text: Finally, it's summer vacation. You don't know how long I've been waiting for this day to come. Two months of fun and sun. Tomorrow me Aaliyah and my two best friends Clara and Reagan are going on an adventure of a life time. A once in a life time trip. We are going cross country from New York to California by train. I'm so excited to go. I've been talking about going on this trip since forever and now the day is finally here. Right now, I'm preparing my bags for the trip. I'm only taking one duffel bag and my camera. I'm going to document this trip with pictures. Me, Clara and Reagan chose to go by train instead of by car so we can see more of the country. I spend the rest of the day packing and reminiscing about summer vacations I took with my family and friends. I go downstairs to the family room and go directly to the photo albums I made. I take one of the albums out. This one is from three summers ago. I remember this one. This was probably the best summer vacation I took that is not with family. This trip I took with Clara and Reagan. We went to Europe, Italy to be exact. This was the first trip I went on without my parents. I loved every minute of it. Me, Clara and Reagan went to Rome, Florence and Venice, of course I document the trip using my trusted camera. I put the photo album back and I take out another. This one is from ten years ago when I was ten. This is the first road trip I took with my parents. This trip was the craziest trip I ever took. My mom was horrified when my dad came home and told us he rented an RV and we were going on a road trip to California. I was excited. My first time in an RV and my first road trip. This was also the time when I got my first camera. I took many pictures that day. That road trip began my love for photography. I put the photo album back. I look around at all the pictures I have taken through out the years, so many trips with family and friends all of them close to my heart. "Aaliyah." I turn around and see my mother. "Hi mom." "What's wrong?" "I'm looking at all the pictures I took of us throughout our many trips." "Are you nervous about tomorrow?" "No. This is another trip in a line of many trips I went on." "Then what's wrong?" "I don't know." "Clara and Reagan are leaving after this trip." "I know. my two best friends are starting new lives." "So are you." "I'm going to miss them a lot." "I know, but they will always be your best friends." I hug my mother. 'Thanks mom." This trip is not only about me, Clara and Reagan having fun, but also for us to create lasting memories. I'm going to have fun with the two most important people in my life besides my parents. I already planned so many things we are going to be doing and of course my trusted camera is going to document everything. There is a knock on the door. I go to answer. Clara and Reagan are at my door step with their luggage. "Hey chica." Reagan has always been the craziest of the group. "What are you guys doing here?" "Your house is closer to the train station." "Very funny Clara." "Are you going to invite us in?" "Come on in." I love these girls. They make everyday fun and they make my life fun. This trip is going to be one I won't ever forget. "I know you girlfriend. You have this trip planned out." "Of course I do and don't worry it's not going to be boring." Reagan gives me a wink and I burst out laughing. I don't know what I'm going to do without these two girls. Every special moment we share together will be in my heart. "Aaliyah this trip will bring us even more closer together. We will be sisters forever." "I know Clara. We will have the time of our life." I give Clara a hug. I go and show Clara and Reagan what we will doing and seeing on our cross country trip. The first thing we are going to do is get up early, eat breakfast, go to grand central station, get on board the trip. We are going coast to coast. New York to California, San Francisco to be exact. This is going to be exciting. Clara and Reagan nod. Once on board the train we will see the Great Lakes, pass through the Great Plains, through the Rocky Mountains, deserts, salt flats, and finally the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I will be taking pictures of everything we see. "This is going to be great." "It so is." I'm glad my girls are loving this trip. It took me two weeks to plan all this. After our long trip we will reach our destination San Francisco. "You guys really like the way I planned the trip?" "Of course we do. This maybe our last trip we take together." "I want this trip to be special for all of us." "It will be Aaliyah. Now we need to get our beauty sleep." "Okay." I recheck my bags to see if I have everything. I have enough clothes, shoes and other unmentioned items. I have my tooth brush, hair brush, and deodorant. I have my camera and journal. I'm relieved I have everything. Time to good a good night sleep. My alarm rings at 5 am. I get up and wake up Clara and Reagan. "Ladies wake up." "Five more minutes." "Reagan! get up now!" "I'm up." "Good." I go take a quick shower. I'm out in five minutes. Clara is next followed by Reagan. I get dress in record time. I wait for Clara and Reagan to get dress. "You guys ready." They both say yes. I see my parents are waiting for me, Clara and Reagan. They are taking us to grand central station. "You got everything?" "I do mom." Clara and Reagan are coming down the stairs. We all pile into my parents car. We don't say anything to each other during the ride. We get to grand central station in 15 minutes. We get out of the car and say our goodbyes to my parents. My mother starts to cry. "We will be fine mom." "I know you will. Take care of each other." "We will." I hug my father. He kisses me on my cheek and tells me to have a good time. I begin to walk inside. I turn around one last time and wave goodbye to my parents. They wave back. Me and my two best friends are ready for our once in a life time trip.