We traveled a bit in 2019 and started the year with some fun adventures. Martin Luther King, Jr weekend we traveled to New York. I had wanted to see the play The Inheritance, which had been recommended by people I had been interviewing for my book project. It was a two part play – almost 7 hours! – but so worth it. I took the bus alone and the kids and Chris drove after the kids had a doctor’s appointment. We all went together to see Sing Street off Broadway. Bren had two friends in the show and it will be going to Broadway! Chris and Aidan left and Brendan stayed with me for one more show – the Tina Turner musical (another friend in a show). It was fantastic! By far the best finale of a musical ever!

Two weeks later Chris and I traveled to San Francisco for our anniversary. It is somewhere I have always wanted to go. We visited the Fisherman’s Wharf, took a tour that included traveling over the Gold Gate Bridge, saw the Castro and traveled by street car.

A few weeks after that we traveled to New Orleans for school vacation week. Aidan has been getting into jazz music and school vacation week fell just before Marti Gras. Chris’ parents also came with us. We stayed at an Air BNB and walked around the French Quarter. We took a horse drawn carriage tour, visited a costume shop and a wig shop (Bren got a souvenir). We took a river boat cruise that featured a jazz band on the Mighty Mississippi which was awesome. We also visited the jazz museum. It was a great school vacation.

In between all the travel fun, Aidan had a few competitions for Big Band- they did awesome. He joined the citywide band and performed at the Martin Luther King BPS celebration too. They even traveled to New York for a competition. What a cool experience! He’s really getting into his music!

Brendan and I had our annual trip to Disney on Ice before he went back to school from break. Always a fun time. Love that he will still hang out with me!