Road Trip Day #7 "Put That in Your Story"

 When surrounded by family at a reunion, one will notice the different generations. I love chatting with the elders as much as I enjoy catching up with those my own age. Funny how conversations turn when your relatives find out you are a romance author. Add a little wine and the juicy stuff comes out.

One cousin could be and should be a writer. She's incredibly creative and finds a story everywhere. Throughout the weekend, Cousin J would gasp and turn to me with wide eyes and shout, "Put that in a story!"

After asking the cousins about their "cute meets" with their husbands, I have enough fodder for several more books. Cousin J suggested I write one book based on all of them.  

Subject matter includes the heroine in a long-term relationship when Mr. Right comes along, but he certainly has to work to turn her head after fumbling numerous times for a first date. 

Put that in your story!

Let's take a look at a bedraggled heroine heading back home on a plane after everything that could go wrong goes wrong, only to have Mr. Right sit next to her. 

Put that in your story!

Oh... the list of ideas continues.

Sharing a quiet moment with the eldest generation proved to be fruitful as well. Mom was married to dad for over 60 years. Aunt Val long marriage to Uncle Rog ended with his death. Ironically, after closing her heart, she found love again in a sweet fella who has a witty sense of humor. When asked the secret of a long, healthy marriage Uncle Larry said it best.

"Marry your best friend."

Put that in your story!

Road Trip Day #6 "Family Traditions"

 Family traditions help strengthen family bonds and gives family members a sense of belonging especially when miles often separates them. Nothing brings loved ones together than celebrating traditions and often creating new ones.

The Family Reunion concluded with traditions.

Aunt Val made Lefsa for breakfast. She has been sharing the secret recipe and cooking process with her daughter who will carry on the tradition.

Lefsa is a Norwegian flatbread cooked on a large, flat griddle. Our family eats it warm with butter and sugar. It is also good with brown sugar and cinnamon or jelly. We roll the tortilla-like bread into a roll and quickly stuff it into our mouths.

Worshiping together as a family was taken outside and the "service" prepared by the cousins. 

After reminiscing all weekend about when all the girl cousins chased a young Flyboy and tied him to a pole, the cousins turned the memory into a tradition.

It's tough being the only guy to all these dolls.

Take a moment today to think about what traditions you have in your family. 

Roadtrip Day #2 "Enjoy the Moment You're In"

When you don't give yourself a time limit you can enjoy more of the moment you are in.

After waking to "pea soup" fog, we left Michigan an entered Wisconsin via a 2-lane highway and didn't see much traffic but enjoyed wounderful morning scenery. 

Road work is a common occurrence during the summer months here in the mid-west. Jokes are made and even a couple songs have been writen. After graduation, the Menace took a summer job with the county Road Commission and has been a flag person lately. 

So of course I had to share this photo on the family group chat with the caption "Hey look, it's the Menace!"

In a blink of an eye we were in Minnesota.

 We stopped for gas and to sooth rumbling stomachs. The station bustled with travelers like ourselves exhibitinga sense of comradery as if we all belonged to a secret club of sorts. Inside the shop, the delicious smell of grilling sausages greeted our noses. Isles were lined with products often needed by cross country adventurers as well as snacks, fresh pastries and ripened fruit. Flyboy and I nibbled on all-beef hotdogs filled with Wisconsin cheese.  

About an hour from our destination, we stopped to pick up the adult beverages for the reunion.  Flyboy walked into the shop, stopped and exclaimed, "I'm in heaven!"

Oh, boy....