Sock Curls, Permits, and Chicken Strips: A Castillo Family Road Trip

Sock Curls, Permits, and Chicken Strips: A Castillo Family Road Trip

Posted from the passenger seat, somewhere on Highway 67

We were about two hours into the drive when Bella casually announced from the back seat, “I forgot my permit.”

Barbi and I looked at each other like, of course you did. We were already too far to turn around and not far enough to feel comfortable. No signal. No gas stations. No backup plan.

And the road? Not really a road. Just bumps strung together by GPS hope.

Barbi started texting Rachel, trying to get ahead of whatever we’d need to fix this. Bella was calm, still messing with her sock. I turned and asked, “What are you doing with your sock?”

She held it up like it was obvious. “It’s for my hair, Dad. I’m trying to get curls.”

That’s my girl. Out here doing beauty prep with sock curls on a dirt road in the middle of Texas. Just vibing.

Barbi glanced over at her with that soft mom smile. “It’s not about everything going right,” she said. “It’s about watching her keep going. I love seeing Bella light up—even with sock curls, missed IDs, and all.”

That landed. I looked at Bella through the rearview. She wasn’t stressed. She was peaceful. Present. Confident. Not because everything was perfect—but because she wasn’t letting imperfection mess with her joy.

Yesterday, I was a hungry man. I was in charge of dinner, and apparently that meant clearing out the fridge: grilled chicken, sausage and veggies, bacon, cornbread and ice cream. I ate like a man coming out of the wilderness.

Today? Whole different vibe. I’ve been surviving on air-dried okra, the last of Bella’s strawberries (which I may have stolen), a granola bar from Barbi, a little popcorn, and water. It’s not gourmet, but it’s enough.

We even passed through Bendalum Oil Field and learned that the wealth from that land helped create the largest public school fund in the world. I didn’t expect a roadside history lesson about oil pioneers and universities, but hey—Texas always delivers something.

And even with no service and a bumpy, questionable path ahead, something about this drive feels exactly right.

Barbi’s calm. Bella’s laughing. I’m finally full in all the right ways.

We’re in the middle of nowhere… and the Castillo family is officially having fun again.