A trip to remember
/Earlier this month I traveled back east to Pennsylvania. I went with my Aunt Emily to surprise my Aunt Joanne for her 60th birthday-- both of them my mother's sisters.
I cannot tell you how much fun it is navigating airports, hotels, shuttles, restaurants, and life with this woman. Such an adventure! She just cracks me up, you have to know her!
Our secret trip was a success until we ran into my unsuspecting Aunt the day before her party. We saw her in the Dollar General parking lot, and needless to say, we were 3,000 miles from home and she wanted to know why! What followed was a lot of hugging, and explaining, and a few tears too. Oh well. It gave us an excuse to start celebrating early.
{My cousin Jason with us girls}
My family threw a lovely (no longer a surprise) party for The Birthday Girl.
It was so fun to have everyone together all at once. It had been a very, very, long time.
From there, the party just continued...
We went for a little "hike" (Central Pennsylvania is very flat).
{Anna, and Kane, and Ella. 2nd cousins.}
We did some shopping and lunching. Such a treat!
And then there was a trip into the city. Gorgeous day in Philly!
Rural Pennsylvania had some lovely sights as well.
We also worked in a visit to Hershey's Chocolate World, and another VERY important birthday (Mac's 1st!)
Above all that we did, and all that we saw, were the feelings I felt.
Being with these women was not only entertaining and fun, but also offered a familiar comfort. Sometimes I don't realize what I've forgotten about my mother. The sayings they use, the "march" in their walk, the way their upper lip disappears when they smile, the way they love strong coffee and bake cakes from scratch, the feisty gleam in their eye, the way their laugh trails off at the end... it all served as the sweetest little jog to my memory. I loved listening to the stories of my mother's childhood. It was important for me to be able to ask questions and get some of the gaps filled in. And, because my future model of what a mother/woman looks like is quickly fading as I approach the age that my mother was when she died, it was so wonderful to see, and share company with, these vibrant and beautiful ladies. I am so grateful for the time that we spent together.
And after 10 days away, there was a little tribe of people who were anxious to have me back. Home sweet home.