Two Weeks, Post-Dirty Thirty Girlies Glamping Trip

This trip has only solidified my friendships, showed me that I am loved, cared for, and not a burden. 

2024’s Dirty Thirty Girlies Glamping Trip was spent with my oldest friends and this is our first international trip together. We found a really cute, Brother's Grimm-themed cottages. 

Belle’s Castle Cottage at Charmed Resorts located on INDIGENOUS LANDS: the Blackfoot Nations Piikani [Peigan], Kainai [Blood], and Siksika [Blackfoot], the Tsuu T'ina, the K'tunaxa [Kootenay].

I will always fondly remember the first time I talked to J and L; I straight up and asked them, "hi, can I be your friend," when I started a new school in 3rd grade. They had just met the prior school year and ever since I joined, we've never lost contact. Even through the busyness of college, turmoils of toxic ex-boyfriends, being traumatizing teens and young adults, and even the gaps of years during our hectic college years. Yet, we maintained our solid bonds with each other and always check in at least once a month. This trip really solidified our lil trio; my OGs since 03. Like, legit, L and I intend on getting tattoos that symbolizes our collective friendship; J has a fear of needles, commonly known as “trypanophobia,” so her presence will be part of the experience. I won't lie though, I was pretty anxious about flying internationally for the first time with J and L. Two weeks before the trip, I experienced horrific PMDD symptoms, which, thankfully went away when I got my phantom period during the trip (next week's blog will be about my experience using Flex's reusable menstrual disc). L also got their menses and J just came back from a wedding in Colombia and her nails were still polished and beautiful. The amalgamation of all of these events leading to this trip was absolutely horrendous: getting an oil change and finally fixing my overdue broken AC (coolant problem). This was the first time all three of us have licenses, resources, and intentionally planned a restful retreat; one of us even had TSA pre-check! This was also the first time they got to go through TSA separately because of my disability. If you are legally disabled, you can ask for wheelchair assistance. The perks include skipping ahead of the line at TSA, boarding first, and riding around airports in a cart with a cute bell as a way to get people out of the way. If it weren't for my accommodation, we would have missed our connecting flights. Thank Goddess for being a disabled hottie, am I right? 

Ilah is wearing a tie-dye shirt with an oversized, green button-up, carelessly smiling mid-hair twirl. Left elbow on a wooden table with an amalgamation of red and gold bands on her left wrist. Behind them is Belle’s Castle Cottage.

I was most anxious about how my body would react to a new environment. I haven't been to Canada since I was a kid and I've only visited Vancouver and Victoria (the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm [Musqueam] Sḵwx̱wú7mesh [Squamish], and səlilwətaɬ [Tsleil-Waututh] Nations). I was really happy that most of the land was untouched with snowy peaks and cute valleys. Our 2nd airport (YXC) was so small, it only accommodated 2 airlines. As soon as we got into the car, I felt a rush of relief, breathing in the chilly, Canadian air, and knew that this trip was going to be special and my instincts were correct. I know that my brain reacted to the Canada trip as, “you cannot keep up with them,” and, “why do they put up with me?” I no longer have these insecure feelings because I shouldn't feel insecure when I'm with them. I'm already disabled and choose to be a better person every day; why shouldn't I expect the same from them? Oh right! There are simply people who refuse to be better. I have this moral guideline for myself to uplift the people in my community. I must admit that I have hurt people in my community and have/am doing the active work to be better and I am constantly reminded by my family that these lifelong friends make me a better person so I best keep them close to my heart. 

Life is wild right now; traveling, going out more, having the money to do things, provide for others, and assist with mutual aid funds. For fucks sake, I'm coaching someone who went on a date with a worldwide famous celebrity. That's huge, yet again, for your average Hoe, I know too many people who are famous (some are/were family members [my father's scene was cut from an original movie with the likes of Marisel Soriano]) or famous-adjacent. Celebrities and notable figures are not uncommon in my contacts. I just saw Pentatonix live in Reno and I've seen them perform at Vidcon 2012 and 2013 and I stayed with someone who has connections to famous Korean people. Funnily enough, she gave her NYU-graduate, kitty-covered resume and they went on to become a PA for the movie, Camp Takota. This just goes to show that you can literally just be yourself and achieve your dreams. Additionally, we're all intertwined no matter our class and identities. If there is anything you take away from this is to be assertive while maintaining your truth. Stand up for yourself and others because you don't know what or how that can affect the world. It's okay to leave a situation if it is not positively serving you or those in your community. Lastly, people are allowed to also not have you in their lives. People are complex, complicated creatures who are just big, little babies bumbling around, surviving. Be kind and have empathy. 

xoxo 
tallasianchick