June 22, 2026
Kimberly’s Wanderings & Wonderings – June 2026
Magical. Thirty Days. Capturing the Moments.
Picture this: You step outside on a clear night. You look up. The sky is full of stars. You don’t move. You don’t speak. You just stand there, head back, lost in it.
Magical.
That word, “magical,” it kept coming back to me all night.
This has been my last 30 days. A graduation. A wedding. Thirty years of marriage, celebrated halfway across the world. I want to savor every magical second of it.
We talk a lot about curiosity and wonder here. But what happens when wonder isn’t about a question, but rather about a feeling? The feeling of looking around at your life and thinking: how did I get this lucky? Not because everything was easy. Because none of it was. Because every milestone was earned, and every person in the room got there through love and grit and choosing each other, again and again.
Gratitude is not a passive emotion. It is an act of paying attention. And right now, I am paying very close attention.
Alone and Together
Ash graduated from Colby College on May 23rd. I thought I was prepared. I was not.
I was also not prepared to be intellectually moved. Four speakers. Different people, different messages. Each one meaningful alone, and profound when linked together.
Judge Esther Salas talked about hurricanes. Personal ones. The kind that hit whether you are ready or not. She did not sugarcoat it. Then she said: “They do not have to destroy you.” That stayed with me.
Mo Willems, the man who gave the world Pigeon, and who has spent his career making picture books and never once apologized for it; he closed with two words I keep turning over.
Alone and together.
Alone, because your path is yours. Your hurricanes, your curiosity, your love. That is uniquely you. Together, because none of us navigate life alone. Even when it feels that way.
Ash, you stayed curious. You kept playing even when it was hard. This is yours.
And I will be right alongside you.
P.S. It also happens to be Pride Month as Ash steps into this next chapter, and I could not be prouder of the person Ash is becoming. Alone, because that path is Ash’s own to walk. Together, because this family will always be standing right behind it.
The Vows That Left Me Breathless
The next weekend, my nephew Tim got married.
It was a fairytale wedding from beginning to end. When Tim said his vows, he stood there and spoke with such clarity, such love, such intention. Breathless. That is the only word. I sat there thinking: this young man knows exactly who he is and exactly who he is choosing. There is nothing more powerful than that.
And then the mother-son dance.
Watching my sister and Tim on that dance floor was one of those tender, quiet moments that you tuck somewhere deep. The kind you do not photograph because your eyes are already full. A mother and her son. The whole arc of a life in one song.
I cried. Of course I did.
This is what milestones do. They compress time. They remind you of everything that came before and everything still ahead. They make you want to pay attention.
Thirty Years. 10 Days in Europe
Matt and I do a lot of things well. Celebrating our anniversary is not one of them. But this year, we decided to shift that. We chose to honor our 30 years with a special trip. We began in Tuscany for one night. Then boarded the Ritz-Carlton Yacht, Ilma in Civitavecchia, Italy and sailed for seven nights visiting Sorrento, Sicily, Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Venice. And ended with time in Venice.
After 30 years in the luxury travel business, not sharing a highlight reel would be inauthentic. So here are a few moments worth knowing about.
Borgo San Vincenzo is a charming luxury hotel in the heart of Tuscany, a reimagined 18th century borgo only steps away from Poderi Boscarelli Winery. Can’t wait to return and stay longer.
The iconic Positano hotel, Le Sirenuse, has just opened a beach club in Nerano. Sheer perfection. Relax in the sun on chic sunbeds, swim in the water, linger over exquisite food and wine at lunch, all while taking in the breathtaking view. A must visit when on the Amalfi coast.
My first visit to Dubrovnik, Croatia did not disappoint. This picturesque city on the Dalmatian coast is a gem. Often referred to as the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” I understand why.
I love to cruise. I know there are many non-cruisers out there, but I would challenge them to at least try it. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has managed to bring the hotel standard of excellence onto the water. Little nooks and crannies to escape to. Michelin-starred chef, Fabio Trabocchi’s food. Toys to play with when they open up the marina. Stylish, yet relaxed. What is not to love?
And then there is Venice.
The magic of Venice captured my heart when I was six years old. It still does. We had a romantic meal at the Londra Palace Altana, a private terrace overlooking the city. Divine experience. And we recreated our most memorable dinner from our honeymoon (maybe ever) at Club del Doge at the Gritti Palace. Sitting on the terrace, watching the Grand Canal hustle and bustle go by, fills my heart with joy. We had one whole day with nothing planned. What a gift of time. We walked with no destination in mind. Over canals, down streets. Walking, talking, enjoying. And the shopping. I need not say more.
Two Wardrobes
While preparing and packing for the last 30 days, I had a huge aha moment. As I stood in my closet, I noticed that I was surrounded by two wardrobes.
One side holds the version of you that built this life. The armor. The credentials. The carefully curated signals of who you were supposed to be. The other side holds who you actually are now. Softer, surer, more fully yourself than you have ever been.
When you strip away the routine, the meetings, the emails, the list-making, and you are somewhere breathtaking with the person you chose, you remember who you are to each other. You remember that you did not grow into each other. You grew alongside each other. And there is a difference.
Both sides of that closet are real. Both sides are yours.
Now ask yourself: which one are you still dressing from? And which are you dressing for?
The Wondering
Every Wednesday, I post on social media a question, called Why Wednesday. I love this question from a few weeks ago.
“What milestone in your life, personal or professional, do you wish you had celebrated more fully?”
Drop me a note or find me on LinkedIn. I read every response. I mean that.
In case you missed it, here are some other recent blog posts you might enjoy:
With love, curiosity, and summer vibes,
