This morning I am writing from the passenger seat of a truck heading up the 5 freeway to visit my in-laws who live in Carmel, California. It’s usually about a 5 1/2 hour drive, more or less, from where we live in Southern California. My partner and I have been together for almost 15 years now so I’ve done this drive with him at least 50 times. It’s become one of those drives where you know when to transition or turn even before you see a road sign. Yet each time I look out the window or snap out of my driving coma, I notice something new. It might literally be a new building that’s been constructed since our last visit, but many times it looks like something that’s been there for quite some time. I just never noticed it because I was scrolling through social media or my mind was wandering as I took my turn driving up this familiar road.
It’s been almost a year now since we’ve done this trip because COVID has kept us distanced from my husband’s family. Today I’m going to do my best to be present, pay attention, notice the things that have been waiting to be seen since we’ve been gone.
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