Good Ol' Family Time

David R.

July 29, 2010 - 9:15 PM

I had a blast when my family was here. It was great to see them and it gave me an excuse to have a little more fun than maybe I should have. I don't get to see them nearly as much as I used to. When I was younger it was easy to go back to Chicago to visit because I didn't have too many binding obligations, like a job, and neither did my cousins. As we have gotten older, the free time isn't what it used to be. Even if I could find a break to go back, my family, specifically the cousins my age, would probably be busy with their jobs and classes and everything else that 21-year-olds find themselves involved in. Whenever I get the chance to see them it is imperative that we take full advantage of it.

The time they spent here was full of different activities. We took trips to Fort Collins and Boulder, so they could see the two major universities in the state. My visiting family was taken back by the beautiful Colorado landscape that they don't have the privilege of being surrounded by. The rockiest landscapes in Illinois are nothing more than a few large hills, which is nothing compared to the gargantuan mountains of the Rocky Mountain Range. Seeing their excitement to be in such a gorgeous place made me realize how lucky I am to live here. I sometimes take advantage of it considering that I wake up and see arguably the prettiest mountains in the country on a daily basis.

My family's trip wouldn't have been complete without a trip to Water World (a great place to be on a hot summer day). Every major city has a few popular theme parks, and Water World is one of ours. We picked a perfect day to go, as we were lucky enough to dodge the afternoon rain showers that are known to strike.

With the economy still in a bit of a rut, new businesses are always popping up in place of old ones. Down in my neck of the woods a new store called Yogurt Land just opened, right across the street from my high school. Before the store opened I would drive by and think to myself "Hmmm, I'll have to try that." Funny thing is, I never thought it would be so difficult to get my hands on some of this yogurt. Since the store opened, I have driven by at night a few times and EVERY single time there has been a 30-person line out the door. While I had visitors in town I figured it would be a great time to try it. We went there on a cool evening and after waiting for 20 minutes we finally got inside. The business is very creative and is having major success so far. It is entirely do-it-yourself. You grab a cup, fill it with as many flavors of yogurt as you want, and add your own toppings. The price you pay is dependent on the weight of your cup. It's genius, and delicious too. I'm trying to watch the calorie intake this summer, so now I just have to make sure that I don't get addicted.

My family left for home on Tuesday. It was a bummer to see them go, but everyone has their own lives to attend to. I had a great time with them, and I can't wait until they visit again!