Today was the loooong road trip from Cincy to Toronto. Now this crew knows long road trips. Once a year we load up the family wagon and drive the 7+ hours from Marin to Disneyland. Now that's a road trip. Well, today, google maps says we have a 7 hour and 32 minute drive not taking account heavy traffic or delays at the border. Jack and I clutched the iPads like security blankets - I think the Analog Summer is in jeopardy. How can you survive an 8+ hour drive through huge expanses of nothingness without letting the kids plug in and zone out. Our parents did it all the time, right?!? They didn't have iPads or any of that fancy stuff. They had The Bee Gee's Greatest Hits on 8-Track and a cooler full of bologna sandwiches. So how did they do it? Easy, they put all the luggage on the roof and threw a little shag carpet down in the way back. Little nap, little comic book reading, little sibling annoying - then back to napping. Voila, 8 hours magically melted away!
So, we discussed our strategy ... Jacqui's easy - just hand her 2 back issues of The New Yorker magazine and a dog-eared Calvin and Hobbes and you won't hear a peep from her for the rest of the day. Charlotte will sing her little songs and doodle in her little journal and snack on her little snacks. She may need some redirection every now and then but generally, she'll roll. It's 'Cruella DeVil' in the back that we're worried about. She possesses some dark force, some Jedi mind power that forces the rest of us to bow to her every whim. I've analyzed this at length and I think that it might be the screaming. It's not the volume alone, nor the duration - though they are both impressive. It's the perfect will-crumbling pitch. We are outmatched and we know it. So we set a goal of making it to Canada before we bust out the electronics. Our road trip would be half analog / half digital - I can live with that!
So we waved a tearful goodbye to Sitty and Djudu and pulled out onto I75 headed North. Beautiful blue sky, light saturday traffic, fresh iced latte - all systems go. Over eager, I suggested a road-trip game. "Let's see how many license plates from different states and provinces we can spot on our trip."
"Nah ... you guys can play. Let us know what you find"
... hmmm ...
"Hey, Let's play eye spy"
" Nah, it's no fair ... I can't see anything over this suitcase"
... Jack and I looked at each other ... mayday mayday ... we are screwed!
So we stopped trying so hard and let the kids settle into their own rhythm. They finally did get restless so we busted out the camp songs. Big hit! HUGE! Down by the Bay! And the Green Grass Grew All Around! On top of Spaghetti! Classics! Then we practiced the National Anthems -- we've got some work to do on Oh Canada before July 1st! Singing. Good, wholesome family fun. Who knew?
That got us to the lunch stop and then we cruised through Detroit (in all it's post-apocalyptic splendor) and then we could see it ... the Ambassador Bridge ... the border! No traffic, no waiting, we sailed over the bridge and happily handed out those electronics at the first sight of a Tim Hortons! Success! We did it! It's indicative of our standards when we spend a couple of hours interacting with our children and expect a parade or trophy or something. Whatever. You gotta enjoy the little victories in life and I'm taking this one.
The rest of the drive was unremarkable in every way and we arrived at my friends Lisa and Steve's house 9 hours after we set off. Penny and Chris joined shortly there after. What a reunion! I haven't seen my grrrls in 3 years and boy did we have some catching up to do! After we tucked the kids into bed and enjoyed a yummy Indian dinner, Donna joined too and the gals stayed up until the wee hours, catching up. I miss you, grrrrrls!
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