Usually when I make my trek to and from Texas, I renew my low-altitude pilot’s license and take a straight shot south through Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. I can push through the 730 miles in less than 13 hours. I’ve done it so many times over the last three and a half years that the curves in the road are as familiar as the lines in my palms.
This time, for my return trip to Kansas City I had different plans. Three days. Three cities. An aquarium, a slumber party with a great friends and a steak sandwich or two. Houston. Dallas. Oklahoma City.
My own little tour.
I began on a Thursday, packing my son and nephews along with our luggage into my little car and hauling ass through a summer storm to downtown Houston. We left the vehicle and its collection of laundry and toys to spend a few hours visiting the underwater worlds of the Downtown Aquarium.
That night we stayed with our Aunt Jan, who got in one last good night of spoiling before we headed north. She fed us, entertained us and even helped my oldest nephew make a Father’s Day card for my husband. (One day I’ll talk her into selling her cards – they’re amazing. Until then, I just patiently wait for special occasions to see her handiwork.)
Friday morning we set out for Dallas to meet my friends Rach and Brian and their little Donut. Rach writes Life Ever Since, and has been my friend ever since I began blogging last year.
Even though they were in the middle of this huge move to the most magical house full of endless surprises, Rach and her husband warmly welcomed us into their mostly-packed away condo. I meant to get all sorts of pictures of us together, but I don’t think we stopped talking long enough to really do that. Also, I had three boys with me.
Thank goodness for mom juice.
Also, thank goodness for Brian. He took the big boys to the pool while my kid suffered a meltdown of epic proportions at bedtime. For that, I am eternally grateful. I teetered on the edge of sanity for a moment, but thanks to his quick thinking (and Rach’s excellent bedtime treats later) I managed to not lose my shit in the middle of everything.
And Donut. Oh my gosh. I’ve never met a more friendly little girl in my life. She was all smiles and coy glances, flirting madly with my nephews and just charming me into a pile of gooey squish. If I hadn’t packed every square centimeter of my car with stuff already, I’d have figured a way to smuggle her back home with me, where we would share a bag of Spinach and Kale Pirate’s Booty and watch Sex & The City.
Oh, stop gasping. The TBS version, of course.
We bid this fun, generous family a bittersweet farewell the next morning, sad to be leaving such great company but excited to be on the final leg of our trip. We inched our way north again, stopping just outside of Oklahoma City to take care of a few things for my husband.
After finding the nearest Wal-mart, something I’m really good at even without the help of GPS (Where do I put that on my resume?) we flew down several country roads to visit my husband’s grandparents’ graves, leave flowers on those that were without, and point out sites of interest like the church where my husband and I were married and Toby Keith’s house. (My nephew wanted to know if he had horses there, and if they were indeed given beer.)
After our back road adventures, we stopped at a tiny, somewhat-suspicious smelling restaurant for the best steak sandwiches on the planet. Not even exaggerating.
If you find yourself ‘round the OKC area in place called Moore, do yourself a lard-fried favor and check out Del Rancho. Order the steak supreme and a coke and enjoy every last artery-clogging bite.
Finally it was time for the hardest part of the journey for me: Five and a half hours of highway, most of it turnpike, with nothing but fields as far as the eye could see. It’s hypnotic, the constant green sea, and makes every minute seem like a decade. Cruise control, Christian music and an audio copy of Catching Fire were my saviors.
Several years ago, when my life with my husband was just beginning, we had taken this road to Kansas City to visit for the first time together. My now-husband-then-boyfriend’s car broke down several times during that August drive, but even with the heat and frustration we never got pissy with each other. It was on that trip, standing in the Starbuck’s parking lot in Emporia, Kansas next to a dying car tucked into a corner parking spot, that I realized I loved this guy and was probably going to marry him.
When I stopped at the Emporia McDonald’s with the kids on Saturday for dinner, I stole a fond glance at that Starbucks. We were still a couple of hours from home just then, but I realized right there that this was where I had been standing when I realized where home would be four years ago.
It’s not north, and it’s not south. And even if I do have to choose between those two physical places, it doesn’t matter. Home will always be within my husband’s heart. Enveloped in his arms. Caught in his glance. I can drive all over this country, trek every highway, and still be home.
Visiting Yeah Write…the Challenge board. Because I finally did something other than vomit words upon a page.
I wish I was with you on this trip. It sounds soul-filling. I need that now. I’m so glad you got that. And knowing where home is. Yes, that.
(I’m voting for ya!)
There is something about roadtripping that exhausts me and renews me at the same time. I wish there was something I could do for you right now.
(And thanks!)
I love the trip to my old home. Every now and then I get off the highway to stop at places from my past. My wife and I met each other at one of those places, and even though it’s been 16 years I can still picture it vividly.
The best part of roadtrips are the stops off the highway. (Even if I’m a beast on the way there and only stop for gas.) I hope you get to go home often.
What a sweet post. I know how those last few hours of highway (in any trip) are, and how much you had to be missing home after two weeks. I’m glad you had a bit of an adventure to end with; not glad that Monkey had an epic meltdown. Thank goodness for Brian and mom juice!
I had no idea there was a Starbucks in Emporia. Speaking of road trip mom juice. T has seriously been holding out on me.
There is! Right off I-35. When we were having car trouble years ago, I was so happy to see it, like a beacon of caffeinated hope.
*Tear*. That is one great post, my friend. Even though I am not too fond of crying first thing in the morning (it’s 6:18 am!!!), I’ll do it for you – that is just beautiful, and so true!
Oh, don’t cry.
Fist pump instead.
We had sooooooo much fun. It went by much too quickly, but I’m sure you were so ready to be off the road and back in your own bed. You will have to stop by again next time you drive through!
It was really just like hanging out with cousins you haven’t seen in awhile. We were all blah blah blah blahhhh. DM me your new address. Hubs brought home something for D from work. A friend for Hank.
Oh so sweet! Hank could use a friend after the barf incident.
ack sooo sweet. your hubs is a lucky man.
I like to tell him that on occasion.
Simply lovely.
I had a moment like that…the moment where I knew I loved Bill and would probably marry him.
You brought me right back. AND included a steak sandwich.
So.
I’ll be at Yeah Write voting for you, my friend.
Well thanks! You know, growing up I always thought it was cheesy to have a “moment” or a “song,” but we have both, and it’s nice.
Your trip sounds wonderful, it makes me want to pack up and take one of my own.
It’s very empowering! (And exhausting.)
Now THAT sounds like a trip.
I’m impressed at how much you were able to accomplish with three boys!
Awesome.
Electronics and junk food.
You and three kids on a 3-day trip. I’m impressed. Did they all sleep on that one long stretch of road?
Keep writing…
The toddler napped. The bigger boys played with video games and asked 5,492 questions.
Lovely, lovely post. Home truly is where the heart is, right? I admire you for braving that much time in the car with three little ones. My husband and I are taking our first major road trip with our boys (ages 2 and 5) this summer and we are both thrilled and terrified.
Never underestimate the power of a really good in-car movie. I recommend Despicable Me.
Good luck, and safe travels!
That sounds like a simply fabulous trip. I love how you captured it for us. Beautifully written!
Thank you, Delilah. I think my favorite thing about blogging is that I’m able to sit down and immediately relive experiences so that I can write them down, where they’re immortalized.
Sounds like a good (busy!) trip.
It was admittedly a little insane.
I’m a couple of weeks away from a roadtrip with two boys and two dogs, right now feeling more nervous than inspired. Thanks for writing such a lovely, positive story; I will be thinking of it as I prepare!
You’ll have a blast! Those dogs are so beautiful, so everywhere you stop people will ooooh and ahhh and you’ll totally feel like a celebrity.
Del Rancho, you’re killing me. Kellie has me on the caveman diet – lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and all the rocks I can eat.
Mmm, rocks. You know, it’s best to eat like that most days, but what’s the point of a long life if you can’t eat a steak sandwich here and there?
Why does everyone get to meet Rach but ME??!! I’m totally stomping my foot as I type that!
Glad you had such a great trip! You’re brave for driving that far with that many kiddos!
Oh and that stretch of highway to Kansas City? Killer. Makes me want to gouge my eyes out.
She’s totally Miss Popular. And for a good reason, she hands out wine and chocolate as soon as the sun hits the horizon.
And YES. I despise I-35 between OKC and KCMO. BLECH.
We are people who travel by car as well — though my trips back to Florida are maximum 7 hours. I have toyed with idea of a trip out to Dallas with my two youngest to see a wonderful college friend. That would be about 11 hours. Who knows? Enjoyed reading of your adventure. You inspired me.
It’s so doable! Leave early, stay hydrated. Plan your stops ahead of time. We are so lucky to live in a large country that makes travel so easy. I know all my friends like to fly away to foreign lands for vacation, but I’d rather investigate all that’s here!
It is so nice to know where home really is. Glad you have that.
Thanks, Ashley. He’s more than I could have ever hoped for.
electronics and junk food: the key to all travel with children. utterly. i used to pooh-pooh such things, pre-children, and older (wiser) parents looked at me and did that “oh you just wait” nodding thing. yeah. so nice to have physical markers, like that place on the highway, where we can stop and say “here’s the beginning.” nice. d
Exactly! If a coke and some cheetos will make you sit still for 300 miles, here, have mine.
Aw, I like to read your blog even when you do, as you say, “just vomit words on a page.” I think my favorite line was seeing if Toby Keith had horses… and if they drank beer.
Haha, thanks girl!
I love this post. All your meandering and rambling was fitting for the subject matter. I hate that I missed the visit with Rach and Donut!!! And you talking about the highways of Kansas make me miss home.
I went to college in Lawrence and my then boyfriend lived in Wichita. We’d meet in Emporia for some “quality time” e’ry now and then. 
You get me.
A little Embassy Suites action, eh?
What a fabulous journey, a trip with real character (both the people and the places).
It was a neat adventure!
oh, i love these types of crazy packed trips that somewhere in the middle of you realize everything you’ve got at home.
It was quite a whirlwind. I’m thankful for all the time to think while I was driving though.
i live in KC! and i need to learn to be more adventurous with road trips. sigh. loved your last paragraph, how it brought it all together…
Oh awesome! I’m in the Northland. I really love it here, but it’s taken me awhile to feel like it was “my” city.
Sounds like you made some great memories on your trek!
We did! That’s been my goal this last year, to bloom where I’m planted and make as many awesome memories as possible. I feel like I’m finally living a rich life!
Great post. The last paragraph was just beautiful.
Thanks!
I just took a road trip through OK, TX and NM that was 1657 miles in a week. Exhausting, but spectacular. Always something exciting to see. And plenty of Wal-Marts to stop at.
God bless the Wal Marts.
Sounds like a great trip. Beautiful post.
Thank you, Michelle. It was a wonderful experience, one that I hope I don’t have to repeat any time soon.