As I woke up in the morning, all ready for the daily study schedule I planned out today, I couldn’t help looking at the beautiful day outside, the snow still glistening on the rooftops, the temperature being 19 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius) but the sun still shining down upon us like it was the middle of July. The snow glinted in the sunlight like diamonds in a jewelry shop. We didn’t get a lot of snow this year, only a few flakes for a couple hours this week. The roads and treetops are still bare, but the flakes in the grass and on rooftops have still not faded. You know, truth be told, there are times when I wake up in the mornings on weekends and all that lays ahead of me is hours and hours of studying. Sometimes it motivates me, but sometimes I feel like going on a car ride first to clear my head. Like me, a lot of high schoolers or anyone taking exams have a lot to study, learn and execute. It’s hard sometimes, which is why I’m glad to be living in a place that’s so soothing to me.

My mom and I headed out in our car that morning, breezing through the misty air, happiness clinging to me like raindrops on a stormy day. Since it was the weekend, my mom said she wanted to treat me to a special breakfast, and off we went to my favorite donut shop! There’s this road right outside my house, and it takes me to some of my favorite daily places. The grocery stores, the library, and my favorite park. Though my most favorite part about it is the road itself. I love the way it weaves its way through all the neighborhoods on the hill, giving the perfect view of the valley as we trundle down the tree draped road. The morning rides are the best, as we can see the birds chirping above us as they are awoken by the sun’s first rays. Everybody’s still waking up, the roads empty besides my mom, me and all my happiness sitting excited beside me. Closing my eyes, I open the window, the chilly air quickly reaching my bones but also making me free, hair whipping back, thinking that I could have no better life.

Once we’re at the donut shop, the first thing that greets me are the sweet scents of the donuts, as well as the cute chirping of the tiny children eagerly waiting in line for their turn to get the goodies. Seeing that joyful smile on their face, bright and sunny on a Saturday morning, it reminds me of similar mornings in India, when we used to go to my favorite confectionary store across the street, me eyeing the treats, not being able to choose. My dad would smile his smile and wink, telling me I could have two. Hearing that made me the happiest person on earth. Here too, I could see so many options of donuts, rows and rows of them, all different sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors. Having my own little sweet tooth, I made puppy eyes at my mom, silently begging for her to let me have more than one. She would always succumb immediately. I exuberantly walk out of the stores, bags of the goodies happily crinkling in my hands.

Sometimes, I realize how far I’ve come, both mentally and geographically, but my personal ways of celebration have still stayed the same. These 20-minute weekend getaways are enough to fuel me to grind studying the entire weekend, and I have no reason to complain. The perfect sky, the most beautiful mornings with my parents, and a good mood is all I need to fulfill my sack of fun before the studying for finals starts. - Navaka