The Week That Kicked My Behind (Part 12)

Because, really, isn't every week kicking my butt? This week, however, was particularly crazy because we got back from the western tour of colleges late Monday night and LawyerBoy and I had a full Tuesday. Not so much Prep and BrownBear, who had Tuesday as the second day of Fall Break.

First, I love (LOVE) Ole Miss. What's not to love? It's the mother ship calling me home. The college, the square, the shops, the BOOKSTORE(!!), the whole preppiness of the thing. Put on your pearls and call it a day. A true college town. Prep and her friend were so excited to be getting handed off on that Friday night, that she forgot to turn around and ask for cash. LB and I headed to Memphis - I took the wheel and took off. Twenty five miles outside of Memphis, I blew a tire. Middle of the night. Eventually, LB had to ask, "Can't you ever take a college trip without blowing one of these tires?" Well, apparently not.

Memphis is an interesting place. I drank more there than I have in years. I watched ducks waddle around a hotel lobby. Graceland disappointed me more than I can say. Barbecue in Memphis is fantastic.

Next stop, University of Alabama. This is the first school that accepted Prep. This is the school that Joe Namath quarterbacked for. We were both excited.

As soon as we rolled into 'Bama, she looked around and said, "Not so much." Not so much? Did I mention that the greatest quarterback in modern time roamed this campus? Not so much? Damn.

On to Auburn. Which she liked. A lot. Not as much as Ole Miss, but she is worried about the distance and the route. (Did I mention there is no direct, interstate route from Atlanta to Oxford, Mississippi? You should have been there for that conversation in Birmingham.) So, our thousand mile road trip could have been taken care of in an afternoon - at least I think it could have. It could have today. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

And there's still a few more options on the table.

Road Trip, People.

Not in this order because I'm better than this. Sort of. And believe me, I'm exhausted.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

I am old. When my mother was this age, I had been married for six years. Me? I've got a Junior in high school and a 7th grader. Times change. And so does my hair color. Prep lifted up my hair last night and said that my original color under there looked pretty good. Why not go with it?

Silly child.

Road trip starts today. All those with close contact to the higher authorities need to pray for safety and sanity.

The New American Vacation

Is not very different than it was from the past. I am not yet the world traveler that I dreamt I would be. I had that whole Ernest Hemingwayesque worldview before I met LawyerBoy - lots of time in Paris and Italy. That whole thing, you know.

Instead, I am the mother of two American teenagers who have grandparents with a beachhouse. God bless them. For years, our vacations have consisted of beach trips, just as long as we could get there and back. Sweet.

Thanksgivings were covered, too. Nothing like celebrating the Pilgrims with a beach walk after turkey.

So, all this doom and gloom? Not so much here. Yes, the electric bill came and while I was mildly shocked, I had to remember that it is not as bad as it could be.

Now the things that bother the hell out of me while I travel: first, letting go and letting PrepGirl drive. I have a horrible time letting go of anything, so letting her drive is absolutely painful for me to do. But I let her drive all the way down I-16 to Savannah. Does she scare the hell out of me? Yes, yes she does. But only because I am not driving. And when I take over, she and BrownBear start doing what I do to Prep: "Too close, too fast, do youseethatcarinfrontofyou? Is that a policeman? Oh My Goodness!!!!!!!!!"

And people, when you are traveling and you let your son go into the ladies room at the Chick-Fil-A, make damned certain he needs to be in the ladies room. If he is 12 and not with his mother, I don't think he needs to be in there with his sister. And I especially don't think he needs to be in there if he is peeing all over the seats. Seats I will need to be using because PrepGirl has just scared the piss out of me. Thankyouverymuch.