Day 8: What's so *gross* about a road trip

When you live on the road day after day, hygiene and cleanliness standards sort of go by the wayside.

Here is a list of some of the grossest aspects of our trip so far. (Stop reading here if you're squeamish.)

** Gamiz One: this is for you and, for the record, I started drafting it before I saw your comment today, but I appreciated your observation. **

1. Vomit. A tummy bug struck our oldest child last night and sent a tidal wave of her evening dinner over the hotel blankets at approximately 2 a.m. It somehow entirely missed her little brother, who was sleeping next to her. Suffice it to say, we could only sort of clean the pillow cases and jammies and those sort-of stinky items spent the day sun-drying in the back of the Honda.

 

2. The floor under our corner booth at Mazzio's Pizza somewhere in rural Oklahoma. I don't want to discuss it.

3. Public restrooms. Is it too much to ask the gas station attendant to empty the trash once a day and perhaps mop the floor monthly? Good golly!

4. The sippee cup of milk left in the hot car for an afternoon, which turned the contents into what looked like yogurt.

5. The fact that for the first five days of our trip, a daily dip in the pool was a substitute for regular bathing for the kiddos.

 

6. Henry Paul's carseat.

7. The barley organized chaos inside our two cars: litter box next to sleeping bags, in front of Navy uniforms, behind water jugs, near picture books. We feel a little like the Joads.

8. Bug-splattered front bumpers and grills.

 

9. XXX billboards along the freeway.

10. Armadillo roadkill.

11. Dairy air.

12. Ahem, Truck Nutz.

 

13. Hotel coffee.

14. Gas station coffee.

15. Iceberg lettuce.

Gross, right? But, guess what the weird part is? We're actually sad this whole disgusting journey is coming to an end tomorrow because, oh, did I tell you? We crossed the border into our new home state today!

 

The Virginia welcome sign was, well, a welcome sign.

On the other hand, in a matter of hours our vacation is over and we have to deal with the reality and the work of figuring out a new home (not to mention laundering those sick pillow cases, jammies and stinky children).

Right now, all of that work is a bit daunting.

We're on a road-trip high and Nick and I are feeling a little grief about having to come down to earth again tomorrow.