A road trip given as a gift from God.

When I was 22 I spent two unforgettable weeks with my Dad before I said goodbye to him forever. I moved from Wisconsin to Chicago, via a return to my hometown of Santa Cruz, California. I was admitted into grad school at Loyola Chicago and was destined to begin a new chapter in my life with my Chicago native (then) boyfriend, Ryan... the man who is now my beloved husband.

Originally, my mom and dad had planned on renting an RV to drive in behind Ryan and I in a Uhaul. But my mom got cold feet and decided to fly to Chicago to meet us after our trek. My Dad however was determined to see all of the sites he had never seen before: Jackson Hole, The Tetons, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, The Bad Lands, The Mississippi River, and Chicago. With my 98 white Jetta packed to the gills with all of my stuff, the three of us headed out on the open read to see real America.

We met people from all walks of life, including my Dad's favorite posse, the Harley Davidson dudes headed to Sturgis for the epic motorhead mega-party. He thought their black chaps, chains, beards and friendly demeanor was a hoot. We stopped at pretty much every coffee shop between California and Illinois to meet the townies and experience "America". My Dad claimed to have ridden his favorite bike ride during his time in Jackson Hole. He rented a bike and rode about 20 miles from the town of Moose to the town of Wilson and back, with the inrcedible backdrop of the Grand Tetons by his side. Ryan and I went for a hike that day and saw him along the bike path. I'll never forget climbing out the window as we drove by at 30 mph, yelling at him in support and joy, "Hey Dad!" and he yelled back his classic Mike Fitzpatrick line, "Go Gaels!" with his number one finger wagging in the air. That is one of the happiest memories of my life.

This was simply the best road trip and blessing of my life because it was the most hilarious, precious, bonding experience with my dad. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would see his face and hug his big bear body. I thank God for that trip almost every time I think of him.