The Big Green Monster Machine

What a whirlwind! We’ve been on a 3 week going and coming and going again. Reconnecting with long time friends, seeing great sights, chilling, revisiting old haunts and just living it up. The five of us going in different directions, coming together and hitting the ground running. To me, it feels like summer has come and gone, even though our homeschool doesn’t really start for another couple weeks.

We’ve experienced great firsts and made many memories. After visiting my brother and his family in Michigan, and my guys hanging in Florida for a week at a conference, we all met back home just in time to pack my oldest off for his Sophomore year at university. Not much of a breather and not a lot of time to get too emotional!

I’m so grateful for a positive experience for him. It is true. A mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child. And, a mom is truly happiest when her’s are thriving and doing well. My goodness! I couldn’t have dreamed or hoped for better for this child! Anyway, life doesn’t have to be free of challenge and struggle to be joyous.

We did experience a first. Not my favorite of firsts, by any means. We had to say goodbye to my oldest and leave him behind as the rest of us flew off to Cali. It was a work trip with a hefty dose of vacation fun thrown in. Not our usual type of vacationing, but this hasn’t been a usual sort of summer, either. We’ve NEVER not vacationed together! We do family vacations. I’m not sure a mom is ever really ready to have an MIA on vacation (unless, of course, you think vacation is only a vacation without the kiddos!). This momma doesn’t, and this wasn’t my original plan. But, I have to say, I did okay….but please, don’t make me do it again any time soon! This child had to move in early due to some new responsibilities on campus and it just couldn’t be helped this time around. Anyway, we all missed him, and were glad to see him and our much loved fur baby when we returned.

I did learn something along the way! What’s better than having fun and learning something along the way? Sometimes, you just have to throw caution to the wind and ride the big, green monster machine!

Visiting my brother isn’t something I’ve been able to do in quite some time. Visiting his home and family earlier this month was great fun! He and his beautiful wife live in a bucolic setting in Michigan and showed me the very best time! Now, his approach to fun (he is a guy, after all) is on a different scale than mine. I’ll get to that in a moment!

Growing up he and I saved our money to buy a go kart. It was red and had a bright orange safety flag—my favorite feature as a kid—that flapped in the breeze the faster we went. We lived in a subdivision, and I know we didn’t go too terribly fast. It felt great as a kid. Keep in mind, it has been a few years since I’ve plopped myself down in anything that resembles a kart. My brother has gone big on the karting action. He and his boys have a big, lime green dune buggy.

On, a small side note, he let my 11 year old daughter drive the big green dune buggy. The only driving experience she has ever had is driving the motor cars at the Magic Kingdom. You have to press the gas pedal all the way to the metal to get that sucker to move. Yeah. You see where I’m headed with this! You know, hearing his recounting of zooming off over the hills and the terror it struck in him, brought some crazy sisterly happiness and satisfaction to my heart. Sheer awesomeness!

Somehow, I managed to not make it onto the passenger manifest until the very end of our stay. I wasn’t in any need of speed, whatsoever. But, when your younger brother says, “Sis, please ride it,” gosh, golly. I stepped on and made him swear not to do any daredevil stunts or endanger my life. We hit the trail and rounded the lake. Bugs flying and sun setting. And, what a thrill! It felt like being a kid again. I’m good at being sewn up and walking straight. I do serious and responsible well. I manage my life and make calculated risks. (Is that really risk?)

And, you know, gosh darn it! Everybody needs a spin on a big green monster dune buggy at some point in their life! Let the wind fly, eat the bugs, jump the hills and make the wild turns. Watch the sun set and realize the amazingness of it all! Let your hair down and abandon some of that adultish reserve. Maybe you don’t have that problem. Good for you! Me? I needed the reminder from that big green dune buggy.

Thanks, baby brother, for helping me to free up a bit! You’ll never guess! The next morning before leaving, I asked for another spin on the ‘ol green monster! That twilight ride was amazing. I needed another fix before hitting the road in more sensible transportation.

I’m so glad I did it. Sometimes, baby brothers can know best! Really. Just sometimes! Here’s what I think! You need to go find a big green monster of some sort. Not literally….unless you just want to, of course. Take some time to bring back the wonder and the child-likeness of letting go and letting your hair down. Occasionally, we need the reminder that life is dull if we don’t open up to adventure. Try something new. Get out of your same every day rut. Go live!

Here’s to great summer memories and adventures. There is some time left before the days get shorter and the rush hits fast. Go out and make the most of this one beautiful life!