The Lights Of The City

For those of you still reading, I'm going to Tarantino this entry for you. (As in Quentin, the movie writer that likes to tell the end of the story first)

Jennifer checks her caller id and her eyes light up brighter than any neon sign in sight.

Woke up late after the Wilke's Grand Canyon Adventure. We tried to find and call the Las Vegas KOA, but the cell phone reception was non existent. In fact, the night before, Tony had tried to call Jen to talk to him while sleepily driving to Indiana, but she kept losing the call. Made a big breakfast and then had a cleansing discussion on topics we could all use a little work on. We all listened and learned. By 1:30 (ok, so it was a long catharsis talk) we had the BW loaded and headed to Vegas. We wanted to come over the hill and see it at night so about an hour out we stopped at Chili's, B & N, Best Buy and Coldstone. We hit Vegas at dusk and it was just as we had seen in the movies. The KOA gets only 1-star because it was pure black top with no trees. We could see the strip from our campsight and so we headed down. Our excitement soon turned to dread as we entered probably the only strip of road in the country with that much electricity, gambling, prostitution and plain hell bent people looking to fill their God vacuums. The contrast between GC and LV was striking. We grew more and more disheartened and weary the further we went. Mainly a sadness overwhelmed me. The Billagio fountains perked me up a bit. A group of drunken well-dressed businessmen gave us a round of applause as they passed. Well, mainly they gave Jennifer and Melissa the ovation. We walked the whole strip, and not once but twice, Jennifer voiced her concern that even though she had left Tony several messages, she had not heard from him since he arrived in Indiana. And then, right in front of Paris Las Vegas, before we shell out the only $ we would spend on a cab ride, Jennifer's phone rings.

We dropped like flies into our air conditioned home and that's all I have to say about the 5th day.

We're Off To See The Wizard

Kaiab Village RV Park. It's a little too early to give it a 5-star rating, but port-o-johns, outdoor sinks, and pay showers are clicking off the stars pretty fast. Although, in the light of day the quiet and scenery are fast erasing the negative score. Big breakfast and we're off to see the GC, one of the seven wonders of the world. The day was hectic and relaxing all in one, a complete oxymoron. The roads were hairpin, treacherous and guardrailess. The only difference between last night's drive and this morning was that you could see how nothing would be left of you in an accident. Thank you. And before I try and describe the awesomeness and beauty let me just tell the story in my own words because this will be one everyone tells. OK, remember the guard-rail-less roads? Well apparently the GC keepers feel that all who visit will just use their heads and stay a few feet back from the edge. Everyone can get a pretty good view of it when you do obey the common sense in your brain that says.."pretty dangerous drop off." That is everyone except Mark and my 3 kids. I spend the entire day yelling, "not so far, that's far enough, get back here, stop it now," and at times even acting like a human shield between child and canyon. I say, unless you're going to start a studio and sell your photos, a picture from a couple of feet back should just be good enough! But at one point during the day I did want to go out a bit further and actually look down into it, not just out over it. So ever so cautiously I stepped down a couple of ledges to just peek over. In fact, I had a few "devil-may-care-relatives" actually say..."be careful, mom." In just a few short seconds I had had my fill and I turned to retrace my steps. I could have sworn that I had stepped down 2 levels but apparently it was 3 and suddenly everything turned into slow motion and down I went. Thankfully in the opposite direction of the GC. I used every limb and muscle to protect my camera head, and I have the bruises to prove it. The largest problem/scenario here is that Jen & Melissa could see me fall and started in screaming. Ben was a ways down the path videoing when I disappeared from his view finder and Mark saw nothing but heard the screaming. You do the math. But alas, my hideous fall did nothing to keep them all back at a safe distance. I fell in vain.

And let me just say that the North Rim rules. Even though we bought a T-shirt and postcard or two, it is very uncommercialized. Lunch at the lodge had breathtaking views and so-so food. And as if we hadn't had enough treacherous road the drive to Cape Royal was worth every twist, turn, and white-knuckle-no-brake-on-the-passenger's-side mile. 

The August 23, 2005 7:01pm sunset over the grand canyon will always be a defining moment in my life.

And then ever so slowly, after a heartfelt prayer offered up by Ben, we crept back down the same stretch of road and headed back to our campgrounds which I affectionately give it's well deserved 5 stars. And the morning and the evening were the 4th day.

America The Beautiful

Up at 7/10 MI time. It's time to stop adding MI time on to every watch check. OK so I guess there are levels of camping or degrees you might say. KOA's are not hardcore whatsoever. Pools, hot tubs, WiFi, stores, continental breakfasts, need I go on? So today's sightseeing excursion is the Petrified Forest National Park, Painted Desert National Park, and Meteor Crater National Park. Some of the most gorgeous and awe inspiring views ever. So did you know that they think a meteor struck the earth 50,000 years ago and left this big hole? Seriously, and they called it Meteor Crater. I thought it was just another big canyon that they named meteor, because it was so big. Who knew. Apparently, Ben did since 7th grade and has wanted to see it ever since. Science lesson for the day: without impact earth would not exist. The Discovery Channel as a babysitter finally paid off. Anyway...storms chasing us all day, but never really catching up...mac's and cheese with view of painted desert felt like we were at 5-star restaurant. Short stop in Flagstaff to stock up on essentials...video tapes, iTrip, hamburger, and shampoo, and then the ride of our lives to the North Rim. 

Let me just say...2-lane roads, canyon walls you could reach out and touch, impatient semi's pushing you from behind and taking 3/4 of the road coming at you-YIKES. No gas stations, no electricity running to the dilapidated, occupied trailers and old school buses that dotted the roadside. Ben drove it all, only to have our family true colors revealed while backing into the campsight at midnight. And so the morning and the evening were the 3rd day.

Take It Easy, Don't Let The Sound Of Your Own Wheels Drive You Crazy

More observations.

We make a family pact not to eat at fast food restaurants. So Ruby Tuesday's it is.

Jen can talk on the phone for long periods of time.

Driving through the night and hearing Melissa's rendition of O Holy Night sorta unglued me.

But I pulled it together just in time to

See a man pushing a shopping cart down the side of the expressway in the middle of the night.

Another overwhelmingly sad sight to me is an adult bookstore/whatever at the end of a forlorn expressway exit.

But not to long after I see a huge lit cross...it was almost bigger than the church it stood beside...hope in the night.

At a breakfast diner just inside Texas all the cars are trucks.

I'm a mother on the mother road.

We've gone a long way already, and we have a long way to go.

Amarillo by morning.

So Ben puts in a 10 hour shift and every stop we make seems to take a good hour. We all gather round the map and decide to alter some of the plans. We are coming in from the south on Rt. 66 and our campsite is on the north rim. We decide to stay south for a day and 1/2 and then after GC we'll head into Las Vegas so Jen and Melissa can see the strip. Reservations revised and a few new ones made, we start the long trek through New Mexico. They paint their overpasses orange and turquoise with Indian markings and signs. We should do that in every state...like Michigan could have trout and evergreens, etc. Ben talks to Annie and Bill S. and Jen talks to Tony and then me! If nothing but the timing in their relationship was taken into consideration it would be an awesome story. We stop at a Navajo travel store where Ben feels the need to apologize for stealing their land. Another gorgeous sunset and the first leg of trip becomes history. We park at the lovely KOA campground in Holbrook, Arizona, and Mark "happens" upon a wireless hot spot. Of course Ben and Jennifer find secluded spots to call and say goodnight to their spouses. Melissa gets a little quieter towards dark...I hope this campchair holds both of us. And the morning and the evening were the 2nd day.

California Here We Come

Up at 6 am. Finish last minute trips back & forth...I'm almost looking forward to sitting in BW (initials for motorhome that I have lovingly christened, "bandwagon" ) It's hot and muggy but a last minute shower makes us presentable until about St. Louis. Ben and Jennifer are on schedule, although their van dies in the driveway from running the springhill generator all summer. Meg and Ashley stop by for final farewell. I hear them all crying and purposefully avoid that area. Ben prays, everyone cries. Melissa wants to go back in one more time but doesn't.

And we're off.

All kids show signs of hyperactivity, trying to jump up and see if they're any further back in BW when they land? Ben's first comments about sleeping in the back bed while traveling, "Having trouble sleeping in that martini shaker back there." Jen's famous question after about 2 & 1/2 hours down the road, "So, are we going to be in this thing all day?" and Melissa while stuck in construction outside Chicago, "Ewwww, I don't want to go this way...you know the routes I like."

What were we thinking?

But we sail right down the lake, our only mistake being I-55 instead of I-65, but soon utter exhaustion overwhelms the Springhill workers and I make these observations.

The floor of the BW gets hot. 

Crazy box like home following us down the road.

I forgot bread.

Truckers looking in our windows.

I'm positive we brought too much stuff. We have a camera/electronics cupboard, for crying out loud.

Some town names strike me as funny. Funks Grove & Shirley

Randy Travis' Rise and Shine is awesome traveling music for someone who likes country.

Tiny cell phone towers now dot the landscape and they're almost as plentiful as the ever changing mile markers.

Someone hoisted a lonely American flag on an overpass pillar.

The morning and the evening are the first day. And it was good.

In hindsight, we have no problems-Donate to the Red Cross for the Katrina victims.

Happy Trails To You

And we’re off.

I’ll keep ya posted.

End Of An Era

Wow only 3 August entries...and that's all you're gonna get, too! I'm just gonna go ahead and say it even though I hate cliches...So much to say, so little time. I've broken out the real diary to keep it all documented and therefore you'll probably get a "Month In The Life" entry when I return, which will be on 9-11. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention my brother John on the day after his 40th birthday. Remember, it is not what you do, but who you are! You could drive a garbage truck for all I care and you would still be the same caring, unselfish, hardworking, loving dad, and all-around-good-guy. I don't know why, but your face always comes to mind when I think of soft spots in my heart. God bless you in whatever you decide to pursue and speaking from my 10-year seniority, let's not call this one "over the hill". 

OK then, troops, carry on!

Rant And Rave

Now that I have awakened from the coma I shall forever lovingly refer to as Hurricane Melissa, there are just a few topics that have become eminently clear in my mind. Therefore I blog.

Job ~ If I have to go, and I do, I will. If I didn't have to, I wouldn't. But I never seem to want to. Pretty sure that will never change even if the situation would. And it won't. My glass is half empty when it comes to work.

Money ~ I have tried to not let the almighty dollar become my god and rule every decision, or sneak into every conversation I have! An old ex-relative of mine used to answer the "I got it on sale" scenario with, "the whole world is on sale". So it didn't' surprise me when my common sense started rearing it's ugly head on this whole "motor home vacation idea." I'll betcha that thing goes through a gallon of gas faster than I can complain about all the SUV's that are passing us like we're standing still. 

Relatives ~ You can't live with 'em and that's a good thing, but I couldn't live without 'em, either. For starters: Ariel Janae. What a pleasant young woman you have turned into (not saying you weren't pleasant earlier, just saying). You have had a couple of curves thrown your way but have stayed positive and charming through it all. You and your mom brighten up a room by just walking into it, and it's not just cuz you both wear the cutest and funkiest clothes in W. Michigan...it goes much deeper than that. I hope you enjoy your h.s. years as much as my girls did, and good luck with trying to get a Mona Shores type POP's concert pulled together. We would sure enjoy coming to watch you perform much more than we're going to enjoy playing East in football this year. Remember to shine and always go towards the light.

Ang & Joel. Good morning! I cannot say enough about your quiet convictions and faith. If I wasn't such a wus, here I would go into great detail about the strength and determination you portrayed in delivering that baby naturally. And those same traits will turn into powerful parenting skills. They already have. I'm positive that you've passed the valium/prozac test and have come out victorious on the other side. I am so excited to see Aidan grow up in your physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally sturdy home. LiVeSTroNG. 

Mom & Dad ~ you both remind me of that silly Energizer bunny...you keep going and going! Whenever you describe a little ache or pain, the first thought that comes into my head is, "what? you're just now feeling that?" Your absolute unconditional love and support of our kids in everything has meant the world to Mark and I. As we peeked over our shoulders during the open house it was reassuring to see you interacting with grandkids, great-grand kids, friends, and acquaintances. In the midst of it all I don't think you missed one weed in the garden or one empty dish that needed refilling. I'm going to have to insist that after Monday's auction dust has settled...you finally take the break you so deserve and need.

Open Houses ~ Me proving to the world that not everyone stops taking pictures after the first baby.

Well as you can see by my list above the fun isn't over 'till the fat lady sings. No pun intended. I have a sunset to catch.

Countdown

Tues July 26

T minus not very much time and counting! Mark, get off the computer and fix the screen door, finish cleaning out garage, paint....need I go on? Kids: pre-warn any friends you happen to drag bring home on Friday that they'll be put to work. And anyone reading this: you show up before 5:59pm on Aug 6 and you'll probably get a job. Just kidding! Except for you Mark, seriously, step away from the computer. 

Note to west Michigan meteorologists: please forecast severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours for Aug. 6.

Sat July 30

Young Love

Not mine, silly! Mine's old-----28 years old, to be exact. Not stale, stagnant or musty old, but old none the less. As I celebrate this day I'm desperately trying to remember my season of young love. It's difficult to get out of the driveway in my quest to go down memory lane. Time! So as I sit back and watch my kids (well, not necessarily sit back) words like young and new are not in my description of love. They have long since been replaced by comfortable, content, secure and happy. And just for the record...what a ride. My hope for today is that I (we) have led by example. Remember: love is a choice.

Mon Aug 8

OK, just a tad tired. And grateful. And overwhelmed. And excited. And bittersweet. And apprehensive. Did I mention tired? I'm still pulling my thoughts together on the whole open house dealie. It is somewhat strange when different aspects of your worlds collide right at your own front door. I hope everyone, (especially those that follow along here) took the evening as the biggest "thank-you" I could possibly muster for the role you have all played in Melissa's life. And I'm quoting my friend Kate not Hillary Clinton when I say, "It absolutely does take a village!" So thank you, merci beaucoup, obrigado and thank you once again. More later.

And now the final countdown begins. I am painfully aware of the anticipation and sadness that separation brings, but on the other hand I am coming to terms with this new phase that is starting to unfold. I eagerly await the adventures, travels, and new acquaintances that the YA's is going to afford our family. I mean c'mon, it's southern fricken California, for crying out loud! I'm positive Melissa, you are where you're supposed to be right now and also in the fall. I can not wait to hear the stories, see the shows, and cherish the reunions. So yea, whenever I get super homesick for girl's night out, I guess I will just have to jump in the car and go harass Jennifer. Whatever will I do if she's overwhelmed by studies, work, and Boyfriend, that she limits me to some sort of ridiculous once a month visitation rights. I call shotgun on Jen for Amazing Race 7 and Survivor Guatemala premiers and finales. Seriously, Jen, look what listening to God's small still voice has afforded you! I can't wait to see what lies ahead and I'm positive that since you've overcome some major fears in your life since the middle of July, music performance is going to be a piece of cake! It's your time. And that brings me to Ben and Annie. God bless you both as you struggle through this year of US 131 trips. My hope for you is that when you look back on this short span of time in your life you will be able to see how all things work together for the good. It's very cliche, but you know the old absence makes the heart grow fonder saying! What with Melissa in California and my restricted schedule with Jennifer, I'll probably be dragging you to lunch, Annie, every 10 days or so! And even though I'm ecstatic to help plan a wedding, the marriage is what I've prayed about since he was born. Go ahead...society, put your negative spin on the empty nest syndrome, my heart is full.