Road Trip

After driving 842 miles and 13 hours, I arrived home with my new car at 1 a.m.ish. I love my car, including the color and I felt like it was mine immediately. My car salesman picked me up at the airport in my car and when I saw the yellow beetle arriving I knew that car would always make me happy. I made a few stops in Chicago and each time I came back to the car, looking at it made me smile.

Air travel is not fun in code orange. I had to remove my shoes and put my feet on the nasty carpet. I told my mother this and she said, you walk around outside barefooted all the time, what is the deal. I guess it was the thought that so many people, who could have had fungus, removed their shoes at exactly the same place. I noticed that at Midway airport they had those paper surgeon footy things available. Jackson, apparently, is not that advanced in customer service.

The drive did not turn out the way I imagined. Though I did have much time by myself, the phone kept ringing and ringing and ringing - my children, my mother, my husband, my sister. All were curious about the car and whether I liked it. My children wanted to know exactly where I was each call so they could plot it on a map. My husband wanted positive reinforcement for a job well done. My mother was worried about my safety and my sister, thankfully, called late in my journey and talked to me until I felt alert.

Then, there was the road construction - huge projects everywhere. I did not get out of Chicagoland until almost 2:30, and I had that bumper to bumper, road construction stress related disorder that made me grumpy and late. Leaving Chicago at that hour, I knew all my down time was wasted so I had to rush through meals and rest stops. I had to stay on the interstate the entire time.

I realized something. Physical distance does not make you less of a mother. I saved the airplane snacks for my children because I thought they would like the small packages, I wondered if they were happy, and I answered, patiently, 10 or more calls from each child. They were so curious about the adventure, that they needed to be a part even if it was a remote and distant part. I felt loved.

I did listen to a book, but I will write more on that later. By the way, if anyone in the Chicagoland area needs a VW call Marcus Carter at Pugi in Downers Grove. He is young, exceptionally nice, knows his job, and could use a few breaks. I liked him and I don't think I have ever liked a car salesman. I'm not sure why.