Road Trip

We head out first thing Wednesday morning.



Eleven hundred miles in our bright red Honda CRV. (The old van is just not up for the trip-- burning oil, worn tires, a flickering ABS light... you get the picture.)

The CRV has issues of her own-- brakes that squeak, a transmission that hesitates before shifting gears. But she's a newer vehicle (only 7 years old), and she has all-wheel drive.

Over 20 hours on the road. With two kids sitting practically on top of each other.

With all of our stuff.

Sounds a bit nuts, doesn't it?

But then there are those games we made up years ago, and always rediscover on a long drive. Like "Who am I thinking of?" (sort of like 20 questions). Or the family favorite, "Who's the bigger star?" Some examples: Brad Pitt or Ben Affleck? Spiderman or Batman? Roald Dahl or JK Rowling? Diamonds or gold? Apples or bananas?

The possibilities are endless; the discussion/defense of a choice, always lively.

There's also that gradually changing landscape-- from gently rolling hills to a flat, snow-covered prairie to the city-scapes of Chicago and later, Cleveland, to the larger, more majestic hills of upstate New York...

There's the night or two in a hotel. The four of us camping together in one room... jumping like fools on beds we don't own.

And then, there is Christmas in Massachusetts. With all six of my siblings. And all 15 of our children together for the first time in two years.

Indeed, I can't wait to begin. Just two more sleeps...