DAY ONE, part one: Orange Park, FL to Marianna, FL

DAY ONE, part one: Orange Park, FL to Marianna, FL


Let me start off by saying that organizing 6 people for a trip for 16 days requires planning, patience, and alcohol. What an ordeal! Packing may sound pretty menial, but once you consider that we will be without a washing machine or dryer for 2 weeks, everything needs to be well thought out. And inevitably, a Wal-Mart trip was necessary to purchase extra underwear and socks!

I have to say that the OCD in me LOVES planning. I find it one of the most enjoyable parts of a trip. I could show you the grid of planned outfits and pajamas for me and the kids, or the detailed itinerary complete with phone numbers, addresses, and expected temperature for the day, but it would be lost on all but those who thrive on the planning (and Susan---yes, I WILL show you the grid because I know you’re salivating!).

The *doing* is where I get a little bogged down. After making 16 stacks of clothing and virtually destroying my bedroom, I was starting to panic. Thank you God for making Reisling! John began to load the RV with the clothes, and lo and behold all of our clothes fit without us having to use a single suitcase! This is a huge accomplishment because suitcases take up precious space!

At midnight I set out to finish my Christmas cards. And the printer decided to break. After going through the stages of grief over the damn thing (anger being the one that lasted the longest), I had two options. Forego the letter that accompanies my cards, or print them on the broken, streaky thing anyway and let you all wonder why they look like Hell. You all will be wondering. 

After 5 hours of sleep I was surprised to pop up as readily as I did at 6am (UGH). Now, there had been some debate about whether to leave at 7 or 730, and it seems getting ready and loading 6 people into an RV takes a bit more time than either John or I had anticipated. But, we were on the road by 8:15. I refuse to say “behind schedule” or “running late” because those are work terms, and I am SO NOT WORKING these next few weeks!

Its now 9am and all 4 kids are sleeping. We are headed west on I-10 and should reach our lunch destination by noon….or so.