With over a decade of love, support and companionship lifting me up, I am learning — as young writers do — how much meaning can exist inside one word, one gesture, one adventure.

A few people have been with me since almost the beginning of my life as an Aurora Chaser. So, from my heart and soul, I dedicated my new book “Beyond the 45th Parallel” to two special mentors and fellow chasers. The first is Dixie J. Burbank, the warm and adventurous spirit behind international tours with Cosmic Chaos Adventures LLC.

Dixie and I first met at a very early gathering, formed during the last solar maximum, of Aurora Chasers who sought out Northern Lights on the Great Lakes. We crossed paths and laughed and smiled, and then our lives intertwined, as we brought on a third adventurous soul to create the first-ever Aurora Summit. Dixie taught me organizing and planning and taking care of people, and she showed me that there are no limits to the word “family.”

More importantly, Dixie demonstrated what it looks like to be a fearless, unstoppable, empowered woman. From her high-powered career in logistics to our chats behind the scenes organizing a summit, to the moments when she simply understood me, she has been a force of nature. A role model. A mentor. A testament to what one person can do when they start living a dream.

It was Dixie who drove my group to the Arctic Circle on the famous ice truckers road, the Dalton Highway. It was her energy that made it possible for me to catch Aurora seven out of eight nights on an unforgettable adventure across Alaska. Dixie, you have seen me try and fail and hit rock bottom, and you have been there even when I had to face daunting climbs back to grace. You are the glue that holds this Aurora family together.

When I actually stop to reflect on everything you are, it moves me beyond words. No matter what happens as you pursue your next dancing sky, my heart is with you. You have opened my eyes to so many wonders I never fully realized were there.

With all the gratitude I can muster for the woman who works quietly behind the scenes, I dedicate my new guidebook to you. Thank you.

You have changed my life! 💚💚💚