15May2026
Two weeks ago, I took my mom for a road trip. I have bought a new VW van and I went to pick it up. What an adventure!
The search for a van has been ongoing for many years. We’ve talked about it since we started dating and we’ve looked and finally found one that worked for us. I was able to go and pick it up.
28May2026
Even cooler update: we just got back from our first ever family vacation. And we took the van to the ocean with the kids and it was the best time!
Maybe I should back up. On the first of May, I took my mom and we flew to California to pick up our new van. We drove it back on that weekend and it was a blast. I took my mom on an adventure to the Queen Mary and then to the beach. From there we started our way home. I took I-40 across the top of Arizona to Holbrook and then south from there to home.
When I got home it was so much fun to show the kids. Little Gotro, Maggie, was the first to come and see it. Her face lit up and she was super excited. Kelsie and the kids got there afterwards, and it was so awesome to see her so excited.
We planned a trip for the end of the month right then. We wanted to go to the beach and since Memorial Day landed on Kelsie’s birthday we chose that weekend. The biggest bummer was Maggie wasn’t able to come because she just started a new job and had already requested time off this month to get her wisdom teeth removed. So we started planning a trip for her to come with us.
Anyhow, the first weekend we had it, Kelsie and Ryan and the kids took it out for an adventure to camp. Maggie was there with them as was Thomas. My mom and I had gone to see my niece graduate from college with her BS. Made me want to go back to school for sure. We then took a little trip to see my Great Aunt and Uncle as it was Aunt Shirley’s 90th birthday.
The next weekend, Thomas and I took her out for a night. Just us. No dog just us hanging out with each other, tha was so much fun! I hadn’t been camping in so many years and I certainly never had something so swanky to sleep in. Talk about an upgrade. 🚌
The trip finally rolls around and we are in the final two days before we leave and of course Thomas and I are griping at each other. The day to leave comes and we are doing alright, though it was a little bumpy getting started. We pick up Kelsie and the trip begins. Again, a little rough but we get to our first stop and change drivers. Got to the first stop for the night, and set up at a truck stop. We were about four hours from our next destination.
I drive first shift and then Thomas takes over once we are in town. He shows us all of the coolest things like where he went to college, to high school, where he lived when he was little, where he lived as a younger man and where Kelsie went to school. We hit up the favorite skate shop and talked to the owners like they were old friends. It was amazing to see him so happy. So luciouious with everyone and the smile that beamed.
We got to the beach and the kids got to see the ocean for the first time. That was so cool to see. We spent the afternoon playing on the sand, walking around, buying useless stuff I don’t need. It was glorious! Dinner spot was a little rough. Never been to a place where everyone’s food comes out at different times. I was still waiting for my food and both the kids had finished their dinner already with Thomas and Kelsie having finished part of their dinner. Not that great for food either but, one bad meal isn’t too bad.
We went to the van and put on long clothes and back to the ocean. That sound of the waves breaking makes my heart feel so amazing! 🤩 We spent the night close enough that in the early morning hours when traffic had not quite gotten to the volume of a freight train, it was beautiful to hear the waves upon waking. After coffee and a pee, we hit the waves again and this time the kids donned their suits and got into the Pacific Ocean. It was damn cold. I’m happy with my feet in the water but not too much else as it’s fucking cold as hell in that damn water. We are not in Hawaii or the Marshall Islands. It’s cold in Southern California and I’m not about to get in that body of water without a full wet suit.
Our next stop was to the skate shop again. And then for fun surprises, we took the group to the Queen Mary and stayed the night. Showers were heavenly after that salt all over me. 😁😎
Dinner took us to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. where we enjoyed drinks and our table won the trivia for the movie that the place is based on. 😁 cuz I’m a fucking genius that’s why. I can also answer questions regarding the soundtrack to that movie (Forrest Gump).
The beds onboard the ship were amazing. Either that or I was exhausted and feel into a deep sleep. All of us slept like that. It was blissful and felt good to wake up. We got our stuff together and then headed up for breakfast and I’m telling you, dear reader, getting the breakfast package is well worth it! In every way! It was Sunday now and once we checked out of the hotel, we headed across the bay for the Aquarium of the Pacific and some shopping. The Converse store was epic and I would love to take my little 🪿 back as she would love it! The whole atmosphere was so laid back and it felt good to feel like I could relax a little. Not sure why the mountain has caused me I feel like I’m trapped here, but I feel like I need to be by the ocean. And I want that to happen sooner rather than later. I want to buy a house near the beach, if not on it, and just work there and surf and be. It’s got food choices that we don’t have up here, like anything other than the 17 different Mexican food places I go to regularly.
Things aren’t the same here as when I grew up here. Not that things are so different, however, our school was a lot better than it is now. Out of ten, Blue Ridge is a three. 3/10. That’s so disheartening to me. We used to have teachers held in such high respects and now classrooms are a joke of some kind. We didn’t talk back to our teachers, we didn’t have so many options for schooling either. And with so many kids being homeschooled there isn’t enough funding to have all the things that help our futures grow and learn. And they are the future. Like it or not, it’s how life works. And we are crippling them by taking away public education and dismantling it for school vouchers? Are you fucking kidding me?! I have a hard time with this one. My hometown, my state, has come to this kind of shameful educational issues. We are 48th in education. Out of 50. Yeah. That’s not a good rating at all. I digress…
We spent the day enjoying ourselves, all had different kids of lunch, Thomas and I ended up at Islands and that was so delicious. Even got me some free chips and salsa. Gotta love that! Kelsie and the kids had street food of some kind that I don’t know what it was. Looked good though.
When we left from there, the trip homeward began. We got to Quartzsite late, but not as late as when we got there the first time. Got home around 3.30-4. I don’t remember.
To say it was refreshing would be just too simple, but it was blissful and freeing, and recharging, and it was everything we all needed. Plans to go back have already began with reservations for an upcoming weekend. And plans for our weekend with Maggie has begun as well. She’s super excited. Wish I could take her sooner, she’s an ocean kind of kid as well.
And as with any good time, our trip came to an end. I’m so glad we did it and I’m so glad that we are going to be going back. The van was such an amazing investment. A little about the van, it’s a 1989 VW Vanagon with Subaru engine. It has air conditioning and a full kitchen with a pop top. We have gotten a hammock for the kids for the front compartment and it sleeps 5. It’s been so much fun. We will be doing a few things to it. I need to cut some of the cabinets and make room for a full width bed. I can sleep 6 and carry 6. We will be getting new curtains going and a few other little things. Take the fridge out and get a different style and get some different storage out of it. Overall it’s a blast and I’m so excited for the many adventures to come!
And with that, I’ll sign off for now. Happy day to you, dear reader. ❤️
The Morning High Runner 