Our first real trip together was a road trip to Georgia, with Matt’s best friend Joe and his girlfriend Amanda (now his wife and the proud parents of their beautiful baby girl, Lily) packed into the back seat of Matt’s Mustang. It was definitely a tight fit, and we felt bad for them the whole ride down, but we made the most of it and turned it into a trip we’ll never forget. By the end, Joe and Amanda opted to fly home instead of drive and honestly, we didn’t blame them.

The trip was centered around visiting Joe’s parents and seeing their new house, but the highlight was the day we spent exploring Atlanta. We visited the CNN Center and posed like fake broadcasters, wandered through the Georgia Aquarium, and wrapped it up at the Coca Cola Factory sampling drinks from all over the world. It was one of those carefree, perfect days, full of laughter, spontaneity, and great company.

This centerpiece captures a moment from that adventure with a model of Matt’s Mustang, the CNN building, and the iconic CNN logo sign. It’s a tribute to our first big adventure, and a reminder that even packed in tight, with no real plan, we’ve always found a way to enjoy the ride, together.