Road Tripping

We are going on a road trip tomorrow. I love me a good road trip. I have to wonder if it has anything to do with reliving our honeymoon.

For those of you who do not remember (or weren't around when it was originally posted) we didn't take a honeymoon. We left for Alaska five days after we were married, and spent the next nine days on the road. That was, um, interesting. We got to know a whole lot about each other that we really didn't want to right up front. Maybe that's why our marriage is so strong after sixteen years. There's nothing that can top that nine day road trip in some of the worst conditions known to married couples. We won't go into how Sam washed the car bra (shut up, it was fresh off the 80's) in the hotel bathtub before I got to shower one night, or how it took us 3 hours to drive 50 miles through axle-deep mud and snow, or the infamous lunch at Toad River, or how I couldn't get crumbs in the brand new Cavalier (may she rest in pieces).

Sam says our honeymoon was an all expense paid trip to Alaska. I say you don't come home from a honeymoon with a dog and a one year old that you didn't' have before you left. You can choose sides, but I'm right.

And after all that nine days of Getting To Know You, we said that there was no way we were driving back. Especially since our daughter was not quite one year old. And then one I woke up and said, "hey, you know what would be fun? Driving home." So we did. That trip took three weeks. With a one year old in the back of the trusty Cavalier (may she rest in pieces). Becky was cutting molars at the time, but we didn't realize it until we hit Ohio. It was a good trip. Seriously. Except for the whole one-year-old at the Grand Canyon thing. That wasn't a smart idea for someone who's terrified of heights.

So anyhoo, tomorrow is a road trip. Sam and I consider these things dates. While we have differing expectations, we've learned to deal with each other's style and enjoy ourselves. The first rule of a road trip is eating. You've gotta plan where you'll eat. Yes, plan it. Unfortunately there are no Fuddruckers where we're going. We're seriously bummed. Fudd's rocks.

I am getting a Starbucks for the road because everyone knows that you can't road trip without a cuppa 'Bucks to travel with. It will be awesome, especially since I've been avoiding them lately due to the sugar they load me up with, and the fact that they drain my wallet. But it's a date, and when else can you splurge?

We are renting a car for the great event. Laugh if you will, but for $37 it beats putting miles on our own vehicles. And besides, someone else is paying for it. We love renting cars. We own the van, which is an awesome ride (hush, we're parents) but it's not exactly road trip material. And then things deteriorate from there. We have a full size truck, but you don't' take trucks on road trips either. And then there is the car. I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say that the vomit-colored paint (complete with puke chunks) coupled with the smashed in door from the accident makes it one eye catching piece. Or is that eye bleeding? I keep forgetting.

So you see why we get excited about rental cars? They're new, they're fun, and they're clean inside. We are also juvenile enough to also say "zoom, zoom" every few miles just because we can.

I am fully admitting that we are incredibly lame and lifeless because a mere road trip will inspire giddiness and excitement. See what happens when you become parents? I think it's the thought of spending time alone without the kids that really is the deal breaker on this. How very, very sad.

Especially in light of the fact that we're taking Micah and a puppy along and we're STILL excited.

We. Are. So. Lame.