DIXIELAND DELIGHT

Hi! Hello! Howdy!

I promised to be back with a Chattanooga update, so here I am! In the flesh!

I got some very much needed time at home for family snuggles and dog walks and eye rolls from my teenage siblings. I saw old friends. It was delightful.

One of the highlights included me teaching my mom how to make a ring in her new jewelry studio. My dad built her a little studio in his office, because she’s wanted to learn how to make jewelry for like 10 years. So sweet, I know. But, because I took a jewelry design class this past semester at FIT, I already had the majority of the supplies and knew how to teach her. We only had enough time to make one ring over the span of 4ish days, but it was a lot of fun to spend time together just us two. We also went to see Licorice Pizza. So!!!! Good!!!

My dad and I got some nice father daughter time in too. We got sushi at the restaurant I had my 17th birthday at, maybe my 18th. I don’t know. But the best part was, we actually managed to not see a single person we knew. My eyes didn’t stray from our table the entire meal. Just in case. Woohoo!

My family went to my favorite burger restaurant-Slick’s, before I had to leave. If you live in Chattanooga and you aren’t a vegetarian and you haven’t been to Slick’s. Go to Slick’s. It was all five of us and about halfway through the meal my mom noticed that my brother wasn’t eating very much so she asked why. He said “My throat just hurts.” Boom. Covid entered the chat. He tried to pull the No, It Just Have A Cold Card, but we left, got a take home test on the way up the mountain. He was positive. Poor little bean. He’s fine now though, don’t worry. Good thing I already had it, because, if not, I would have been a goner.

TW: Lowkey cheesy, sorry y'all

I switched gears and went up to see Joe. And when I say went up, my mom did in fact drive me to the halfway point once again. But Lordy Loo did we have the best time together? The answer is yes. Yes we did. I don’t know what it was, but that 48 hours was the best trip we’ve ever had to date. I think we’re finally settling in to long distance. I mean yeah did we bawl our eyes out before I walked into the airport to come back to New York? Yeah! We did! But, I don’t think we’ve ever felt as good and secure in our relationship as we do right now. And, for that, I am so so grateful.

Now, here I am. Back in New York as Ella In the City.

See you next time friends <3 <3 <3

XOXO, Ella