B-Boo and I started traveling together when she was about 7 years old. She was in competitive gymnastics and so from the months of January thru February, we would take off on the weekends for competitions. We did this for four years. A lot of the trips the rest of the family would come along, but for almost as many we traveled together, just the two of us. B-Boo became great at packing in a heartbeat for whatever trip we were headed out to together. She stopped competing a couple of years ago, and while I don't think either of us misses the grueling competition schedule much, we both will admit to missing the traveling part of it! What fun we had traveling with a team of girls, getting stuck in airports, elevators and fixing up their hair for competition.
Then B-Boo got sick…and we started traveling to doctor's offices together. Again, we had a system…because waiting in waiting rooms day after day, week after week is not a lot of fun. So, we'd pack cards and a cell phone full of games. We'd play speed and yahtzee and make the best of it. Her illness took us from Los Angeles to Kansas City, Missouri, so again, we traveled, this time taking her younger sister with us. It is amazing how much we can pack in a suitcase or a duffel bag!
She is finally at a time in her life when she is healthy for the most part and ready to travel for fun, but there aren't a lot of those trips right now. Bummer. These days our trips consist of running to the grocery store, the bank, Walmart or the mall. Even more, they consist of me running out the door, almost late for yet another appointment, while she pushes me out with whatever items I need for the day. You know what's amazing? I don't even have to tell her what I need! She just knows. She'll be at the door saying,
"Mom, go! The kids are in the car, your purse is in the car and (whatever papers I need for that day) are in the car."
And then she'll hand me my cell phone and either come with me or push me out the door.
She's like this when we go to the grocery store, too. Sometimes we're not in a hurry to get somewhere else fast, so we'll take a stroll together through the store and have a nice chat. Other days, she knows we're on a time limit, so she'll say, "Ok, what else do we need?" and off she goes to get it. That girl has more of me in her than I realized!
This week I'm in Loma Linda with my son (and youngest daugter). After a very long Sunday night, I was exhausted yesterday, yet needed to travel to California. As I was trying to pack, she started adding things in.
"I know you're going to need this, Mom, I know you."
She was right, of course. Even knowing that this time, I'd be traveling without her, she was still trying to help me get out the door. What an awesome daughter I have!
I started missing her quickly. I'm so used to her sitting next to me, my copilot. She'll get me a drink when mine is empty; making sure to open it up for me and have it ready to grab. She knows exactly where to put my hot tamales, as I never travel without them. She knows exactly where to find the map when I'm not sure what street to turn on. (She's not so great with reading a map, so this is where we kind of draw the line!)
She's spoiled me so much! Yesterday, I had to ask my youngest daughter to open my drink for me, please. Then I had to ask her to open my hot tamales. It just wasn't the same, not having B-Boo next to me. The younger children ride in the back, so I am up front all by myself. (I have that song, "All by myself, Don't wanna be" running through my head right now!) I really miss her!
When I hit San Bernadino, my son jumped up into the co-pilot seat…ready with the map. He apologized for not being a better co-pilot. I thought that was funny. I never said anything to him about being a co-pilot, but apparently he's picked up on this particular job that B-Boo has done for so long. He's not so great with drinks and hot tamales, but we did learn he has one particular skill.
He can read a map!
Last night, I didn't sleep so well. Why? Well, because I left my pillow in the van…you know, the one that B-Boo threw in at the last moment saying, "I know you, Mom, you'll want your pillow." She was right, or course.
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