August was our getaway. With air travel deemed dangerous, like many other Americans we put together a road trip to visit some of this amazing country that we rarely explore. We came up with an epic plan to drive up to see PoPo and YeYe in Seattle, camping in their backyard, and then road trip home by car-camping at along the Oregon coast on the way home.
The PoPo and YeYe visit was charmed in many ways, including with a rain-free run of 75 degree days that are hard to come by. We slept in our huge tent and only went inside to use a dedicated bathroom. Despite his chronic vertigo, YeYe was motivated (and dedicated) enough get up early in the mornings and drive the girls out for a walk on his own. The girls apparently managed to not drive him or each other crazy, as they came back each morning with fresh stories and photos, and more importantly - without knocking over YeYe and breaking his hip.
PoPo settled into being the girls card game companion. Literally hours a day of sitting at their folding card table on their backyard patio, playing Mille Bourne, Rat a Tat Cat, and Uno. Somehow, PoPo managed to make those games into the funnest games in the world, talking smack, giggling, messing up the rules, and being an all-round good sport. Then she’d disappear inside to procure some delicious food that she had spent weeks making according to the girls special requests. Spoiled with love in the form of food and laughter.
The road trip home along the Oregon coast continued the string of good weather and relaxed family time. To do list for each day: explore the shoreline, hike a little, and get takeout from the best restaurants mom could find. Unstructured exploration is something that is probably lacking in our “normal” lives, and the girls ate it up. Who knew the excitement of finding sea creatures could overcome the pain of wading barefoot in 50 degree water?
Having no other playmate than your own sister sometimes brought the inevitable conflict, but for the most part we sat back and appreciated a new closeness between them. They shared their discoveries and excitement, rather than competing for them. Seeing them running off together holding hands toward the ocean sunset is an image we will have burned in our minds for life. (We might just need it on rougher days.)
All in all, the trip reminded us of what we have right in front of us. No fancy international destinations. No complex plans. Just family, food, and fresh air seem to be the secret ingredients for magic.
