Tag: Traveling

A trip my heart needed more than my mind.

A planned trip to Asheville, NC is currently taking place as I type up this blog entry. I hadn’t been to Asheville in three years. When COVID hit its hardest in late 2020, I halted all visits and travel plans anywhere.

I went from visiting my favorite place frequently to not visiting at all.

This weekend’s trip is not only shaping up to be a fun one, it’s an emotional one, too. Later today, for lunch, Jernee and I will meet up with one of my closest friends and her two youngest daughters. We’re going to a spot called Creekside Taphouse. This is a pet-friendly eatery with an interesting, yet appealing menu.

Both E and I are free-feeling human beings. With that being said, when we see each other, there will be tight hugs and plenty of tears. I can no longer pick her girls up and hug them close while tossing them in the air sporadically, but I intend to hug them until their little faces flush red.

To not see someone you love for almost four years is a painful thing. It’s a hurt that has no words of description that are good enough.

We had arrangements last year to meet up, but one thing happened and another and another, and here we are in the year 2024, and it’s finally happening!

The fear of being pummeled by one of the harshest viruses is slowly leaving my system. I cannot allow it to pin me to myself and the Piedmont-Triad forever.

I’m getting back out there!

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Yesterday, upon our arrival, I ordered a double cheeseburger, fries (with aioli sauce), and an unsweetened tea (I added simple syrup as the sweetener) from Baby Bull, which isn’t too far from the Airbnb, River Row Flats.

We’ve stayed here before, and it’s a place I like to call a temporary home when we’re in Asheville. There is one hotel we use, too.

The meal was delicious and I was pleased with the efficiency in preparation of the meal and the accuracy of it, too. Of late, customer service isn’t really what it used to be, and often when I order takeout nowadays, I’m left unimpressed. Not this time, though!

Dinner was also scrumptious! I ordered coconut shrimp as an appetizer and Asheville Rolls, which are tasty sushi rolls with salmon, cream cheese, avocado, and sticky rice.

The place in question is Mr. Tea Asian Bistro. This restaurant is also not too far away from the Airbnb. They also give you a fancy schmancy takeout bag for you as a keepsake! Isn’t it swanky?!

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Currently, I am pleased with the decision made in early February of this year to book this trip, match calendars with E, and bring Jernee back to a place that gives us both a great deal of energy.

Loving and living with my senior dog during her later years are challenging. She cannot do nearly as much as she used to, so I have to find things both she and I can enjoy.

Our walks around the lake across the street from where we’re staying as well as the walks up and down the strip have been easy for her and fun, too.

I’m getting my exercise, she’s using her joints more and drinking in the breeze as it hits her little face, and my heart is healing. We get our walks in back home, as you all know, but there’s just something especially different about being able to exercise the way you need to away from home and have places where this can be done as well.

Coming back to Asheville has been the best decision I’ve made so far this year. Next month, we’ll be traveling home to Savannah, Georgia. We haven’t been there in nearly five years. I can hear home calling.

We’ve been tied down to our places of “safety,” afraid to move forward.

We’re changing that. And I’m excited about it, too!