One of my life goals is to own a trailer or RV and road trip whenever and where ever I want. Until that goal is achieved, it doesn't hurt to know people who already have one. Personally, my family is very young and locally not very big. Alex's family on the other hand is basically all grown up and in the process of starting another generation of Estrada's - and the Estrada's are a huge family. But so is his mom's side, the Cervantes'. They're not growing the next generation yet, but they are still a very big, tight knit family. Someone on both sides of his family owns a trailer- his Nino Mario Estrada, the one that we went with to hang out at the Colorado River, and his Uncle Mike Cervantes, the one that we just recently went with to spend some time in Julian, CA. If you've never been to Julian, it's a quaint, little town that transports you back to simpler times. It's very home-y, kinda woodsy, and very calming. If you've heard of Julian Pie Bakery or Julian Pies, this is the place they come from (and yes, you MUST visit the pie shop and buy at least two whole pies). The Cervantes family, myself, and my little sister Ilima, headed up to their spot in Julian to enjoy a relaxing, one-day getaway. We stopped into town to see all the old shops and buy some pie, came back to the trailer and cooked lots of food, had a bonfire, swung on the tree swing, walk by the ponds, and enjoy the quiet outdoors. When the sun began to set you could hear hundreds of frogs and crickets chirping in the background while all the stars began to peak out from behind the clouds. It gets pretty cold at night so the warm fire, s'mores, and blankets are also very necessary. One thing that all of us could agree on, is that it's important to take some time away from our busy lives and just enjoy each other's company. Lots of people say that you don't need to go anywhere to do that, but the whole family and I think that getting out of your normal environment is helpful in managing whatever stressful situation you're going through. You don't have to buy a plane ticket or travel very far- just get in the car and drive to the nearest town, campsite, or city that's DIFFERENT then your typical surroundings. Our trip might seem simple or short-lived, but it's one that we know we can take again. It's important not so much for the location or the excitement, but for remembering to take care of yourself and your mental health. Everyone needs a break from something. For us, this trip was to take a fresh breath of air after Grandma Lorraine Cervantes' memorial service and take the time to remember her, spend time together, and unwind from all the other stress. We've all been dealing with health issues caused by this stress and it was time to address it. Everyone feels stressed, but it's how we manage this stress that makes all the difference. Handle your business, but don't forget to put yourself FIRST! Take the time to assess what's going on in your life, with your body, and in your mind. Be grateful for every moment that you have on this earth and every moment that you spend with your family because you never know where life will take you next. Sincerely, Alana
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AuthorSince I was a little girl, writing was always my go- to way of expressing myself and escaping from the rest of the world. |