By Kathy Miele
“Road trip,” I called as we all piled into my car.
The boys groaned as they climbed into the backseat. “How long is it going to take to get to Aunt Donna’s?”
Alex asked.
“A little under two hours,” I said as I adjusted my seat and checked my rearview mirrors.
Steven got in the passenger seat setting up his mini office by plugging his phone into my charger, opening up his appointment book and taking out the long list of phone calls he needed to return while I was driving.
I was thrilled that I was going to be spending this time with all my boys. It had been a long time since all of us had headed out together for a road trip. “It’s going to be like old times,” I said as I started up the car and pulled a CD from its sleeve. “Who wants to listen to some Billy Joel?” I asked as I held up the “Glass Houses” CD and looked in the rearview mirror.
They looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. “Play anything you want,” Alex said as he pulled his earbuds out and put them in his ears. “I’m listening to my own music.”
“Me too,” Max said as his earbuds went in.
“You’ll have to turn the music down when I’m on the phone,” Steven reminded me as he held up his return call list, making sure I could see how long it was.
“Come on guys,” I whined. “We haven’t had a road trip in years! Let’s enjoy each other.” I popped the CD in the player and “You May Be Right” started playing. “Remember when we went up to Aunt Donna’s years ago and we played this CD the whole way up?” I put the car in gear and began driving.
“How could we forget?” Alex said, pulling his earbuds out and starting to laugh. “You played it the whole way up and the whole way back.”
“It was on a loop,” Max laughed. “I couldn’t wait to get home and get out of the car!” He looked over at Alex. “How many times did we hear this song?” he asked.
“It must have been at least five times,” Alex said.
“I like this song,” I said.
“But why do you have to play it over and over again?” Max asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. ”I guess when I like something, hearing it over and over again doesn’t bother me.”
“Well, it bothers me,” Max said, putting his earbuds back in. “But feel free to play that all you want. I won’t hear it.”
He turned his music on, leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.
“The same goes for me,” Alex agreed as he popped his earbuds back in and turned his own music on.
I looked over at Steven. “Well, I guess it’s just you and me enjoying the ride and some good music together,” I said.
Steven looked up from his appointment book just as “Sometimes a Fantasy” came on. “I’m sorry, were you talking to me?” he asked.
Before I had a chance to answer, Steven’s phone began to ring. He reached over to the volume knob and turned the CD off.
“I’m sorry I have to take this call. Can you keep the music off for a little bit?” he asked, but didn’t wait for an answer from me as he picked up the phone and answered it.
I was then that I began to rethink just how much fun this road trip was going to be for me.
