Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Running Away From Home Part I: The Drive

Road Trip Diet Rules:
She who eats bean burritos & Sour Patch Kids on the way to her destination,
must eat grapefuit and string cheese on the way home. 

Have you ever been alone...in a car...for almost 8 hours? 

Two weeks ago my answer would have been a resounding NO. Probably followed by something that sounded a lot like laughing. Or was it crying? 

Yes. Probably both. 

When I was living in California about 12 years ago I met up with a couple of friends from Utah for a birthday trip in Vegas. I think that is the last time I have gone anywhere alone. Besides work. [And, I was 6 months pregnant at the time. So technically still not really alone.] 

A couple weeks ago I decided to run away from home to visit my sister and her family in Phoenix. The stars tried to align against me to make the trip impossible, but I stuck it out. I muddled through schedules, and babysitting, and dislocated patellas, and copious amounts of mom-guilt and, like Nike says, just did it.  

I won't get into all of the facets of the trip, just yet. But I will tell you what it is like to be in a car...alone...for almost 8 hours. 

In a word? Bliss.

Some things my drive DID consist of:
  • Spending a mere $3.81 at the Taco Bell in Kingman.
  • Stopping two times. ONLY TWO TIMES!!!! [And not having to try to find anyone's shoes when I did.]
  • Listening to a customized playlist 3 weeks in the making including sing-along favorites from artists such as Aerosmith, The Jackson 5, Metallica, The Fugees, Social Distortion, Jewel and Goldfinger to name a few. [I know just what you're thinking: That Cyndie. She must have been one EPIC mixed-tape creator back in the day. And you would be correct. Oh, that's not what you were thinking. Whatever.]
  • Peace
  • Quiet
Some things my drive DID NOT consist of:
  • Spending $30+ on fast food
  • Sharing my snacks. Only to reach for some later and find the bag empty
  • Whining
  • Yelling
  • Arguing
  • Taylor Swift CDs
  • Endless questions
  • Hearing, "I have to go to the bathroom" right after passing through the last vestiges of civilization for 120 miles.
And that's just on trips with my husband. 

I haven't even mentioned what happens on trips with my kids.

(Ha ha! Just kidding, babe. Please don't move away again.)

I did miss my littles while I was there. Just enough to make me want to come back home. 

But not enough to make me want to take road trips with them anytime soon.

2 comments:

  1. Oh, it's been just over a week since you left me and yet it feels like a lifetime. I miss you. I love you. Old "Call the Midwife" episodes just aren't the same without you. (And neither is anything else, for that matter.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. My last trip alone for that many hours without my wife required mt to take our dog turk. He isnt for conversations, but it was rather serene. Its kind of nice to drive on your own schedule, but I wouldnt want to do it all the time.

    ReplyDelete