Soulati, Kings Island
When I was a little girl my father would gather us up on Friday nights to take us on a family car ride. When I’d ask where we were headed he tell me we were going to”jedbip” – a word of his own creation.
These rides were the highlight of the week, especially in the summer. The windows down, the cool breeze in my hair and WCAO out of Baltimore, MD with DJ Johnny Dark playing in the background.
I would sing along to every song. From the Spinners to Three Dog Night, I would just sing out my heart and my little brother, Robbie would cover his ears in horror.
Our trips to “jedbip” would take us to every inch of Maryland, the city lights of Dundalk and the smell of Fells Point. We’d pass the sailboats out on the Severn River near the Naval Academy.
Every trip ended the same, a trip to Tastee-Freeze for a chocolate/vanilla swirl soft serve ice cream cone. No trip was complete until you had your cone.
Family Memories
After all these years, I realized that we never did pass a town named “jedbip”.
However, now that I’m older, I have come to realize that “jedbip” was my happy place. It was those car rides with my family that I look back now fondly and remember as being some of the best times of my life.
There was so much freedom in those moments.
The memories my Dad created by gathering us in the car and taking off on those Friday nights. He didn’t have a destination in mind, no particular place to go; he just wanted his family to have a night together. To create memories for us to hold on to when the miles separated us when we were older.
To be able to go back in our minds to remember those rides to “jedbip” and smile about our happy place.
About The Author
Jennifer Olney is the Founder #bealeader™ and CEO of . #bealeader™ is a virtual leadership community and multi-author blog dedicated to changing the game and making a difference in the lives of leaders of today and tomorrow by providing education and knowledge base sharing resources by connection leaders from around the world. Jennifer brings over 20 years of marketing and business development management working with organization from Maryland to Silicon Valley in the startup internet and technology space. You can contact Jennifer on @GingerConsult, LinkedIN and GooglePlus.
We should all have a jedbip in our hearts and in our lives. Great post:) Cheers! Kaarina
KDillabough Thank you Kaarina. Whenever I need to I visit Jedbip often. I’m very grateful to my Dad for giving me this lovely place in my heart.
Oh man, I just got a rush of child-hood memories eating ice cream at Tasty-Freeze, yum! I just went to a happy place – now I have to go into the city and get a chocolate dipped cone, YUM!
Nice to see you, Jennifer… Hi, Jayme, Kaarina – I hope you ladies are doing swell – cheers! : )
Mark_Harai Tasty-freeze was the best! There isn’t much that beats that, Mark! Thanks so much! Good to see you as well.
Great having this so simple, memorable and wonderful post. We’ve all been to JedBip, but we didn’t know it! Let’s see — Jen, I owe you a mentor application and blog post; Mark, I owe you a Skype to set up my blog with you. Kaarina, is there anything you’re waiting on me for? Sheesh.
And, I can’t ask either of you to write for me here as you have!! I wonder if I’ll make it through the year without HAVING to write?
Soulati | Hybrid PR Thank you Jayme! This was such a great memory for me as well. And I’m so glad for all too! Yes, I am so excited to have you on our mentor team for #bealeader!!!! You are going to make a such a huge difference for so many. 🙂
Jen, your Dad and mine must have been related. We went on so many Friday evening rides. We always ened up at the A&W, though it seemed to take forever to get there because we never went in a straight line ever! His favorite saying was “We might be lost, but we’re making good time!”
Thanks for the memory reminder..I miss hearing him say that alot!
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equuisdancer22 I’m so glad I could bring back a special memory of your Dad. Never a straight line. I love your Dad’s line as well. Those Friday nights were my favorite. I think Dad’s had this wonderful way of creating these moments we cherish now that we are older. We didn’t realize how we would look back and remember it at the time but they were gifts.
How sweet, Jen! We did not take weekly car rides as a family but we did drive each year from Philadelphia to Cape Cod for our annual vacation. I have as many memories of our rides as I do of our weeks on the Cape! I made that drive with the family from the time I was seven and they still go every summer today! (but now they drive from NJ and their kids drive in their own cars). Thanks for sharing your story – made me smile!
AlliPolin I’m happy this story brought a memory of those trip to the Cape, Alli. It’s not just the destination it’s the journey. Which is the lesson I think my Dad was driving home the whole time.