Heading towards Destination #6 meant that we were going in the direction of home. We were ready. We missed Daddy. We missed our dogs. I missed my bed. I missed our schedule.
Even though we couldn’t wait to get home, the drive from Destination #5 was too far for us to complete in one day. In an odd twist of fate, my hometown – the place that I left when I went to college and had only been back to once since then – happened to be the halfway point. I lived there for about 14 years, but my parents had moved from that town just a few months after I went to college. Most of my high school friends were in Austin with me, so I didn’t ever have much of a reason to go back.
Driving into town was a surreal experience. When I was growing up there, it was a small place. There wasn’t much in the way of typical chain restaurants and there certainly wasn’t a Gap in the mall. Times have changed, and there are new roads, new bridges, and tons of new shopping – including a Gap, Gap Kids and Baby Gap.
One thing that hasn’t changed was that my favorite local restaurant still has the world’s best piece of peach pie. It’s the type of thing dreams are made of, and I have been craving it for about 17 years. It was totally worth the wait.
After dinner, we spent the evening driving around town with me pointing out various locations to my kids. We saw my childhood home. My elementary school. My high school, which has grown from one building to about 45. My middle school.
I can’t look at that school without thinking back to those days. As with every other 1990s kid, those preteen years were rough. Looking back, my matching denim and braided belt situation didn’t help. Neither did my hair.
Whew! Luckily for little curly headed Emma, her mama knows how to properly take care of and style curls these days. I can only hope we are able to better manage her crazy head of hair.
When the tour of my hometown wrapped up, I asked Zack what he thought. His reply? “You know what, Mom? We don’t really care.” Hmmm…I guess it was a little much for a 6 and not yet 2 year old. Oh, well. I enjoyed it. 🙂
Any guesses as to where we were? This one might be kind of hard, too. As a little hint, I’ll say that you should name the city AND the state.
Pleasant Grove, Texas?
Pleasant Grove, Georgia?
Something tells me it’s Texarkana, Texas :0)
I actually LOVE your 90s hair–so Bernadette Peters and Carole King. Ethereal. I used to perm my straight hair to try to get that look.
I love your hair also! I think it’s a great picture:)
Texarkana, TX! That is my hometown, where I grew up! Such a small world. I went to Pleasant Grove and Bryce’s peach pie is the BEST!
Pleasant Grove, Utah. I think.
Pleasant Grove, Alabama?
Pie looks awesome!
Texarkana, Texas!
The school picture was a giveaway. Texarkana, TX !
Texarkana, Texas!!! I live here in Texarkana with my husband and all of our family! It has changed quite a bit over the last few years! Great little town!
What a small world!
Yeah that pie looks amazing. I think I have gone by that place in Texarkana.
oh man. i busted out laughing when i read this because #1 – you and i shared the same middle school plight…curly hair and the 90s led to disaster! and #2 – i’m pretty sure i uttered the same “we really don’t care” to my mom when she hauled us on a trip to VT to see where she grew up. i think that means that when i try it with my daughter one day she’ll do the same to me 🙂
HA! I think the curly hair would have been better in the 80s. It was a bad, bad time. At least I had already had my braces off when this photo was taken!
Lol! That is so funny about your little boy… That peach pie looks amazing!!
It was SOOO good. I’m glad I don’t live near that pie. My willpower is non-existent.
Texarkana, Texas!
Texarkana, TX – we used to live in Little Rock and would drive through there all the time!!
We used to drive through Little Rock a ton on our way to Memphis! LOL
I had that EXACT outfit, only I permed my hair in an attempt to get your look. 🙂
And ohmygodIwantthatpie!!! Peach is my favorite and that looks DIVINE.
Texarkana, TX. This blog made me laugh out loud -thinking back to my own middle school days.
Texarkana, TX
Texarkana, Texas
I saw Pleasant Grove school and when you mentioned Bryce’s peach pie I knew for sure it was Texarkana. That’s my hometown, and I think I have the same school picture.
ROCK! My kids get bored when I show them “the TXK spots” too. Mmm…Bryce’s….now I’m hungry! Gee thanks. 😉