Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BAGGAGE (02/08/18)
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TITLE: Weary Travelers | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Bonney
02/13/18 -
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Like the novice I was, I looked forward to these promised treats like a child on Halloween night. . .
“But, Patrick, I thought you said the cottages had dishes and bedding.”
“Yes, but we don’t use them. We bring our own. Otherwise, we would have to wash all of theirs. . .”
“Oh,” and being a dutiful wife, I filled boxes with sheets, blankets, pots and pans, dishes and silverware. . .
“Marly, don’t forget the games and books—there will be rainy days we’ll be stuck in the cottage.”
“Oh,” dragging another filled box to the driveway next to our rapidly filling car.
“You’ll need winter clothes, Sweetie, because nights get really cold up there,” Patrick reminded me, “and detergent for when we go into town to the Laundromat.”
“Oh,” adding that to my miscellaneous list that was lengthening like Santa’s list of presents to deliver on Christmas Eve.
Fishing poles, tackle boxes, nets, life jackets and other “necessities” were collected and stowed in the boat his father’s car would tow behind ours. Then came the challenging chore of attaching the car-top carrier to hold our crammed suitcases, definitely requiring the skill of a rocket scientist (NOT me), with all its cords and pulley-thingies. Three hours later, my nerves stretched as tight as the luggage straps, we finally set out for fun and relaxation. Halfway through the 5-hr. drive (several stops along the way to fix broken tail lights, use the restrooms, or eat at a favorite dive) I could feel a dull throb across my forehead that became a full-fledged migraine by the time we arrived at our destination.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. Why don’t you lie down in the first bedroom here while I unload the car?”
“Oh, no, I forgot about that,” visions of going into town for groceries and supplies disappearing into fantasy-land.
I collapsed onto the bed that took up 90% of the room’s space and wondered where in the world we were going to put everything. Eventually, mile-high stacks of boxes filled that cabin to overflowing and I felt like the Old Mother Who Lived in a Shoe (minus the children at that point, of course).
“It’s a good thing the bathroom is so small,” I think as I drift off to an aspirin-induced sleep next to my snoring husband hours later, “otherwise, we’d be storing boxes there, too.”
Ah, the bathroom. More like a cubicle in Scrooge’s clerk’s office, it was a challenge in itself. You could lean forward from the toilet seat and brush your teeth over the sink. The shower door hit the bathroom door if opened at the same time and we had sore elbows while bathing from the ceramic-tiled walls.
The next several days fulfilled many of my expectations, however, and I thought all the packing and traveling and headaches were worth it. That, of course, was before we had to re-pack, re-load and return home to unload and unpack all over again.
If I had been able to fast-forward to what it was going to be like a decade later—with a baby, and a 2 and a 4-yr. old—I would have run to the hills as fast as a scared jackrabbit. More boxes. More clothing. More of everything. Not to mention diaper pail (no disposables back then), playpen, stroller, high chair and toys. Eventually children grew into teenagers. More boxes. More clothing. More of everything. We hitched a handmade trailer to the car that ended up bulging at the seams like a circus Fat Lady’s dress.
Was it all worth the hassle? Just ask the grown children who have stored memories to now share with their own offspring.
As for me, I look around now at all our accrued possessions and am relieved that God planned it so we can’t take it with us!
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But there was a bit of fun along the way to ease the load. Hope it does well.
Well done,
Blessings~
God Bless.