Common Mom

Day 1     Day 2     Day 3     Day 4     Day 5

Well, the last day of our trip had arrived. We got all packed, ate a yummo breakfast, and headed to downtown Wilmington for a little shopping. You didn’t think 6 women could go on a 6-day vacation without going shopping and buying stuff, did you? We went to the Cotton Exchange, which is a beautiful old building with a lot of little shops in it, right downtown along the river. We enjoyed looking at all the stuff, and I, amazingly, came away with nothing. I did, however, talk my mother into buying a purse she was drooling over. She said she couldn’t fit it in her bag to take on the plane. I said “Oh but you can! The little purse you have right now will fit right inside this nice new one you’re going to buy.” Convinced - she bought it On our walk back to the vehicles, we stopped and got some hot dogs and shakes for lunch. We had planned to sit outside along the river, but it was cloudy and cool and the wind had really picked up - so we sat inside enjoying our yummy snacks. Grandma is getting a bit nervous about making it all the way to the airport on time, so we head to the vehicles, even though we have a good hour before we HAD to leave Wilmington. We got back to the vehicles and were preparing to follow my Aunt Diane to the Interstate that we needed to take to Raleigh to get to the airport. EXCEPT, her vehicle wouldn’t start. She kept trying and trying and trying - nothing. Apparently, even shiny new red Hummers don’t run without gas So she hopped in the van with me and I drove her to the gas station a few blocks away, where she bought a gallon gas can and a gallon of gas. Back to the Hummer, but with a small hitch . . . she couldn’t figure out how to get the gas can nozzle on the gas can. I know, you’re probably thinking “well, that’s not THAT difficult!” Oh but it was . . . took 4 of us to figure it out. It was NOT your typical turn the cap over, screw it on type of gas can. It was just plain weird. Anyway, Hummer gassed up and we take off, figuring she’ll head to the gas station to fill up. Instead, she goes out on the highway!!! We’re all like what the heck is she doing? She needs GAS! Then we see a sign for the little city she said we were driving to to catch the Interstate . . . 9 miles! Ummmm . . . now we’re getting a bit nervous . . . I mean, really - you just totally ran your vehicle out of gas so it wouldn’t start, and now you’re going to drive 12 miles before you get gas again? HELLO!!! But, we made it, we gassed up as well, gave hugs and love to Diane and were off to the Raleigh/Durham airport. It was a good 2 hour drive. I enjoyed talking to my Aunt Arlene, who sat in the front passenger seat by me. She and I don’t get to talk much, so it was very nice. AND, she just so happens to be the woman who introduced me to my hubby

To the airport, return the van, shuttle to the terminal, check our bags, and we’re there - 2 1/2 hours early - UGH! Now what . . . well, let’s eat of course Yummy airport food - can’t beat that! We had a very uneventful plane trip back to MSP - and I FINISHED HARRY POTTER #7! Woo hoo! I was very excited . . . I started the book at 6:40 a.m. on Day 1 and finished around 8:30 p.m. on Day 6 - yeah! Lots of tears and hugs goodbye as my mom, g’ma, and aunts headed to baggage claim - I headed to my next gate - to wait an hour for my plane to leave. It was right on time and I pulled in to my driveway around 11:15 p.m. Up at 6:30 a.m. for work on Wednesday!

We had such an awesome trip - really, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I got to go on a trip like that with my 87 year old grandmother, who made me realize that you never stop worrying about your children. When we left Wilmington to drive to the airport, she said “Well, I’m just glad that Dale and Mickey are moving back to  Wilmington in January. It’ll be good for Dale and Diane to be close to each other again.” Dale and Diane are her youngest - the youngest of 7 - they are twins - they are the only 2 children who moved away from “home.” And it’s obvious that even though they are 44 years old, she still worries about them every day.

I got to go on a 6-day trip with my mother, whom I miss dearly. It was so great to spend all of that time with her, without my kids around. I love my kids to death, and so does she of course, but when we’re together as a family, they want all of Grandma’s attention because they don’t see her often. I am so thankful to have gotten that time with my mom.

I got to spend 6 days with 4 of my aunts and 1 uncle. It was fun to see how they all interacted and what the “order” was for all of them. I still find it amazing that 7 children can be born and raised in the same environment by the same parents and have such different personalities. As a kid, I spent a lot of time with my family - all my aunts and uncles and cousins - yet I learned more about each of these 5 women on this trip than I’d learned in my previous 35 years. And for that, I am thankful.

When all was said and done, we had a WONDERFUL time on this trip. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and I definitely will never forget it!

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