Last Friday, I fired up the GPS and headed south, then west. Not that far south – Columbus, OH. And not that far west – Central Illinois. The drive was astonishingly boring and colorless. Gray, beige and brown. Mostly gray. The only color on the drive was the endless billboards. Indiana was the worst for that – the entire trip through that state was one billboard after another. A lot of RV sales, lawyers, pro-gun rhymes, and “IF YOU DIE TONIGHT, WHERE WILL YOU GO?” / “HELL IS REAL!”
Delightful.
The purpose of my drive was to visit my cousin and her family for their son’s 10th birthday. The birthday boy is all-in with video games and since I’m fluent, it was a big deal for me to visit. I got in on Friday afternoon and we met the very excited kids at the bus stop when they got off school. Then it was video games and paper folding until dinner – then more games.
Saturday was pancakes for breakfast, then a scavenger hunt around town with birthday presents – followed by a trip to an arcade. I helped shoot some zombies and raced cars – but the aerial dog-fighting game made me motion sick.
Then out to lunch and back to play more games and get ready to have more family over for a party. It turned into a late evening and there were a few meltdowns, but I think everyone had fun. Also, one of the little girls there decided I needed a banana. I really didn’t but went along with her when she agreed to split one. She ate one bite and then handed the rest to me – then ran off to do cartwheels.
Kids are weird.
I was up early on Sunday and helped myself to breakfast while I waited for the rest of the crew to wake up. There was some last minute paper folding lessons and then it was time for me to go.
Or maybe it was time. The time zone and then the time change threw me off terribly. My watch and the clock in my car were wrong – but I couldn’t change the car since it was locked out while I was driving. My watch was far too complicated to try while driving.
My cell phone was showing two different times on one screen and refused to update. I sort of trusted my GPS, but given the crazy routes it sent me on – I think it was bored – I’m not sure I really believed it.
I don’t know how long the drive took or how many miles I drove – or even really what day it was anymore – but I was glad to pull into my driveway and gladder still to go in my house and see my cat. He was happy to see me too.
Good weekend, but that drive is rough when you’re solo in the car.