106 Miles to Chicago..

I am sitting outside on the front porch. The days of summer are numbered as September rolls on into my world. My head is resting – but for a moment- on my arms. It has been a long week and it is only Tuesday. My four children are home from school and playing in the back yard. I can hear their various squeals of both enjoyment and frustration over the water gun battle that began as fun and is quickly turning sour.

I think about how I don’t like water guns. I am sure some people love these toys- not me. I feel that they are the essence of false advertising. Year after year I eagerly watch hoping that some playful memory making  moments will magically unfold as my kiddos run around in the back yard squirting each other in the eye. Nope, it just always ends with someone crying.

My husband joins me on the porch. I am a bit overwhelmed and honestly, crying over water guns is not an option. What was I thinking? I need to remember to tell my kids that when they have their own children, not to buy them these troublesome things. I carry a small piece of paper in my pocket, I take it out and I write down another useful tip, “Resist the temptation to buy water guns”.  At least at this moment it seems like a useful tidbit.

My husband and I have started to compile a list of things we think will be helpful  to tell our kiddos when they are venturing out into this crazy world on their own.  As much as we try to teach them now, we both know that they will not truly be ready (or need) to listen to our advice until they have left the nest.

I start to scan down the list and review the mere twenty five or so things that are scribbled on it. I begin to feel a bit defeated. Just twenty five? This list- it seems – has a long way to go. How are we ever going to prepare these little people for what lies ahead on their journey? The whole picture is too big. This ride called life has certainly thrown me and my husband some twists and turns. I mean, do we even know what we are doing? Where is our guidebook?

Then as if to read my mind — my husband looks at me, wraps his arms around my shoulders and quotes something from (of all people) the actor Dan Aykroyd, “It’s a 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, a half pack of cigarettes , it is dark outside and we are wearing sunglasses.” Only my husband would know that I would find inspiration through the 1980 film classic “The Blues Brothers”.

He is right… (Minus the cigarettes of course..) We are as prepared as we are going to be.

And you should know, that I responded as only a true sidekick should and said, “Hit it”.

And thus, with our pedal to the metal–so to speak– The Ride continues….