The Return Trip

Yes, it was as ominous as the title sounds. We had gone to the wedding on Saturday and stayed in Tulsa. After a good night's sleep we went to church and to breakfast. I was stellar and had lots of compliments from the ladies at this church on my behavior. (Obviously they missed the fact that dad left with me and I came back with different clothes on. Oh well, I was getting prepped for the ride slightly early. Plus, this was not the last time I would have an outfit change today.)

The car ride began at about 11:00, I had been fed and we were ready to go. Tulsa, OK to Austin TX. 40 minutes in we stopped, I ate and got my diaper changed. I gave in to the whir of the Volvo at 70 miles an hour for about 1 1/2 hours. Awoke from my slumber with a dirty diaper, but mom caught this in time and we had no leaks. (It didn't matter if I did leak really, Mom was overprepared and made a special pad for me to sit on in the car set to prevent any major disasters.) Again I slept, but somewhere between here and home, I decided I wasn't tired anymore.

Short cat naps here and there along with a lot of staring at the mirror and the taupe interior in the car. We hit TX and I was getting a little cranky (3 1/2 normal hours to go). 40 miles in Mom and Dad decided we had to stop. Well, actually I decided, they just agreed that it would be a good idea. So we stopped, had a snack, got resituated and started again. Now, I would have thought, given that I was already cranky mom would have gotten in the backseat. But nope, I'm still by myself back here.

Dad's getting tired, Mom's already tired, we stop at Starbucks. It's not like decaf helps mom any, but Dad seems to be rejuvenated. Again, I'm still by myself in the back people. What is going on? So, a little while down the road, I began. We stopped for gas. Mom got the picture and got in the back seat. Finally, I had some interaction with a person and not just flying stuffed rattle bugs. This was a satisfactory change for the moment.

Then again, I was crying and crying and crying. At some points, wailing. When would they stop. Something about waiting 5 more miles to get to a spot. As my face turned red from crying (or so mom thought) and I had these huge tears...Dad pulled off. Yes, my diaper needs changing. Outfit change take two. Mom stayed in the back and we continued on. We actually are almost there, 45 miles or so to go. I made it the rest of the way without incident. A warm bath, an unhurried dinner, and a crib to stretch out in...I feel wonderful now.

Oh well, I did manage to get two books in on this excursion to and from Joplin. The Magician's Nephew and The Horse and His Boy. Mom and Dad had just read the Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to me before I was born so we skipped that one in the Chronicles of Narnia on CD.

When is my next trip you ask? Well, Dad had thought we might drive to South Carolina to see PaPa and Grandma. Um, that's 16 hours+. He thinks that we might try flying and see how that works instead. But, given we won't go until June or so, he might forget this experience and try driving again. The big question though is, will I forget?