On my Great-Aunt’s 90th birthday I told her that I wanted to see her before the summer was over.  April 1996 was the last time I saw her, and for years I’d been begging my dad to visit her in California.

So…

I watched plane tickets EVERY WEEK since our conversation in May.  Months ago I vowed not to let any grass grow under my feet.  Then at 5:00 am one morning I saw that the airline ticket price dropped.  I called my sister (startled her might I add) and told her it was time to book our tickets.  My sister is frickin dope, and without hesitation she purchased her ticket.  Cali…Here we come!

We spent the weekend burning up the highway in the Bay Area, and taking in all of the beautiful scenery.  It was one of the hottest weekends of the year, but we didn’t care.  No one could take this moment away from us.

There is one thing I continuously thought about while on that road:

“I made it.”

We spent HOURS talking to my aunt, no seriously over FIVE HOURS (If you want to hear more about what we talked about check out the #GriefTalkTuesday post on the Final 48 Project site tomorrow).

I am still smiling from ear to ear listening to her stories of my beautiful grandmother, and my father.  I giggle the entire time thinking, “yep I do that, yep I do that too.”

I wasn’t worried about any malls, athletic games, or even the vineyards, the memories that she shared are absolutely priceless.

After losing a cousin and great-uncle in the first and second quarter of the year I promised myself that I was devoting more time to enjoying family that I haven’t seen or never met.

I guess you can call them my bucket list items, but I’m just going to call them, “my desire moments.”

What are some things you desire to do before 2017 is over?

Jot them down.  Write them on the wall.

Get it done!

Have a blessed and safe Labor Day! <3

XOXO,

RJ