On the Road Again
One of my best friends moved away three years ago, and ever since, there's been a hole in my heart. Although she’s only five hours away, the distance feels bigger, and in all that time, I’ve only made the trip twice. So, when my brother Jeff mentioned that part of his work trip happened to be near her, he offered to drive me down and pick me up three days later. Just like that, I had three whole days to spend with my friend! It felt like I had won the lotto!
The 5-hour drive flew by in an instant. Jeff and I spent time reminiscing about our childhood on the farm, sharing funny stories from our younger days, and talking about our parents, siblings, and our own families. We laughed about the adventures we had as kids and all the lessons we learned along the way. We even kept an eye out for hawks and eagles, barns, and tractors as we drove through the farmlands, especially those iconic green and yellow John Deere combines that reminded us of our dad.
Harvest season was his favorite time of year. Our dad loved farming and combining hundreds of acres of soybeans and corn. Seeing those combines in the fields made me feel like Dad was right there with us, and I could tell Jeff felt the same way. Those memories brought us a sense of connection to both our past and our dad, who loved nothing more than working the land during fall harvest.
Between spotting tractors and talking about the good old days, we started brainstorming for our annual Christmas family game. Every year, we come up with a new and fun way to do our gift exchange. Before I knew it, I blurted out, “How about an auction?” Jeff’s head snapped towards me, and with excitement in his voice, he said, “Google the rules!”
“Google the rules? There aren’t any rules! We’re making them up as we go!” And that’s how it began. For the next 2 ½ to 3 hours, we crafted rules, props, and ideas for our Christmas auction game. We poked holes in our own plans, laughed, and reworked the concept over and over. We called my daughter and Jeff’s wife to see if they could find any flaws, and of course, they did. So, we fixed it. The back-and-forth of revising the game had us in stitches, and before we knew it, Jeff was dropping me off at Beth’s house.
Three days later, on our drive home, we picked up right where we left off. We updated the rules, added new props, and created more laughs. It was an ordinary yet extraordinary time with my brother, and I realized how much I miss spending moments like this with my siblings.
We all get caught up in the busyness of life: work, kids, commitments. Weeks and months can go by without any real connection. But this road trip reminded me of the joy that comes from spending time with loved ones, especially our siblings. I need to be better about making time for each and every one of them. One of my greatest joys is watching my children laugh and hang out together, and I want to experience the same with my own siblings.
This road trip with Jeff wasn’t just about visiting my friend; it was a reminder of the importance of being intentional about relationships. It’s not just about showing up for the big moments but being present for the everyday, ordinary ones too. Sometimes those are the most extraordinary. We can’t wait to announce our Christmas auction game to the family this year. I just know they’re going to love it! Going on the road again with Jeff was a blessing. When was the last time you spent quality time with your siblings or close family? Take a moment to reach out, plan a get-together, or take a road trip! It’s in these shared moments that memories are made. Let’s make time for the people who matter most.
xoxox….Sheryl
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