We got a pretty early start, which is tough with a 2 year old. Had toys, snacks, milk, and the DVD player charged and ready to go. Said goodbye to Ryan, which was really strange because he's usually the one leaving to go on a business trip. The first two hours on the road were pretty much me fighting the urge to turn around and just head home. The whole trip just felt so long and daunting. Made our first stop in Effingham, IL and it got a little easier from there on. Oh, I also became pretty proficient at changing Sam's diaper while he stood up in a MacDonald's bathroom stall. He refused to lay down on the icky plastic changing tables that are built into the wall. I can't blame him. Drove through Terre Haute and Indianapolis without any problems and then stopped for lunch. Yet another MacDonald's stop because, honestly, their bathrooms are usually relatively decent and you typically find quite a few families, etc. traveling through as well. MacDonald's just seems like a safe(er) stop....I don't know. Sam's a big fan of the chicken nuggets and goes crazy for the apple slices. Crossed the Ohio border and got pretty excited - but then after calling my grandma I realized we still had 5 hours to go. Oh well, through Dayton and then north around Columbus. I have family in Columbus and felt bad that I didn't make the time to stop and see them, but honestly - I kinda felt like if I stopped for anything other than gas, food, or a restroom I may not get back on the road. North to Akron, then East to Youngstown, OH - almost to the Pennsylvania border. Dear lord, we had made it. And without any rain, traffic, or (actual) car trouble.
It was really strange to be the one driving down the roads that I remember riding along as a kid to go to grandma's house. And even stranger to have Sam with me. But also really cool at the same time. Sam was such a trooper. He did so well, probably better than I did, and had such a good time while we were at Grandma's. Sam calls my grandma G.G. (since she's his great-grandma) and he just kept running around saying "G.G.'s house!" and "O-HIO!" the whole weekend. It was great and I know it really meant a lot to my grandma that we made the trip. Hell, it meant a lot to me. I'm really glad he got to spend so much time with her. We planted rose bushes, fed the giant mutant squirrels and the birds, opened and closed the screen door a million + times, visited our Uncle David, went to Molnar's, ate large quantities of Belleria pizza, had the pleasure of meeting quite the distinguished gentleman, attempted church (mostly we played in the nursery) and ate the best apple fritters I've ever tasted. Sam agreed - "mo doughnut!"Oh and the fresh corn on the cob and "floating salad" with every meal. Love it.
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| Apparently my mom used this rocking chair when she was little.....so sweet to see Sam in it. |
The trip home was equally uneventful. At some point on Hwy. 71, Sam worked the cover off of his snack trap and dumped 2 cups of Apple Jacks all over himself. The birds in a MacDonald's parking lot north of Columbus had quite a tasty treat. We saw an Amish buggy driving along the hilly Ohio countryside and a blimp flying low over I-70 in Indiana. Also saw quite a few people pulled over along the way with flat tires.....I tried not to look. Sam told me to "Be careful, Mama" when we were driving through one of the many construction zones - Thanks for the heads-up baby boy. And we watched, well I listened to, plenty of movies on the glorious portable sanity saving DVD player. Even snuck Star Wars (ep. 4) into the rotation. Funny, that was when he slept for an hour. Oh well, I'm sure he'll grow to love it.
Proud of myself for making the trip. Happy to spend time with my Grandma at her houe. Relieved that we made it there and back safely. Glad that Sam is such a good travel buddy.
