I just got back from 12 days of traveling, which was very much needed and exhausting at the same time. I let myself take a full break for once in my life and I felt so ready to get back into the swing of things. Then, the day I got home, I got sick. Sore throat, stuffy nose, tight chest, can’t breathe type of sick. It’s been a few days and I’m feeling better now. This is a travel diary of my fall break trip.
Friday, October 13th
Maddie and I drove to our friend Dallon’s cabin to spend the weekend. We left at 11 AM. We drove northeast from Salt Lake City towards Wyoming. We stopped in Evanston at the liquor store, because Utah liquor stores are the worst. Our haul included a bottle of Malibu, 4 bottles of Soju, a box of pink wine, and 3 shooters because the baby bottles are just so cute. After eating a 6 piece spicy chicken nugget and fries from Wendy’s, we headed south to the cabin in the Uinta’s.
Once we arrived, we just hung out. I painted my nails while my friends decorated the cabin with Halloween decorations. Here is my boyfriend, Michael, and Gabe putting googly eyes on a moose. It was supposed to be scary, but mostly it just looked like he was tripping.
Before dinner, we took a walk down the street. The cabin is located in a small mountain town with a few other houses half a mile away, so we walked past teepees and signs saying “PRIVATE PROPERTY.” The trees were beautiful, and so were my friends.
A reluctant job I have in life is one as a sous chef. Both Michael and my friend, Mikeina, love to cook and are very scary when they do. Like get out of my way, but also clean up after me, but also I love you scary. I was sous chef at the cabin - Mik cooked the dinners. The first night she made vodka pasta sauce and we didn’t get to eat until 10 PM due to a lack of blender issue. Michael watched the sauce for a while and I was a good sous chef here.
Saturday, October 14th
I woke up at about 11 AM and made myself a bagel for breakfast. I forced Maddie to help me do my skincare in the kitchen sink with cups of water poured from a gallon jug that we brought. There was no running water in the cabin on the trip.
We took turns looking at the eclipse for the 2 pairs of glasses Maddie’s mom gave us. I sat outside and mostly just dilly-dallied. Maddie left because she had to get to Oogie Boogie Bash. I really couldn’t tell you what I did all day until about 5 PM - we carved some pumpkins. I carved a kitty with some help from Mik.
Post-pumpkin carving, Mik, Michael, Lucas, and I cooked sliders and baked potatoes. This was my favorite dinner of the trip. This night, everyone dressed up. I had no social battery and didn’t want to do anything, so I just laid in bed and watched Halloweentown. I went to bed at 12 AM. A couple of my friends came in to visit me and give me some hugs. Michael, too.
Sunday, October 15th
I woke up late this day, again, around 12 PM. We did absolutely nothing until later in the day when we went to a lookout point and watched the sunset. The view was unreal. I watched the boys sit on a fence and be cute, watched the girls run around in the field and be even cuter, and read my book in the bed of Jack’s truck. We also saw some elk on the way up. They were huge and had white butts.
Mik made me kimchi soup for dinner (soooooooo delicious).
Monday, October 16th
We all started to clean as soon as we woke up. It took us about 4 hours, and we left around 4 PM. Michael and I rode with Jack and Mikeina, and we took the scenic route back home. We stopped at a waterfall that is at the beginning of the Provo River. It was so pretty and the sun felt really nice on our faces after being inside so much. We got home at 6 PM and stopped at Taco Bell.
Michael drove me home and I hugged Ron and unpacked. As soon as I finished, I started packing again for the next 8 days. I gave up halfway through, shoved random things into my suitcase, and called it a night. I drove to Michael’s house to hang out with my friends since I can’t get enough of them. We watched Nightmare on Elm Street and ate Cheez-Its.
Tuesday, October 17th
Drove home at 5:30 AM, called an Uber, and arrived an hour and a half early to the airport for my 8 AM flight. No matter how much I travel and learn that security only takes 20 minutes in the Salt Lake City airport, I will always show up an hour and a half early.
My travel day was long, but not as bad as some I’ve had in the past. I landed in Pittsburgh at 4 PM. My Aunt Michelle and Grammy came to pick me up. When I saw them, I almost cried because I haven’t been home in so long. I held back my tears, gave them hugs, and rolled my eyes at Grammy’s obligatory comment: “You’ve gotten taller!” (I haven’t grown in 8 years, she’s just really short).
The drive home was beautiful. Fall foliage on the East coast is unbeatable, sorry.
This trip was special because I was surprising my sisters. All of the adults knew I was coming, but I think my sisters had given up all hope that I’d ever come home - they had no idea. I walked into the chaotic-ness of my mom’s house and started crying immediately. My sisters’ jaws instantly dropped and the dogs welcomed me with lots of barks and tail wags. Ashley jumped on me to give me a hug, Emma followed. Dani doesn’t like hugs too much, but she gave me one anyway. They are like my children, so seeing them after months of being away always makes me so emotional. And then, of course, I hugged my mom. Mom hugs are better than any other hug on the planet.
We spent the night playing YouTube trivia games and singing karaoke. My karaoke song of choice is Feeling This by Blink-182. Best of all time.
Wednesday, October 18th
After a much needed 10 hours of sleep, I got up. I had some work to do this morning, so I did that first. My sisters skipped school to hang out with me, which was awesome. We ate Wendy’s that Paul (our step-dad) got for us and watched Us (2019).
My dad came and picked us up to take us to his house/Grammy’s house (where I stay). They live right across the street from one another. I showered and got ready, then went to my dad’s house. Once I got there, I surprised my step siblings: Katie and Miles. I also got to meet my older step-brother’s (Tyler) new baby named Colby. He was adorable and the happiest baby I’ve ever seen. It’s fun to have a new addition to our family.
We were taking family photos that evening at Aunt Michelle’s house. They went well and we had a lot of fun together, like we always do. It was really cold, though, so we were all glad when we were finished. We had dinner together and chatted about our lives. I wished everyone a good night, and then left for Grammy’s to sleep. Instead of sleeping right away, I talked to her for an hour while I ate a frozen pizza. Talking to Grammy is really special to me because I can tell how appreciative she feels when someone listens to her. I love her so much.
PART 2 WILL BE SENT ON FRIDAY!! It will include the second half of my trip home and my trip to Chicago.
Thanks for reading!