Travels, Local Shenanigans, Everything In Between

When I was little, my dad told me I could fix anything with string and Scotch tape. I wish that were true. Life comes with ups and downs, but it’s all an adventure. Here are my adventures, from travels to local shenanigans, crafts to personal accomplishments. Who knows, there might even be a little string and Scotch tape along the way.

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I’ve been a little on the bluesy side, as my cousin would say, and haven’t been much into adventures lately. Or so I thought, until I took the time to realize I just haven’t been celebrating the little adventures that I have been taking. ...Overnight trip to the river, my aunt’s garden party, an amazing belated birthday dinner at Merroir, my first poke bowl on the last day my favorite sushi place was open (RIP Mai Sushi)...Heck, even hanging out in my own backyard oasis. All on the home front adventure list. Sometimes I think it is easy to get into your own mind and forget to appreciate the little things in life, the small adventures. Here’s to getting out of my head, into the moment, and celebrating it! 

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Forgiveness means that you've found a way forward that acknowledges harm done and hurt caused without letting either your anger or your pain rule your life or define your relationship with the one who did you wrong.

Cheryl Strayed

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best-laid plans

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Long distance is difficult. I used to think it was a recipe for failure, but I found out it’s not. It just means a little more work. I think that makes it worth it.

It’s always an adventure with T. After all, when you only get to spend 1-3 weeks together at a time, you’re always trying to cram fun stuff into the time you do have. Making sure to see family, painting the town a little, exploring, building things, fixing things, going on day trips. It wears you out a little sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade the time for anything.

 This go ‘round we had 12 days together. I got new shelving for my pantry/mudroom/laundry room. It’s absolutely amazing! We not only made it out to eat with all the parents, but parents met parents (this felt like a big deal for some mysterious reason, like some sort of relationship milestone that I did not realize was a thing until it happened). We made it to DC for an overnight trip where we got to roam around the Mall and see a Caps game. Did y’all know the Museum of Natural History has a live butterfly exhibit? He’s back off shore again now. I can’t wait to rendezvous in Key West soon. Only 19 more sleeps!

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Ventured over to my dad’s last night. I love that man; he’s always got something up his sleeve. Last night it was a fishing lure project. Melted the lead down ourselves and poured it into molds to make silver buddies. We’ll be ready for fishing just as soon as the weather warms up a little bit. As for today? We’re up bright and early and on the train to D.C. Tickets for tonight’s Caps game are in our pockets, and we’ll be tromping around the mall before we know it!

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Plans for our next trip are coming together. I'll be bound for the keys before I know it! So far we've planned a fishing trip in Key West and thinking about a snorkel trip in the middle keys. I get giddy thinking about this trip, and even more giddy thinking about all of the unplanned trips in the future.

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At the beginning of the month, Punxsutawney Phil took his ass back to bed and told us we’d have six more weeks of winter. I, however, am beginning to think he was just up late the night before and needed a few more z’s. It’s been unseasonably warm for the last week or two, and Richmond was absolutely beautiful this weekend. I found myself alongside my mother, crossing the new footbridge over the James River at Brown’s Island. It opened in December, but this was my first time getting there since it opened. I so enjoyed her company, and took pleasure showing her some parts of the city she had never seen, or at the very least had just forgotten. We crossed the new bridge from Brown’s Island to Manchester and then circled back, making our way to Belle Isle over the suspension bridge. The sun was warm against our skin as we ventured around the island, and I broke a sweat that I did not expect in February.

I love the adventures like this I get to take with my mother. She seems to have a knack for enjoying the simple pleasures in life and opening her heart to the little joys that the world brings. She wants to get out and do, to keep experiencing life and all it has to offer. I feel the same desire, and hope I follow in her footsteps. I hope I can inspire her the way she inspires me. Sometimes I don’t always give her enough credit, and I don’t always understand her. But she is a forced to be reckoned with, as I suppose most mothers are. I’ll always look forward to our adventures together, as small or large as they may be.