Road trip.

Things I learned from Thursday to Sunday.

I learned (Thursday) that:

• leaving late doesn't mean arriving late.
• speeding is relative to the rate at which the traffic around you is moving.
• manifestation works, at least in terms of catching a ferry in time.
• eating more veggies makes one hell of a lot more stopping for gas... and then some.
• making good time at the beginning of the day doesn't necessarily mean coming out on top at the end of that same day.
• it doesn't matter how old you are when it comes to sneaking in to your dad's house without waking him, it still gets your heart pumping.
• my sister is/was better at sneaking in than I was, which explains a lot...
  
• it's easier to make my sister laugh when she's nervous... and she swears more (heh)
• it's getting easier to fall asleep in a bed that isn't my own.

(Friday)

• my dad gets up really early!
• he loves his kids and pleasant surprises.
• sixty four doesn't mean old.
• prairie heat is gorgeous.
• say what you want, no matter what you think others want to hear.
• there's no such thing as perfect, and sadness is always an option.
• it's really hard to fall asleep when I'm sad.

(Saturday)

• success can be measured in smiles.
• the older the people in my life get, the more amazing they become.
• the people in my life feel the same about me.
• I am fully capable of smiling and continuing even if I'm scared and overwhelmed.
• my Dad has touched peoples lives and they're thankful.
• if I am willing to accept it, there is immeasurable support out there for me.
• I have a whole other family, really!
• it is hard to go to bed the night before the road-trip home.

(Sunday)

• there are no mountains like the Rocky Mountains.
• Calaway park is still there, but bigger than it was 20 years ago.
• it takes longer for my cell phone to realize we've changed timezones when returning home than when leaving home.
• I don't need to take a picture to make a moment memorable. In fact, it can often ruin the moment, altogether.
• that my sister is hilarious and amazing and loaded down with just as much baggage as am I. (When looking at a line of cars on the highway, trapped behind the slow guy she said, "Look. Pace car... in other words, 'Mom.'" and related to me a conversation she and Mom had had years ago. "Mom, you know that you're supposed to pass in the left lane but travel in the right, right?" "Yes" "Well, do you think that you should change lanes and let the people behind you pass?" "They're going plenty fast enough." You gotta love her! Well, I do, anyway.)
• leaving late doesn't mean arriving late.
• manifestation works, again, in terms of catching a ferry in time.
• after 11 hours of sitting on my ass in a hot car there is enough moisture in the crack of my ass to cultivate mushrooms and moss.
• that I am allowed to be a barefoot hippy and I love it!
• no matter how badly I wanted a vacation, my favourite part was when my daughter launched herself into my arms at the end of it.

It's good to be home.