On a Sunday afternoon I called my parents for our weekly chat. My dad talked about driving out from Illinois to visit us in Virginia. I thought, sometime . . . he means sometime, like spring, or possibly summer.
Later that evening, my mom called to say they were getting in the car at 6am the next morning and would be to our house by Tuesday afternoon. They were coming to visit!
My parents took their first long road trip in more than 20 years in the middle of January. They drove 700 miles over two days to get to Charlottesville and did just fine by taking lots of breaks and getting lucky with clear (although cold) weather.
We had a good time while they were here — I had to work a bit due to their visit occuring in the middle of the week, but they were pretty understanding about that. I took them downtown to The Nook for lunch and mom and I shopped at The Needle Lady. We also browsed the bookstores. They got to see the boy, who was still home from college for the holidays, one of the reasons for the timing of their visit, and got to watch the girl’s basketball practice on Wednesday night.
It was fun to see them and take them around Charlottesville. It was only their second visit to our town since we moved here three years ago so I was happy to have them out and proud of them for making the long drive. It may be awhile before they do it again!
I think we could learn a lesson from their spontaneous road trip! Good for them. Glad everyone had a nice time.
I am really glad they came, too. Our shared grandchildren are so special and I am happy they got to spend some time with them. I’m glad the weather cooperated and I prayed for safe travel for them. Aren’t we glad God answers prayers!
Son #1 relocated to Tulsa after he graduated from college a year and a half ago. I’ve only been there a handful of times; the last one was a year ago this weekend! (I missed the Super Bowl because I was driving home).
It’s probably time for another visit.
Doesn’t that just make you feel all warm inside? Isn’t that what we all hope to be like when we get older? Free to just jump in the car and go. Good for them!
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For the last few years, each summer my husband and I jump in the car and go on a road trip…by ourselves. Last year, it was to CO and back–on a route that avoided KS. We saw Cheap Trick, Heart and Foreigner on the opening night of their tour, visited cousins, saw Mount Rushmore. We visited the Badlands National Park and the Rocky Mtn Natl Park and drove to the summit. The year before, it was Pigeon Forge, TN, which we not-so-lovingly call Pigeon Poop. A couple of times it was Sandusky, OH, home of Cedar Point Amusement Park, rollercoaster captital of the world. Road trips are an awesome way to get back to the heart o things. I hope we are still doing it in 30 years.