Ready... set... go... lol

okay so i'm all packed and ready to go on my annual summer trek to see my kids and grandboys... it's a grooling trip... for all of us...
dad is doing the driving... from florida to mass., then from mass. to illinois in about two weeks and then from illinois to florida in another 2 weeks... with only fuel and restroom breaks... at 76 i think this should be his last drive... it really takes a lot out of him... for hours after we arrive at a destination his legs still feel like he's driving... the vibration and all... and he looks really drained... it actually scares me... i don't like seeing him get like that but i also know that for the most part he does this trip for me...
he knows there isn't a lot of spare cash laying around so flying to see all my kids would be out of the question... and since my daughter moved to illinois, well it makes visiting a bit tricky to get in all of them... but she's happy where she is and christian is thriving so that's all that really matters... it's only geography right? he even took me into account when he bought his new vehicle... he said it had to have a big enough bench seat for me to be comfortable on our trip... how sweet huh?? people do change... he's proof...
so there he sits, calendar and maps in hand... planning... where to go when... three of the kids have birthdays all around the same time so we have to be sure to be with each one on their special day... i want it and dad sees to it... yup sweet once again...
mom... what can i say... she goes along to keep us both happy... and of course enjoys seeing her grandkids and great grandboys... but she probably would be just as happy staying home and having them all come down here for visits... she's more of a home body than she lets off to be... lol she rides up front with dad, even though her seat is way less comfortable than in the old van... and tries to stay awake to keep dad awake... she is the keeper of the toll money, rights down the odometer and fuel amounts at each stop as well as the time... she has a journal of each and every trip they ever took up to mass... since my kids were little... actually since they moved to florida... she has what every meal was while on our visits and all kinds of interesting information... she prints out a map of the u.s. and marks off each state that she sees a license plate for... even dad and i help her find them... she doses off once in a while but mostly during the night...
me, i pretty much take extra pain pills cause the trip knocks the crap out of me... besides the usual pain i deal with on a daily basis there is the added from the vibration on the road, the awkward sitting and laying on the back seat and not being able to just get up and move around... it's murder but it's so worth it... besides if i plan it right the pain pills keep me sleepy for most of the trip... just wake up for restroom and food stops...
food stops... lol... this is way too cute... mom makes this amazing tuna salad... very simple but omg it's delicious... always solid white tuna and she buys potato hot dog rolls... when we stop for fuel she and i use the restroom while dad pumps the fuel and then while he's in the restroom we are out in the van making sandwiches... don't want to loose too much time on the road... we are on a schedule you know... lol... dad returns, gets settled back in the driver's seat and mom makes her notes... then it's on the road again with sandwiches in hand... lol
when we arrive at our first destination, dad unpacks the van with help of course, then usually has a quick visit and heads off to bed for a few hours... when he gets up he's rearing to go... it's amazing... mom sits and visits and doesn't usually sleep until that night and then back on schedule for the most part... and me... visit and sleep... and then visit some more... that's what i do... get in as much of my kids and grandboys as i possibly can because it usually has to last me another year...
so there you have it... possibly our last annual trek north... i say possibly because dad has been saying for a few years now that it's the last time we drive up... actually i think it's more mom trying to talk him into not putting himself thru it but we shall see... i just go with the flow... one way or another i will see the ones i love...