Breakfast was loud thanks to the Clydes. Someone put a freakin’ candy machine next to the breakfast tables and we spent the morning keeping our kids from shaking the machine. It was broken and when you shook it, skittles came out. A large, stern-looking lady watched over them (and us) and George got his first lessons of stealing. He then asked if kids could go to jail.
(The gossips)
I quickly realized that this was not going to be the Arches trip I’d dreamed of having. The hike to the Delicate Arch which, in the past, never seemed long or hard, was 3 miles there and back. A trip with all 3 kids from the gas station pumps to the gas station restrooms takes marathon training and Tibetan monk stamina. We couldn’t even make it to the first viewing area. We had to settle for the viewing area of the viewing area (essentially). We trekked 50 feet to “see” the Delicate Arch. Tom ran ahead with Adeline in his arms and George running behind him complaining about the heat. Cole had climbed into the front seat of the supermobile and was refusing to get out. “Daddy is waiting for us.” I said. Being tired and wanting something to complain about, Cole began to cry, “Daddy! Daddy!” He jumped out of the car… shoeless… which hurt because the sun had baked the road. He cried harder. I just managed to get his shoes on when he took off running in the direction of Tom, screaming and crying. Other tourists looked me over to see if I was mean. I caught one lady’s eye. I looked back at Cole. His clothes were all on backwards. The zipper of his shorts was facing me as was his shirt’s tag. I remembered that he’d said something about being Backwards Guy. I think he’d even showed me. “Yes, sweetie. Yes, lovie. Eat some oatmeal. No skittles. No! No! No skittles.”
The view from the viewing point was lame. What arch? “It’s pretty,” Tom said, politely standing amongst the other people with children or walkers. The arch looked about 2 inches tall. I have seen it at sunset with cloudless skies and snow-peaked mountains magnificently on display through the arch. When you stand beneath the arch, surrounded by red rock to the left, right and below, it is large, strange and overwhelming. The lady next to me took a picture. Her index finger nail is larger than the arch. I try to explain this to Tom. Cole is nagging him to get back in the car, “It’s too hooooooot.”
With a good zoom:
I went to Arches at that crazy, amazing time when you feel free and strong and infinitely young. And you are. But you’re also dumb and silly. Or at least I was. The first time I went was with Beth and Lilo on a 3-day turn around from New York (someone suggested it, we went, that simple). We ditched classes, took Beth’s sister’s car without permission, smoked foot-long, cheap cigars to stay awake (well, Beth did. Lilo and I laughed too hard and too long to actually do any smoking) and were more or less insane (if we hadn’t already been) by the time we made it up to see the Delicate Arch.
A lot had changed since I was here last, I thought. Adeline dropped Itchy the Frog in the dirt and sat on him while trying to clean the dirt off of her feet. “Clean it, Mom.” Adeline demanded. She doesn’t like her feet dirty for long. It was a dirt path. This could take a very long time.
George was in another world. He was someone fighting someone. Or he was saving someone. Hard to tell. He had a very important stick that he would not let his very determined little sister hold.
When a friend of mine was 23, she decided to have her baby. She arranged an adoption with a couple she liked and thought this would make a good home for her daughter. When pressed about her decision she answered, “I am still center stage right now, even if I don’t want to be. My girl needs to be center stage. She needs everything to revolve around her and be about her. I can’t give her that.” I didn’t know what the heck she meant (the world obviously revolved around me then). I think of this wisdom and what I have chosen often… It’s only an arch. The world is revolving elsewhere. It’s a profound experience I wanted in visiting it anyway, and I have much more profundity close at hand (literally).
Tom and the boys did hike around Balancing Rock while Adeline slept. Cole braved the heat. Though he brought back whining boys, Tom said they had fun until the last stretch.
Heading out:
(Above: Cole called this the Elephants).
(Below: Cole said these were eyes)
(These are monkeys:)
Guys in snow hats:
We were done earlier in Moab than I thought. We hit the road in the afternoon, planning on a stop near Zion.
There was a bathroom needed and nothing in sight or on the GPS. We found a quaint place called Fort Cove that looked a little too perfect. And thankfully passed it in favor of the gas station. Even the gas station in the middle of nowhere was a little too clean and cute with barrel wheel benches. It turned out to be owned and run (and funded) by the Latter Day Saints.
I got some soup from the Subway (another Subway with no population to keep it in business) and as I came out, I saw three very busy workers. Those Clydes can work!
As I said, we were supposed to stop in Zion. There is a river amongst the rocks where I thought we’d camp and picnic and play. The river is clean and cool and runs along beautiful red rocks. Perfect in this desert heat. This was the plan, but as I’m still learning... Kids and plans; plans and kids… phooey.
It is
day 52 I think, and today George cried out that he was tired of being in the
car. Amazing that it took to day 52.
I figure we’ve done pretty well for them to last this long. Tom and I
also felt that we needed to honor George’s cry out. When he fell asleep with
his brother and sis, we made haste and drove into the city of lights. It would
now be 3 days in Vegas. Oh dear.
52 days of traveling - whow!! Can just see the backward dressed boy screaming for Dad. The other tourists must have been questioning the sanity of your group. Little did they know this was probably less intense than other times. Loved the comment "It hurts a little." The sharing of the truth between the kids is probably something this trip has instilled in them. The closeness of the kids traveling together will be something they will not forget. David and I were very close when we traveled with Mom and Dad to the different airbases. It was us against the adults. Much of that is taking place with your kids - hence one being naughty at a time. They must keep you and Tom in constant suspense. Hope your trip to Paris was peaceful!!Can't wait to read other adventures. Love you all.
Posted by: Babu | August 12, 2009 at 05:04 AM