Fireworks, Family, and the Fourth: No Better Place than Boyds
The road to Maryland felt like a warm embrace, Mustang and Suburban carving parallel paths northward. Our arrival in DC was marked not just by the familiar streets but by hugs that relieved the weariness we felt over the miles. Reconnecting with The Goss family felt like rediscovering a favorite, slightly worn book on a shelf, filled with comforting familiarity.
We built couch forts sturdy enough for imagination and giggles, shared stories over plates stacked high with comfort food, and when the sun dipped lower, Wyatt and Lolo scampered into the backyard, gathering wood for the firepit and picking mulberries staining fingertips purple with delight.
On Saturday, Lizzie reunited with Austin, her best friend and companion through the tides of life. Over laughter and food, they introduced us to Austin's joyful new puppy, a small bundle of pure affection but with a very large bladder.
Tuesday at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center was a pilgrimage of awe. Standing beneath the Space Shuttle Discovery, its tiles carrying stories of space and stars, filled me with wonder. Wyatt’s excitement at the observation tower, eyes glued to the choreography of planes landing and lifting off, mirrored my own childhood dreams. Afterward, ice cream was the perfect punctuation marks on a day overflowing with marvel.
The mid-week trip to Bethesda and the latest Jurassic Park movie was less about dinosaurs and more about oversized ICEEs, popcorn mountains, and sticky-fingered smiles in the dark theater.
Thursday evening brought the Frederick Keys baseball game, a spectacular unraveling from a 10-0 lead to an unexpected loss. Yet, defeat was sweetened by fireworks igniting the night sky, and Wyatt and Lolo sprinting around the bases, their speed fueled by laughter and youthful joy.
Friday crowned our visit with celebrations. Wyatt turned ten, radiating joy as he unwrapped his full-size Nintendo Switch, games stacked high beside him. Aunt Karen’s birthday brought her a beautiful purse and a heartfelt celebration of family.
Being welcomed into the Goss family's embrace, especially during the Fourth of July in Boyds, reminded me vividly of what family truly means. In a world where family connections sometimes fade, moments like these filled with laughter, warmth, and connection, become priceless keepsakes in the heart.
