I am struck by the profound difference in two recent road trips. Both involved long drives and both had loud music. One was a solitary trip and the other involved my hug of bear cubs.

On my drive alone I noticed more outside the car – the sun sparkling on the lake, the guy with the funny hair in the car beside me at the stoplight and the gorgeous well-trained dog who crossed the road with his owner in front of me.

When my hug (a family of teddy bears) was with me I noticed more inside the car – the eyes that sparkled when a favourite song came on, the deepening voice of the big bear cub and the brotherly interactions between the 3 cubs. I also noticed more inside of me – the swell of pride watching the three of them together, the belly laugh that came out with the singing of the lyrics and the tears that gathered occasionally as I realized the 2 bear cubs would leaving the hug very, very soon.

Who would have ever thought car karaoke would become such a precious memory.