What is it about taking a road trip? As a kid, I wasn’t crazy about long car rides. They were boring and I fought with my sister about where we were sitting in the back seat and sometimes I got car sick. As an adult, if I am within driving distance, I prefer driving over flying. Long car rides mean discovering new places. Road trips give me a sense of possibility. I love the potential for getting lost, although I don’t always love getting lost. I love when I find my own way and get to a new place. This weekend I drove from Virginia to Ohio. I’d never been to Ohio before, so this was an adventure. I confess that driving over the mountains was my least favorite part, but I can look back and say I did it.

I rolled down the windows and cranked up the music and drove. I feel like each road trip changes me a tiny bit…makes me a little braver and reminds me to see the world beyond my own. Can’t wait for my next road trip! Where do you like to go?

Each night, my mom prepares her Keurig by putting a cup of water and a K-Cup in it. This saves her in the morning from rushing to make her coffee, even though it’s made with a touch of a button. You see, my mom and I always get ready at the last possible minute. We would rather sleep in and rush around in the morning than get up early and take our time to do our morning tasks. Therefore, of course, I slept in until 7:20 when I had to be ready by 8:00 for my fellow Teacher Cadet, Ashley, to pick me up so we could get to field experience on time. I rushed to get my hair and makeup done, and by the time I finished it was 7:58. Shoot. I ran upstairs with my backpack and grabbed a tumbler for my coffee to go (because Lord knows I need it). I filled it up with water, poured it into the Keurig, and then realized my mom already filled it with water last night. Great; just what I needed. I had completely forgotten that my mom did that every night, and now the Keurig was overflowing with water. My mom had also put in a fresh K-Cup in it. I also noticed that it was her last one. At this point, I didn’t even care. I was in a rush, and I desperately needed coffee like one needs air to breathe. It was 8:02 at this point, and Ashley had texted me to let me know she was running late. At least time was in my favor to get my coffee ready. I pressed the button to brew the coffee, and watched as a small stream of dark, bitter liquid spewed into my tumbler. As it was brewing, I felt a little guilty, as I knew my mom would now be without coffee that morning. Ashley texted me saying, “Here,” and I scrambled with my bookbag out the door. As I was driving to my field experience school with Ashley, “Sorry” by Justin Bieber started playing, and I am convinced it was a sign that I shouldn’t have taken my mom’s last K-Cup. Guiltily, I texted my mom and let her know the crime I committed before she would find out for herself. Now, because my mom would be without coffee, she’d be cranky, but what really would grind her gears was that I was the culprit behind her crankiness.

I love a good night of sleep, snuggled in my blankets with only one pillow when I’m sleeping. Warm, cozy, dreaming of more snow days. Ahh! Last night, I was snoozing away, I turned over and opened my eyes and, “WHAT?!?!” Bella was standing on my bed staring at me. She licked my nose once. I glanced at the clock and it was one AM. I rolled over and returned to sleep.  She snuggled in by my feet and fell asleep too. An hour later, it happened again! This time, there was whining and pacing. 

Bella being awake in the middle of the night is unusual. She likes her sleep too. This can only mean one thing. I get up, throw on a coat over my jammies and put on her leash. As we walked downstairs, she ran to her water bowl and lapped up gallons of water. She sounded like she hadn’t had anything to drink in months! She’d finished her water last night and she was thirsty, parched actually. A drink of water and a bathroom break at 2AM. She really is just like a little kid. Oh, Bella! 

If I’m cranky today, you know whose fault it is…Bella!