The Best Milkshake in the World

Saturday, I'm heading to Carlsbad Caverns with my mom, my two oldest boys, and my niece. I haven't been since I was around 14. I'm looking forward to seeing it with adult eyes. At 14, I was looking past stalagmites to see if there were any cute boys my age also touring the cave. Guano was mildly interesting - mostly because I've always been amused with potty humor and, come on, bat poop being used for scientific purposes is kind of funny. I also vaguely remember stalactites shaped like inappropriate body parts. I might even still have a picture of a giggling me standing in front of a calcium carbonate breast.

Mostly, though, I remember the milk shake at the end of our descent into the earth. That milkshake was the single best milkshake I'd had in my long 14 years. And to this day, I know I haven't found a milkshake to compare to it.

So, I'm looking forward to several things. For one, my mom told me that she was in charge of discipline, so I get to be fun mom (and aunt). That means cannonballs in the indoor pools, potty humor galore, and lots of jokes at Muddy's (my mom) expense. I'm looking forward to seeing my kids discover Carlsbad and see how the differ or compare to me as a kid. I 'm looking forward to getting some pictures of the cave with a digital camera (maybe even of some calcium deposit body parts or bat poop). Mostly, though, I'm looking forward to the milkshake that is waiting for me. The milkshake that has held my heart captive for 23 years. The milkshake that turned me against all other milkshakes. The Carlsbad Caverns milkshake reward for descending nearly 800 feet into the earth.