Not Again

Things got a bit crazy the past month. When you throw some holidays, a long trip, house guests and two weeks of flu into one month, it all seems to meld together in one big pot of ugly.

Not again seems to be the overwhelming theme of our trip.

It is a huge undertaking to pack and haul two humans and four dogs across 1/3 of the country and back. Don't get me wrong, the dogs and us neither one are a major problem. It's just a lot of work and a lot of miles.

As suspected, the trip was not enjoyable. The travel was mostly uneventful and we made about the best time we've done so far.

Staying with my husband's parents was miserable. It deserves a post of its own. We ended up being at their house only two days, two very long days.

My husband's dad said this was the last year he would host Christmas at his house. After 50 years of a routine, this rattled my husband. He determined then and there, not again. We would not make the trek across country for Christmas or Thanksgiving. We might visit other times during the year, but no holidays.

I understand. An era has come to an end and he is choosing to not be a part of new traditions. If he were closer to his siblings, maybe. But he's not.

It's fine with me. Again, I repeat, it was miserable and I hate seeing my husband meltdown emotionally.

While there and in the midst of the flu, we took a side trip to Branson. Also deserving of another post. It rained. Not just a little. The heavens opened up and dumped 12" of rain on us in 3 days. The area flooded.

We took my niece with us. There's the not again. I just can't continue to open ourselves up to people, children or not, who don't appreciate spending time with us. It's all about how much we will spend on them and there's no appreciation for what we do. I'm exhausted by it.

Our trip home was a long one. Branson to Iola, Kansas and then to Effingham, IL. Then home the next day. We made the trip a day early since we were both terribly sick. Besides dodging floods, the trip home was uneventful as well.

There were a few things from the trip that redeemed the bad.

We got to spend a few hours with friends in the KC area. That time is precious. We also got a date night at one of our favorite restaurants. We saw all our favorite Christmas lights and enjoyed every second.

Our hotel in KC was paid for with points, so it was free. A dear friend set us up in a hotel on the way home. We'd been in the car 15 hours and could not do another 5 to home. We felt so loved at that moment.

It'll be a while before we make that trip again, maybe a year. I'm ok with that. What we miss is not yet greater than the moments of pain the trip brings.