How I got two <strong><em>whole</em></strong> weeks off to travel from my part-time retail job- I DON'T KNOW! But I am forever thankful for going on this once in a life time opportunity with my family. And even more grateful that when I came back to work from my long trip no one hated me or gave me a hard time for not being at work. <em>That literally never happens</em>, including when I'm legitimately sick or attending a funeral.

Now you must be wondering, "Audree you just moved- how are you paying for rent <em><strong>and</strong></em> this trip" (quoting it because my mom and friends all said this exact thing to me) in which I responded with "<em>girl</em>, I don't care about either of those things right now- I'll pay for it all somehow or another and worry about the bullshit later". Let me tell you, I still paid my rent on time and had enough money for food and a bunch of souvenirs I didn't need. I don't math very well but your girl can plan while simultaneously be spontaneous *<em>insert sparkles here</em>*. Besides, my grandpa just retired and this was his dream- I'm just joining the fun. Fortunately for me I was actually invited, <em>that also never happens</em>.

The RV had only me (navigator #2), my grandpa (RV driver), my aunt (navigator #1 and co-planner of the entire trip), my grandma (because they travel as a team since before I was born) and my cousin (he just moved from Mexico to my grandparents house so it was rude to leave him behind). For a 25 foot RV and four people, it wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. There were technically three beds and only a couple people had to share beds which still had enough elbow space. I am the only tiny one aboard that didn't have to kneel and crouch for anything, everyone else was well above 5'9" so the space really says a lot. In no way was there <em>anymore </em>space for more stuff and people than what we already had though. I mean I saw my grandpa hauling ass on the freeway at a high, bumpy 75 mph but everyone else on the freeway thought we're probably snailing along at 40 mph passing us up and flipping us off for being too slow in a one lane freeway. So we were probably pushing it on the weight limit for that RV. It was no fancy schmancy machine, <em>not in this family</em>.

My aunt, grandpa and cousin spent a week on the road starting from California to Illinois. Since I now live in Oregon I had to meet them in Chicago, so I flew 4 hours non stop to join the RV crew. I grew up in California so I had already been up and down the route 66 roads plenty of times. Missing that part of the trip wasn't a big deal for me. Plus technically on the map for the mother road, California is actually the end. I hadn't been to many states let alone states that weren't considered to be on the west, so this was very exciting for me. I had literally no idea what my aunt had planned for us or what exactly we were going to see along the way back to California. I just mentally prepared myself for a go-with-the-flow attitude because anytime my family tried to plan something it usually never goes that way, it's always turns into a late, indecisive type of event that makes me annoyed and angry at throughout the day. I wasn't going to be <em>the one person</em> people regretted inviting so I aimed on fixing my attitude. I'll admit at the end of this trip not once was I mad or frustrated, and <em>yes</em> tons of things were still last minute or not planned at all but I really can't sit here today and think of one thing to complain about- so it worked!

We spent three days in Chicago parked at the McCormick Stadium parking lot with other trucks and RVs. I got in on (July first) a Thursday, my aunt, grandpa and cousin had gotten there just the day before. My grandma and other aunt were supposed to fly from California at midnight the same day as me but their flight got cancelled early in the morning with little to no information. They spent all day calling and talking to representatives on the phone trying to reconnect their flight or get some sort of refund before they were informed that hundreds of other flights from all airlines were cancelled due to a storm. Everything was stressful for a bit because while we were out and about the city walking around, my grandma kept frantically calling everyone else on trip for help since she wasn't tech savvy plus was confused as hell. My aunt had set up everything for everyone including flights so we really had no idea what to do either from afar. It did get situated the same day but we just assumed since the mask mandate all over had been dropped and it was fourth of July weekend things were just crazy because it was suddenly so full of people.

<strong>In Chicago</strong>, I walked I don't know like 12 miles a day, we took the subway and the bus too but <em>all that walking</em>! We visited the John Hancock skyscraper and ate at its 95th level Signature Lounge. We had expensive cocktails but free unreserved seating at the window with the best view of the city. Of course cute selfies were taken here. Me and my aunt couldn't get over how the woman's restrooms also had the beautiful window views, while my grandpa was butt-hurt that the men's restroom directly next store didn't have that same feature. We did a groupon boat tour of the riverwalk, which I highly recommend, we learned about the architecture and city history which wasn't boring even with all the booze they offered. Had great selfie moments and enjoyed the summer weather on a boat- <em>what more could you ask for</em>. I did get sunburnt but that was my fault. The riverwalk is beautiful and popping full of people as if they were going to see The Bean. Which I also got to see, very fun very fun. Hard to take a picture at but well worth it. We also got to enjoy a speakeasy called Untitled which specialized in whiskey, not my cup of tea but it was prohibition themed and had live jazz and burlesque performers. At the end of the entire trip I asked my grandpa what his highlight was and he said <em>this</em> bar. This penny pincher didn't want to spend all his money on alcohol, but the live jazz he absolutely loved- they played all his favorites. It wasn't really jazz music per say, more like soul. The man was clapping and singing along the entire time. Of course while in Chicago we had to also try their pizza, so we went to Lou Malnati's and ordered the Classic Chicago Deep Dish. I wasn't amazed to be honest, I actually think that this stomach eventually hurt my stomach the next day. It was crust, sausage (like a mcmuffin patty), red sauce and tons of cheese on top- it just didn't wow me. Despite the pizza, Chicago was my absolute favorite place throughout this whole trip I hope I could come back again one day.

<strong>From Illinois to Indiana</strong>, we picked up my grandma and other aunt from the airport on the way to Fort Wayne. Each day we had to wake up early to pack camp and head out to drive, roughly it would be about at about five or six a.m. sometimes even four depending on how many hours away the next stop would be at. We were planning on celebrating the fourth of July with family, other cousins were also flying out from California to meet up. A majority of the trip actually turned out to be family filled in Indiana which was still fun for me since I hadn't met these people since I was a small kid. There isn't a whole lot to do in Indiana so most of our days involved drinking all day and all night. The one thing that definitely tripped me out, other than the spacious beautiful housing, was the warehouse like firework stands. I mean in California the only thing legal was poppers and sparklers but out here people were casually firing off the big guns in their backyard. I did visit Shipshewana, most famously known for its amish community. When I lived in Chico I was already very used to seeing Mennonites often, but never whole communities of people driving horse-ridden buggies. I don't know much about them or their practices still, but after eating at their restaurant I got to say they had some of the best desserts I've ever eaten. I think the restaurant was basically for tourists, I don't really think other amish eat or work there- I saw one girl working there but the rest of the servers and staff no not amish. And a couple of other amish tourists that were from I don't know where trying the food, other than that just the buggie rides were mainly amish operated. Indiana made me self reflect on my life and future self goals. Like yes I want to buy a house, but would I move out here and find a successful job? Maybe not until I'm well retired that would be the option then. I had so many laughs and even tears about family members that aren't around anymore that it really made me cherish and hope that my kids will have moments like this too. <em>The trip wasn't supposed to be that deep but there were conversations and days that really got me thinking, okay.</em>

<strong>From Indiana to Missouri</strong>,