Keep Calm and Glamp On: West Coast Road Trip - Part I

Aunt Jojo and the Pacific Ocean (Somewhere in Oregon)

Summer vacation is not just for kids, though I still consider myself a kid at heart.  I usually satisfy my wanderlust with weekend adventures near Los Angeles, but when my Aunt Jojo mentioned a road trip to a family farm in Snohomish, WA, I suddenly felt the need to explore far away places.

Right now was a perfect time for us to make this journey together.  Aunt Jojo's boyfriend Donnie passed away almost a year ago, and I'm still looking for love.  Though we have a lot in common, our differences compliment each other very well.  I like to plan everything from start to finish, and Jojo likes to go with the flow.  Jojo is a morning person, and I am an evening person.  Jojo grew up in the '70's, and I have a passion for seventies music.  We joked about meeting a father/son pair on the road, but we were just as happy with the two of us.

Big Sur Jade Hunt: Beginner's Luck or Fool's Gold?

Beginner's luck or fool's gold?

For my Aunt Jojo.  One day, I hope we can take this trip together.
...

I've known my cousin Taylor since she was born. When she was in 2nd grade, my Aunt Jojo let me trim Taylor's bangs the day before class photos.  In this famous portrait, Taylor is wearing a mustard-colored turtleneck, and her bangs are cut straight across her forehead, about two inches above her eyebrows.  She looks more like a child actor in an episode of Star Trek than a second grader.  Fortunately, Taylor has forgiven me for destroying her 2nd grade image... or so I thought.

Taylor is now a grown up, living in Monterey, California.  When she told me she wanted to go jade hunting in Big Sur, I planned a road trip for the following weekend.  Before I arrived, she met an expert jade hunter at a Gangnam Style party.  She traded him surfing lessons for some insider tips on finding the precious green stone.