Snowflakes and jack-o’-lanterns. Growing up in Colorado, the two went hand in hand. The first snowfall of the season usually rolled over the mountains to coat my neighborhood just in time for October 31st. Deciding on a costume was a matter of what looked good over a poofy jacket and paired with my purple and white striped moon boots.

There is an expression my family uses: you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting……(Insert noun). In Marietta, Georgia, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting history. History is everywhere. On every block, there is a historic house. There is a surprising amount of museums in this small town. History and modern culture blend together in harmony.

My family and I were visiting the Pompeii Ruins in Italy. We had walked through cobblestone streets, ran among the ruins, lingered in the old gardens, and even played fetch with a few dogs we came across along the way.  After an exhausting morning of discovering the history of this unique area, I was ready for a much needed nap.