What things look like at this point

What the hell was I thinking?

When I started to cry -- just a little bit -- The Husband reminded me that at first I had planned on leaving for six weeks.

Since airlines charge $25 PER BAG, it's going to be an EXPENSIVE day tomorrow, just getting on the plane.

Two years ago, when I began this blog, I wrote a controversial post about riding in a plane with a dead soldier from Iraq in the cargo hold. One of the comments I got was a dress-down about complaining about air travel when I should be patriotic -- grateful to have the opportunity to go somewhere for pleasure. It gave me a tad bit of perspective (and I'm actually one who is quite aware of  perspective, but I can't argue with a rabid Patriot). Anyway, call it Catholic guilt or righteousness working its power, but I am SO self-conscious about that now that I almost don't want to tell you how much I HATE planes (and not because of fear of flying). I'm aware of how fortunate I am to be traveling across the country with my children to visit my family at a beautiful beach house in Hilton Head Island. I'm aware of it and I'm grateful.

I despise traveling on airplanes. I'm aware of how fortunate I am to be traveling across the country with my children to visit my family at a beautiful beach house in Hilton Head Island. I'm aware of it and I'm grateful.I hate the whole ridiculous security thing; I hate waiting in lines like docile cattle afraid to moo; I hate the plastic water bottles you have to buy; I hate the food and I hate the way your hair and skin feels after five hours. (I'm aware of how fortunate I am to be traveling across the country with my children to visit my family at a beautiful beach house in Hilton Head Island. I'm aware of it and I'm grateful.) I hate the five hours spent hovering over Sophie, shielding her from looks when she has a seizure, praying that she doesn't have anything other than a wet pull-up (think about what it's like changing a fifteen year old in an airplane bathroom, but don't think about it for too long because your head will fall off). I'm aware of how fortunate I am to be traveling across the country with my children to visit my family at a beautiful beach house in Hilton Head Island. I'm aware of it and I'm grateful. I hate landing somewhere intensely hot and humid that isn't Hawaii because I hate sweating. I hate mosquitoes and I hate air-conditioning, except when it's really hot and humid and if you don't have it, you'd die. I'm aware of how fortunate I am to be traveling across the country with my children to visit my family at a beautiful beach house in Hilton Head Island. I'm aware of it and I'm grateful.


There, I said it.

And THAT, right above these words, is what I LOVE. That's Sophie's carry-on bag that I bought her for middle school graduation. I'm so excited to bring it along. And I'm aware of how fortunate I am to be traveling across the country with my children to visit my family at a beautiful beach house in Hilton Head Island. I'm aware of it and I'm grateful.


I promise to be good from here on out.