Bonding with mom

Inspired by an article from Afar (www.afar.com/jaguar), the objective was to be spontaneous, go have adventure & seek out what is out there. Basically, take a road trip...

It was those rare moments, I have the car and I drive it. We were late for my niece's christening & decided to drop off the gift to relatives somewhere in East Rutherford, NJ. Mom & I were hungry. Since party was over & we were at a small shopping plaza, our first stop was panera. I treated my mom to their soups & sanwiches, and I took advantage of my $2 off on any sandwich. We walked around the plaza to Marshall's, Dollar Tree, & a jewelry store.

What can one do near Rutherford? Our next stop... thought of huge mall in Dover, NJ... too far off... Harmon Cove outlets in Secaucus. Using my phone gps, made the 10 minute trip only to find scattered factory buildings of different outlet stores. Practically an empty area (a great area to practice for new drivers), we stopped off to Jones New York & Nine West Outlets (not that thrilling).

Early evening was still young & we didn't want to go home. With 35% percent left on my cell battery, i gps ourselves to head to Jersey City for some filipino fried chicken at Max's Restaurant. Good thing I wrote the directions, somehow my phone stopped giving directions, only to find that gps could not locate where we are. We took a back road, driving through side streets until instinct told me to follow a small.curve to the.right. We landed on an unnamed street full of factory buildings then a long narrow road with tall weeds & grasslands to my left & right. We had no option but to keep driving forward.

"Never do this if you're diving by yourself," mom said.
"But ma, if this where I landed I have no choice but to be brave & drive forward. Only when I drive my car that I don't feel scared taking the adventure."

We ended up in the right route & arrived in Jersey City in 5 minutes. Being spontaneous, I shut off the gps & changed our minds. We ended up in Newport Mall, Jersey City. Mother/daughter shopping. I have my fashonista by my side, unafraid to tell me whether that dress is perfect or "you need to lose weight/we need to go to the gym." I always trust my mom's fashion taste. In a way, mom.cherished it as she loves dressing her baby girl. We had our quick dinner & then off to a smooth drive home. We both had our way & for me, it was a local road trip to.discover what's around.