The car it too small the house is too filthy to just jumble everything in and drive away. We're going to go calmly and methodically through the day and take off as early as we can in the morning.
We made excellent progress yesterday. Turns out our borrowed tent is deluxe in every aspect and not difficult to put up, and I've carefully filled Matt's old army duffel to the brim with clothes for the road, and my food box is tidy and easy to access. But you can see, that's only about half of all the work that needs to be done.
The children were desperately disappointed for about 3 and a half seconds (one reason I NEVER tell children in advance what's going to happen--today we're going to the store and then for ice cream and then a clown is coming over--because the clown might not come over and then everyone is hysterical. No, their lives are routine based with sudden, unannounced and unexpected trips to the store, to church or whatever else we do weekly) until Matt told them we'd go to the park (broke the rule Again!). Apparently going to the park is equal in the amount to pleasure derived to driving all the way to Texas and camping along the way.
Anyway, I'm really grateful for this extra day. Being an eminently impractical person, I intend to shove in a lot of unnecessary items that some might not require but will make the whole experience bearable--things like the tulips from my front walk, real dishes and cutlery, a tea cozy, an array of West African cloth to use as table clothes, blankets, towels etc., and a large stack of books that I'm sure I'll have time to read but if I don't they will at least look nice, candles and their holders. I'm not big on 'nature' and 'roughing it'. If we have to go be in nature, I'm going to take as many things with me as I can. I have my mother to thank for this. Long car trips in Africa were always packed full to the brim with everything necessary to set up a full coffee break in the bush (table cloth, chairs, table, coffee, real cups, sugar, milk--Mom
my, do you have that picture?).Fortunately, the top car carrier does work and so I can take as much stuff as I want and I have a whole day to pack it.
'roughing it', in Africa
2 comments:
What picture?
I do have that most important quote from West with the Night by Beryl Markham (1942:60):
“I have sometimes thought since of the ... tea table – round,
capacious, and white, standing with sturdy legs against the green vines of the garden, a thousand miles of Africa receding from its edge. It was a
mark of sanity …”
Beryl Markham, West with the Night (1942:60)
Anne:
I recall traveling with your parents in a station wagon with many things, including a chicken (live) either as a gift or else just in case a special meal was needed. I'll admit I would not think of a tea cozy, but I'm sure it fits right in.
Uncle from the far north
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