Cousin Charlotte, brother Adam and me in Jacksonville, FL 1989

In case you didn’t know, it snowed in Florida! Not recently, but on December 24, 1989. My family was visiting the cousins in Jacksonville when, on Christmas eve, the unthinkable happened.

Unsatisfied with the “flurry,” my dad, on a whim, said, “We’re driving north until we see some real snow.” And just like that, on Christmas Day, we packed up the van (with all the Christmas toys in the back) and headed north on I-95. Nearly 8 hours later we reached the cusp of the Great Smoky Mountains in Cherokee, NC.

And we saw some snow!

And we ice skated.

And we climbed.

And we wiped out.

It’s 92 degrees today in Florida, and springtime is upon the most of the rest of the country. In fact, it’s Easter time, the holiday on which my dad passed in 2007, so this time of year always gets him on my mind. This little story is one of my favorite experiences with him and inspires me to get in touch with that same adventurous spirit.

It makes me really excited to set out this June on a long drive of my own. It also makes me wish, though, that I could have just one more road trip with Dad.