Grateful For Family and Friends

Illustration of a family and their facial profiles.

I just got back from a whirlwind tour visiting my closest and dearest - my family in Arizona and California. It had been years since I'd seen some of them, so I was positively giddy making the trip out west.

First stop - sunny Arizona to soak up some quality time with my mom and stepdad. Now, my mom is infamous for the "ordering anxiety" she gets whenever we go out to eat. She usually asks everyone at the table about what they're having, waffling back and forth before making her final decision. But on this trip, a fast food miracle occurred. We grabbed breakfast at a fast food joint on the drive to California, and she ordered with no hesitation! I was so shocked and I just had to chuckle to myself. That was a first!

After Arizona, it was a birthday bash for my brother in California with the rest of my crew. My dad, brother, sister-in-law, a mishmash of uncles, aunts, and cousins, and a slew of old childhood friends came along for the ride. There was food, drinking, catching up (and later on gambling)... All of my favorite vices wrapped into one action-packed visit.

Here's where things got really interesting. My dad and godfather took me to a casino that they frequent and I found what I deemed a lucky penny just before hitting the slots, and wouldn't you know it - I started raking in wins left and right! Hoping to keep the winning streak alive, I passed the coin to my dad before leaving, telling him it might bring him some luck too. The next day he called me and said he'd won $5,000 and yes, he had the penny with him! My mom immediately asked to borrow the lucky charm.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. My flight home got delayed and I had to spend an extra night before getting back. But now I'm settled in at home, reminiscing about the whirlwind trip. It's rare I get to see everyone, so each moment together felt extra special. Until next time, fam!

Love and light to all of you, ~ Shayden Hope you enjoyed my little recap. If you did, please consider subscribing so you don't miss out on any of my posts!