As a kid, my family traveled quite a bit. I remember my dad, when staying at hotels for a night or two, would check on our family vehicle in the morning and report back: "The car is still there, thank God." He said it so casually and with such non-chalance...I remember thinking, well of course it is. And why wouldn't it be? Ah, to be a kid again. My first thought upon waking this morning in Birmingham, AL, was: "Is the car still here?" My hotel wasn't the nicest...

The much-anticipated new season of my life has begun - the round-the country travels! And it couldn't have started any better, with a trip to see two dear friends in SC. Approximate miles completed: 730 States I drove through: VA, NC, SC, GA, AL Cool Stuff I Learned: While driving through Altanta, GA, I noticed a statue of a flame and decided to do some research. The Atlanta city symbol is a phoenix, to represent to city rising from the ashes af...