Road trip!

My cousin has always been sheltered most of her life. Her parents are the overbearing type and that makes my heart go out to her because unlike me, she was never encouraged to be her own person. For the past year now, she has been coming out of her shell. So much in fact, that she decided this summer she would pack up her Ford Escort and hit the open road. I am completely ecstatic for her because this has been a long time coming.

Her first trip was to Ohio to meet up with her boyfriend she has been seeing this past year. They met when she went to Ohio last Winter with her family and ever since then he has been coming down to visit her and vice versa. So, with her boyfriend in tow, they set out to explore the west. They wanted to see the historic Route 66 and then visit the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, amidst all of her sight seeing and freedom, her car decides to break down. She called my dad freaking out because there was no way she was going to call her parents so they could rub it in her face that her first bit of freedom turned out to bite her in the butt! So my dad helped her locate a Phoenix auto repair shop to help get her some assistance. Thank God her boyfriend was with her because I can just imagine how panicked she would have been by herself which I wouldn’t blame her. My dad was worried about her car because before she left he already replaced the timing belt and checked the oil and other fluids. It turns out that my cousin had to have a new water pump. Once it was fixed, she was back on the road to more exploring. I am very proud that she did not let the drama of the car ruin her trip.

I am so excited for her to be home the end of this month and to see all of her pictures. She has already e-mailed me a few from the road on my cell! I am so jealous. I think I will have to talk Jonathan into taking a road trip with me!!