The Trip Home was Cooler

Crammed in the car, cross country. Mom, me, and two bossy brothers.

From Florida to California for a wedding- hell on wheels, quite literally.

It was the way home that made the memories that have stuck in my brain like crazy glue-

We each got to choose a fun place to stop on the way home. Three eclectic choices.

My older brother chose the Grand Canyon- I thought it would be bigger…

Don’t get me wrong, the majesty of the place was mind-blowing, but we weren’t there long.

My little brother chose Roswell New Mexico and that was cool. I still remember the

Glow in the dark alien necklace I got- and no we didn’t find the real area 51.

I chose the Carlsbad Caverns. We only spent a day there, but I still remember the dark

caves and the awesome tour. The damp and foreboding mixed with the sheer awe of the place.

Also, we met our neighbors from Florida there- all the way in New Mexico.

Totally blew my mind at the time… and it still does all these years later.

That summer was a combination of cramped quarters and stuffy wedding clothes,

Mixed with the delightful excitement of discovery.