Week 27: North Carolina

I love and appreciate places that are swimming with diversity! This gift can be a challenge to find in Utah. When you
have a mixed family, one challenge is to make sure that everybody knows their story and where they currently fit in.
The last few weeks have been a growth period for Zoe as she learns about her African-American heritage. Most of the
stories I tell her leave a knot in my stomach as I struggle to help her understand the sorted history of race in our
country. However, I am grateful to teach her of the progress we have made (and are continuing to make) to bridge the
racial divide. Usually racism is-fear based, fear of what is different or unknown and the more we all get out there
and be, see and do, the less fear we should all have of the unknown! Getting off my soap box.

So many great things about North Carolina but the best was seeing one of my favorites, Miss Mary, and meeting her awesome
family Jeremy, Alexandria and Anastasia! Brian and Jeremy connected quickly over their mutual love of all things Pearl Jam.
Thank you Ordans for the fabulous dinner and being our mailbox/storage unit for the last few months!! After not seeing each
other for almost 13 years, I am entertained by how similar our lives turned out! Until next time… Cheers, Team Ordan!

Road Rash! While camping in High Point, Hannah experienced her first “big fall”… She was a bloody mess after her
failed landing while flying down a paved hill on a scooter, the scooter hit a speedbump and turned, she didn’t. She is
kind of a wuss though and needs to toughen up, so this was good for her.

Stars Wars the Last Jedi on opening night in High Point, NC! You get the honor of hosting Brian and Hannah for their
favorite daddy-daughter tradition. They have been to the opening night showing of each of the recent SW movies and they
were able to keep that streak going. A few days later they will go again, but this time dragging Zoe and I with them.

And the “husband-of-the-year” award goes to Brian for finding us a grand performance of the Nutcracker so that the girls and
I could maintain our favorite tradition! It just so happened to be in the super cool town of Greensboro.
Awesome vibe! In addition to some fine local breweries and restaurants, Greensboro is home to the International Civil Rights Museum,
a must-do tour if you are in the area! This is the actual Woolworth’s lunch counter where the pivotal sit-ins took place in the 60’s,
an amazing piece of our history and a really well put together museum and experience.

Cruised around Raleigh and discovered the Marbles Children’s Museum, introduced ourselves to Charlotte, and found a cool drive-through
Christmas light show in Tanglewood, NC.

Plenty to do and see in the beautiful Carolina’s!

Chasing the sun…

Tina
Boondocks and Bliss