CAUTION: You are now leaving on a solo road trip -- are you prepared?

My mother's voice, usually calm and relatively soothing, was neither of those on this specific occasion.

You see, I had just casually mentioned that I was planning on going on an 1,400-mile, 22-hour road trip...by myself. I knew the nonchalant way in which the trip was mentioned did little to quell my mother's fears. I could tell that, of course, by the way her left eye twitched every so slightly, the way her lips pursed in that way all mothers do when they disapprove -- a trait they must develop as soon as a baby passes from the womb.

"Why not take someone with you?" she suggested.

"Because, Mom, like I said, I'm doing this on my own," I replied, trying to keep my voice level.

After all, it had been years since I'd moved out, gotten a job and declared my independence -- not like that mattered to her, of course. Just because you grew up doesn't mean I've stopped being a mother, I remembered her saying. When I saw a raised eyebrow joining the pursed lips, I added a bit too hastily, "It'll be fun. Definitely something to write about."

"If you manage to make it back in one piece," she pointed out quickly.

I sighed, rolling my eyes dramatically, suddenly feeling like a teenager again. "Of course I will."

And although I intended to make it back to Michigan unscathed, the truth was I was a little trepadacious about embarking on my first solo road trip. After all, I was accustomed to the luxury of always having a traveling companion -- someone who could split the driving duties with me. Someone to talk to on those long stretches of highway. Someone to take a turn pumping gas. Someone to join me in wretchedly belting out the lyrics of Aerosmith's "Dream On" as we drove up a twisting mountain road.

"It'll be an experience," I was fond of saying those days (and hours) before hitting the road last June. "If nothing else, it'll be an experience." (CONTINUE...)