05/15/12 We left at 6 in the evening. The 18-hour journey to Buffalo, New York gave me plenty of time to think.
My family and I haven’t been that close lately. Perhaps they’re distancing themselves to prepare themselves for my college-departure. All I know, is at that moment, to be apart of the Brownstein clan was all I ever wanted.
QUARTER FINALIST 2012 TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
05/16/12 We reached our destination around 1 p.m. The Hilton stood elegantly across from the Buffalo airport. When we finally unloaded all of our stuff, I watched planes takeoff from our 3-story window. I wondered if the passengers were as far away from home as I was. I couldn’t help but wonder what my family was doing back home.
We visited Jordan’s sisters, Becky, Megan, and Sarah. I wished my sister, Dell, was here with us too.
05/17/12 We woke up early, and began our day. Today the Brownsteins were taking me to Niagara Falls. I was so excited.
The falls were huge to say the least. White opaque mist billowed from the bottom of the fall, met by the rushing, cold water of the Niagara River. We had to take an elevator to get to the bottom. Jordan and I snuck off to do some investigating of our own.
Green Island is a small stretch of land on the river. The meadow’s covered in small daisies and Canada Geese and is surrounded by a thin wood. We bent under low limbs until we reached a secluded, rocky beach. We sat on large moss covered rocks and watched the river. It was a beautiful day.
I bought my family some Niagara Falls memorabilia. It’s safe to say that I was starting to miss them.
05/20/12 Today Jordan and I cleaned up Sarah and Chad’s bicycles and took a ride around the city. We trekked until we reached the Peace Bridge near the Niagara River. We watched the seagulls and talked about life, hand in hand.
His warm touch always makes me feel happy, but I secretly wished it were my father sitting beside me.
05/21/12 By day seven, everyone was ready to go home.
Honestly, I really missed my family. Sure, they aren’t perfect. We’ve never had a perfect vacation or got along like the Brady Bunch, but we’re still a family. I guess I just lost sight of how they’ve always been right behind me, no matter what I do. Its easy to forget, but I know they’re proud of me, simply because I’m their own. They love their daughter, their sister, even if they don’t show it all the time.
Buffalo, New York is not Las Vegas or a hot beach in Cozumel, but to me, it was just the vacation I needed. The Falls, the food, the family, it was all amazing. I needed space, and being away for a week cleared my mind. I had a wonderful time; 600 words cannot even begin to describe Buffalo. The Falls,
When the car finally pulled up to my house at 3 a.m., it took a lot for me to not run inside and just leave my luggage in the car. First thing I did was wake up my mother to give her a big hug. It was good to be home.
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