Content revision ea31a3343577b30cee4337cf2fef2b0864a5741341f27598e9108766c486fb2d

## A Birthday Somewhere Along Taiwan’s East Coast

Fragments
Source ID fragments:taiwan-east-coast-family-road-trip
Original https://www.henryw.me/#/fragments#taiwan-east-coast-family-road-trip

One of my happiest recent family memories is a road trip along Taiwan's east coast. It was the four of us, my father, my mother, my sister, and me. My father drove, and we made our way down the eastern side of the island, stopping in different places along the way. I do not remember every exact turn now, and maybe that is fine. What I remember most is the feeling of the four of us being together in one car.

That kind of full family time has become rare. Everyone is in different places now, with different lives and schedules, so when we are all together for a trip, even ordinary things start to feel memorable. The east coast had a lot of sea. We would drive, catch the water, stop somewhere, and sometimes find one of those small cafés near the coast, each with its own style, and sit down with a coffee, look out at the sea, and then keep going.

I liked those pauses by the coast. My birthday fell during the trip, so I spent it with my family as we travelled together. What I picture most clearly is my father driving, the four of us in the car, and Taiwan's east coast passing outside the window.