When I was little, our family vacations meant long trips in the car that seemed to last forever. If I was eight years old when we started, I was surely nine years old by the time we reached our destination that afternoon. It was pure torture.
Of course, I’m not the only adult whose childhood vacations included long hours looking out the window for cows or license plates or rest stops or Stuckey’s signs. Having survived all that, I am grateful for the beautiful scenery that my parents pointed out with awe, the historic sites that fascinated them, and the restaurant breakfasts with pancakes dripping with syrup—a rare treat. I also remember getting a stern talking-to or two whenever I complained or grouched too much.
Like then, I still get antsy in the car after a couple of hours. And now I’m the one who groans a bit while unfolding my legs to get out.
But on a recent road trip to see family and friends in MS and AL, the stops along the way made a little bit of impatience and the creaky knees worth it.
The last destination on our trip was to Fairhope, AL, where our friends, Martha and Paul, have a place on Mobile Bay. Being a landlubber from way back, I am still amazed that some people have large bodies of water in their backyards. Our friends have their very own wharf and a gorgeous, gracious home on stilts! Wow.
Like our other friends that we visited on this trip, Martha and Paul have the gift of hospitality. They had said to us, “Come on down,” so we were excited when we finally got a date on the calendar, especially since it coincided with the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival.
We went to the festival several years ago and had a great time looking at all the art and creativity on display. If you’ve never been to an arts festival, I encourage you to do so. It’s fascinating and inspiring, and you might end up with a treasure or two to take home.
On Saturday of this year’s festival, Paul, Martha, and their daughter, Meredith, and Mart and I drove a couple of miles to downtown Fairhope and joined the crowd walking toward the fun. Several main streets and side roads were cordoned off and covered up with booths full of jewelry, fine and folk art paintings, glass, wood, and pottery. Our friends introduced us to the work of one artist they like, and between us all, we bought three of her paintings. Mine is my office.
Most of Fairhope’s restaurants were open, so we ate a late breakfast at Julwyn’s, which offers the best blueberry pancakes I have ever had. (Pancakes again! Still a treat! ) We stopped in some favorite shops, including Page and Palette, a fabulous bookstore, so of course, Mart and I bought some books.
Back at our friends’ house, any spare moment we had was spent gazing at the water, relaxing, and catching up on our lives. The view was beautiful, but the best thing of all was being with them.
I’ve always been grateful for friends, but the last few years have shown me how very important they are. And how important it is to tell them.
I’ve also learned that if a friend ever says, “Come see us,” we should try our best to make it happen. Because despite how many miles it is, “the road to a friend’s house is never long.” (Danish Proverb)
If you were going to do a road trip, where would you go? Tell me in the comments below. I’d love to know!
Are you receiving my blog posts in your inbox? Here at Glimsen, I share glimpses of the beauty around us in nature, the arts, and the unexpected. If you like what you see, click the green button below to receive my posts and updates by email, and you'll also get a free gift of beauty in your inbox (see below). I look forward to connecting with you!
Photo by Matt Duncan on Unsplash