The many-van

Years ago, we upgraded from a car to a mini-van. We have gone so many places in our van that I now refer to it as the “many’ van.

I don’t know about your family, but our large brood practically lives in our van.

I calculated it once and found we have spent over 5,000 hours in our van since we first purchased it seven years ago.

Now, I am one for family bonding, but at times it can be a bit much being the driver of four growing boys, and sometimes their friends.

“Mom, he is breathing on me.”

“Hey, I found my other shoe, it’s under the car seat.”

“Mom, can you get grape juice out of car carpet?”

“Can I put this in your glove compartment? It’s a worm.”

We have driven throughout all of St. Louis and the surrounding areas. We have made our way to Disney World in Florida and to the great Stone Mountain in Georgia. We have gone to Oklahoma and down through Kansas. Nebraska, Illinois, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. All in the close confines of a van with several children and two slightly sane adults.

I have found that you have not experienced life until you have driven so many miles that finally all of the children are asleep and all you hear is the sound of the motor. There is no peace like it this side of Heaven.

As well as there is no fury this side of Hell as children fighting over who will sit by the window, or who forgot to use deodorant.

I was driving home the other day and my boys asked, as they often do, when we would get a new van. In times past, I quickly tell them hopefully not for a while. I like not having a car loan. Then I lecture them on the importance of spending their money wisely and not trying to keep up with the Jones’. By the time I am finished, they all have blank looks on their faces and announce: “So never, huh?”

This time my answer was slightly different. I told them, unfortunately, soon. They were excited at first – they screamed and cheered. Can we get this car or that SUV they yelled? Then silence filled the room.

One son spoke up and said. “Remember when we used our van to help that one family move some things because they could not afford a moving truck?”

“Yeah and remember when we let one man use our van to take his family on a trip?” Another child chimed in.

“I recall when we picked up our five cousins and drove them all the way from Chicago in our van so they could have a place to stay last summer.” My oldest said quietly.

I then remembered the time an old truck stalled in front of us. I pulled beside it and told the driver and his passenger that the gas station across the street could help them. I could tell by the look in their eyes that they had no money. My children and I searched our entire van, pockets and purses and gave them almost $100.

I realized then that our phrase “many van” had more than one meaning.

Cassandraism: The highway of life has been traveled by many. It is where you travel with your life that will make the difference.

Thanks for sharing.