The End

There is that moment at the end of a family vacation, when the kids have gotten on your very last nerve and your husband isn’t too far behind, and you are sitting in the middle seat of an airplane row, all the way in the back where the entire passenger list lines up to use the lavatory, and you have finished the new book you just bought (because it was that good) and there is nothing on the free TV channels other than news and sports (don’t get me started) when you realize that you are not only bored beyond belief but the starvation you are now feeling and the utter horror you feel at paying $4.00 for a bag of chips combined with the fact that claustrophobia is setting in that you actually contemplate opening the emergency doors and grabbing a parachute.

I am there.

As my boredom leads my mind into my future once we actually make it home, I contemplate not only the beauty of that parachute, but the sheer repulsion of unpacking 5 suitcases and the mounds of laundry that will keep me occupied for the duration of the week. I think about the fact that there is no food in my house and the moment we walk in the door my children will already be whining that they are hungry and thirsty and why don’t we have anything to eat. I am also thinking about the fact that my husband, who will be back to work tomorrow, will need shirts ironed and his lunch made and there is no way in the world I will be able to slowly acclimate back to my pre-vacation life. I will be thrown into the pit of despair and realize once again… I need a vacation.

How does this happen? Why should a vacation cause one to actually need a vacation? Yes, we had some good times, but the fact they were interspersed with a whole bunch of complaining from three smallish humans, counteracted the purpose of a vacation.

And this leads me to think… traveling with children just isn’t fun.

I’m pretty sure that staying home for the past 2 weeks and letting them watch TV until their eyes crossed might have been a better vacation for ME.

There are 16 days until I leave for BlogHer. You better believe I am counting them down.

Yes, to answer your questions I AM aware that there is a large void in my blogging. You see, while we had a lovely stay at the Park Ridge Marriott and we loved the fact that they provided free wi-fi in the lobby area, they DID NOT feel the need to provide me with free wi-fi in our hotel room. Believe me, I asked everyone associated with the hotel and despite the fact that I was willing to blog about them and give them boat loads of free advertising… apparently they didn’t care. Or I’m just not a “big enough” blogger. Whatever. Just wanted you to know that is the reason I have a large void. Getting back to your hotel at midnight isn’t very conducive to sitting in a hotel lobby for yet another hour while you blog about your day.

Yes, there will be more filler coming about the rest of our trip, but please understand that I am TIRED and it’s going to take me a while to download pictures and unpack bags and try and remember what the hell we did for the last week.

The above post was written on the plane home (can’t you tell?). I do, however, want to give a huge shout-out to Nell, Jim, Tyler and Sophia. Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting us stay with you on the last leg of our journey. My family had the most wonderful time at the lake and can’t wait to come back.

If I could add one more piece of advice… DO NOT let 14 years go by without seeing your best friend. I won’t make that mistake again.