Dear Z,

Last Saturday, we went on a little road trip to South Carolina to visit a home schooling conference where your dad was speaking. We have been feeling isolated where we currently live, far from family, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. Your dad is a busy man, so the hours on the road were likely to outnumber the hours we would have with him. But after pulling into the parking lot, you snuggled in close as we walked to the convention center and promised me a kiss for every 15-passenger van we saw. Even then, the trip was already worth it.

When we got inside, your dad immediately scooped J out of your arms and started chatting with him. Our son studied his grandfather’s face, contentedly munching on the edge of his suit jacket. Once we reached his booth, we were greeted by old colleagues, friends, and a few strangers who were excited to meet us simply because they care about your dad. Over the course of the next few hours, we got to chat with them about literature, studying abroad, marketing, and all sorts of grown up things while a sleepy J was passed around the doting crew.

After lunch, we headed to the car for a few more hours on the road and an afternoon resting back at home. When we got back, you had us listen to a podcast by Dax Shepard where he interviewed his wife Kristen Bell. You wanted us to listen to it because they spend the first 15 minutes talking about the fight they were just in, holding nothing back but still loving each other through the tension. I can’t describe how much I love you just for the fact that you are always drawn to real talk.

Afterwards, I got some wet wood off of our patio and tried to light it in the fireplace. Five fire starters and an hour later and we had a mediocre blaze fizzling out long before the wood was gone. You made a stir fry on the stove, getting oil on the shirt we bought yesterday. But the fire was nice while it lasted, the meal you made was delicious, and we have a few dollars left on the gift card. Hopefully we can try and find a similar shirt sometime soon.

All in all, a success. Two weekends, two road trips in a row, a few good conversations, a failed fire, a ruined shirt, and one angel child tagging along for it all.

Yours,

S