Who remembers those long summer road trips when you were a kid, squished in beside your siblings and marking out your territory with imaginary lines? What memories are sharpest for you? What senses were most heightened?
We rattled around in the backseat without seatbelts (gasp!) & looked forward to an ice cold Orange Crush from a pop machine at a gas station somewhere along the way. We often had to stop to clarify directions to supplement our well-worn, wrinkled state map that never seemed to fold back into its original shape. If we missed a turn, we could drive for miles completely unaware of our error because we didn’t have a computerized voice perkily “re-calculating” for us.
Recently, we logged hundreds of miles on a family vacation. At the end of a busy day of touristing, we squished in tight into our hotel room each evening. Our boys had their nightly discussion re: who was sharing the foldout couch and who was bunking on the floor.
Somewhere in the midst of traveling, we are reminded about our nucleus as a family. We make frequent eye contact as we’re plotting our course for the day. We track one another through noisy crowds. We squish in closely together in various modes of public transportation. During all these bumps and nudges, we’re reminded of our belongingness in this rugged little family of ours.
We amuse ourselves waiting in lines by messing with each other, cracking jokes that don’t make any sense to those around us.
We smooth out each other’s rough edges and finish each other’s sentences.
Although we’re out exploring new territory and mingling among strangers, we’re drawn back to one another to circle up for the next transition.
We move on together as a pack.
My husband and I are not big fans of selfies…and certainly don’t have “the knack” for taking them, especially if we’re trying to capture some scenic background, too. Something happens, though, when we huddle in together, squishing in to fit all of our faces into that little square. We claim each other.
We recognize ourselves in each other’s expressions and features.
We identify as a unit, a lifelong team.
We validate our sense of belonging to one another. We catch a glimpse of who we are together in this snap of time. This is Family.
In this moment, this is Us.
We reconnect in ways on trips that we don’t in our everyday routine. We aren’t distracted by our daily chores and pressing schedules. We focus in on one another.
As parents trailing along behind our children, we see with fresh eyes the ways they have grown since our last vacation. We observe how they assert themselves in new situations.
Independence lurks at this one’s fingertips and we feel a click of confirmation that he is ready to launch. I’m reminded that we have to hold him loosely, allowing him to stretch forward toward his new adventures.
Summer vacations are full of potential and opportunity. It’s a time to explore and be curious, lingering over new discoveries.
We can be carefree and silly with one another as we share new experiences.
We play frisbee in different parks and walk miles on unfamiliar streets, soaking in the sights and sounds.
We cultivate as many family memories as we can into these precious summer moments, unifying together for the long haul of our family story. . . SQUISHING IN for all we’re worth!