Amanda the Great by Amanda El-Dweek for May 13, 2022

At least you got out of the driveway before Amanda started asking Are we there, yet?’ Count yourself lucky.

No such thing as a “small trip to another state” in the western US. It’s a loooong way from South Dakota to the Rockies.

We moved from Fargo, ND to Fort Collins , CO when I was a kid, took a few trips back to visit relatives

Dad would get us all up early and he and mom would tag team drive the trip in a day

Just as a kid in the back seat reading comic books that was a hard day

Don’t make Dan turn the car around!

Wait until the last radio station fades away and the only diner is the leathery hot dog spinning in the ‘warmer’ at Last Chance Gas. You can’t miss it, it’s the only building in sight on the wind swept plains. To be sure there is a crudely painted sign by the road. Cash only.

The EX was a nightmare long trip driver. The longer away it was the more he’d get agitated over other drivers, etc. He would never let me take over the driving either.

Now I enjoy long driving trips not that I take that many. New adventures and all. As time marched on I would say (in my head) next time I’m flying and you can meet me there. He was always just fine when we got to our destination.

As for you Amanda, at least you haven’t asked for a pit stop yet :-)

I love the coincidental timing of this; some friends of mine are doing this now, but in reverse. They flew from Denver to Minneapolis, and have rented a car to drive through the Upper Midwest. They’re not going because of a wedding, and I’m aware that this strip takes place 4 years ago, but I can still smile at the coincidence of the overall theme and location!

“Keep that up, lamb, and you’ll spend the rest of the trip in a child seat in the back.”