Ten Things of Thankful: Road Trip to Family Reunion Edition

Photo: The road ahead as viewed through a rain-splattered windshield

I recently returned from a vacation in Oregon. It had been 5 years since my brother, sister, and I were together with my parents at the same time. It had been even longer than that since some of the cousins had been together. We had to revert to saying "Gen 3" instead of "the kids," since most of the "children" are now adults. 

Photo: Some of the "Gen 3" cousins stand on a rock on the beach

I love the idea of family, and I love the reality of my family. We are strong and diverse, but unified in support, love, and laughter. 

We rented a place on the Oregon coast. When people talk about going to the beach, they usually envision sandy shores, calm waters, and beautiful blue skies. When Oregonians go to the coast, they walk over rocks, driftwood piles, and among long pieces of seaweed. Sweatshirts and coats are appropriate, even in summer, and windswept hair is all the fashion rage. Rain is, of course, common. 

We had so much fun!

When we weren't bravely walking on the shore, we were visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory, the Air Museum, or trying to get out of an escape room. (Gen 1 and 2 didn't even make it into the escape room, because the power went out shortly after Gen 3 entered their room--which had windows--but the room we were waiting to enter had no windows, and several electronic components.) We also played plenty of board games. We bemoaned the fate that Pronto Pup, inventor of the corn dog, was closed for the season, but that didn't stop three of us (the only non-corn-dog-eating individuals in the family) from taking our photos on the riding corn dog outside the restaurant. 

Photo: A collage of photos showing my daughter, me, and my mom riding (or pretending to mount, in my mom's case) a mechanical corn dog. 

All too soon, my brother and his family drove back to their house (dropping my daughter at her place on the way), and my sister and her family flew back home. Fortunately, the rest of us were able to spend time at my parents' house for a few days. We got to visit my grandma, too, just before her 102nd birthday. Though Alzheimer's has made conversation difficult for her, she did speak several sentences while we were there, including, "I'm glad to see you, too." The sparkle is still in her eyes. She was featured on the local TV station's birthday segment, which can be found here.

When the vacation came to a close, we continued down memory lane on our way home to Utah. We passed by my Dad's old stomping grounds and my grandparents' house. Though John was willing to pull over, I continued my series of photos, "Taken at Freeway Speeds Out a Dirty Window." 

Photo: The white-capped Three Sisters mountains in Central Oregon provide a beautiful background to a wired-fenced grassy field

Photo: A stunningly gorgeous orange-pink sunset through scalloped clouds in Idaho marked the end of a wonderful vacation.

Though I didn't use a 1, 2, 3, list for this TToT, I'm sure there are well over 10 102 things to be thankful for in this post. 2018 has ended, but 2019 beckons with possibility. I'm thankful! 

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