I'm always amazed at how far Americans are prepared to drive. I remember my aunt saying "Let's pop over to..." The popped-to destination was 200 miles away. Over here, anything more than about 100 miles requires several day's worth of provisions and notifying next of kin.
What about sleep, or did you and your lady wife take it in turns?
Well, that was just too much fun, Mark! I love Christmas, and I haven't traveled to see fam in what has to be close to a decade! Now, with my family all completely gone (Mom, Dad, bro....and with no wife and no kids), it's just little ole me, and I have to always hustle some kind of get-together with friends, which, at times, tends to get awkward, 'cause THEY'RE doing family stuff like everyone else!
It looks like you live near Boca, which is where my bro and his wife used to live in the '90s (she was GM of the Saks 5th Ave. there), and Mom, bro, and I would all meet there for C-mas. Mom and I would fly in from Austin, TX. I always enjoyed the places they'd show us in and around Boca, and the fine restaurants!
Glad you finally found a way to have the poodies travel contentedly! I do dog/house sitting here occasionally. Had we lived in the same city, I'd-a loved to have cat-sat!
I love your tree, and your tree idea. Good on you and the Mrs. for having a great idea I would be SO on board with----a revolving-decoration tree up all year! It would be a fun challenge, too, to discover seasonal items to decorate it with! I'm keeping your e-mail post handy...I may want to peruse it again a week from Sunday to keep me company! Thanks again, Mark!🎄💖
Such a great post, Mark - I really enjoyed it! Glad the cats settled down on that epic journey!
Our longest road trip was around 600 miles, and was pretty much from one end of the country to the other, so not all that much leeway to add more. I'm in awe of just how much landmass you've got over there! Anything over about a 45-minute drive counts as a big deal for me - and requires me to have a least a flask of tea on board, or maybe two (one for the way home.....)!
I'm so lucky that I live so close to my family - there are only six of us, including spouses, and it's not an effort to be able to get together. This Christmas is the first since 2019 that we'll be seeing each other in person. I'm so grateful.
Great post - and great looking holiday tree! I feel your pain/pleasure with travelling - we have to fly to visit my parents in NC, so we’ve made innumerable flights back to the States with kids who were babies (absolute nightmares) and then children (a bit better, but still ... those queues at Customs) and now teens (just fine as long as the battery doesn’t die). But it’s always been worth it - though this year we’re staying put and I’m as excited about the holidays as ever! Have a great Christmas and am looking forward to reading your next instalment! 🎄
I loved this, Mark! Three months ago I transported a kitty to a friend 5 hours away, and he meowed the entire trip in the carrier on the front passenger seat. I nearly lost my mind!
Road trips are the best, and I enjoyed your recounting of last year. And I love the Snoopy house on your garage door!
I'm always amazed at how far Americans are prepared to drive. I remember my aunt saying "Let's pop over to..." The popped-to destination was 200 miles away. Over here, anything more than about 100 miles requires several day's worth of provisions and notifying next of kin.
What about sleep, or did you and your lady wife take it in turns?
Great post by the way!
Well, that was just too much fun, Mark! I love Christmas, and I haven't traveled to see fam in what has to be close to a decade! Now, with my family all completely gone (Mom, Dad, bro....and with no wife and no kids), it's just little ole me, and I have to always hustle some kind of get-together with friends, which, at times, tends to get awkward, 'cause THEY'RE doing family stuff like everyone else!
It looks like you live near Boca, which is where my bro and his wife used to live in the '90s (she was GM of the Saks 5th Ave. there), and Mom, bro, and I would all meet there for C-mas. Mom and I would fly in from Austin, TX. I always enjoyed the places they'd show us in and around Boca, and the fine restaurants!
Glad you finally found a way to have the poodies travel contentedly! I do dog/house sitting here occasionally. Had we lived in the same city, I'd-a loved to have cat-sat!
I love your tree, and your tree idea. Good on you and the Mrs. for having a great idea I would be SO on board with----a revolving-decoration tree up all year! It would be a fun challenge, too, to discover seasonal items to decorate it with! I'm keeping your e-mail post handy...I may want to peruse it again a week from Sunday to keep me company! Thanks again, Mark!🎄💖
Merry Christmas!
Such a great post, Mark - I really enjoyed it! Glad the cats settled down on that epic journey!
Our longest road trip was around 600 miles, and was pretty much from one end of the country to the other, so not all that much leeway to add more. I'm in awe of just how much landmass you've got over there! Anything over about a 45-minute drive counts as a big deal for me - and requires me to have a least a flask of tea on board, or maybe two (one for the way home.....)!
I'm so lucky that I live so close to my family - there are only six of us, including spouses, and it's not an effort to be able to get together. This Christmas is the first since 2019 that we'll be seeing each other in person. I'm so grateful.
Great post - and great looking holiday tree! I feel your pain/pleasure with travelling - we have to fly to visit my parents in NC, so we’ve made innumerable flights back to the States with kids who were babies (absolute nightmares) and then children (a bit better, but still ... those queues at Customs) and now teens (just fine as long as the battery doesn’t die). But it’s always been worth it - though this year we’re staying put and I’m as excited about the holidays as ever! Have a great Christmas and am looking forward to reading your next instalment! 🎄
I loved this, Mark! Three months ago I transported a kitty to a friend 5 hours away, and he meowed the entire trip in the carrier on the front passenger seat. I nearly lost my mind!
Road trips are the best, and I enjoyed your recounting of last year. And I love the Snoopy house on your garage door!
Looks like you started with a “Cat-astrophe”. Glad things worked out.
I’ve only gone through Georgia once. It was when we were moving to Florida. I don’t think we stopped. We just came down I-95.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!