My Spring Break is almost coming to an end. I am sitting at the backseat while my husband is driving my son and I home after a great time way from the regular same old, same old life back in Frisco TX.
We started Spring Break early - late Thursday night the week before and drove 7.5 hours to Memphis TN. When I wrote my blog about the beginning of my Spring Break vacation, Rita Fong was so nice to text me that she'd love to meet me. I knew she lived in Arkansas, but didn't know she was only 20 minutes away from Memphis TN. By the time she contact me, I was about to leave Memphis and on my way to Nashville for the evening. She gave me a good recommendation of a good Chinese restaurant though.
By Sunday, we were walking the streets of Manhattan NYC. It was a very different pace from what I've been used to for the past 14 years of my life. I came from a big metropolitan of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia so I'm used to the fast paced lifestyle. But after having a family, I much prefer a family-oriented, slower lifestyle in Frisco TX.
On Monday, I met Sheldon Neal. He drove into the city just to meet my family and I. Sheldon is just as nice in person. Although he had personal emergencies to take care of and could have easily cancelled our appointment, but he didn't. I really enjoyed the 1 hour we spent. I felt very honored that he took out of his already very full schedule just to come say "Hi". Sheldon beat me to this post. He wrote about our lunch at Ellen Stardust.
On Wednesday, I met Eileen Hsu, Morgan Evans and Phil Faranda for dinner. I've known Eileen for a while but it's never the same to be able to have dinner with your friend. The guys are way too cool to hang out with also. They shared their experiences selling real estate where they are at. I always find it so fascinating to learn how others conduct their business.
We left Manhattan for Washington DC on Thursday. On the way there, I couldn't help but to stop in Philadelphia to see my dear friends, Chris & Stephanie Somers. Stephanie had to work that afternoon but my husband and I got to chat with Chris just for a brief moment. Chris's office overlooks the Philadelphia skyline. I'd be in awe if I had that picturesque view to look at everyday. Again, Chris beat me to his post about our meeting at his office. Chris: I'm expecting alot of great Philadephia Localism inspirations from you with that kind of view!
There was too many places to visit in Washington DC and we didn't cover most of them. And here I am, finding myself in the already 12-hour car ride (somewhere outside of Nashville) with another 2 more hours to go before we stop in Nashville at midnight.
Hopefully we will be back in Frisco late Sunday afternoon.
Living in America for over 14 years, I've never been on a "road trip". The farthest I've been prior to this was 6 hours, from Norman OK to San Antonio TX when I was in college.
This time, this road trip was very meaning to my family and I. I call it the great "American" roadtrip as I take my 82-year old grandfather to visit some of the great American icons as the world know them.
The Statue of Liberty: The Great American Icon
Back when my 82-year old grandfather was a young boy, his friend Charlie and him had a conversation about Lady Liberty. Charlie asked if my Grandpa knew where the Statue of Liberty was? And he said, even if my grandpa knew, he wouldn't be able to go see it for himself.
Now, you need to understand that my family came from nothing. Even a trip to the airport to see our "richer" relatives off at the airport was a treat, let alone trying to imagine that we could afford a trip across the Pacific Ocean ourselves.
I'm so glad my Grandpa told me that story and my family and I were able to make Grandpa's dream come true. To see Lady Liberty for himself. He told me, even if he show Charlie his photo standing with Lady Liberty, he highly doubt that Charlie is even alive to see the photo.
As for me, with my recent American citizenship, seeing Lady Liberty and the White House really mean so much more this time around. These now are a part of "my legacy" as I proudly stand as an American today. I don't know why it means so much but it does.
I really don't care how much discrapencies we have as individuals about the different views on healthcare, taxes and government, I am just proud to say, I'm American.
Life will come back to normal starting this week. But I'm re-charged and my family had the "uninterrupted" version of me for 10 days. No running away temporarily, no missing dinners. I was simply "there".
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Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com
Super-serving Plano, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area communities and other surrounding areas.
Copyright © 2010 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY).
Highlights and Reflections of Spring Break 2010
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