Westward Bound

Did you know that I have never been further West than Gulf Shores, Alabama?

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This is as ridiculous a fact as it is for me to type that out, trust me.

I have been from the tip of Maine to the tip of Florida. Across the ocean multiple times. Down to the warm waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. Northward to Chicago, South Bend and Ohio.

But never more than that. 

This is no one's fault but my own. I have had the chance to go out and visit family, go and explore on my own, or splurge on a random weekend venture to see friends, but I never did. I instead went to my fav city NYC, or went to a new beach, or stayed close to home on a staycation. My budgets have risen and fallen, but for some reason, the West Coast has always been intangible to me, as was everything in between. I know little of what states are next to others (like for example, I did not realize that Utah is next to California AND Colorado. What!) and how long it takes to get across them by car or plane.

This has all changed today. I am literally in the air right now (hooray Go Go Inflight!) above Utah Nevada (wow these states are just whipping past) and am stunned at what is outside the window. I come from lands of housing communities, malls, high rises and suburban sprawl. Outside my window right now (over the greedy kid's head that is hogging it ;) ) is literally a mountain with snow on it's cap, surrounded by reddish, hilly openness. There is nothing out there. And it is blowing my mind. 

I have much to explore in my whirlwind trip out here over the next two days, and I can't wait to report back my findings. I love my fair city of Buckhead, but goodness, is it great to get away every so often and see the bigger picture!!

Til Sunday, friends! Have a wonderful weekend!