My people

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Exploring Historic Williamsburg was on the docket for the day, and boy, did we make the most of it! We squeezed every possible minute out of the day and packed it full of adventure.

We started with lunch at my favorite spot, Hohl, home of the best lamb sandwich I've ever had. I had been looking forward to introducing Tim to it. He wasn't too enthusiastic about ordering lamb for himself, but he ended up thoroughly enjoying the sandwich he chose. Lunch was the perfect start to our day of exploring.

Before heading into the historic district, however, I had one important stop to make: Cracker Barrel. I had a gift card that had been burning a hole in my pocket for at least ten years, and I was determined to finally spend it. Much to our surprise, the Cracker Barrel gift shop was actually pretty fantastic. Between the clothes, candy, home décor, and endless trinkets, deciding what to buy was much harder than anticipated. I eventually settled on a beautiful Williamsburg sweatshirt. Of course, my $25 gift card only covered part of the cost, and I had to kick in another $30 to make it mine. That gift card definitely would have stretched a little further ten years ago!

As we made our way toward the historic streets, we passed a row of charming shops that reminded me of Newport, Rhode Island. One particular store caught my eye, a boutique I had visited during my last trip, filled with Lilly Pulitzer treasures practically calling my name from the windows.

Once inside, the owner greeted us and quickly apologized that the back of the store was occupied by a couple of Mahjong tables.

Really?!

I immediately reached into my bag, pulled out my personalized, monogrammed 2026 Mahjong card, and was instantly welcomed into conversation. Immediately, friendships were forming, photos were being snapped, and invitations to return and play were being offered. Unfortunately, the crew I was traveling with probably wouldn't have appreciated waiting around while I joined a game, so I exchanged contact information with the owner, promised to stay in touch, and continued on my way. It's always amazing how Mahjong has a way of connecting people, no matter where you are....Mahjong and Lilly P. sure make it easy for me to find my people. 

Historic Williamsburg itself completely surprised Tim. He had envisioned a few historic buildings scattered between modern restaurants and shops. Instead, he discovered an entire preserved town, with cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, and costumed reenactors strolling about as if they had stepped right out of the 1700s. Everywhere we turned, there was another historic home, workshop, or garden to explore.

Thanks to the Juneteenth holiday, we were even able to tour the Capitol building free of charge. The morning rain must have scared away many of the crowds because the streets were pleasantly manageable, and by the time we arrived, the sun was shining brightly overhead. The only downside was that Tim quickly realized he probably should have packed a hat...or sunscreen...or both. 

After several hours of walking, we rewarded ourselves with a stop for ice cream at a local shop. I also picked up a few stems of fresh flowers before we began making our way back to my son's house.

By the time we returned, we were absolutely exhausted, but the good kind of exhausted. The kind that comes from spending a day exploring new places, meeting unexpected friends, making memories, and sharing adventures together. As we settled in for the evening, tired feet and all, I couldn't help but feel grateful for another day well spent and another collection of happy memories to tuck away. 

"The world is full of wonderful things you haven't seen yet. Don't ever give up on the chance of seeing them." — J.K. Rowling