When I opened that cedar box, I thought I was unlocking a mystery—turns out, I was unlocking myself.

The key, the locket, the lake… all breadcrumbs Lois left not just for a fun treasure hunt, but for me to rediscover my family and my place in it. In that dusty cabin by Lake Crescent, surrounded by decades of laughter, birthdays, and handwritten notes, I realized what Lois had been trying to teach me all along.

It was never about winning at UNO. It was about paying attention to the stories we carry, the memories we forget to cherish, and the roots we pretend don’t matter. Lois didn’t just give me clues—she gave me permission to belong again.

So when I came back, I hugged her like never before. She just smiled and said, “Live it now.”

The lesson? Sometimes, the answers we seek aren’t in the future or the distance—they’re tucked away in the forgotten corners of our past. Open the box. Ask the questions. Reclaim your story.

And if this touched you, share it. Someone out there might need that nudge to remember who they are.