On the Road Again

Today we're heading east to Minnesota. Only one of our kids is going with us, Spencer, who is in the post-college job hunting stage. So his obligations are negotiable at this point. It's a little weird to have only three of us as we arrive at our traditional first stop for coffee and McBreakfast an hour from home.

Nearly every year since the kids were two we've gone to Minnesota. We prepack the car then leave the driveway in the early dark hours of the morning. While still rubbing sleep from our eyes, we push east, all with the promise of getting to Limon for some grub--the carrot on our stick for the early reveille. Even though we don't eat fast food, it's the kickoff to a week of consumption that breaks all our dietary rules. Can't wait for the traditional pizza at Jake's. I miss pizza!

One of our trips didn't get off to such a great start when after almost an hour on the road I realized I'd forgotten my laptop (I planned to write while hanging out at the farm) and the van we'd rented was pulling pathologically to the left. The alignment was so far off, it was exhausting to steer, trying to keep the car between the lines. With two reasons to go back, we decided to turn around. We returned the rental car and switched it for another, went back home and got my laptop, and had lunch--as long as we were that late, why not? Once everything was repacked and everyone fed, and my laptop was on board, we tried again.

This trip, we're going to change it up some and drive around Minnesota a lot more then usual. After going to the farm, which is in the southern part of the state, to check in with Oma, we're going to drive almost to Canada to see Jason's relatives up in Ely. I'm hoping to sit out by the lake and sketch the scenery. Then we'll go to the Cities to visit and see sights with Spencer's and Jason's friends and then have dinner and an evening with my cousins (the ones I used to terrorize). Then we'll head back to the farm and meet up with Jason's sibs who are coming in from other states and Oma. We'll do some traditional stuff like getting the best pancakes in the Midwest (or even America) at Bud's Cafè in Bricelyn. And like I said, Jake's. We ALWAYS go to Jake's. It's going to be a good trip with lots of relationship time.

Right now we're about 1 1/2 hours from home. And once again I left my laptop at home. But this time I did it on purpose.