Volleyblog #3 - California Dreamin'

This is my volleyblog reply to Paige's Post.  For more information about Volleyblogging, please see Teeni over at the Vaguetarian Tearoom.  

All through my childhood, my parents insisted that SOMEDAY they would take us kids on a holiday to California to Disneyland.  We never had any money, and as much as they promised us - it was often: "We can't afford it this year, maybe next year," and next year would come and go and come and go.  But they always maintained that some time.... they would take us. 

In July 2000, B-rad and i had just returned from our trip to Europe that May, my Uncle was getting married in Vancouver - 2 provinces away.  We knew that we would be making the trek to BC for the wedding, but my parents surprised us all when they announced that after the wedding we were driving down the coast....to go....to DISNEYLAND!!  I was 20, my younger brothers were 18 and 15.  My older brother had just gotten married the year before and had a little baby boy - so they decided they couldn't make the trip).  

In my opinion, if you're only going to get to go once (Maybe twice) in your life, it's better to go as an adult.  You will be able to remember it, and you'll appreciate the journey.

Now, my mom and dad had saved for quite some time to take us down there... and we were making the trek by car.  The downside to this was that my younger brothers were both, at this point, taller than me - Willy Billy was already 6' tall... so that meant that the majority of the time the person sitting bitch was me. 

"Laura has the shortest legs!" they'd say.  

it was the worst drive of my entire life.  

#1 - i had to sit bitch

#2 - i'm claustrophobic

#3 - my brothers are boys, and any woman who has ever sat next to a guy knows that they all think they need three feet of air space between their legs at all times.

#4 - my youngest brother was 15 and, well, smelled like a 15 year old boy.

it was unpleasant to say the least.

Because we were driving and not flying, we were able to make a few stops along the way - to drive our car through a tree, to run around and play in the Redwood forest, to watch the waves on the shoreline.  The sights were great, the ride sucked my ass.

One night, the plan was to make it to a campground to sleep the night, but we were driving through the mountains and it seemed we wouldn't be able to find a campsite.  The boys were sleeping, i was mostly awake...Dad pulled the car off to the side of the road and he and mom both pulled pillows out and propped themselves up against the windows to sleep the night away.  

"You've got to be kidding me!" i said, "We're sleeping in the CAR?"

"Well, we won't make it to a campsite tonight, and your dad is getting tired," my mom answered. "and the boys are sleeping anyway"

"I'm Not!" 

"well," mom said, "just close your eyes and go to sleep."

There was no way i was sleeping in the middle seat in the car, with two snoring brothers both crowding into my space.  I unclicked my belt and shook Patrick awake: "Get up," i said.  "Get UP! i'm getting out."

as my brother came to and groggily looked around the car, my dad woke and said: "What's going on?"

"Laura just woke me up." 

"Look," i said, "If you all want to sleep in this car, that is FINE by me, but i absolutely can NOT do it.  So, i'm getting out of the car."

"where are you going?" dad asked

"i'm going to pop the trunk and pull out a sleeping bag and sleep on the ground next to the car.  Now, let me OUT of the CAR!"

Patrick let me out and as i was getting my sleeping gear in place, i heard the car door open and Patrick stumble out with a blanket and a pillow.

"Dad said i had to sleep out here with you to make sure nothing happens to you."

"What is going to happen to me?"

"I don't know, but i'd rather sleep out here too."

So that was the first night i slept on the side of the highway.

The second time was on our way back to the Skatch, at the Canada/US border.  We arrived too early and the Border wasn't open yet.  It really only takes one night sleeping in a car to realize how much it fucking sucks, so this time - it was probably 3 or 4 in the morning, mom and dad pulled out the air mattress...pumped it up and slept about 30 feet from the car in a field.  I was fine to sleep on the side of the highway in my sleeping bag with Patrick a few feet next to me leaving Willy Billy in the car.  

what a trendsetter i am.

That was the last time i had to take a family trip, luckily, as i moved to Cowtown a few years later and there weren't any long car rides - nothing longer than 4 or 5 hours anyway.  

Now, my mom and dad have announced that they want us all to go down to Disneyland again - because Brent never got to go the first time, and now that they have 3 boys it would be a fun fun time.  I'm debating.  I'd rather fly.  But at least if we go, we won't all be crammed into one vehicle...unless my mom takes my advice and rents a big ol' 5th wheel.