A lot of faith, a little naivety, six states, 2,500 plus miles over 10 days with just me and the 5 year old daughter in the car. I look back now and think I must have been a little enamored. Sure some planning had gone into the trip but what happened was more than a lifetime of memories.
For months, we had talked about going to Idaho to visit friends who had relocated there from California and then my husband was laid off from his job just weeks before the adventure was to begin. We were unsure on what to do. A job offer came in for him and we knew then the kid and I would be going and the husband (God bless his soul) would stay behind to tie up matters before his new opportunity was to start.
I admit I had no time to be scared at that point. There was a clock ticking. There were bags to be packed, food to buy and reordering the MasterCard (since ours was expired and American Express is not taken everywhere as Clark and I had learned on a previous road trip there. MasterCard was kind enough to waive the UPS fees to have my card delivered to our extended stay in Idaho).
I got enough cash that if any were taken it would stink but I would not be devastated. I wore minimum jewelry, as did my daughter. I carried pepper spray because you just do not know what trouble if any would occur. I tried to keep the cell phone fully charged.
I made sure the emergency kit in the back of the car was up to date. I also had reassurance every time I hit the blue tooth in the car, it would ask if I wanted to make a call or if I had an emergency. I had imaginary thoughts that a rescue team would come to my and Emma’s help if need be (even if we were halfway from the equator and the North Pole).
The last minute person I was on this trip I actually booked the hotels surrounding the stay around Idaho just a week before. Lucky for us our places of accommodations were superior but on a budget except for the last (more to come on all that later). I did not even map the six state drive out until the night before Emma and I left and I did it on Mapquest and GPS.
The night before the trip everything was packed. While our first night was going to be a hotel, I had a small overnighter bag packed just for that for when we reached our destination. I dressed Emma in sweats so when the dark hour came I could literally take her from the house to the car seat. As I drove away from the house, I thought, wow, I am really doing this without my husband.
After driving for 11.5 hours to Bend, Oregon, we stayed at the only place I could arrange because of the car show they were having in town. The Inn was fantastic. It was right on the river. It had an indoor and outdoor pool which we took advantage of. We met some teenagers there who were from Santa Cruz but now lived in Bend. I am not sure they were staying at the Inn but their perspective on life was sure interesting.
The next day, Emma and I left for an area near Sandpointe, Idaho here our friends lived. Not only did the Newsoms’ say they would leave the light on but a homemade dinner would be ready. After 26 years of friendship, you became like family.
Over the next few days Emma and I along with the Newsom family saw the The Spokane Youth Orchestra perform A Disney Symphantasy at the Festival at Sanpointe, went to City Beach, took the ski chair lifts up to Schweitzer ski resort to see the most marvelous views, went to Silverwood Theme Park, took a boat adventure on the river and finally to cap it all off a bonfire with family and friends. The days passed as quickly as the nights and the visit was over in a blink of an eye. At times it seemed like we were teenagers again our conversations were so honest and frank and other moments, life caught up with us and we were parents of young children. Our memories there left an imprint on our hearts.
Our next stop was Teton Village, Wyoming. Emma and I had planned to stay a few days to see Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. The drive was going to long again but worth it I knew.
We stopped in Drummod, Montana for gas and lunch. It was one of the rare times when we actually were taking a longer than normal break from driving. While outside a café eating lunch, a few older men drove up and starting to circle our table. I quickly grabbed my phone and called my husband. I carefully watched these men while whispering to my husband the location where I was and what they were driving. Obviously they could see Emma and I were alone and the only other car in the parking lot was ours with the California plates. The pepper spray, which had been a last minute purchase in California, was in a large suitcase in the back of the car (yes, a great place but I removed it from my handbag when we went to the Silverwood theme park). Emma and I waited and waited until they finally left. The whole time I stayed on the phone with Clark. Maybe nothing would have happened but when you are traveling alone with a 5 year old daughter all alerts are on high and you could never be too caution.
As dusk approached that day, we ended up in Teton Village and I never knew on how beautiful it really is. Last time we passed through Emma was a month old. Now I had time to really appreciate it. The Inn was perfect with a pool and a Sushi restaurant that Emma fell in love with.
Over the next few days, we traveled to Yellowstone and saw Old Faithful. While waiting for Old Faithful to do her dance, Emma saw the flags flying on top of the lodge including the United States flag. She said, “Mama, look, look, it is like the flag at the Newsom’s.” Now before I answered I knew Emma had seen this flag a thousand times, in fact this flag has hung outside our own home back in California on occasion. I answered as simply as I could, “Emma, Charley was an American solider and that is why the flag is hung at his home.” The words as they crossed my lips, created memories of Charley’s story of the wars he had been in serving in the Army; the life he had had that was so different from my and husband and I who went to state college. I let the silence stand and oddly the motorcycle bikers, the Midwesterners; the foreigners gave pause around us as well. It was as if there was a moment of silence. I had no more words for Emma. I knew someday Charley would tell Emma his story and coming from him it would mean more. Someday Charley’s story would be told.
We carried on throughout our journey. A park ranger was kind enough to let Emma help him take a temperature of a small, small hot spot. It was 165 degrees as Emma read the numbers off the thermometer the ranger explained that it hotter than a boiling pot of water. The video I took that day watching the ranger take off his hat and get down to Emma’s level was so touching.
Next stop was Jackson Hole and the obligatory picture of Emma in front of the park’s antlers. Ironically it was also farmer’s market day so it was interesting to see the difference between what Wyoming’s offer in their farmer’s market and ours. The music was also quite good.
Somewhere along the way to Nevada, Emma asked, “Mommy, why are there so many Gods and churches?” to which I replied since I had no clue to where she was going with this, “What do you mean?” And so a basic religious decision ensured that I am not sure we would have had if we had not passed so many churches alongside of the highway.
We stayed in a hotel in Nevada that had an off site pool. Now the service I used to book the hotel did not state that the hotel had an off site pool so to say we were disappointed was beyond measure. An off site pool apparently means the pool is at another hotel 3 blocks down. Yes, three blocks down. Good thing, I knew someone who recently moved nearby from third grade (and ironically in weird twist of distant relations sort of way has become a third cousin this past year) who was willing to come visit.
As Emma and I were waiting for Jen, I called my dad. My dad, first was floored I was staying in that city where it was only known for two things and neither one of those things were exactly moral and by the way my dad asked what industry was Jen in. I laughed. When Jen arrived, we laughed some more. She informed me (because my dad had forgotten) there was a third industry and it was mining.
As I checked out of the hotel the next day, I told the clerk my female cousin lived on a ranch right outside of town. I loved when the clerk’s eyes popped out of his head. It was priceless and made up for the pool being off site.
Our last stop was lunch in Nevada with someone from school and her daughter. It was fun and delightful. Both of the last stops in Nevada were made because of reconnection made on Facebook within the last two years. Technology is great for social media but there is nothing better than a hug or breaking bread with an old friend or a new friend.
As we headed home, I was homesick. Emma had been a little homesick since leaving Charley in Idaho. She missed her daddy and I missed my husband. Ten days was a long time to be away home but it made me realize no matter how many scars that life has handed you, no matter how miles you travel, you have to go beyond the four walls of your home and make memories. Make life experiences matter and share them with others. More importantly I think Emma has a tad bit of traveler’s soul like me. There is so much more road and life to go and I cannot wait to share them with my husband and Emma.
