Christmas Road Trip (Part 1)

It is that time of year again where I share an original story throughout the Christmas Season. Each part will be posted on Friday mornings, with the final installment on December 22. I hope you enjoy this year’s story. I have a special note at the end of today’s portion, with a personal dedication.

     “Aiden! Miles! Come and pick up these trucks!” I shouted angrily as I tripped over yet another truck on the floor.
     “Allie, just relax,” my husband said quietly.
     “But…”
     “No buts. You need to calm down. Is this helping you get everything done?” He challenged.
     I rolled my eyes at him but I knew he was right. I was just making things worse.
     “Boys, please come and put the trucks away and then you can have a snack and watch tv for a bit,” I said more calmly.
     “Okay, mommy!” said Miles enthusiastically, who especially appreciated snacks.
     Miles diligently began to pick up the trucks, as his older brother Aiden watched.
     “Aiden…”
     “Oh, okay,” he muttered.
     As I watched them work together, my mind went back to my long to-do list. There was just no way I was going to get everything done. Traveling to Florida with two boys for a family Christmas was so much work. I was still struggling through the disappointment of not having Christmas in the home in which I had grown up. My parents had moved in March due to my dad’s severe arthritis. And, while his health was improving, he still didn’t feel up to traveling to New York for Christmas. And so, all of us kids would be going to them. This would be my first Christmas away from home.
     I picked up my list and went to sit at the table. I knew I was going to have to cross some things off. But what?
     After a few moments, I had eliminated two or three items that could wait until I got back. Soon two little boys were at my elbow, asking for a snack.
     As I opened the pantry door, my cell phone started ringing. I glanced at the screen to see who it was.
     “Hi Mom,” I said as I cradled it in my ear and pulled some granola bars from a box for the boys. They grabbed them and then went into the family room, where Mike was working from home today. I knew he’d help them get settled in front of the tv so that I could have a half hour’s peace.
     “So, Allie, I have a favor to ask. It’s a pretty large favor,” I could tell mom was hesitant. What now?
     “Okay…?” I responded.
     “So I know you will need to ask Mike about this and that it might not be possible. I know you have the boys and traveling with them can be a lot…”
     “Mom, can you just please get to the point, please?” I tried to say it kindly but my patience was already wearing thin before she called.
     “Well, you know that with you kids all coming here for Christmas this year, my Aunt Hattie has no place to go for the holidays. Your dad and I were talking about how nice it would be to have her join us for Christmas. Do you think you could possibly bring her along?” asked Mom.
     My heart sank. My dear great-aunt Aunt Hattie was sweet but she talked a lot. She would be so annoying to have on a road trip. But how could I say no? I could never be that heartless, although that is just what I wanted to say. I already knew that my kind and generous husband would be all for the idea.
     “I’ll talk to Mike, Mom, and just confirm, but I’m sure we can do that,” I tried to say it warmly but I knew that my feelings were coming through, loud and clear.
     “Well, that would be wonderful!” Mom ignored my negative undertone.
     I hung up the phone with a sigh. I was already dreading this road trip. Now it was going to be so much worse. I went to find Mike. He responded just as I knew he would.
     “You told your mom that of course we can take her, right? We can’t leave her here all alone for the holidays.”
     “I told her I needed to talk to you but that I was sure you would be fine with it.”
     “Okay, so do you think we will need to stop more often for her? Should we should leave a bit earlier? And what about the hotel? Will we need a second room for her? Does she have a special diet?” As he started to list off all of these things, I realized my to-do list had just gotten a whole lot longer.
     I was grumbling inside as I texted my mom that we would be happy to bring Aunt Hattie with us to Florida. As I was texting, the phone rang in my hand. Aunt Hattie was calling. I tried to sound cheerful as I answered, “Hello?”
     “Hello, dearie! I just talked to your mom and she said that you have offered to take me along with you to Florida?”
     “Yes, we’d be happy to bring you along,” I said warmly. Or at least I tried to say it warmly.
     “Oh, that would be so wonderful,” she gushed, “I just didn’t know how in the world I could bear a Christmas all alone. Wouldn’t that be so hard to bear? I have been depressed the whole last week just thinking of it. And then I got this lovely call from your mom and I just want to thank you..” Her voice caught and, although I couldn’t see her, I was pretty sure she was crying.
     So now I felt really guilty. Of course we need to bring this lovely old woman with us on our road trip. It was only pure selfishness that would be annoyed about doing this wonderful deed for this dear woman. She had had such a rough life. Her husband had passed away when she was just in her forties and her only unmarried son had been in an accident five years later. Within a decade, she found herself without a family at all. We became her family and she was with us for every holiday. As she continued to talk, my heart started to melt a bit and I was able to infuse my voice with real warmth.
     When she stopped to take a breath, I quickly spoke up, “Oh, Aunt Hattie, we are happy to take you along. It might be a bit of a tight squeeze and we won’t be able to take a lot of luggage along, but I am sure we will be able to make room.”
     “Oh, I don’t need much room. And I’ll try to behave and bring only a small suitcase. I do have some gifts, though,” I could almost see her furrowed brow.
     “Okay, let me talk to Mike. Perhaps we can use the roof rack to give us more space,” I said.
     “Oh, that would be wonderful!” she exclaimed and then, all of a sudden, she grew silent.
     A few seconds later, she murmured, “but the dog…I am not sure I can leave her for a whole week….”
     She sighed and then added, “maybe I won’t go.”
     I groaned inside. Aunt Hattie had a small buff-colored Pomeranian named Princess. She took her everywhere. Of course, Princess would have to travel with us.
     “You can just bring her,” I said against my better judgment and before I could change my mind.
     “Oh, Allie, could I?!” She exclaimed, “That would be so wonderful! Incredible, even! You and Mike, well, you are just too much. You’d love an old crotchety lady like me enough to not only take me along to Florida but to take my dear Princess, as well. I don’t know how I deserve such an amazing family,” she kept on like this for a few more seconds. I knew this was a preview of what our trip would be like. She was so lovely but she rarely stopped talking. This was going to be interesting. And I smiled at her word “crotchety”. I couldn’t think of a word that was less suited to Aunt Hattie than “crotchety”.
     Finally, she stopped and I was able to talk about a few trip details with her.
     After a few more minutes, I hung up and reflected on what had just happened over the past half hour. Despite my irritation and trepidation about how the trip would go, I felt more at peace than I had since we started to plan this trip. Knowing the joy we were bringing Aunt Hattie by taking her with us filled me with joy. Yes, she could be annoying with all of her talking. But, I reminded myself, she was pleasant and easy to be around. It wouldn’t be that bad. Would it?