The First Vacation (well, almost vacation) of 2009!
Have you every been to a place where you had very fond memories, and upon leaving that place the only thing you remember of it is how wonderful it was? Forever, your impression of that place is based only on the memories and the place seems to have no faults. Kind of like when you are dating the one you married. They seemed perfect and it wasn't until after you were married for a while that you realized the person wasn't perfect (e.g., they could get bad breath, they might get mad at you on occasion, etc.). Of course, you still love them! In my wife's case she has gotten better with age, and all this despite the imperfections (she is reading over my shoulder)!
Anyway, I bring up this point, because a couple of weekends ago we got all three kids into the minivan and drove 4+ hours down to Bloomington Indiana where we lived for two years while I was in school. I went back to help interview would-be MBAs trying to get into the IU program. Since the school was paying for a hotel and reimbursing mileage we thought it would be like a vacation. (Editor's note: road trips over 1 hour with kids can be hazardous to your physical, mental, and emotional health. They can also be hazardous to the minivan's health. A few days ago I discovered leftover Wendy's in a compartment by Dominick's seat and 2 leftover chocolate milks. Keep in mind the trip was at the beginning of February.) It was the first time that Monica had been back since all of our friends moved away and the first time she looked at Bloomington based on the town itself rather than all the fond memories we had that took place in Bloomington (I have been back a few times for recruiting and other purposes, so I had the experience I am describing long before this trip). Don't get me wrong, we love Bloomington, if not for the town itself, for the memories and things we had there.
In all the places I have dragged Monica for my work since leaving Bloomington, I think she has always held that memory of Bloomington as an ideal place. Almost as a "happy" place to hold out hope for while enduring the realities of our current location. Our little trip to Bloomington shattered that dream, but at least it confirmed how nice of a town we live in now and overall how much the Midwest mentality and genuine friendliness played into our fond memories of Bloomington.
Not only that, but the trip, coupled with some other things has reinforced how much we really loved the East coast, notwithstanding many of the tough memories/experiences we had there. It is tough to detach the memories and experiences from the place itself and that can certainly color or discolor one's impression.
For example, it probably didn't help the East Coast that we lived in 600 square feet with 2 kids and a pregnant mom. Or that we had several neighbors that were very hard to deal with and made our home one of the most stressful places on earth. Luckily, we could escape to New York City (a place we miss terribly and love for its calmness, I am aware that sounds oxy-moronic, and fun side streets, not to mention the energy, fun places, and great food) or the beach. We really miss Todd's Point in Greenwich.
So while it is tough to detach the memories and experiences from the place itself, maybe it is better that way. I say that because maybe that enables us to be happy anywhere we go by creating our own memories and experiences with the help of the place or despite it, as the case may be. I have loved all the places we have lived in and it is in no small part because of the people with whom I associated and by whom I was surrounded.
Out of the philosophical and back to the vacation to Bloomington (Editor's Note: Monica doesn't agree to me calling this a vacation. Not sure if it is because she doesn't want it to count as a vacation, potentially precluding another vacation, or simply because she had to entertain 3 kids in a room at the Fairfield Inn while I went to the school for my meetings.) We had a fun time. The kids love staying at hotels for some reason. I think a big part of it is because we get to go swimming in the pool - and for Kambree, mainly the hot tub - and we all sleep in the same room. Kambree said she also likes to watch movies.
After 5 hours of being in the car and on the road we finally arrived at our hotel.
What else are you going to do on a long road trip? The kids all slept.
This was not staged. Dominick, being his creative self, found a way to block the sun and he fell fast asleep.
Good thing babies' necks are flexible.
As you can see, I wasn't sleeping, I was driving. So I had to do goofy stuff to stay awake. You all know my reputation for falling asleep on moving objects!
We checked in and I was the "Guest of the Day", which simply meant that my name was written on a board at the front desk and I got 200 extra Marriott Reward points. We put our bags down in the room, the kids staked their claim to one of the queen-sized beds and Monica and I decided it was time to eat dinner. The two of us were starving. However, for the kids getting back in the van and driving back in the direction of home was very alarming. They were scared to death that our stay at the hotel was going to be no longer than the 15 minutes it took to drop our bags and they hadn't even swam yet. I couldn't resist teasing them and saying we were done with the hotel and it was time to go back home. Well, we went to Denny's next to a Day's Inn. I am talking high-class! At this point we were on our own dime so we spared no expense. This may have been one of the biggest experiences of the trip that killed the Bloomington charm for Monica. The Denny's looked and smelled like smoking was banned 2 hours before our arrival, but the French toast was still killer as was the carafe of OJ Monica and I downed.
Me in Everett, enjoying Denny's!
Kambree licking a spoon, hopefully it hadn't already been on the ground.
Denny's had all that Dominick needed to be happy.
I think the other thing that may have killed Bloomington's charm was the trip Monica took to the mall with the kids. They were pretty difficult there, including Kambree dumping her entire lunch at Chick-fil-A. When they got to Subway, Dominick dropped his drink, which shattered and spilled on the floor. In the mall itself, Monica was gawked at quite a bit. This was an experience she hadn't had in our home town so it was the first taste of that. Not that it is bad, but it does feel a little weird.
Anyway, we did get our swimming time in and a bit in the hot tub too. We ended up having a lot of fun and Monica hit the annual Old Navy sale where many things are between $2 - $5. We enjoyed the time on the road and eating all that artery clogging food. It was a really good time, even if Bloomington didn't seem the same anymore. At least Monica won't be asking me to move there any time soon!
Home is where the heart is, we confirmed that with our trip. You just gotta make your own fond memories and that will make a place seem great! Elder Worthlin's advice is right on target, "Come what may and love it."
Anyway, I bring up this point, because a couple of weekends ago we got all three kids into the minivan and drove 4+ hours down to Bloomington Indiana where we lived for two years while I was in school. I went back to help interview would-be MBAs trying to get into the IU program. Since the school was paying for a hotel and reimbursing mileage we thought it would be like a vacation. (Editor's note: road trips over 1 hour with kids can be hazardous to your physical, mental, and emotional health. They can also be hazardous to the minivan's health. A few days ago I discovered leftover Wendy's in a compartment by Dominick's seat and 2 leftover chocolate milks. Keep in mind the trip was at the beginning of February.) It was the first time that Monica had been back since all of our friends moved away and the first time she looked at Bloomington based on the town itself rather than all the fond memories we had that took place in Bloomington (I have been back a few times for recruiting and other purposes, so I had the experience I am describing long before this trip). Don't get me wrong, we love Bloomington, if not for the town itself, for the memories and things we had there.
In all the places I have dragged Monica for my work since leaving Bloomington, I think she has always held that memory of Bloomington as an ideal place. Almost as a "happy" place to hold out hope for while enduring the realities of our current location. Our little trip to Bloomington shattered that dream, but at least it confirmed how nice of a town we live in now and overall how much the Midwest mentality and genuine friendliness played into our fond memories of Bloomington.
Not only that, but the trip, coupled with some other things has reinforced how much we really loved the East coast, notwithstanding many of the tough memories/experiences we had there. It is tough to detach the memories and experiences from the place itself and that can certainly color or discolor one's impression.
For example, it probably didn't help the East Coast that we lived in 600 square feet with 2 kids and a pregnant mom. Or that we had several neighbors that were very hard to deal with and made our home one of the most stressful places on earth. Luckily, we could escape to New York City (a place we miss terribly and love for its calmness, I am aware that sounds oxy-moronic, and fun side streets, not to mention the energy, fun places, and great food) or the beach. We really miss Todd's Point in Greenwich.
So while it is tough to detach the memories and experiences from the place itself, maybe it is better that way. I say that because maybe that enables us to be happy anywhere we go by creating our own memories and experiences with the help of the place or despite it, as the case may be. I have loved all the places we have lived in and it is in no small part because of the people with whom I associated and by whom I was surrounded.
Out of the philosophical and back to the vacation to Bloomington (Editor's Note: Monica doesn't agree to me calling this a vacation. Not sure if it is because she doesn't want it to count as a vacation, potentially precluding another vacation, or simply because she had to entertain 3 kids in a room at the Fairfield Inn while I went to the school for my meetings.) We had a fun time. The kids love staying at hotels for some reason. I think a big part of it is because we get to go swimming in the pool - and for Kambree, mainly the hot tub - and we all sleep in the same room. Kambree said she also likes to watch movies.
After 5 hours of being in the car and on the road we finally arrived at our hotel.
What else are you going to do on a long road trip? The kids all slept.
This was not staged. Dominick, being his creative self, found a way to block the sun and he fell fast asleep.
Good thing babies' necks are flexible.
As you can see, I wasn't sleeping, I was driving. So I had to do goofy stuff to stay awake. You all know my reputation for falling asleep on moving objects!We checked in and I was the "Guest of the Day", which simply meant that my name was written on a board at the front desk and I got 200 extra Marriott Reward points. We put our bags down in the room, the kids staked their claim to one of the queen-sized beds and Monica and I decided it was time to eat dinner. The two of us were starving. However, for the kids getting back in the van and driving back in the direction of home was very alarming. They were scared to death that our stay at the hotel was going to be no longer than the 15 minutes it took to drop our bags and they hadn't even swam yet. I couldn't resist teasing them and saying we were done with the hotel and it was time to go back home. Well, we went to Denny's next to a Day's Inn. I am talking high-class! At this point we were on our own dime so we spared no expense. This may have been one of the biggest experiences of the trip that killed the Bloomington charm for Monica. The Denny's looked and smelled like smoking was banned 2 hours before our arrival, but the French toast was still killer as was the carafe of OJ Monica and I downed.
Me in Everett, enjoying Denny's!
Kambree licking a spoon, hopefully it hadn't already been on the ground.
Denny's had all that Dominick needed to be happy.I think the other thing that may have killed Bloomington's charm was the trip Monica took to the mall with the kids. They were pretty difficult there, including Kambree dumping her entire lunch at Chick-fil-A. When they got to Subway, Dominick dropped his drink, which shattered and spilled on the floor. In the mall itself, Monica was gawked at quite a bit. This was an experience she hadn't had in our home town so it was the first taste of that. Not that it is bad, but it does feel a little weird.
Anyway, we did get our swimming time in and a bit in the hot tub too. We ended up having a lot of fun and Monica hit the annual Old Navy sale where many things are between $2 - $5. We enjoyed the time on the road and eating all that artery clogging food. It was a really good time, even if Bloomington didn't seem the same anymore. At least Monica won't be asking me to move there any time soon!
Home is where the heart is, we confirmed that with our trip. You just gotta make your own fond memories and that will make a place seem great! Elder Worthlin's advice is right on target, "Come what may and love it."
posted by The Cowan Family at 9:10 AM
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