Spontaneous California Trip

The desert.

The wind blows the hot, brown dust across the brush and Joshua trees. The sun heats up the earth and coyotes cries can be heard echoing through the night. Where the brilliant expanse of stars illuminates my peripheral.

This is where Aaron calls home. This is where I come to visit during this last semester before he can add two letters behind his name. Aaron D. Jackson, RN. Sounds good huh?

When my aunt Charla called with a proposition I couldn't refuse, plans were hurriedly set into effect. Plane tickets booked, bags packed and sitters set up for the four days I'd be gone.

Charla and Jon sold their house in Simi Valley, CA and are taking up a new residence in Sugarhouse, UT and they needed a third driver on moving day.

"I have a crazy idea" Charla told me over the phone one week before. "We'll fly you out to California and then you can drive our car back to Utah!"

"Crazy is right" I reply "but I like it! Let me see if I can secure a sitter and I'll call you back"

Well, Ruth was more than willing to watch the girls and to transport them to and from school so the trip was on! I called Char back and was set to go in one week.

It proved to be the longest week ever!
Every day at work dragged and every evening seemed to move at a snail's pace until bedtime, but somehow the bell rang on Friday and after depositing the girls at the homestead in Nibley, I was off. Originally I was going to leave my car at Emily's and catch a ride to the airport, but traffic had other plans so I pulled into short-term parking and shuttled to the terminal. Security was a breeze (even with peaches) and I found myself with extra time. Aaron and I chatted as I contemplated traveling via the twin prop aircraft I saw outside the window. Lucky for me it turned out to be a slightly bigger plane and an hour and a half later I was inhaling the thick, humid air of southern California.Charla and Jon met me at the gate with the PT Cruiser I'd be driving and I headed down the I-5 leading toward Phelan. A few wrong turns later I was pulling down the long, dirt road. I was here!

We had a great time! We ate and went to the Redlands Temple and to the movies, we went to church and I hung out with his family and made treats. On Monday we browsed around the mall, the bookstore and other stores and then cuddled to a movie. The morning dawned bright and early as I left for home and he headed to the hospital.

Spontaneous adventures are exciting and I say "come what may and love it!"