Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs! I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I’m taking you on a journey to a place that changed my life—an unexpected adventure in the land of fire and ice.

In the summer of 1980, I learned that my final year as an enlisted corpsman would be spent overseas. While my friends scrambled for warm, tropical assignments, I found myself captivated by one particular destination: Iceland. The landscapes, the wildlife, the sheer rugged beauty—it pulled me in like nothing else. Against all odds, I got my first choice, setting the stage for one of the most memorable years of my life.

From breathtaking waterfalls to volcanic eruptions, whale processing plants to the northern lights, my time in Iceland was full of challenges, exploration, and surprises—including a midnight ambulance drive through the darkness of Reykjavik.

So join me as I reflect on the experiences, the lessons learned, and the incredible country that left an imprint on my heart.