The Death of Me

Around the holidays, families come together more than anytime of the year. And for a lot of families, that means getting in the car and traveling to a different city or even state. Every year, my family packs up and drives to Missouri where most of my mom’s family lives. Which really means, not just one, but TWO family car rides: the death of me.

          The car ride starts out the same every time. All four of us (me, my sister, and my parents) are rushing to finish packing and leave on time. My mom and sister are always the first ones ready and in the car. Then my dad starts yelling for me to hurry up, thinking that he is finished and ready to go. Only a little bit after that, I am in the car and what do you know? My dad is STILL not ready. He usually has to go back into the house two or three times before he remembers everything. But shortly after, we are on the road.

          Usually, as the journey begins, the car is silent. But it sure doesn’t last long. Soon enough my dad starts talking. At first, it is tolerable. Until he starts asking a million questions, some being asked more than once, and talking about random things that no one in the car has any interest in. That’s when I ask to turn the radio on, getting the same “I don’t want to talk over the radio,” response every time. Like that’s the point. Even though, I always end up listening to my iPod instead because the volume doesn’t get turned up enough.

          Once we all settle in and do our own thing, we have nothing but a three hour car ride ahead of us. Occasionally we stop to use the restroom or get something to eat or drink. I try to sleep for most of the trip, but it’s hard to get comfortable in a car. There isn’t really a great place to put a pillow and I can only stretch my legs out so far in certain directions. And I can’t put them on my sister because she will freak out or complain about it until I move.

          Everything about a family car ride is pretty much a lose/lose situation. It is impossible to get comfortable, my dad never stops talking, and it takes a lot of time out of your day. They will be the death me.

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