Last night we completed the trip once again, the long and windy road from Redding, California to Eureka, California. I always wonder, "why couldn't they make that road straight?" I never look forward to traveling that road, but always look forward to what is on the other end.
I grew up around all of my extended family. Eventually everyone started to move to their own part of the state. So, we began to travel more to family gatherings. After I was first married, my aunt and uncle, cousins and grandparents moved to the northcoast.
Our first trip there was with our toddler and baby in a new minivan. Interesting doesn't even begin to describe the trip! Our baby wasn't happy and we found out she got car sick...really bad. Five times to be exact in the new car. Lots of cleanup and lots of crying (by the baby AND mom about the new car.) Once we finally arrived, of course the toddler is looking forward to the ocean. Well, you can't see the ocean so he is quite upset. Everyone is hungry and we can't find a place to eat. The toddler breaks down..."There's no ocean, there's no food, if I don't get something to eat I'm gonna DIE!!!!" Dad now turns into Chevy Chase from the Vacation movie. He proceeds to pull over and let the kids know that they either stop complaining or he will turn this car around and we will go home! A funny prospect, considering it took us 5 hours to get there, the car wasn't new smelling anymore and if we turned around, I wouldn't be accompanying them. The trip turned out great. We had a lot of fun and were more prepared for the trip home.
Since that time, we have taken numerous trips to the coast to visit family. Over the course of 20 years, we have had a few different cars and have found out which ones "corner" better. The kids have outgrown the car sick stage and usually just sleep through the corners. It was actually a great prerequisite for high school sports. They got to travel that same road to many sporting event and get of the bus and perform athletically!
Although the trip isn't a lot of fun as far as the drive, we are always so happy to arrive. Our time on the coast with family never comes up short. I guess sometimes the longest, windiest roads lead to the best experiences and memories! It our path was always straight and quick, think of all of the experinces we would lose along the way...
"Though our memories of today will soon be yesterdays, they will forever live in our tomorrows." ---Isabel Urbano
No comments:
Post a Comment