your leap of faith or your fabulous vacation or whatever, then or even a new topic, look us up. You know, we'd love to spill the tea with you and you know, subscribe to us and we hope to hear from you soon. And we will certainly be back very soon. So, in the meantime, cheers to everyone. Y'all have a great day. And come see us in Alaska. You can come see me in Alaska for only one more day. I gotta go home tomorrow. So, Natalie, I'm coming home tomorrow. All right. All right. So we're gonna sign off, guys. Hope you have a great day, and we'll see you again soon. Bye. L’Donna (47:22.106) Cheers. Natalie Pilkinton (47:30.657) Thank goodness. L’Donna (47:31.792) I'm gonna keep her here. L’Donna (47:40.4) Bye. Mindy Price (47:40.628) Thank you.