road trip
June 25, 2013 § 7 Comments
These two words hold equal parts hope and dread. My husband speaks these words with reverence for an experience cast in nostalgia, togetherness and adventure on the open road. My anticipation is tainted by childhood memories of car sickness as my brother and I traded homes each summer at an insignificant point of travel from one parent’s car to another’s; suitcases of clothing and small comforts stacked with hopes and fears between hellos and goodbyes.
The decision to embrace this experience was simple. My husband’s daydreams of fatherhood and family are as important as memories of my childhood. In preparation for our upcoming trip I am making room in our suitcases for something new, settling into someone else’s perspective. It is the very theme of marriage, compromise and sharing as we appear in one another’s hopes.
I expect conflict in the confines of our car, moments of discomfort or disagreement, but I also foresee discoveries as we walk new paths and collect memories that will follow us home to the familiar place of our belonging.
scribblechic 
Funny thing. In all the road trips we took (I have four, now aged 16-22 but am referring to when they were much younger) not even once did we ever get the “are we there yet” foolishness so popular in family comedies. In my memory the ‘trying’ behaviour was more likely on the short trips.
I am quite curious to see how my children fare the waiting game. Hopefully the time together is one of discovery between diversions.
I think that when they know it will be a longer trip they prepare themselves for it. That said, we’re all different :>)
…as long as the air conditioner works reasonably well it will always work out.
Good for you for opening your mind to the possibilities 🙂 Safe journey.
Thank you. I am so hopeful for this experience. First though, I have a little laundry and procrastinated packing to tend to.
Beautiful post. You squeezed a lot of life and a lot of story into three paragraphs. I hope this latest trip is memorable, in only good ways.
Funny that you should mention the length. I hesitated to publish this piece, tempted to uncoil my thoughts into something else. Ultimately my scribbled sentiments felt more genuine in their brevity.
I’m glad you saw the life between the lines.