a good road trip
You're either a road tripper or not. There's not an in-between designation on the road trip scale. You either love loading up the car, stopping at endless gas stations and fast food joints and driving mile after mile on interstates or you don't. Me? I love a good road trip. Being from Texas, I didn't think twice about driving eight hours from home to college. And when I met Laura, we made many trips up to St. Louis. For me, road trips are a chance to sit still. They are a chance to think. They are a chance to talk. They are a chance to dream.
The last road trip we made was moving here to NYC four years ago. I've had a hankerin' for a road trip ever since. And this summer we're going for it.
We're loading up the family, all of Ira's equipment and we're setting off for St. Louis. After spending time there, we'll drive down to Tahoka, Texas. Then we'll head for Abilene to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. (Her husband's name was Ira.) We'll make a few other stops here and there - Ashflat, Arkansas anyone?
I look forward to being with Laura, Sophia and Ira. I look forward to the long drives. I look forward to sitting still.
What about you? Do you like road trips?
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The last road trip we made was moving here to NYC four years ago. I've had a hankerin' for a road trip ever since. And this summer we're going for it.
We're loading up the family, all of Ira's equipment and we're setting off for St. Louis. After spending time there, we'll drive down to Tahoka, Texas. Then we'll head for Abilene to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. (Her husband's name was Ira.) We'll make a few other stops here and there - Ashflat, Arkansas anyone?
I look forward to being with Laura, Sophia and Ira. I look forward to the long drives. I look forward to sitting still.
What about you? Do you like road trips?
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posted by jch at
11:02 AM
17 Comments:
I am smiling from ear to ear!!! Good for you guys!!! You are going to have a blast and if you are going through Chicago PLEASE stop and say hi! I may even break down and greet you all with a kiss on the cheek!
Joe, I would love to see you and your family while you are here in Abilene. I feel the need to touch Ira, see his eyes, put my cheek on his head. When are going to be here?
I am so so excited that you guys are getting to do this!!!
I, myself, didn't enjoy long road trips until I met my husband. Now, I LOVE it. We have our best conversations and see the neatest things together. We now get to share this with our children and they love road trips, as well. Granted, we have to make a few more stops than before, but road trips are still some of our most memorable family outings.
I love road trips too, man, and I think that's part of being from Texas. I've done Texas to Florida a couple of times, and yep, Austin to NYC. I-10 and me are old friends. The all-nighters are good, too, especially driving east. The sun sets behind you and then greets you in the morning, breaking over the horizon. Incredible!
Barbara - won't be making to Chi-town but if we were we would definitely want our trach boys to meet!
Julie - your best bet seeing us is Sunday morning at Univ. CofC. We would love to say hi to you before or after church service. Otherwise, we'll be inundated with family.
i can't wait, i can't wait, i can't wait! hope your trip is full of laughter, games of i spy, and lots of stories you can laugh about later! and, hopefully, unlike the stories we have about sweet johnna, your trip will not include any stories about drivers who adamantly refuse to stop for passengers to take as many bathroom breaks as necessary.
regardless, we can't wait to see you guys! the "big" cousins (wes and jay, anyway) especially can't wait to tortu... i mean, hug and kiss on sophia and ira! ;) love you guys to pieces!
forget about road trips, how long are you in abilene? i'd be really tempted to make the 3 hour drive, just to see you guys.
Hey Kes - we're only in Abilene for a short time. We're there for not quite 24 hours and really, I'm reserving that time for my grandmom and aunt/uncles and cousins. Not meaning to be rude. The fam would love to see you and I'll offer the same to you as I did Julie - we'll be at Univ CofC on a Sunday morning but I don't trust the two of us as I could imagine us talking about life and church planting and never stopping.
understood. 24 hours is no kind of time to try and slip in coffee and catching up in the midst of being with family.
one of these days i'll get to make a nice week long trip to ny to see sarah, and you and i will have to schedule some time.
I, also from Texas, enjoy a good road trip. I have been to Canada and Mexico, and too many states to count, all in the back row seat of a church van. Oh, the memories.
I love a road trip!! One of my favorite road trip memories: Darren and I picked a random little town on the Oklahoma map, tried to guess what its newspaper might be called (this was before the internet made things like that instantly available)... and then hit the road with Twizzlers, music, and Sonic drinks to find out. Enjoy your first road trip as a family! :)
Allison would verify this with a roll of the eyes...I love the gas station connivence store! I could piddle away in there for way to long, and if it's a Love's truck stop...forget about. No matter what if I stop for gas I have to get something from the store, whether we brought food or not.
I love the part of a long drive when the family falls asleep but you (the driver) feels strong and able to go on and on and on. Armed with a big bag of Funyuns and a gigantic Cherry Coke you cruise down the interstate making great time and feeling all the more manly because of it!
The best youth ministry is said to happen on the drive to and from where you are going. The family car trip is much the same thing (of course it's a little easier now since a DVD player can easily tag along on a road trip). I am beyond thrilled for you guys.
Joe, I didn't mean to sound as if there was any pressure....just delighted that you were going to be in my town. If I can manage to make it to University after church...I will. I understand the family thing...especially now that we live in Texas and family is in Virginia and friends are in Maryland. I always feel pulled when we visit. I just want a quick cruise by...hugs for all of you...and like I said...a need to look Ira in the eyes, touch him and just feel the miracle that he is.
I felt connected to you long before Ira...gal328 and the struggle for gender justice. But your journey with Ira has only intensified my respect for you and Laura.
Know that there is no pressure...only love.
In church life, there's nothing like a road trip to solidify relationships. Going to a retreat or a conference or even a far-away funeral, Christians in a car together for a long, long time can be intensely good. We talk a lot about Jesus and his habit of "table fellowship" -- i.e., eating a lot with whomever invited. But remember, Jesus was on an extended road trip with his closest followers, bathroom breaks and all. So I think churches should try to plan road trips together whenever they can. None of this "meet you there" stuff. peace -- Katie
I love road trips. . .as long as I'm not driving. I love to travel every way there is, but I do not like to actually be in the driver's seat of the car.
Joe, you'll love this: When I was little our whole family would travel from north LA to middle TN to visit relatives for holidays. My dad drove this massive Ford truck with a covered bed, and he outfitted the back end of it with custom-built storage boxes and a flat platform. So, all the luggage lived underneath, and we would lay out sleeping bags and play in the back or sleep or whatever while we traveled. It was so crazy, and I miss the heck out of that pick-up truck.
Have a great time on your trip!
I just love that the summer we're planning a road trip the gas is the most expensive its ever been in the HISTORY OF TIME! Geez.
Holler real loud when you head west from St. Louis on I-44 - if that's the route you choose!
We've done the long road trips for years, but I'm tiring of them. I don't mind the packing and loading and traveling and visiting. It's the coming home to mountains of dirty laundry and mail! And no $$.
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