We were sitting at breakfast when we were presented with the startling revelation.
‘The green skittles are lime! They took away the green apple and now it’s lime! That’s too much citrus! They’ve thrown off the balance!’
As the 16 year-old ranted about how the rainbow’s taste has been ruined, she slapped the table a few times and her dad warned that the next table in the restaurant was going to stare. Her mom asked her about several more subjects that got an exaggerated eye twitch and made us all laugh.
Wyndi and I got to take a quick trip to see the family of a friend I made when I was 12. We’ve been like brothers so I became an adopted brother-in-law to his wife and uncle to their five children. The oldest— the one with the hot takes on candy—actually likes me enough that she let me tag along on her birthday trip where she, her parents and I visited a videogame and tabletop convention and got some amazing sushi in Dallas.
I’ve known all five since they were at least toddlers so it’s fun seeing all their unique traits. One is the most strategic Werewolf and Uno player you’ve ever seen, aiming to take all the competition out as quickly as possible. One cracks me up as she throws her hands behind her for an intimidating fast walk as she enters any room. (She pestered me into playing Just Dance on her Switch so Wyndi has some photos I hope don’t show up on Facebook.) Another cracks me up with some admittedly dark and cynical jokes and observations she provides. The youngest gives the sweetest goodbye hugs and fought the second youngest for the seat next to me the whole time we were there.
They are all smart and have great senses of humor. A couple are also great at guilt trips. ‘They’re leaving already?’ ‘I guess they don’t like us.’ (Wyndi and I both went ‘Oof!’ at that.)
Because we only had around four days set aside and we also made some time with Wyndi’s mom in Borger, the trip was fast as we worked in time for card games, a movie, an impromptu trip to the zoo and visiting. We also saw other friends and their kids who were nearby. (We also got to drive a combined 16 hours.)
Likewise, the trip with my bonus mom was fast but we enjoyed spending time in her garden, eating some good food, watching a movie and she and Wyndi sorted through some things.
As we neared the trip’s end, Wyndi and I lamented that we were spreading ourselves thin. ‘We shouldn’t have split it up like this.’ The trip itself was great though if way too fast—and that’s the concession we have to make as adults.
We were able to take the moments we were given and embrace them to actually have a good time with people we care about. If we had said there was simply no time, we would have missed out on moments at one or both households and they would be gone.
We got to have fun… and learn some valuable lessons about candy and cards. And that there is absolutely no reason for the speedlimit to drop once you hit the New Mexico border, other than to annoy drivers.
— Paul Gaudette is the Managing Editor of The Dublin Citizen and can be reached via email at publisher@ dublincitizen. com.