DC

Erik Austin
Jul 17
1 min read

Today my mom is off on a five-day adventure to Washington D.C. with my nephew Colton—his first real trip away from home without his mom. She's excited, which makes me happy, even if I have a few quiet doubts swirling in the back of my mind.

Still, I’ve gotta give her credit—my grandma never took me on any grand excursions. My childhood “getaways” mostly consisted of me, Little Red Riding Hood-style, pedaling my bike across the train tracks to visit her. She’d make me tuna fish sandwiches, silver dollar pancakes, and that classic Jell-O pudding with the skin on top. It wasn’t fancy, but it was everything. I loved being there—especially when I got to spend the night.

So even though I’m cautiously crossing my fingers from the sidelines, I really do hope this trip is memorable in the best way—for both of them. I hope Colton soaks it all in, and I hope my mom has one of those “I-still-got-it” moments.