I realize that I just wrote an entire sob story about postponing our anniversary trip multiple times, but then I remembered a weekender trip we took over the summer, so this post recognizes that that sob story was determined to be a lie.

Sorry.

Back in June or July or whenever Corona started going around killing people, an awesome friend of mine named Rick (HI RICK!) called me up. He said that his family was on a trip, but they had to leave early, and would we like to take their place for a couple nights at the paid-for hotel?

Yes. Yes, we would. (Imagine my shrieks of excitement here.)

I bribed my sister with money to come a few days with our little angelic darlings while Taylor and I sprinted off to Park City.

When we first arrived, it was discovered that elevation plays a part in climate temperature.

We didn’t have much money budgeted for this spontaneous trip, and a lot of things were shut down while they navigated safety measures. But none of that mattered. We were just so happy to be somewhere we could sleep in and eat and wistfully talk about how much we missed our children without interruption from said children.

Here’s how we celebrated Park City – socially distanced.

Our first exploration was of a local graveyard. As much as Taylor and I can’t handle the spooks, we do enjoy visiting cemeteries.

The baby headstones broke my heart one too many times, so we moved on to lunch at the park. Little tip here: buying fast food is expensive and greasy. Buying deli lunch from a local grocery store is less expensive and less greasy.

Also: sushi.

After lunch we made our way to Historic Main Street for some window shopping and art browsing.

• 

• 

This were a couple of our favorite artworks. If I had $5,000 in disposable income, I would have totally purchased these pieces right then.

The best bookstore in all the land:

I should note too, that I was an idiot and only brought hiGH FREAKING HEELS for this walking trip.

Never mind the fact I don’t wear heels. Never mind the fact I broke my foot last summer and it didn’t heal correctly. Never mind the fact Park City doesn’t possess a single sidewalk not on a incline of 47 degrees.

None of that mattered. Heels were to be worn for this trip.

One bad decision was replaced with a good decision: We had dinner at this awesome Mexican restaurant. (Mexican and Sushi are the healing balm for any and all wounds.)

The next morning was set out to explore the nature-y side of Park City.

• 

• 

I don’t remember exactly where this was, but the trails were nice. Even if I had to wear my stupid high heels that made my butt look good the entire way.

The Olympic ski museum was fortunately open, so we explored that masked up and doused in hand sanitizer.

• 

• 

Just before heading home, we returned to Dolly’s bookshop for souvenir shopping, and where we met Dolly IRL.

I. Kid. You. Not. This actually happened: After giving Dolly the pets to last all 9 lives and then some extra for good measure, she beckoned me to follow her. BECKONED. WITH A NOD AND FLICK OF HER TAIL. She would walk a few feet ahead, and then turn back to meow at me. I came up to her, where she would walk a few more feet ahead, and turn back to meow again. This continued up to the point where she led me right to the front door of her bookstore.

SHE BECKONED ME TO HER SHOP.

Here’s how my eccentric cat family felt about that, verbatim:

Finally, it was time to head home to our babies. The drive was mediocre.

We listened to this supernatural episode on a flight crew that disappeared over the Bermuda triangle in 1945 and debated our personal theories. My take? Either the pilot didn’t get enough sleep that night OR aliens. No in between.

It was good to be back with the chillins.

Thanks again Rick. Your face, your generosity, and this trip are so, so appreciated.