Perfect Fit

California- 7/20/26

Attempt #1

Today was… well, interesting. It seems like nothing here is different than my home back in Arizona. I mean, of course California is much more beautiful with the beaches and the Mediterranean vibe they have going on, but are they really that different? At least in my experience, people treat me the same no matter where I go. They take one look at me and-boom-I’m some mean, ugly monster. Maybe I am. In fact, I have no idea who I am.

Sadly, that means attempt #1 has failed. California is not my perfect fit. I know this because as I was walking down the beach in my favorite shorts and t-shirt, I was pushed into the (very, very cold) ocean. This, at least I think, wasn’t a big deal. But, after I stood up and walked back onto the beach, a group of kids threw buckets of sand and their ice cream at me. (How bad did their ice cream have to be to even consider throwing it??) Now my favorite outfit is ruined and my ego (which was already beaten and bruised) is now demolished. I’m currently looking at my map; maybe I can move on to Hawaii? People on the internet say it’s beautiful.

Oh. Now I’m looking in my wallet and I have decided I will not be going to Hawaii.

Oregon- 7/25/26

Attempt #2

Since California was such a bust, I have now migrated up into Oregon. I think I like it here much better. The rain is beautiful (we never got much rain in Arizona) and I love all of the trees. I haven’t actually socialized with anybody yet, but when I do, I am hopeful it will be different.

7/27/26

Oregon is not, in fact, different. I was hiking near Multnomah Falls-a stunning place to visit (thanks to Reddit)-and some lady started to walk up to me. First of all, I am used to things like this. So, of course, I shrugged my shoulders and kept hiking in the opposite direction. Except, this lady was persistent. She started screaming and yelling at me. (Again, nothing I’m not used to.) She followed me all the way back to my car where she finished her little tirade by smashing my headlight. Now I have to look up the best auto shop in Portland. (Found one! Thanks to Reddit, once again) Overall, today was not a five-star experience, let me tell you that. And looking at the prices for the auto shop, Hawaii is not happening for a long time.

Idaho- 8/2/26

Attempt #3

I ate my first real potato! At least, that’s what all of the reviews said. Today I visited the Idaho Potato Museum & Potato Station Cafe. The waitress at the cafe told me this potato is the best potato I’ll ever eat and that all the other potatoes I have eaten are “fake”. Of course, with the way I was raised, I can never tell if someone is teasing me or if they are being legit. So, most of the time, I decide to believe them.

Like in this case! So, high reviews in the food category, but in the interaction category… not so much. The waitress left my table after blowing my mind with this information, and the people sitting at the table behind me started snickering and laughing. Of course, seeing them having such a good time, I asked them what they were laughing at. I am still confused why that made them laugh even harder. I turned back around and decided to leave them alone, but I guess they had other ideas.

As soon as my head was turned, I got bashed with what I believe was the "Idahoan-style” potato. (I saw lots of good reviews for that one, but I decided to go basic and order the buttered potato.) This made me mad because I had just styled my curly hair into the perfect updo. Now, I am currently standing in the shower, picking potato and cheese out of my hair while simultaneously writing in my journal. (Pure talent, am I right?) I was hoping the third time would be the charm, but again, no such luck. Hmm. Where could I go next with a budget of $20?

Montana- 8/9/26

Attempt #4

I AM IN LOVE. I didn’t know I was going to love the snow as much as I do. Today was my first day, and things are already looking up. People may have still been giving me dirty looks, but at least no incidents have happened! I decided to drive over to Big Sky Resort, a place with lots of skiing and snowboarding. I was mesmerized at the sight of people flying down the slopes and doing flips and tricks along the way. That’s when I decided I wanted to work there. Sure, it’s my first day in the snow and yes, I have never skied or snowboarded before-let alone worked at all-but I need the money if I want to build a life here.

So, I went up to the front desk and they hired me on the spot. (I know, right! Impressive.) They said I can start tomorrow as a dishwasher/custodian. Not sure what either of those people do, but I can’t wait to get started!

8/16/26

Okay, so being a dishwasher and custodian is not very fun, but at least I’m getting money! I have already received $500! Some of that, I admit, was from little bonuses, like the little pockets people leave on the couches. (Those people are really generous, especially the ones that contain money and cards with their faces on them! It’s like they want me to remember who gave me the money. How thoughtful!) The resort even gives me time off! I’m thinking of visiting the famous hot springs tomorrow. I’ll be back with updates.

8/17/26

Attempt #4 has failed. I repeat. Attempt #4 has failed. I’m actually kind of sad about this one, because I was hoping Montana would be my perfect fit. But, oh well.

So today, I went to the Boiling River hot springs. Did you know the hot springs turn the ice-cold water all the way to 140°F? Anyway, it did not go well. I got in, and let me tell you, 140 degrees is really freaking hot. So, I was already sweating the second I got in. Me and sweat? Not a good combination, so we were already off to a great start. Then, since I didn’t have breakfast, I decided to start eating my packed lunch in the hot spring. The rangers apparently didn’t like that and started yelling at me. I didn’t know this, but from my experience, when rangers start yelling at you, that’s everyone around you’s cue to start yelling, too. So, about a minute into my hot spring adventure, I had everyone in eyesight yelling at me. Then, to top it off, the manager from Big Sky Resort drove all the way to the hot springs to tell me I’m fired because I was caught stealing. (Stealing? Me?) Then I got chased out of the park to my car by rangers, hot spring-goers, and my ex-boss. My ex-boss even followed me home, saying I owed them money and guests’ IDs? Yeah, like I’m giving my hard-earned money back to them. Plus, I don’t even know what an ID is, so the joke’s on them! Anyway, I am now avoiding the windows and packing my bags. I finally have enough money to buy a plane ticket! Time to flee the state!

Louisiana- 8/19/26

Attempt #5

Update: I finally learned what an ID is. I also learned I was supposed to have one while driving and that I need one to get past security; so, no driving or commercial airline travel for me. Luckily, I found some guy offering flights on what I learned is called the “gray market.” It was a little janky and the guy was extremely rude, but I’m used to that.

And, I made it! So, here I am in Louisiana. Today I walked around the French Quarter (There was a crumpled flyer about it on the disgusting plane) and it was definitely a unique experience. Everyone I passed had square pastries with white powder on top. They would eat them and the white would explode in a cloud around their faces. I decided I wanted to try one for myself. I learned they are called beignets and that they are SO GOOD.

Anyway, I was walking while eating my beignets and all of a sudden, a guy ran into me. The white stuff (what I learned is called powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar) got all over my face and top. He looked up, saw my face, and started laughing. He pulled out his phone, started taking pictures, and called everyone around us to point and laugh. (I mean, how funny could that have even been for them?) Let’s just say I was annoyed by this. I wasn’t embarrassed because I have been through things very similar to this. (California and Idaho, anyone?)

Except it didn’t end there. After I left the circle slowly forming around me, I went to a store to hopefully buy a new top and to clean up. They had a little TV near the register, and guess whose face was plastered all over it? Yeah, it was mine. The news apparently thought the beignet run-in was the funniest thing they had ever seen and used the picture that I guess the guy sent in to them. (What is wrong with people, honestly?) I’m not a fan of being recognized everywhere I go, especially when I’m known as the “beignet monster.” So, attempt #5 is another fail.

Texas- 8/22/26

Attempt #6

Whoever said that everything is bigger in Texas is a huge liar. Hearing this, I expected the food to be as big as the tables and the cars to be as big as houses. (If you had the same thoughts, I hate to break it to you… but everything is average.) Other than that disappointment, Texas has been pretty good. Of course, there are little comments and nasty looks here or there, but again, where are there not? The only thing I’m slightly worried about is the hurricane alert sent out today. No, I’m sure everything will be fine. Right?

???- 8/23/26

Attempt #7 ?

EVERYTHING WAS NOT OKAY. IT’S STILL NOT OKAY. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW.

Okay, I need to calm down. Here’s what happened. I was walking to the little house I’m staying in on the dock. I’ve always wanted to live on the water, so I thought this is my chance. (Plus, it was super cheap. I’m guessing the price was so low because I was rooming with a bunch of rats.) Anyway, I was walking and all of a sudden I heard a loud siren noise. (My first thought was that we were being abducted by aliens. Unluckily for me, that was not the case. But, who knows? What if that was my perfect fit?)

I started freaking out when people around me started running away from their houses. “It’s a hurricane! A hurricane is coming!” one person shouted, probably when they saw my puzzled face. That’s when I remembered the alert sent out earlier. His warning was too late, though. (Okay, so this next part was a giant blur. I’m not sure if what I remember is what really happened or if I’m being dramatic. But, I decided the dramatic version would be better to write in my journal, so here it goes.)

Suddenly, huge waves were crashing toward me at the dock. The wind was coming at me, too, but somehow I was not knocked over (yet). The dock was not as lucky. Soon enough, the dock broke apart and the piece that I was standing on was pulled farther into the ocean. This is when the wind knocked me off and I was submerged in the ice-cold water. I was struggling to breathe as wave after wave crashed over me. I thought that the ocean would be the end of me. I was somewhat satisfied with that, since I love the ocean so much. But I also didn’t want to die because I never completed my mission: to find my perfect fit.

Well, luckily for me, I was able to grab the dock and pull myself up. It then floated off far enough into the ocean that I wasn’t even in the hurricane anymore. So, that is where I am now: shivering in my soaking wet clothes, on top of a broken dock, in the middle of the ocean, and writing in my (how is it still dry??) journal. I guess we’ll see where the wind takes me. Literally.

A Random Island- ?/?/26

Attempt #8

I think I found it. My perfect fit. Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!! This will be my final journal entry for my journey, so I better make it good. Okay, here goes nothing:

My dock finally reached land after what felt like days. Was it days? Or was it weeks? I’m actually not completely sure. But as soon as I touched the sand, I let out a scream of joy. (Good thing you didn’t hear it, because it was LOUD.) It was a good thing it was loud, though, because soon, a group of people came running onto the beach.

When they saw me, they stopped. They looked at me and I looked at them. A smile spread across my face as I realized they were just like me. They must have realized it, too because instead of yelling at me, laughing and pointing, throwing things, or making jokes, they hugged me. It was the best feeling in the world. I had never been hugged before today. No one had ever wanted to hug me before today. Now I have people who do.

In just one day, they have become my family. I have finally realized who I am and the purpose of my mission. I am Caradeth Endsley and I am an outcast (figuratively and literally). This whole time, I shouldn’t have been looking for a place, I should have been looking for a family. That is what I found here. This is my perfect fit.