Sunday, June 22, 2008

Have you missed me?

We finally made it to Nebraska. After three, no four days on the road. Traveling with a 1 1/2 year old is definitely a bit more challenging than traveling with a baby. At 1 1/2, he expects some sort of entertainment, and watching the world go by -- that just doesn't cut it. What used to be a two day trip, where we'd gas, use the facilities, and eat all in one stop, driving into the wee hours of the night to get up early and head out again the next morning has turned into a drive for about 3 hours a day. It takes a while to get 1800 miles that way. I enjoyed myself though.

There is something nostalgic about traveling in Nebraska on the interstate. I don't know if was the scenery: the flat, wide open landscape dotted with the occasional silo or farm house, the wheat, corn and hay fields as far as the eye can see, the blue sky filled with clouds on their way to becoming thunderstorms that makes me that way. Maybe it's the tummy full of all of the Runza goodness. Or maybe still it's the combination of the two that make me feel that way.

Whatever it is, it makes me think of my childhood. Of summers filled with bicycle rides and swimming. Spending hours at the lake behind a boat, on skis or maybe a tube. I reminisce of sunburned noses, the smell of lake and Coppertone. I think of my childhood friends, those with whom I've lost touch with, wondering what they are up to, hoping that they view their lives as happy and successful. I remember all of the wonderful things about this state. The state that I wanted so badly to leave. It will always be home. So much so that even though we've just gotten here, I'm already a bit sad to leave.

10 comments:

Vanessa said...

Yes, I have missed you. I have been lost without you. And, I missed my vacation. Not because of you though. Long, tedious story. (Not really) Hope you are having a great time.

Anonymous said...

It is amazing how much you love a place when you visit it again after a while. I am glad you three are having a great road trip. Beleive it or not, Little Monster might remember the trip more for how you got there!

Ashlee said...

When I was a kid I always said I would NEVER live where I grew up. Guess where I came back to live? And I like it. A lot. Go figure huh?

Juicy said...

Isn't Nebraska one of those toll road states? If so, that's all I remember about Nebraska. I've never spent any time there ever, except to use it to get to another state. Sounds lovely though, I may have to make a stop some time!

:)

Michelle said...

I've never driven to/through Nebraska..I think the furtherest west I've been by car is Iowa (close, but not quite!.
I know what you mean about traveling with a toddler--if only I appreciated how easy it was to travel with a baby while I was doing it! Who knew?!?!

NCLM

Sam said...

Good heavens, that's a long journey!! Don't you like flying or was it just easier to fill the car up with all the paraphernalia that you need!?

Anonymous said...

Heh. I too declared I'd never ever go back to the tiny boring BORING village I grew up in, and now I miss it, and the mountains, so much.

(here from NCLM)

Amanda said...

This will be a great vacation for you bc you get to take Little Monster to where you lived as a child and experience it with him :)

Have a great trip!

Ginny said...

Visiting from NCLM. I couldn't imagine traveling with a toddler :)

Vanessa said...

So I heard what someone called their minivan the other day...they called it the mommy missile. I thought that was funny.