SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We headed into St. Louis on Wednesday for a long weekend visit. The trip was full of surprises.

First, a 7 hour car ride can be really uncomfortable when you are arguing with the only other person in the car. Surprise! OK, not really all that surprising. Have you ever felt like you wanted to crawl out of a moving car? Have you ever wondered if the injuries you would sustain from the pavement might be less uncomfortable than finishing the current conversation? Let's just say, that car ride is not gonna make any marriage highlight reels.

Even though we went 450+ miles Northwest the weather was just as beastly hot. In fact some days the temperature in St. Louis was even higher than it was in Chattanooga. Surprise! OK, not really all that surprising. The suffocating heat of the Gateway city is pretty much expected in late June. I'm just saying, it was crazy how hot it was. We got into the car at one point and the thermometer read 114 degrees?!?!?!?

On Saturday we went to a surprise birthday party for Brian's step-Mom. Surprise! Well, obviously, we knew about party. It was the reason we chose to make our trip into town. But, Connie was really surprised.

I guess it sort of sounds like I'm complaining. I don't mean to. We had a terrific trip! During our visit, we were able to catch up with friends and family. We spent time at The St. Louis Art Museum and in Forest Park. We ate cupcakes at The Cupcakery. And all the while we anticipated the usual difficulty I have leaving. Neither of us ever look forward to the drive home. Tears are typically shed. So, after four days, we headed back to Chattanooga. But, by the time we made it back to our house, greeted our pets, unpacked our clothes and settled into our life I felt content with exactly where we were. Surprise! For. Real. Let me tell ya, that feeling was the biggest and best surprise of all!!