When I was sixteen my grandfather had passed away. And after attending the funeral, it was decided that he would be cremated and his ashes be buried with my grandmother. Well, my grandmother was buried in New Mexico, and all of my family lives in California. Northern California.
Also, I should mention, that although I have nothing but sisters, my father has nothing but brothers, and they have nothing but sons. It is a long lineage of men in my family. And when I heard that we were going to be going to New Mexico, I was excited. I thought that I would be taking a flight with my two older sisters who live in a city further north than us. But I was wrong. It turned out that since I was the youngest daughter, and I was still living in the same town as my parents, I would be driving. A long, three-day trip. But not just any three day trip. A three-day trip with nothing but men.
I thought at first it would be all right. But more and more men joined the convoy. The original itinerary included my father, and my two uncles. Then, my father, my two uncles, and their three sons. And me. Lonely old me. I was stuck in-between three boys all under the age of 12 who were sticky. And smelt.
The first two days went by fast, but as we neared Arizona and finally getting close to where we needed to be, a sand storm hit. Hard. It caused an eighteen car collision, two cars ahead of us. We were left to sit in a sand swirl for four extra hours. Finally, they detoured us onto another freeway and we had to backtrack most of the way back through Arizona.
Needless to say this trip was anything but amazing. But I did learn some things. If your uncle is obsessed with The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, do not let him choose the music, because you will be listening to The Artist Formerly Known As Prince for at least one day, straight. And if your cousin wants you to "pull his finger" please, just turn away and don't be curious. It is not going to be a cool magic trick. I promise.
Also, I should mention, that although I have nothing but sisters, my father has nothing but brothers, and they have nothing but sons. It is a long lineage of men in my family. And when I heard that we were going to be going to New Mexico, I was excited. I thought that I would be taking a flight with my two older sisters who live in a city further north than us. But I was wrong. It turned out that since I was the youngest daughter, and I was still living in the same town as my parents, I would be driving. A long, three-day trip. But not just any three day trip. A three-day trip with nothing but men.
I thought at first it would be all right. But more and more men joined the convoy. The original itinerary included my father, and my two uncles. Then, my father, my two uncles, and their three sons. And me. Lonely old me. I was stuck in-between three boys all under the age of 12 who were sticky. And smelt.
The first two days went by fast, but as we neared Arizona and finally getting close to where we needed to be, a sand storm hit. Hard. It caused an eighteen car collision, two cars ahead of us. We were left to sit in a sand swirl for four extra hours. Finally, they detoured us onto another freeway and we had to backtrack most of the way back through Arizona.
Needless to say this trip was anything but amazing. But I did learn some things. If your uncle is obsessed with The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, do not let him choose the music, because you will be listening to The Artist Formerly Known As Prince for at least one day, straight. And if your cousin wants you to "pull his finger" please, just turn away and don't be curious. It is not going to be a cool magic trick. I promise.
