my mamma.

it's no secret that i have one of the most loving and caring mothers in the entire world. and for the past 4.5 years i have lived away from her. which hasn't been all too bad. 

i'm not one of those people that get really homesick. but still.

a hug from mamma is one of the best things in the world. 

especially when she looks like this and it's been a year since i've seen her. 

my beautiful and skinny mom at the airport.

my mom is one of those people that will not miss any significant event in her children's lives. and therefore she not only came to utah for my endowments in september 2010, but also for my graduation this past august. and for the most kick-a road trip of all times.

venturing to slc.

tandem biking for the first time.

meeting the pres and wife at graduation.

having her there meant that i wasn't alone in what is supposed to be one of the grandest experiences of ones life - graduating from college. it was good to have family there. and especially because it was mamma.

after graduation she helped me pack my ginormous load of belongings, driving it to a most charitable storage in highland, and embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. 

we drove from provo, ut to arlington, va, stopping in the following places:

four corners. touching four states at once.

firetrucks in albuquerque, nm.

santa fe, nm.

and texas was like i imagined. we drove straight through.

experienced some thunderstorms.

my mom sat on the food. great moment.

ginormous bugs in louisiana.

thick grass in baton rouge, la.

new orleans, la.

beignets at cafe du monde.

smelling the flowers in jackson, ms.

writing on elvis' wall in graceland, memphis, tn.

the ever trusting map book. who needs a gps?

checking out the nightlife in nashville, tn.

montgomery, al.

walking the streets of birmingham, al.

the south is pretty hot and sticky.

georgia peaches - atlanta, ga.

columbus, sc.

dawson's creek docks in wilmington, nc.

north carolina beaches.

we ate.

a lot.

raleigh, nc.

quick stop in greensboro, nc.

and finally, washington dc.

resting on the steps of the lincoln memorial.

this is not an attempt at an ode to my mother, because it is far too informal and not filled with enough praise for her, but it is a small token of my appreciation for a most fun and memorable end of summer, and for the support she gave me as i moved on with my life in a small way.

so thank you mamma.