On a Midnight Train to Georgia

The older I get, the harder I find it to make road trips happen. When I was a kid, my mom would pile us into the car, cue up the jazz station, and we’d cruise the 12 hours down to Georgia. No matter how tired we were, that first glimpse of the Atlanta skyline at sunrise always made it worth it. Those drives were chaotic and cozy all at once, snacks everywhere, pillows crammed in the backseat, and music filling the air.

These days, hopping on a plane is easier, but nothing compares to watching the Appalachian Mountains roll by or catching that peach-colored sunrise as you drive into the city. Plus, there’s a real perk to having your own car when commuting around town.

This weekend, I got to do just that, head back to my roots. It’s always hard to take pictures when I’m down here because I usually end up cuddled on the couch, watching Love Island with my sister, or catching up with family. But this time, I made it a point to soak it all in and capture some moments.

We missed our usual Stone Mountain run, but we found new gems instead. A drink shop downtown with a little robot named Orion delivering juices (Atlanta stays in the future). I walked the Beltline by Piedmont Park and saw the magnolias blooming, their scent isn’t in full swing yet, but their beauty never disappoints.

The real magic, though? On the ride home, somewhere around hour 10, my mom nudged me awake to the most hauntingly beautiful sunrise over Dayton. The fog blanketed everything, it felt eerie, dreamlike, almost like the world paused for a second. Those turned out to be my favorite photos of the trip.

Funny how some things change, but some feelings never do.

Hope you enjoy these snapshots of the journey.