Chapter 13: Road Ravin' Interlude
by Georgiana Kennedy Simpson
My plans for a one week turnaround in our travels disintegrated along with the van’s left front headlight. Improvise is my middle name or ought to be anyway. I looked at the materials we had and debated with myself, “Do I put the kids back into school or move forward with home schooling.” Properly energized, we move toward more intellectual exercises. Grange’s teacher, Mrs. Burand, has generously organized materials for our use and the balance of the morning is filled with math, language, French, music and art. As 11:30 approaches, the kids walk over to the elementary school and join their friends for lunch and playground time. Upon their return, we finish up any other school lessons, usually wrapping things up no later than their normal school day at 3:00 in the afternoon. Our days end with another visit to the horses, perhaps an afternoon ride on the bachelor beasties or another playground visit mixed in with basketball or dodgeball. So our days revolve around this kind of learning. One week of waiting for the van repair stretched into two, then three, then four. I was frustrated with the realization that certain big chunks of our fall plans, a visit to New York, Chicago and Maine were being eaten away by squabbles between the insurance company and the repair place.  When my travel feet were finally getting too itchy to sit in one place (it is a terrible and wonderful disease), my Dad’s 94th birthday gathering provided the perfect opportunity for us to keep some of our road muscles in shape and visit some of Albuquerque's kid-friendly locations. My father has amazed everyone, most of all himself, in his sheer staying power. He was sickly as a child. In fact, it was not until after graduating high school at the beginning of the Depression when upon getting a job delivering ice one summer, he began developing into the very physically strong man I have always known. He has since outlived his two brothers, his high school classmates and as happens when you become a nonagenarian, the great majority of his contemporaries. He and my mother provide a road map for the entire family in how to live a good and productive life. They both work hard, take time out for play, keep their minds active and their hearts giving. It’s a great recipe. The gathering with my Dad was a special time with all of my family. Kira and Grange love visiting Grandmother and GrandDad where there are trees to climb, apples to pick and sheep to visit. My kids are very fortunate to have loving grandparents on both sides as well as a plethora of giving aunts and uncles and many interesting, fun-loving cousins. Gatherings with my side of the family are always, how shall I say this, LOUD...in fact, REALLY LOUD. When I first met Steve’s family, I thought I was going deaf because they all speak so quietly. One of my worst characteristics is interrupting others. As the youngest of eight children, the blurting habit developed from the simple fact that if I wished to be heard, I had to muscle my way through the din. Our wonderful “Albuquerque interlude turned into another colorful patch on the quilt of experience this year is becoming. Reminding myself that things could have turned out much worse with the deer episode, I work to keep my attention on the joy of the precious time I am having with my children, drawing us ever closer in our unique educational experience and looking forward to when I can once again put the pedal to the metal and continue sharing the beauty and diversity of our wonderful country.
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