Back Where We Started

Day 9.
Yes I skipped day 8 which was spent driving through three states. We started off in Colorado, headed down from Salida driving Southeast heading into New Mexico and then took a left and headed east for a few hours before turning south until we stopped in Amarillo for the night. We did have a really good lunch at a roadside cafe that was one of the better meals we had on the trip.
So here we are at day 9. We had a early start and we were on the road by 7:30 AM. We headed down to Abilene where we picked up Hwy 36 - the road we departed out on and it took us all the way back to Gatesville. Home by 2:00 PM. Back where we started. But are we?
Before this trip we felt the kids growing up so quickly, asserting their independence. They spend more and more time with their friends and therefore less time with us. Kids that were once so dependent on us have grown into independent young people. For the past nine days we all enjoyed each others company. We had fun together, joked around, talked, ate and slept together. We learned more things about each other. Abate and Fantu had to face the hard truth that Mom is indeed a bit of a nerd. I love caves and rocks, I find beauty in all the surroundings. I love deserts and mountains, the high plains and the desert plateaus. I believe in UFO's and aliens from outer space. I also love to read and can read a book in just a few days.
We learned that even though a Honda Fit (Jazz) is a small car you can take a family vacation in it and not kill each other before the journey ended( there were times though that I was afraid we would). We also discovered that even though a trip is loads of fun, relaxing, exciting and adventurous there is still no place like home at the end of the journey.
Abate walked in to the house, dropped his stuff in his room and within ten minutes was off to his friends. We've been home 6 1/2 hours and he's still with his friends, but they are all over here and staying the night. So are we back where we started, I guess time will tell. But the memories will be there for many years no matter where we may journey.