Family summer trip!
Finally, after two and half years of waiting, we got to go visit uncle Robert and his wife Maria on Martha’s Vineyard. And to make it even better my dad, another uncle and my sister and her gang were going to be there.
I was looking forward to seeing everyone, seeing the ocean, feeling the sand under my toes, etc. The ferry reservation, made in April, had gone swimmingly. Vacation requests at work had also been approved. No more border issues. It was finally time.
Here we come ocean!
First, this stuff happened:
Weeks of debate about using the aging Caravan for the trip. Rentals were outrageously pricey.
Decided to spend some money fixing the things that might be problematic( the “working when they feel like it” electric windows were a priority).
Prepped for 3 weeks(what to pack, what to eat, what is legal to cross the border with, etc)
Pretended that I was organized and calm
This is how the trip went:
The night before did some pre-packing into the car.
The next morning got up early to finish…and still ended up being the last one in the car.
Everyone was buckled. Breakfast in hand. Energy was high. Let’s go!
The car wouldn’t start!
Used the other car to charge the battery…WE ARE AWESOME!
Drive, laugh, stop, pee, stretch…repeat.
Enjoyed the beautiful day…even if it was a bit hot(80+ degrees).
Having made amazing time so far we decided to throw caution to the wind and take the I-93 through the tunnel in Boston…bad idea! Traffic!
Robert heard the beeping first..then the motor started to overheat. Damn!!! Did the mechanic forget to fill the coolant? We should have checked!
Robert expertly maneuvered the injured car in traffic… my champion.
I quietly clenched the door handle feeling my Sam-E burning away and begged the car to get us somewhere safe.
An amazingly calm Camille searched for help on Google and discovered that turning on the heater full blast could help.
It did but then it was 90+ degrees in the car…and the passenger-side window wouldn’t lower(yep! that would be one that was “repaired”).
Found a shady-looking gas station that sold us two very expensive bottles of coolant.
Then when we poured it, we watched in frustration, as most of it leaked onto the ground…a hole?
Sniff. Sniff. My beloved Caravan would not be making it to the Vineyard.
More hurried internet searches.
Ended up paying a fortune to rent a car anyway…one of the last available(but it had air conditioning!)
A hurried and very hot(felt like 100 degrees) parking lot transfer of all of our stuff to the rental(which was fancy but had less room).
Unfortunately forgot Robert’s much-needed pillow.
Ditched the Caravan in a Walgreens parking lot and hoped it will still be there when we came back.
Hoped we would make it to the ferry on time.
Yes! we made it on time!
Family challenge completed with outrageous success.
Had an awesome ferry ride.
Smelled the ocean and felt it clearing out my lungs. Felt the wind in my hair…or at least on my head.
Had a wonderful week with my sister and her gang, my dad, my two uncles and Maria(thanks Robert and Maria for the invitation).
We ate(Susie and Maria are insane cooks!)
Played on the beach
Watched the kids reconnecting
Played games, recharged our batteries with time at the ocean, ate some more(thanks for spoiling us Elliot), talked, walked, croquet for the Robert’s, painted…and just enjoyed the beauty and being surrounded by family until…
A positive Covid test for my Dad, then my uncles, Maria, and my sister!
Honest to God! You just can’t make this stuff up.
(Note: to everyone who was on the trip. It was awesome and fun and frustrating and stressful and busy and beautiful. And I would do it all again in a second. I love you all and feel so lucky that I had time with you.)
