Mom and I took numerous long car rides together when I was a child. Most of the time, it was to get groceries an hour away, but there were many times she had a class to take during the summer, an appointment or an audition in a faraway city that I wanted to go to. We'd set off and she'd put on her favorite music from the '40s and '50s, a musical or a book on tape. Occasionally she'd let me pick the music... even though she didn't care for it (90's alternative just wasn't her thing).
Sometimes I'd talk and talk or ask ten million questions, to which she'd relay stories of her life experiences and vast knowledge of the world. Other times, I'd just watch the landscape as we listened to whatever was on while I'd let my imagination take over. I felt safe when she drove us places and looked forward to arriving at our destination. It was always new and invariably different. Stopping for food was always a treat because we'd usually stop at Pizza Hut for a thin crust extra pepperoni pizza or at Long John Silver's (yay junk food!).
We took a lot of trips like that and though it may seem like something mundane, we were going on adventures. I rarely knew what would happen along the way but I knew that I could just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Looking back now, while reflecting on the time we had together; it wasn't where we were going or even the things we did once we arrived. It was our time with one another, just her and I, taking a break from our normal lives to embark on a journey together.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "It's not the destination, it's the journey." I didn't know it back then, but there is so much truth to that, and mom taught me that with every expedition. Ever the teacher, even now, as we all go forth without her here, it is the lessons she taught us that we will take with us on our journeys. For that, she will remain with us always.
Until we meet again Mom, I love you and thank you.
