Four hours, three airports, two flights, one bus ride; we were here. A sanctuary with greenery and decadent coloring, the aroma of Blackeyed Susans captivated my lungs; I felt at home, but more importantly, my mother did. Stepping out of the BWI airport and into the magnificent Baltimore, Maryland terrain brought me to the realization; I was in the same footsteps as my mother was years ago.
The sky resembled an endless sea as my mother and I drove to touching places that her foster parents would take her to as a child; first stop was to the ‘First State’, Delaware. Miles of corn planted fields, beautifully architected barns, and hundreds of farmer market advertisements later; we arrived in Lewes, Delaware. Lewes is home to the famous Cape Henlopen State Park, which is exactly where we ventured out to explore. Miles of trails to bike and walk, an endless view of the Atlantic Ocean and the occasional glimpse of a dolphin fin in the distance. I was flabbergasted at the unbelievable mural that was in front of me. The sand was just as pretentious as the water in the way it showed off its godly glow.
“The trees, the ocean, it is just as my family and I left it,” my mom reminisced.
Growing up in an orphanage till the age of five made my mom truly appreciate the experiences she had as a kid. As the evening approached, our stomachs begged for food; I guess the airline cookies didn’t suffice. We explored the uppity town of Lewes on the search for a meal. Bicyclists are common to see on the East Coast, yet my mom and I were extra appreciative of their bright presence this day. We came across an old town restaurant, Lewes Diner.
“I remember this! My dad chose to eat here each time we visited, it is just as my family and I left it,” my mom explained.
We were greeted by the sweetest, most down to earth waitress at our time at Lewes Diner. She captivated the meaning of being friendly and determined. One bowl of cream of crab soup later and my mom and I were off to explore another sentimental area that her foster family shared, Washington D.C. We left in the morning with the goal of watching the sunrise in Lewes; luckily it put on a miraculous show for us both. Tie-dye patterns filled the sky as we said our farewells to a state that welcomed us with open arms. Approaching Washington D.C was as if we entered a different world, a world of strict politics and an even more diverse bowl of culture. We parked our rental car far from any historical monuments in order to experience the metro for the first time. Starting in “Friendship Heights”, we took on the underground train. As we approached our destination of “Smithsonian”, I could smell the food trucks almost instantly. We passed colorful booths of presidential t-shirts for sale, odors of hotdogs, and live music on each block. However, my mom and I were most excited to see the Washington Monument, as its elegance couldn’t be resembled in pictures. As we approached the monument, it stood proud. Before I could vocalize its beauty my mother interrupted-
“Your grandfather loved this monument for its grand presence and uniqueness; he would be thrilled to know it’s just as we left it.”
All in a short amount of time our picture perfect road trip to the past earned a special place in both our hearts as the experience taught us to appreciate time, family, and memories.
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