Submitted by Leilani
Tennessee Trip
Do you remember the first time you saw snow? As a Florida girl, I will never forget. It was a gentle mist, almost like a light rain. Not really enough to play in, but so cool nonetheless. I was on a family trip in Tennessee for Thanksgiving, and while the snow was beautiful, what made the trip so special was the quality time I spent with my Mom.
When I heard we were going to road trip to Tennessee I was so excited. I love spending time with my family. I was in 3rd grade, and since I was officially the oldest cousin on the trip, I got my choice of seat in the van AND my own bed. The little kids had to share. We drove super late into the night, and I loved keeping my Mom company and chatting while she drove. She told me not to worry about her and get some sleep, but I took being her co-pilot very seriously.
Thanksgiving was great. We gathered around the table to stuff ourselves silly with the feast my Grandma Joanne prepared. I know everyone thinks their Grandma is the best cook in the world, but trust me when I tell you mine is just FABULOUS.
The rest of the trip was spent exploring the town and playing with my cousins. We toured these amazing underground caverns – I’d never seen anything like it. One night when everyone else was sleeping my Mom crept into my room and asked if I wanted to go get candy. Ummm…yes please! It was such a special night because it was just her and I. We rarely got to have one on one time. Between school and work and my little sister, there just wasn’t a lot of time to spare to just hang out with each other. Especially spur of the moment and unscheduled, like our secret candy date. We got to the shop and it turned out there were no nut-free options, but no matter…we just sat outside and talked and it was still so fun. This trip helped me realize how precious time is with the people we love, and how sometimes the most special moments come when you least suspect them.