Home for the Holidays

As you may recall, I took a road trip up to Ohio this past month to spend the holidays with my family. A fifteen hour drive by myself! I did pretty good too. I only had two mishaps. One - listening to every person who ever claimed Jack In The Box was good eatin' and two, a little fender bender. (Who knew trying to jump a Corolla over 13 shopping carts, 4 mall Santas and a plastic baby Jesus could be dangerous?)

Anyways. To continue... I had luggage and Christmas gifts in trunk, a drink cooler in the backseat and my XM Radio set on the 80's. What more could I possibly need? I'll tell you what. Tinted windows. Can't a girl sing Wham's "I'm Your Man" in the privacy of her car without getting a honk and a thumbs up from a passing trucker? I'm sure he couldn't hear my singing, and I'm more inclined to believe it was my slick, car seat dance moves that he was applauding, but still... tinted windows. Note to self.

After stopping for the night in Rock Hill, SC and multiple bathroom breaks (damn Jack In The Box), I finally made it to the Ohio line!


Around 3PM I pulled up to my Mom's house. Everyone say hi to my Mom. Hi Mommy! (Yes, I'm one of those folks who call their mom, Mommy. I also called my dad, Daddy. I'm not ashamed... they'll always be Mommy & Daddy. Period.)


Next I drove over to my brother's house. That's when it really sank in that I was "home for the holidays". Isn't this a nice holiday welcome:


Once it got dark, we all ventured out to look at Christmas lights. And boy did we find them!


Could it get any better, you ask? Why yes, yes it does. I awoke the next morning to snow. I was going to have a white Christmas!


I abandoned my family for a bit and drove north to Erie, PA to meet up with my ol' pal, Vel. I've already recapped this portion of my trip and you can read about it here. Then on Tuesday, I drove into Columbus to have dinner with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Cheryll.


I met Cheryll during my junior year of high school. Although she was my journalism advisor, we formed an immediate friendship. It was through her guidance and encouragement that I attended Ohio University and majored in Journalism. And, in later years, Cheryll stood in as my Maid of Honor at my wedding. She's awesome! So everyone say hi to Cheryll. Hi Cheryll!

The next several days were a blur; filled with family time, shopping, eating tons o' junk, playing Rock Band and snow tubing!


And before I knew it, it was Christmas...


Here's my niece, Chelsea, modeling her new boots. Clearly, she's thrilled with them! Her mom... not so much. They were returned the next day. Mom didn't realize the boots would make her little girl look like such a hooker. Poor Chelsea. Maybe Santa will bring you hooker boots next year, when you're a little bit older.


And check out my nephew, Chase. After we were all done with our gift exchange, we went upstairs so he could play his guitar for me (the kid played Crazy Train!). He's awesome! And check the poster... yep, kid after my own heart. Again, I say... he's awesome!


I had to get up early the next morning to begin my long drive back to Florida. But before I made my departure, there was one more photo I had to take...


Best ice cream ever! Ohio, family and friends... yeah, yeah, yeah. It was really the ice cream that made it a happy holiday. The ice cream, I say!