Notes from the Depths of my Duvet

Notes from the Depths of my Duvet May 26, 2016

Well, here we are again then, spreading all our stuff all over a bright, cheerfully appointed house while the littlest girl clicks around in an annoying pair of high heels. Did we intend to bring these high heels with us? No indeed we did not. We expected they would be left home.

Always amazes me how we can methodically arrange the car and then, in thirty seconds, spread everything everywhere so that it looks like we brought All the Things we have ever owned.

Really, though, this trip is probably the first moment of a new era. It was bound to happen. I’ve often heard that children grow up and chat pleasantly instead of crying all the time and whining because the juice is slightly warmer than it was five minutes ago. I just didn’t know that we have been ever so slowly turning that corner. And how would I, when there had been so much screaming about who would have to sit in the middle?

So, for the first time in all our tiny lives, several times, as the road rushed by, the car seemed awfully quiet, and turning my head, I discovered that all the children were all sleeping. It was like…magic.

And then there was the general peaceable nature of the long hours. I only screamed twice (that I can remember). The little girls talked to each other nicely. The big kids acted like human beings. I must say, I was sort of disappointed, so sure had I been that it would be awful and they would be awful.

On the whole, I like to keep my expectations in the gutter for an endeavor such as this one. If you think you’re going to have a really good time on a 26 hour drive, you’re probably deluding yourself. But if you think it’s going to be the Worst Thing Ever and it turns out to be fine, well, you can only rejoice.

And now they are unpacking their clothes and bickering, while I lie back in this shockingly comfortable bed, sucking down another vat of life restoring oolong. It’s so charming to be here.


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