It was the summer of 1999, our family's first ever BIG vacation. We were driving from Texas to visit my husband's brother in Florida.
Every square inch of our '89 Suburban was filled with either one of the six of us or assorted baggage, coolers, pillows, blankets…well, you get the picture. We were packed into that SUV like sardines.
At the time our four sons ranged in age from 9 to 17. Because the trip was expected to take 20 hours we spent the week or so beforehand preparing the boys for the fact that we expected them to keep the bickering to a minimum.
That first morning, we'd just got on the Interstate when my husband, Albert, sternly informed them: “if you don't behave, we'll turn around and go home.”
They must have believed us because our sons were on their best behavior both during our two day drive and the six days we spent with my brother-in-law and his wife. We had SO much fun.
But our time there passed quickly and soon it was time to head home. Bright and early that last morning we packed the Suburban, said our goodbyes and hit the road.
Directly, we heard a voice behind us ask quizzically “if we don't behave, are you going to turn around and go back?”
Copyright 2003 by Jackie Zimmerer
Jackie Zimmerer is a wife and mother of four sons. She attends St. John's Catholic Church in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.
