Maybe not the most festive post, but…

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I need to tell you about yesterday’s drive.

Wait.  First, Merry Christmas.  Merry Christmas!  It’s heeeeeeere!

Now for the rest.  It should be obvious by the fact that I’m posting this blog, but lest you wring your hands throughout the holidays, I should let you know that I made it to Colorado last night.  The trip took me 11 hours rather than the typical 9, but all in all, smooth (albeit white-knuckled) sailing.  The roads really were icy.

As I drove, I was thinking that one of the worst insults someone could give me would be to call me a bad driver.  That would connote incompetence and stupidity – neither of which I’m really going for the gold in.  And after yesterday’s drive, I am even more convinced that when it comes to driving, I am extremely proficient.

There was only one moment in which I kind of lost control of the car.  I say kind of because it was when I was going over a bridge, and the ice is always worse on bridges, but you HAVE to drive over them to get to the other side – so I couldn’t do anything about it.  Anyway, when I hit the ice, I felt the wheels spin and try to grip the road, but they didn’t find anything – isn’t it weird that we can FEEL when the tires are freaking out? – so they spun more, which made the car lurch, and the Honda CATAPULTED forward.

If my heart were a horse, in that moment, it would have reared up on its hind legs.

Luckily, dry pavement was waiting on the other side, and everything was recovered (minus my pulse).

So, all in all, an inconsequential story.  Sorry.

In the entire 11-hour drive, I only stopped once – in Hays, Kansas, at 2:06pm for gas and lunch.  But I was severely disappointed to discover that every fast food joint had closed at 2:00 for Christmas Eve.  My only option was to go to a little grocery store called Dillon’s and choose a sad, underwhelming sandwich from a rack near the deli: wheat bread, Swiss cheese, and turkey – the watered down kind.  There were no condiments.

I also picked up a Gala apple, but the first bite I took of it included a significant chunk of my lower lip.  I cussed, and then felt sorry for myself because I could no longer eat the apple with gusto.

When I finally hobbled in the door at my parent’s house in Colorado Springs, I announced that all I want for Christmas is a butt massage.  No one offered.

Happy Christmas to all of you!

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7 Comments

  1. Sarah on December 25, 2009 at 12:46 PM

    That is NOT true. I distinctly remember offering and you covering your butt with your hands.

  2. hootenannie on December 25, 2009 at 2:19 PM

    That was not a massage. That was an assault.

  3. Peg on December 26, 2009 at 4:09 PM

    so glad you made it safely – and as to your sandwich/apple disappointment. It was not the best situation for YOU, but I like it when as many businesses as possible close on Christmas Eve and Christmas. All those workers get to be HOME – hooray. Sorry you were stuck with a bad turkey sandwich and apple.

  4. Emily from Seattle on December 26, 2009 at 6:17 PM

    I’m sorry you had a rough time getting home. :( I hope the time you spent with your family made up for it, though.

    I’m praying for your mom’s health. A good friend of my family was diagnosed with cancer last year. She finished up her treatments in June, and is now proudly showing off her new hair. :) These stories DO have happy endings sometimes!

  5. Stephie on December 27, 2009 at 3:22 PM

    You KNOW there is a really good butt massage waiting for you in Highlands Ranch:) Nick gets home on the 29th. . . but if you want to wait for Moui, I will be home a few days later:)

  6. jasonmichael on December 28, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    merely mentioning you know bridges tend to accumulate more ice means you are a good driver.

  7. Kate on January 2, 2010 at 4:10 AM

    sad about fast food… or good… I went to Jack in the Box at 9 on Christmas eve, and they said they were open until midnight…

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