The kids and I are in Grand Junction for their second spring break.
On the way, Aidan kept a record sheet of every brown, blue, and green sign we passed.
Tally marks noted the number of freshly-thawed waterfalls.
An inventory of out-of-state cars was built. The Carolinas, Minnesota, and Washington were represented well.
Quotes from the other passengers were noted for posterity.
Tunnels were heralded, as they should be. Respect the tunnel. It’s the only thing keeping 100 million tons of rock from crushing you into a leaflet.
6 tunnels became 5, then 4-3-2-1-None.
The 250 mile trip included me driving away from the McDonald’s in Rifle, Colorado without getting our food. I paid. I just didn’t bother to pull up to the second window and wait for the avalanche of Happy Meals.
The mistake was discovered quickly. I parked and went inside, told them breathlessly I was the one with all those Happy Meals but I wasn’t at the window. Much confusion. Much embarrassment. Much dork.
The 2 window thing can be so confusing!
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Are you checking out the dinosaur museum in Fruita? My kids loved that. My husband lived in Palisade for a few years growing up and I think, in his mind, that part of Colorado is heaven on earth.
We don’t keep as many detailed notations as your daughter, but we do always keep track of state license plates on trips. We almost found all 50 one year.
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Have fun. Maybe the prickly pears are still in bloom? My favorite part of spring in the desert.
Hope you are having a blast!
I hear the census is hiring for next year…
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You’re lucky they didn’t give all those Happy Meals to the unsuspecting person behind you! 🙂
I definitely respect the tunnel! I laughed at that part. I used to be afraid of the tunnels. Now, I pretend that they’re really cool…for my daughter’s sake. 😉
Have a great trip!!
Oh my goodness! That would be me. Love this.
Steph
Have a fun trip! It sound like you already are.
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Hey! I did that with my nieces just the other day! Sigh…
Respect the tunnel.
That would make a great band name.
Have I said lately that I love your writing, Gretchen? Because I do. I like your way with words, your sense of humor, your thoughtfulness, your insight, your voice. I secretly hope to be you when I grow up.
I was sooo happy to run into you at Target, of all places.
I especially loved meeting all your kids. Every last single one of them is precious beyond belief.
Thanks for remembering who I am. That means a lot.
Have a safe trip home.
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You are a brave, brave woman. I think it is a simple scientific fact that the brain of a mother whilst travelling can simply not remember more than one drive through window.
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wow! I’m impressed – and how do you have two spring breaks? I can honestly say that driving away without the food is something I would do, for sure!
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Sounds like Aidan is a scientist! That is really cool. And I have been known to pay for my stuff at Wal Mart and then walk away without it, especially if the cashier didn’t hand me my bag and left it in the twirly bagging contraption.
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Love it. It’s important to take note of all the little stats in one’s life. And the recording of car trip quotes is a marvelous idea I shall adopt. I must say, I’ve never driven off without my food. Not much comes between me and my food which I like to blame on low blood sugar. I am one with my Happy Meal.
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