The Christmas Spirit on the Road - A True Story

This is a chapter that appears in my book - "Through the Barracks Window: A Time of Waves" The names had been changed in the story to protect the innocent and the law said I had to protect the guilty too.
This is my story about my husband, my boys and I and our Christmas Adventure.

All rights reserved - Copyright 5/2011

Chapter Thirty-Three

The Christmas Spirit on the Road

With all the madness and our fair share of troubles and hardships, we always found ways to bring life back into our emotionally beaten souls.  Sometimes I would take the boys on a week vacation to one of Maine’s great ocean beaches.  Other times it was just a ten minute trip across town to the Sandy Point State Park to go swimming.  I always found that every year from January to August, I always had the urge to travel somewhere.  Why wouldn’t I, during this time frame, since my joining in the military, I would either be transferring locations or going on trips using the leave I had earned. 

It’s just something that is going to stick with me.  Here it is, February, and I am already planning a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to celebrate our wedding anniversary in May, and to Yale, Michigan to see Frank and Sally over the Fourth of July.  I love the excitement of counting down the days until we were on the road to another one of our wild and wacky adventures.  It was one winter trip that I recall that truly warmed our hearts and became our family newsletter to our families and friends.  It is this letter that I would like to share with you.

***

Dear friends and family members,

We are safe and sound in the year 2000.  Welcome to the New Millennium.  In my story of events, for those of you who know us and to the newest family members we have just met, our newsletter takes us back to the holiday season of 1999.  As most of you know, the rule of thumb in our home is that the holidays are kept here in Annapolis.  But last year was the exception, when we found Don’s birth father in North Platte, Nebraska. 

So we made a family decision and the Bentleys of Annapolis, packed up the family truckster and began our journey to enjoy Christmas out west with family in Harrisburg, Nebraska and meet new family members along the way.

Now I don’t know if any of you have ever seen the National Lampoons: Vacation or Christmas Vacation movies, but our family is the spitting image of the Griswold’s when it comes to traveling.  To know the movies, is to know that with our traveling, come great stories that will make even the shyest person laugh out loud.  Part of our travel troubles usually begin days before the actual trip. The normal person would begin packing two days to a week before their scheduled departure.  Not us, we wait until crunch time – the night before.

This trip wasn’t any different. The night before our departure, we were changing the breaks on the car and packing it.  Don and I had beautiful black circles under our eyes that we wore, along with big smiles and crazy Christmas sweaters, for all the family photographs.  We were so impressed with ourselves, as we put the last suitcase into the Mercury Sable wagon, we had fit everything in without using the space between the kids in the back seat or using my solution, “Strap it to the roof” – until we went upstairs to find all the gifts that were to go with us.

After hours of putting together our adult size rubic's cube, the puzzle was finally solved, without having to weld the doors closed, or use any straps that would have made our car look like a rolling pot roast.  Now in all the years I have been traveling, I do have a special tip for all the ladies out there that have small boys, or even big boys if they are willing, never forget to take two bottles with wide re-sealing lids and handi-wipes, this makes that side of the road pee break in the wind, much easier than risking pressure loss within the cargo hold.  If it could only be that simple for women, trips would be ever so much easier.

On the first leg of the trip our troubles were minimum, the kids were just perfect angels, just heavenly, a dream come true.  Don and I were enjoying lengthy adult conversations and laughing through most of Maryland, when suddenly it happened…they woke up.  The cooler was raided to the point of empty, and the pee break games began.  As the miles grew longer and the weather grew cooler, we realized during a stop somewhere between where we came from and where we were going, that we had forgotten something very important, we were not dressed for winter temperatures past the Blue Ridge Mountains.  People stared as we entered a small restaurant section of a truck stop, to use the bathrooms.  We always believed in wearing the most attractive travel wear that we could.  Not! 

Don was sporting a pair of red Nebraska sweatpants that had blotches of white paint on them and a short sleeve shirt that was covered in red juice stains, from the juice boxes the kids had wanted opened early in our drive.  The boys were still in their footy pajamas and wrapped in their blankets that were covered in permanent mystery stains.  Myself, I had on a pair oversized pink, just your size, sweatpants with a grey Seabee t-shirt and sneakers with no socks.  We were looking hot to trot. I meant that most sarcastically.

As we were getting ready to exit the building, a man from out of nowhere gave Dallas a dollar to get something from the McDonald's booth, said Merry Christmas and then walked off with a smile.  It felt strange to think that our traveling clothes that made us feel comfortable, looked like a needy family to another, yet at that very moment the spirit of the season started to grow in all of us.  Now Don tells me that I am a back seat driver that sits in the front seat to drive him crazy.  Ok, yes, I do like to nag him, but only on one topic when it comes to our driving trips, and this one was not any different.  As we began the drive again, I mentioned to Don to watch his speeding since the next state, Ohio, was hard on drivers who didn’t follow the rules of the road.

Don always enjoyed our driving trips to the fullest – when the kids and I were asleep.  Being in a station wagon filled to the brim and Don’s sad country music, the only thing to do, other than pick our noses or poke our eyes out with our fingers, was to nap.

Suddenly this squelch of fear from Don’s voice filled the car.

“GET UP IT’S THE POLICE!”

Sitting up from a dead sleep, I yelled out, “What’s Happening?”

Don indicated that he was being pulled over by the police, yet made it sound like it was because he was not wearing a seat belt.  Yes, my Don is a rebel.  He won’t wear a seat belt.

But as I looked around the car everyone including Don had their belts on.

Something was wrong here.  Maybe there was smoke coming from some source on the car, or maybe we had hit someone or something, I just couldn’t figure it out. Why were we being pulled over?

As I sat wondering what could be the problem, a large round-bellied officer came up to the window, pulled up his duty belt and then bent forward to make eye contact with Don and I and said, “License and registration” and then paused. He didn’t look to terribly happy.

“Son, do you know why I have pulled you over today?”

Don looked at me with this cheesy; I’m so innocent, grin and then looked at the officer and replied with a question, “I was speeding?”

“Yes, Son you were.  Do you happen to know how fast you were going?”

Knowing the speed limit was 65, he responded, “81 Sir?”

“I clocked you several times just to be absolutely sure you had your foot almost to the floor.  I got you at 80, 83, and 85, which one would you like your ticket to say?”

In keeping tradition with every road trip, Don was about to receive a welcome to Ohio speeding ticket just in time for the holidays.  We chose door number one, the 80 mph and a $197.00 fine, ‘tis the season to give and the Ohio State police were actively doing their part.

The kids had gotten into a small box during dad’s traffic stop. They had found the little gifts that I had gotten them to make our different stops easier. I decided to give them each one present and the rule was, with each stop we made they could open another one. 

While Don was getting his gift from the police the kids were opening theirs.  Beep, beep, beep, were the constant sounds that filled the air, from a pocket sized Simon game that Dallas got from the gift box and Dillan was making sounds for his new mini sized toy Tonka dump truck. Also in the box were sheets of window clings that I had gotten at the dollar store.  The kids were having a lot of fun with the mini gifts and putting the Christmas clings onto the windows of the car.  Once again the spirit of the holidays filtered back into our Santa land on wheels, and we continued onward.

As the purple of a dusk sky faded into darkness of the evening, we arrived into the city of Indianapolis, Indiana where we were spending the night.  Don and I had been here back in the summer of 1996 and it was because of the indoor pool and family size hot tub, we chose to stay here.  The lights of the Christmas decorations around the city sparkled with a magical twinkle.  I imagined that we were the modern version of the wise men and an angel, following the Christmas star to Bethlehem.  You could feel the excitement and wonder as the kid’s ooh and awed with each Christmas tree they saw.

We got our room and brought some of our things into the hotel.  We were finally going to eat real food since our trip began, but found out that the restaurant in the hotel did not serve dinner, only breakfast and brunch.  Getting back into the car we found an Arby’s just down the road from where we were staying.  There we sat enjoying, ham sandwiches with curly fries and hot cocoa.  We watched the sky as it teased us with spitting snowflakes that lightly dusted the ground.  People were filling their cars with their special holiday finds and we chuckled at the funny Christmas songs that were playing over the speakers.

After dinner, Don took us over to a CVS so we could pick up some candy canes and the new Rudolph Ornament from the holiday classic television show “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”After a long day of traveling, followed by food and fun in the pool, Don and the kids snuggled under the covers watching a Christmas show, but soon feel asleep.  I sat up listening to the company Christmas party that was going on in the pavilion next to the pool and worked on painting some snowman ornaments.  Trying to savor every moment of the evening, I tried to imagine what each one of my three little boys must have been dreaming.  Yes, even at Christmas time Don is a little boy as well.  At about 11:30pm, I too put my head on a pillow and followed Mr. Sandman off to dreamland.

Morning came quickly and we got our things together and had breakfast before heading out.  The restaurant was all a buzz with the talk of the serious snowstorm fore casted and was following the path of our travels from the west.  The kids were anxious to see their first Christmas snow, but as for Don and I, we knew we had a long trip ahead of us and could spell trouble.  The skies began to turn from a beautiful sunny morning into a serious steely blue-grey.  As our trip got us onto Route 80 the weather began to show its harsh side.  The traffic began to slow down and the roads were changing quite rapidly as the snow fell faster and faster.  At times it was hard to keep the collection of snow off the windshield so that we could see what lay ahead of us.  Motorists were everywhere but on the road.  Many of which had fallen victim to the large ditches at the bottom of steep embankments along the highway due to the slick conditions and poor visibility. 

The decision was to keep going at a slow and steady pace, easy on the gas, light on the break and keep a good distance from the person in front of us.  As we entered the state of Iowa, we stopped at a Flying “J” truck stop for fuel and food.  Breakfast just didn’t hold anyone over, so we were going to get quick simple food, donuts and milk, but not before a restroom stop as well.  As I came out of the restroom with both kids, I happen to see a horrified look on Don’s face.

“What’s wrong now, speeding ticket flash back?” I asked sarcastically.

“Worse!” he exclaimed.

Now I have to tell you, Don always has had the special ability to find mystery gifts in his food, whether it’s bad mayonnaise or big winged six legged things in a sandwich, but this number one mystery prize was something he would remember forever.

“Look at this Fallon, this is not right!”

I walked over to where he was standing and looked into a display case of donuts.  Thinking it was some crazy new flavor or something, I stared into the case as Don reached in and pulled a four foot thick black hair from the display case.  The best part was when two donuts in the case also began to move because each end of the hair had been cooked into the donuts.  I was relieved to see that they were something that was cooked in the store and wasn’t a favorite brand like Krispy Kreme or something. Trying to find humor in the situation and make Don laugh, I couldn’t help but comment, “You know Don if the hair was a bit shorter you could throw them over your head and wear them as donut ear muffs.”

“Yummy, I’m hungry now.” Don said in an unsteady and about to be sick voice.

“Mommy can we get donuts?” Dallas asked unaware of the event that had just taken place.

“No, they’re having a two for one special and we can afford it.  I think it would be a better idea if we look for ones already packaged.” I said trying to keep a straight face.  Don glared at me.

The kids and I found the goodies we wanted to snack on and Don finally got the composure to go on with looking for some kind of goodie for himself, when I just had to do it, and it took all I had not to laugh.

“Uh, Hey, Hon, would you come here and pay for this, I forgot my change in the car.” Not really but you’ll love this.

As he approached the counter a deep voice said to us, “That all?”

He looked up and was stunned; there in front of us was the owner of the four-foot thick black mystery hair she had cooked in her donuts. 

“I’m out of here.  Fallon I’ll be in the car with the kids.” shaking his head in total disgust.

He handed me the money for the kids and I, put his packaged food back on a near-by shelf and walked out the door sputtering while I laughed myself hysterically to the car as I followed behind him. I was always taught what goes around comes around so because of my insincerity for the situation at the Flying “J”, his gratification and my personal payback was on the horizon.

Getting back up onto the snow-covered road, I ate my goodies and sang songs with the kids and would tip my head to one side and shine a big cheesy grin when I would make eye contact with Don.  Yes, I thought I was a funny girl.

“Oh Fallon, you’ll get yours.  Payback is a bitch, just you wait and see.” laughing in his most sinister voice as he smirked when he looked at me.

“Ya, ya, ya, you’re all talk.” feeling on top of the world for the moment.

As our drive continued, a small pain began to roam and grow in the pit of my stomach.  Thinking that I must be either hungry or nervous about meeting Don’s birth father, I brushed it off.  At about noon time we stopped at a Pizza Hut that was in an outlet plaza still in Iowa.  We had a little lunch, but due to the stomach pain that I was dealing with, and would not go away, I didn’t eat much.  Maybe it was the elastic in my sweatpants or maybe, oh this wouldn’t be good, maybe it was gas; this was going to be a fun.

Don asked if I would do some driving so that he could take a nap.  Now going on long road trips with us is a process like a puzzle.  Everyone and everything had a place so that all the doors could and would stay closed.  Don, wanting to nap in the front seat where my position as a passenger was, would mean the removal of three blankets, one pillow, a crushed bag of chips, and the apple juice bottles that were being used as portable urinary stations for the boys.  We must also not forget the ever dreaded and always full of shit that took up 90% of all my foot room, my overstuffed purse.

All of these things would need to be taken out. I would then have to get Don settled, organize the chaos, and try to put this puzzle back together around him so he could nap.  Wanting to do my part, I decided I should take my turn behind the wheel.  While dealing with my gas pain, I was able to get everyone and everything piled back into the car and off we went.  The kids took their naps along with daddy and so it was just me, my gas, and I. I had only driven about 100 miles when I just couldn’t sit this way anymore.  I desperately wanted to lie down, as the pain was so intense.  I had tried to sit in every safe position I possibly would while driving, which included pulling my sweatpants down to mid-thigh to take the pressure off my stomach. Yes mom, I had clean underwear on. I was going to have to give the wheel back to Don until this stomach pain went away.  I can’t tell you how many times I wished for the fart of farts to be released.  My stomach was so bloated it looked like I had swallowed a huge beach ball.  It was terrible.  All I needed was a huge wicker basket, lots of rope and a match, and I could have doubled as a hot air balloon.

We stopped at this little blip on the map and Don and Dallas, went into this makeshift store that used to be a Dairy Queen just about 50 miles from Council Bluffs.  Don had this craving for Gummi Bears and so he and Dallas got everyone a drink and of course packages of Gummi Bears.  It was a quick stop, because not everyone had to get out of the car, so there was less organization time required to get back onto the road.

Don kept making fun of me because I had my pants down around my knees, a pillow against the door for my head and my jacket to cover up with.  I was a mess.  I was dealing with a full blown stomach virus and all I wanted to do was try to sleep it off.  I finally dozed off to dreamland and was able to rest a little, when again I was woken by the sounds of Don’s voice screaming out a solid twenty dollar word.

“FUCK!”

“Don? What’s the matter?  Are you speeding again?

“No. I just broke a tooth on one of these Jurassic Gummi Bears.  Son of a bitch!”

“Little ears babe, little ears.”

Thank goodness it was a tooth that had a root canal and was not painful just very sharp.  He got on his portable phone and called his mother in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and asked her if they could get him a dental appointment when he arrived or the day after he got there.

“What next?” I said, “This just isn’t our day.”

Usually it is always something with the boys; whether it was potty breaks or car sickness, being bored or fighting.  For me, it was pee breaks when there was no place to stop, and for Don, it was driving balls to the wall to get as far away from Maryland as he could.  But we’d never trade the experience for the world.  What’s the fun of having a Griswold Family trip, if you don’t have the ups and downs along the way?

It was a wonderful Christmas spent with family and old friends at the farm in Harrisburg, Nebraska.  We split the time between his family and the newest members of his family that lived in North Platte, Nebraska.  We rang in the New Millennium with Don’s birth father and all the friends and family on that side of his additional family tree.  We are glad that time and finances allowed us, this first time Holiday travel, out west were Don grew up.  It was a time that we will never forget.

***

We have enjoyed many trips as a family since that memorable drive to the west.  We have traveled to the top of the Rocky Mountains, where my mother actually touched a cloud.  Several places immediately flood my mind as I think of all the places we have been as a family; Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Fort Laramie, Yale Michigan, Orlando Florida, Estes Park, and so many more wonderful and exciting places.  My kids have seen so much of the United States, so much more than I could have ever dreamed of seeing when I was their age.  Don on the other hand, did quite a bit of traveling when he was young and doesn’t mind going on trips, as long as they don’t include busy cities and take him to or through his great state of Nebraska.

Of all the trips, the best one was the trip that took us to North Platte so Don, could finally meet the man, who gave him life, Michael Dean Way (this is his real name).  Mike never knew he had fathered a child with Anne. I’ll never forget that moment when they first looked at each other, an instant connection formed.  I always said they were twins because they both wore blue jeans, fruit of the loom pocket t-shirts to put their smoky treats in, and they both had a little belly.  The only difference was Mike was about two feet shorter.  Don had gotten his height from his mother.

How they laughed and talked about their wild times during their Navy careers.  Yes, Mike was a military career man, but the most haunting thing about this, was when Mike told Don that his last duty station was at the Denver Military Enlisted Processing Station in November of 1988.  This just happened to had been the exact location and time frame when Don had entered the military.  The shock and awe moment of the year was when Don, looked through his military paper work, after we got back from our trip, to see who signed him into the service.  I can still hear him now and the hairs on my arms and legs are standing straight up as I share this.

“Fallon?” he spoke in a monotone voice and was accompanied by a facial look of utter disbelief.

“Yes,” I answered trying to understand his tone and look.

“Remember when you told me years back when I asked you to help me find my birth mother and you said I had already met my dad face to face.”

“Yes”

“How did you know that?”

“One of my weird dreams, why?”

“You’ll never guess who swore me into active duty and signed my enlistment papers.”

“No way, Mike?”

“Fallon, how could you have known that we met before?  You didn’t even know anything about me.”

“A soulful connection.” I smiled, “As I have told you before, all in a dream.  I love you honey.”

Another one of my sixth sense mysteries had been solved all in the name of love.

***

It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you, that on October 29, 2010, at 5:53pm in a VA hospital in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Michael Dean Way, had passed on to his new Navy base in the sky. Rest in Peace Senior Chief, you will be missed.