The Holiday Road Trip
As I packed up my birds’ food and treats last night, I began to dread the three (at least) hour drive are making today. I know choosing to move away makes holiday travel a necessary evil, but I’m still not a fan. Every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas there seems to be a lot of attention on focused on how to survive air travel. Yes I agree that the idea of being in an airport near the holiday season is a mess. Yes I would want tips on how to survive the madness that holiday air travel has become. I actually purposely planned my vacation so it happens in the usual lull between Thanksgiving and when the kids are let out of school for Christmas to avoid the crowds and the high airfares. However, I think the road warriors get a bit shafted. Yes we look at the gas prices and the increased number of accidents, but no one really gives us the time of day.
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My mom called me last Friday and uttered the words that strike fear into my heart every November and it stays there until New Years “So what are you doing about Thanksgiving?” Next come the questions, “Why do you have to work so late on Wednesday?” “So you want to have dinner here or in Woodville?” “Are you sure you don’t mind missing out on going to the PI with your friends?” “How long are you staying?” Of course I have no “good” answers for these.
I have to work that late because the college is open and we need the coverage. If I want time off at Christmas, I have to sacrifice. Yes, I would rather only have to drive three hours as opposed to four to Woodville. No, I don’t mind skipping out on seeing my classmates get drunk. Not to mention by the time I got off work, went home, and then drove to Woodville, it would be at least midnight and I would be exhausted. I have no idea how long I’m staying. I need to talk to my other boss to determine when he needs me to be back.
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well, i didn’t take on anything as auspicious as Elisabeth this Thanksgiving holiday. no turkey prep for me! no, my major contribution was grocery shopping and queso preparation. gotta have chips and queso during football games and the long wait for the big bird.
it was a holiday worth mentioning. my wife invited her sister and sister’s boyfriend to spend the day with us. The sisters haven’t spoken or seen each other for more than two years.
the way i see it, my sister-in-law had believed some misinformation about my wife which led to resentment. i’m convinced the step-mother played a role in the misinformation. a wedge was driven between them that neither completely understood. their mother grieved for several years because she could never spend a holiday or any day together with her two daughters. she spoke her heart to both daughters, planting seeds of restoration in their hearts.
and just recently, it seems the seeds had sprouted. my mother-in-law heard from both daughters within a few weeks that each desired to be restored to the other. i don’t know why my sister-in-law suddenly wanted to know her sister. maybe she just had to go out into the world and see how irresponsible people and false friends live before she realized that my wife was worth knowing. i don’t know.
to make a long story short, i had the pleasure of watching two sisters literally drink up each other’s presence as though they were dying of thirst. i don’t know what has been happening in their hearts over the years, but they both seem ready and willing to slowly take on the task of reestablishing relationship. it is a delicate task. the hurts built up over a lifetime between siblings and family are not easily removed.
i was touched. it was the best Thanksgiving Day in a long time for me. i witnessed two sisters excited with eyes sparkling relief and joy. i can’t really put it into words. i respect the moment they shared.
my conclusion is this: if enemies can look into each other’s eyes and hope to be restored, then anything is possible. for this truth, i give thanks.
The Holiday Road Trip
