We arrived in the mountains of North Carolina on Sunday night, after an all day drive from Washington DC. We will stay put at Charley’s mom’s through November. We are approaching 7 weeks on the road and have literally been from sea to shining sea. I’ve not written, mostly because my battery is fried on my laptop but also, because it feels like work, and since most of this trip truly is work, I’m not interested in adding more.
It is good. It is hard. This good/hard has become a common theme for us.
We have been to and through, Rawlins, Wy, Boise, ID, Bend, OR, Portland, OR, Cape Lookout State Park, OR, Tilamook, OR, Astoria, OR, Seattle, WA, Spokane, WA, Coeur d’Alene, ID, Missoula, MT, Billings, MT, Sturgis, SD, Wall, SD, Sioux Falls, SD (Yes, South Dakota is LONGGGGG) St. Paul, MN, Wisconsin Dells, WI, Milwaukee, WI, Fox Lake, IL, Glen Ellyn, IL, Chicago, IL, Howe, IN, Mercer, IN, Landingville, PA, Maplewood, NJ, NYC, DC, Ashville, NC. Phew.
We have battled freezing pipes, we have been totally freaked out, we have gotten stuck, we have had “issues” with our dog, we have flipped out on our kids, we have had “the” flu, we have had major repair work done.
We have seen awe inspiring views, we have seen National treasures, we have been proud of our kids, our selves and our country. We have eaten the world’s biggest cinnamon roll, we have unplugged from tv and turned up the music, we have laughed a lot. We have cried a lot. We are the essence of spontaneity. Good and bad.
We have seen friends that we adore and miss and talk about visiting, but never do. We have sat with them and cried with them over Tuesday’s fate. We have watched our combined children play and become fast friends. We all notice the obvious void. Some mention it. Some don’t. But, we all feel it.
Our boys are so great at including Piper in their play. They are so protective. But, there is a painful, underlying competition for her affection. Spencer feels this the strongest because “Tuesday was his and Piper is Axel’s”. It’s kind of true and it crushes me. I’m pissed that after all the suffering we had to witness with Tuesday, here we are, still watching our children suffer.
“Is this our home?”
“Do we have a home?”
“Is Otto dead?” (after a 4 day stay at the dog kennel)
“Maybe we can have another baby and name her Tuesday.”
“Do we still get to have Christmas?”
Their poor, sweet minds. How are they supposed to get any of this when I can’t even wrap my mind around it. I still don’t know if this is the right thing to be be doing. There has been a lot of yelling. But, there was a lot of yelling at home too. It mostly feels right, but sometimes it feels wrong. Mostly when It’s raining and I’m about to get my period. But it always feels bad when it’s raining or I’m about to get my period. It’s not the RV’s fault.
Despite all that, the kids are really in a groove with one another right now. It’s awesome to watch their imaginations in full bloom. They have built a fort in every state, both in the RV and out. They are growing before our eyes. (Something that we missed all together last year) We are growing. There are bound to be some pains. Charley and I are not in our groove. This makes me sad. We will figure it out. We always do.
Our last stretch, through Roanoke, VA, has set me in a bad place. The last time I drove those roads, I was on a trip by myself with two, fat, healthy baby girls. Life was good.
It’s still good, right?
Despite it all, life is still good.
www.thewhitts.com
p.s. While we have been gone, children are continuing to battle, relapse, and die. What are YOU going to do about it?
www.whatchagonnado.org
