The first time I gave a speech, I didn’t give one. I was in tenth grade, sitting in Ms. Davis’s English class, and I hadn’t prepared anything—not because I was bold or rebellious, but because I had absolutely no idea how to write a speech in the first place. No one had shown me howContinue reading “Five Minutes at a Time”
Author Archives: Dennis D Montoya
💉 The Things People Say When They Find Out I’m a Nurse
I spend my days moving between two worlds — writing stories about connection, and working in a profession built on it. When people find out I’m a nurse, the tone of a conversation shifts. Humor softens into honesty, and strangers share pieces of their lives that feel both familiar and sacred.
Summer Letter — 2026
Day 8: Disembarkation – Back to Seattle
The final morning arrived quietly — a soft light over Seattle, the kind that feels both calm and reluctant. After a week of laughter, glaciers, and endless sea, the ship no longer felt like adventure; it felt like home. And now we had to let it go.
Day 7: Victoria – A Perfect Finale
Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025Location: Victoria, British Columbia ⚓ Opening HP was already awake, standing by the balcony, watching the shoreline come into view. “We’re here,” she said. I stepped out beside her. The city was quiet in the early light, just beginning to stir — like it had been waiting to greet us. OurContinue reading “Day 7: Victoria – A Perfect Finale”
Day 6: At Sea – Music, Food & Stars
Eric nudged me before the tasting even started, already grinning.“I’m sending this to Spaulding,” he said, holding up his phone like proof we’d somehow made it here. Scott just laughed, leaning back like he’d been waiting for this moment all week. And that’s the thing about this trip — somewhere along the way, it stoppedContinue reading “Day 6: At Sea – Music, Food & Stars”
Day 5: Endicott Arm – Dawes Glacier Unveiled
After several days of open ocean and port adventures, today brought one of the most unforgettable sights of the entire cruise. The ship turned quietly into Endicott Arm — a narrow fjord of ice, cliffs, and waterfalls — leading us to Dawes Glacier. It felt like sailing into another world.
Day 4: Skagway – Trails, History & High Spirits
Mist, mountains, and quiet moments — Day 4 reminded us that Alaska’s beauty isn’t loud; it whispers, and if you listen closely, it stays with you.
Day 3: Juneau – Alaska’s Capital of Wonders
Alaska reminds you what’s fleeting and what lasts. The glaciers melt, the whales move on, but the wonder stays. Somewhere out there, the glacier still breathes, the whales still rise — and Juneau’s lights fade quietly behind us.
Dennis D Montoya 