Battle of the Bird
We are currently in New Jersey spending our Thanksgiving weekend at my brother’s house. In usual form, we did not leave until the very last moment. Thanksgiving eve has been branded as “the worst day of the year to travel”, so we decided to squeeze in our 4+-hour journey Thursday morning.
Road trips have always been my favorite means of traveling. Although a mere four hour drive from Massachusetts to New Jersey with no stops along the way is hardly a road trip, I’d still prefer the scenery along the roadways than holiday airport chaos for a 45- minute flight. However, since we had our daughter, road trips have become more of a challenge. Convincing a 2-year old that it’s fun to sit for many hours restrained in a harness is a tough gig. Grasping long division at this age may be a more attainable goal. So we have been forced to save the long car excursions for special occasions.
In effort to beat the left over holiday traffic, we hit the road early Thanksgiving morning. Unfortunately there was dense morning fog along the first hour of the trip that did not allow for many scenic views.
The thick, gray world pillowed my head as I fell asleep and my husband drove us out of Massachusetts. After an hour, I woke in a clear Connecticut below colossal trees showing straggling signs of fall.
Soon enough we were crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge to my brother’s house, and we could almost smell the turkey reeling us in for dinner.
I would post pictures of our Thanksgiving feast, but as soon as the bird landed on the dining table with its flock of potatoes, greens and stuffing, we swooped in and left nothing but a carcass and breadcrumbs (probably not a photo suited for the mantle).
Appalled by the battle scene, my daughter strapped on the nearest protective head gear for any airborne shrapnel.
Three days later, and I’m still hobbling around with a bulging waistline in a half torpid state (again, no appropriate photo to post here). I don’t expect to be coherent for photos on the road trip home.
I LOVE roadtrips, too, and my oldest son would SCREAM in the car, so for a very long time a trip to the grocery store was as road trippy as it got in my life. (Even after he grew out of it I think I was still too traumatized to risk it for a long time after.) I’m happy to announce that now that he’s 12 he’s much better on long car trips, as are his siblings. (Though his sister is currently campaigning for us to buy one of those minivans with the rotating seats and a table and two tvs. TWO!)
But my POINT is that I love this post because it makes me feel like you took me with you on your road trip, so thanks. Very fun and very funny and your daughter is adorable. (But you knew that.)
November 24th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I also LOVE roadtrips! The one thing that has curbed them for us, though is my hubby. He is a HORRIBLE car-tripper. He gets tense and antsy and really really uncomfy and drives me up a frickin’ wall.
Turns out our oldest daughter doesn’t just look like him…she’s the SAME way! We took a 9 hour road trip to Buffalo last year to visit my family. She literally moaned and cried the ENTIRE way!! It was a horrendous trip!
But yours looks BEAUTIFUL!! I’m jealous that you got to road trip!!! Very cool!!!
November 25th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Road trips are not fun for kids until they are about oh, 16, when they can actually be the drivers
Sounds like you had a grand ol time with family! That’s what gatherings like this is all about. Lastly, I don’t believe one bit about that waistline you’re talking about.
November 25th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Great pics, Sandy! I love the long car trips too. We haven’t tried one yet with The Babito….so we don’t know how he’d be.
November 25th, 2007 at 1:10 am
lol. i’ve never done a true road trip– you know with people– in the 3 years i’ve had my car. they were always a blast in college. man i miss those days.
November 25th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Why do the people without the kids expect the people with the kids to travel? That has never made sense to me.
Beautiful pics, by the way..
November 27th, 2007 at 1:09 am