As I go through my Grandma Bennett’s diary and my Mom’s letter it is interesting to see where they stopped and realize they only took highways as there was no interstate. To add to this, as I was getting my suitcase out of the extra bedroom closet, I found all the travel brochures, post cards, and maps that I have always had of my parents. Up until this point they had no meaning. I even looked at eBay one time to see if I could sell them. Well they are connected to all the places I now realize. It will be fun to compare how things have changed. Although I have had these in my possession, I think it is ironic that they were under the suitcase I haven’t used in a few years. I had totally forgotten about them.

We are taking a different route to start with as we are visiting some really good friends in Bozeman, Montana. We actually met them when Jill and their son Patrick were at Terrific Two’s at the YWCA. Those two were both a little shy and they brought out the best in each other! Our families became great friends. They moved back to Montana in the early 90’s and we took a family vacation to see them. We decided we had to make this detour.

I have decided not to share the rest of our itinerary at this time. I will post whenever I can. I am taking my NIKON camera as well as my new phone for pictures. So hopefully I get some really good shots. And post pictures as well as my thoughts as we go.

I can’t say this enough. I appreciate all my followers and supporters. You have all played a special roll in my life at some point and I appreciate you so much. When you don’t have your parents and/or brothers and sisters living with you, friends and their families including their parents are so important. My Grandma and I discussed this more than once, how other people probably do not have a clue how important they are to me, “It takes a village” was the saying when my kids were young, but I actually had the best village ever. My neighborhood was a little cocoon that I grew up in.

I also have to give a shout out to my family!! I have always thought I had the BEST family. But as I am going back through things, learning new things, and seeing a lot more through adult eyes, I know for sure I have the best. I can not imagine my life any other way and my Grandma, cousins, aunts, and uncles are a big part of why I feel that way. I am planning on talking more about that after the trip. But thank you to all of my family who are following and supporting me. I love you!!

I can’t help but wonder what my Grandma would think of all of this. She loved to travel any chance she got. But, I kind of think she initially would have had some concerns. Once I assured her I am ok and that my expectations are to see God’s beauty I think she would love the idea. I am not searching for anything specific. But I just want to experience what my Mom and Grandma Bennett wrote about. This is such an adventure for Jay and I. We love to travel and just go places but we choose to stay in the US. This is our biggest adventure so far. (or maybe Pennsylvania was farther?)

I plan to post Friday and then hopefully my first post from the road will be Saturday sometime or Sunday from Montana.