Simply Stowing Away

 

I can’t remember the exact date of my first stow away adventure, but I know it was sometime between 1986 and 1989. It was evening, and the husband was leaving for his usual week of business travel. It was late enough that I was already in my pajamas.

While he walked inside for that one final load, I hopped into the passenger seat of his car and waited for him with what he calls my Max the Grinch Dog look on my face.

Now, there's nothing at all Grinchy about the husband. He just chuckled. Then, he looked at me for a few seconds and asked if I really did want to come along for the ride.

It took me less than a few seconds to say that I did.

(Come to think of it, that’s pretty much the same way that other proposal went down as well.)

Funny that it hadn’t occurred to us before then…

We hadn’t thought about it, but since it was summer vacation, there wasn’t really a good reason for me to stay home alone while he traveled about, equally alone.

So I skedaddled back into the house and threw some things in a bag. He battened down the hatches, and away we went.

Business travel was more spartan in those days.  We didn’t have two room king-sized suites with little micro fridges. We shared a double room with one unnecessary bed and lived out of a cooler.  I would bring along some food for the day, and at night we’d go out to eat. Sometimes, we'd just eat in. It wasn't at all about the luxury. It was about spending time together.

And it was grand.

While he worked, 

I stayed at the hotel and soaked up some sun…

Or some local color…

Or found some shopping within walking distance..

It never has taken much to entertain me.

As we approached our empty nest, we had discussed the possibility of some tagalong adventures, but since I teach two days a week, the ball never got rolling.

But Saturday, when I was in the middle of my “terrible horrible very bad no good shopping” lamentation, he interrupted my wokking long enough to ask if I wanted to road trip to Atlanta with him.

It took me less than a few seconds to say that I did.

And so, because we’re not the spontaneous kids that we were a quarter of a century ago, we planned a little adventure.  After all, we don’t pack as lightly as we used to. We have to add laptops and garment bags and a cosmetic case large enough to hold all of my spackle.  

One thing hasn't changed, though. He still drives, and I still yak away at my captive audience. It’s a good thing there’s no Georgia statute against driving while retreating to your happy place…

Midway to Atlanta, we got to stop here.

 And surprise our two

favorite coeds.

The rest of the trip? Well, it’s been a shopping adventure of epic proportions. That story will have to wait until tomorrow, however. Today, I'm just focusing my simple pleasure. 

And this week, that simple pleasure was tagging along with my very favorite friend.   

*****

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