So, I went to DC over the weekend to visit my BFF and her two little boys. I have always loved this drive. It's 6 hours from here, which is far enough, but not too far. It's easily broken up into mini-trips. Roughly 1 hour to the Ohio line, 3 hours on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and 2 hours on I-70/I-270 to get to DC. I always stop to get gas and a fountain coke in Breezewood, PA. I have 6 hours of uninterrupted iPod. It's a nice trip.
Some things have changed with the drive in the years I've been making this trip. Instead of driving a Mercury Topaz, I drive a minivan. Instead of mixed tapes, I listen to playlists. Most of the funny signs are gone and Breezewood has become a booming metropolis. But, Pennsylvania still doesn't mess around, Maryland is still very friendly and Virginia is still clever.
And DC drivers are still lunatics.
Because I am aware of this and know my way around, I was driving amongst them instead of against them. I've also realized this time that speed limits are merely a suggestion in the district. I was concentrating on where I was going, so I didn't miss my turnoff, and didn't notice a police car behind me while I was driving at least 10 miles over the speed limit. I changed lanes and he? Just passed me like it was nothing. So, yeah. Speed limits don't matter.
Things I learned on my trip:
1. Speed limits in DC don't matter.
2. It takes 128 songs on my iPod to get to DC. I tried not to skip any.
3. Mrs. GPS is a savior. On my way into town. Never steers (get it? steers? ha!) me wrong.
4. Mrs. GPS is a bitch. On the way out of town. (How is it I get lost every single time I leave? And she is no help. Normally, she's telling me, "In 1.1 inches, veer left on I-270." On the freakin' highway. Every 5 seconds. When there's really no other place for me to go. But on the side streets? Nothing. Until I hear, "Recalculating." Because I missed the damturnoff. Again. Hate. Her.)
5. It is possible to love someone else's children as much as you love your own.
6. Infants wake in the middle of the night. Often. (See the things you forget after a while?)
7. A little Tylenol never hurt said infants. And they sleep for 4 hours straight afterward.
8. I can sleep sitting up, holding an infant. For 4 hours. (I forgot that, too)
9. Always bring comfortable shoes (which I did). And break them in beforehand (which I did not).
10. There's no place like home.
Great trip. Glad I'm home.
2 comments:
I am a big believer in #5. Well, as long as they are your siblings' kids. Not that I don't love my friends' kids...just not like they're mine. Wait, who's reading this blog?
Paige? Love your kids. I promise. And everyone else? Your children are darling.
Really.
Is it too late to delete this comment?
Lea - as usual I love reading anything you write. Very entertaining.
Mary - nuff said. I am also a big believer in #5 mainly because I can love other children almost as much as my own and then leave them with their parents. Mine? Notsomuch.
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