I started making friendship bracelets about two years ago. It started out with the Taylor Swift concert, which i unfortunately didn’t attend. I saw the theater version instead.

As seasons changed I’d make appropriately colored bracelets. I gave them away to friends and people at the gym I worked at.

Last summer I brought up a bunch to give away.

This year I had the idea to make Alaska specific ones. So I spent a month crafting bracelets that say “Alaska”, “Denali” and a few “YOLO” . I’m ADHD and sitting still is difficult. So it’s string beads or eat food lol!

Already this season, they have connected me with people in the most amazing ways. At times, God ordained.

On Saturday’s train, for example, I started at the front taking orders. This is how it works. The food servers take people down to eat starting in the back. Often in the morning, passengers have already eaten and don’t go downstairs. So by the time I get to the back, they are angry. They want coffee or other hot beverage and they want it now.

One lady in particular snapped at me. I let her know I was doing my best. I went to get some trail mix for them, free of charge, since she said her husband’s blood sugar was getting low. Problem was my blood sugar was low too.

Before I could get back, she was downstairs with her husband, eating. I went down to apologize but before I could say anything, she apologized. She was sincere and it was kind of her since passengers sometimes don’t see us as humans.

When she came back up, I went back and handed her the bag full of bracelets and asked her if she’d like to pick one out. She said she did and I could tell she was excited. It felt good to make peace.

The man in the seat behind her saw the bracelets and wanted to know how much they were. I told them I give them away. He wanted one for his granddaughter. I told him to pick a couple. He was so thankful and told me I was “so cool”!

Another lady liked my bracelet I was wearing and showed me she was a cancer survivor. I let her pick two for her victory over cancer. She smiled wide.

I only brought a few of my beads and left my favorite bead board in Denver as well. When I bead, the board looks cluttered. But to me it’s full of ideas. Beads in different sections. Charms. It’s full of color and makes me happy.

It is difficult to find the right stringing supplies up in Alaska. I purchased a new board and had it sent to our address. It didn’t get delivered though because they wanted a signature and we weren’t home. Michael’s doesn’t carry the board I like (bamboo) and doesn’t carry my preferred elastic string either.

I tried Walmart but they don’t either. I will place another Amazon order and make do for now.

Memorial Day is this weekend so I’m making red, white and blue bracelets for our Sunday run.

A big thank you to Taylor Swift, for a fantastic idea that has connected me with so many nice people.

My “reason” on this earth is to bring joy and laughter to people. And this is definitely making people smile!