The Family Road Trip

What’s better on a family road trip than being fed Goldfish by a 7-year-old?

I went to the farm in Rolla for the Memorial Day weekend. This time I was with Tom and Lisa and their daughters. That made six of us, plus the family pet, a 15-year-old Pug named Butter.

It’s been a long time since I’ve travelled in an over-packed car with two younger generations plus a pooch. In the days before seat belts and iPads, there was a lot more bouncing around in the backseat during a road trip. Today’s game apps and seat restraints make for a much calmer ride—though nonetheless adventuresome.

Tom has more patience and entertaining comments than Clark Griswold. “Look, kids, The Vacuum Cleaner Museum!! Anybody want to stop?”

View from the Backseat

Over the years, Butter has learned where the safe spots are during a road trip.

The 21st century backseat pacifier: games on a parent’s cell phone.

Grandma’s sun glasses. Coco takes on the look of Iris Apfel, the 97-year old interior decorator and fashion icon known for her oversized glasses. Who wears it better: Coco or Iris?

Games, eating, writing, and singing make the time past faster.

When a tick is discovered on Butter, Tom makes a stop to remove it.

Small but agile toes can adjust the temperature in the backseat. I didn’t try this, but it looks like a good idea, when your hands are occupied with food or texting.

A parklot stop during our two-car caravan trek gave cousins a chance to visit out the car windows.

Backseat snoozers.

Animal Farm

Both were glad to see each other.

Harper snags a good size frog.

Our friend, Lucy, was “piggy sitting” a 10-day-old runt of a litter, who was not getting enough to eat. Charlotte Wee Pig, as she’s called, got lots of lovin’ and pig patting.