Friday, December 19, 2008

Where Has Peg's Mind Gone?

Okay, my friend Peg has lost her mind. She’s driving her 80-year-old father from New Jersey to Florida right after New Year’s. Just the two of them, in a car, for 48 hours. He was going to drive himself, but Peg couldn’t sleep at night thinking about it, so she decided to ditch her own family to save countless others on I-95. She’s Jan 3 and flying home on the 5th in time to pick up her boys from school.

I laughed when I heard this plan. I told her I thought it would be really interesting . . . if nothing else. And then I said (ha-ha) that I should go with her. The minute it came out, I could feel myself getting giddy. What a concept! I could throw a few things in a bag, hop in the back, and drive 1,300 miles to nowhere, stopping every four hours at a Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel. How reckless and irresponsible to disappear like that!

I actually can’t do it, but I’ll be tempted up until the minute she pulls out of the driveway. Who knows—maybe if this trip works out well, she’ll go again next year, and I’ll get another chance. It wouldn’t be nearly as much fun as doing it now, though. Part of the thrill would be the spontaneity.

So what would you do? Would you say screw it, and just go? If that’s what I end up doing at the eleventh hour, I’ll let you know.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think she's lost her mind. Imagine the amazing conversations they can have along the way. She's going to have an experience that she will always remember. It's all how you look at things.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure she will! And I wasn't kidding that half of me wants to go. It's been a long time since I've done something that nutty—since I've had kids, I guess—and i'm kind of jealous.

Anonymous said...

I would go!

Anonymous said...

Great idea! I did this with some friends in LA last summer for the solstice. We jumped in the car at 7pm one friday night after dinner, drove to Sedona, arriving at 4:30am and then hiked Bell Rock in the early AM. Had lunch and drove home by 11pm. Talk about fun - listened to music, talked about life, felt a bit 20-years-old again, but without the hangover - all in one night out. It does take a village - thanks to my husband who watched the kids!