Some stories don’t just come from the past — they flutter back into our lives like monarchs returning home, carrying pieces of who we once were. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a memory that resurfaced at my 50‑year high school reunion, a story that began in first grade with a shy crush, a very smart boy named John, and a ring wrapped in aluminum foil that never quite made it into my hands.
It’s a tale about childhood innocence, the way life loops back on itself, and how the smallest forgotten moments can suddenly shine again decades later. This one made me smile for days, and I think it might melt your heart a little too.
Let’s go back—way back—to where it all started.
20 Sept 2026
EP83 - Honeymoon in Maine
Welcome back to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today I’m taking you on a trip straight into the heart of one of my favorite stories — our honeymoon.
Now, if you know me, you already know I’m an outdoors girl through and through. So while most people picture tropical beaches and umbrella drinks, our honeymoon was something entirely different: rugged northern Maine, a golden retriever named Amber, a truck full of camping gear, and a husband who thought he was the seasoned outdoorsman.
This episode is all about adventure — the kind that surprises you, challenges you, makes you laugh, and stays with you for decades. From the quiet beauty of Cobscook Bay to the candy‑striped lighthouse at Quoddy Head, from pitching a tent on a pristine Canadian beach to the hilariously frustrating hunt for a dog‑friendly hotel, this is the story of how our honeymoon became one of the most unforgettable chapters of our life together.
And yes… it ends with a Christmas surprise that still makes me cry.
Let’s dive in.
7 Sept 2026
EP82 - You Think You Know
Some stories ask to be told only once, and some insist on being revisited so we can finally lay them down. This episode is one of those. It’s painful, honest, and necessary—not because it is the last chapter, but because the remaining chapters belong together in a different kind of light.
Today, I’m returning to the story of my adopted daughters, a story that shaped me, stretched me, and ultimately taught me what it means to love someone enough to let them go. This isn’t an easy episode. It carries heartbreak, bewilderment, and the long, slow work of acceptance. But it also carries relief, clarity, and the quiet strength that comes from choosing peace over longing.
If you’ve ever loved someone who drifted away, if you’ve ever tried to hold together a family that was unraveling, or if you’ve ever had to release a relationship for your own well‑being, I hope you’ll find something here that speaks to you. This episode is part of a grouping of final reflections—stories that don’t end neatly, but end truthfully.
Let’s begin.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
57
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
71
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