As a general rule, I did not like going on family trips as a kid/teen. Five people who don’t get along at the best of times confined to a small car hurtling through empty country side while listening to “Rockin Robin” on repeat does not make for a pleasant experience. I never had enough books and very few ways to entertain myself. The ride was generally uncomfortable and we didn’t really often have an itinerary, which would have been helpful in the case of meeting relatives on Dad’s side of the family.
Trips tended to fall in the following categories:
- Visits to relatives. We were generally not told who these people were, and were expected to remember them from whatever brief encounter we might have had with them. We were expected to be quiet and we were generally not given any way to entertain ourselves, or participate in the visit. Most of Dad’s relatives smoked, and when I was much younger, cigarette smoke made me physically ill. (It should be noted that I have no ability to remember names or attach them to faces, and I have been known to fail to recognize relatives I’ve only seen once or twice.)
- Camping/Visits to various National parks. These were relatively rare. We were more likely to do day trips. One time Mom got a wild hair and we suddenly ended up at the Grand Canyon. I tended to not like camping very much. Or, I might have liked it more if Certain Parties didn’t make up fake “facts” that were extremely annoying and embarrassing to listen to, particularly since these incredibly fake claims were being spoken within earshot of other people.
- Amusement parks. Usually Disneyland. One time we went to Opryland. One time we went to Sea World, but for some reason I did not go and stayed at the hotel. (Probably feeling cranky.) Closer amusement parks were usually just day trips.
Leave a comment