This weekend I found myself using one of my grandma’s old
sayings:
“I need to get out and blow the stink off.”
If you are wondering when you would ever be faced with the scenario where you might need to "blow the stink off", here’s a couple of examples:
1. When you are sitting in the wood paneled bedroom of an old
tour bus lamenting the fact that in one month the trip you have dreamed
about for the past decade, the trip you are currently on, will come to an end.
2. When you are sitting in the aforementioned bedroom wallowing in the realization that you are still a month away from the familiar surroundings,
friends, and family that your heart is aching to see.
3. When you are sitting in the same blasted bedroom swimming in
the mental sewage of worry over the future, chiding yourself for indulging in
such profitless activity, but enjoying the romp nonetheless.
If you experience any of these scenarios (or all three
within the span of 15 minutes, like I did), you most definitely need to "blow
the stink off".
And that’s just what we did last Saturday afternoon.
The kids loaded in the back of the minivan, we galloped our
way down 101 South straight for the Golden Gate Bridge. I don’t have a picture of it because
sometimes you don’t want to try and preserve a moment with a photo; you just
want to live it. Driving over the Golden
Gate Bridge was one of those moments.
Our first order of business was reliving one of my own
childhood memories: driving down Lombard Street.
Here’s a little tip: if you did the whole
“curvy street” gig as and child and were completely amazed by it, hold yourself
back from hyping it up to your children.
Because that’s what I did, and they were completely underwhelmed by
it.
“This is it,” my oldest grumbled from the middle seat. “Can’t we go faster?” Indeed we could not go faster because it was bumper-to-bumper traffic and, really, if we were going faster how could I properly covet the beautiful row homes draping the well-manicured road? Definitely not the highlight of their day, but they were good sports about it.
“This is it,” my oldest grumbled from the middle seat. “Can’t we go faster?” Indeed we could not go faster because it was bumper-to-bumper traffic and, really, if we were going faster how could I properly covet the beautiful row homes draping the well-manicured road? Definitely not the highlight of their day, but they were good sports about it.
Next stop was Fisherman’s Wharf, where we got a good, if not distant, look at Alcatraz.
Again, completely underwhelmed. Cade just kept giving me the run down on the
different escape plans he would have used had he ended up on the prison island.
“Isn’t that so crazy, Lu?” Pointing at it’s foreboding form
looming in the bay, I prompted my eldest daughter to join in my enthusiasm. She gave me a faint (and slightly
condescending) smile and whispered, “Yeah.”
Our youngest two simply fought over who got to sit in the stroller,
gloating and screaming at equal intervals.
Our next stop, Ghiradelli Square, was obviously a hit with
everyone.
I partook of a rather large
Mother’s Day indulgence while everyone else drank hot chocolate.
Finally, we capped the day off with a visit to the
Exploratorium. I don’t have any
pictures because, let’s be honest, if you’ve seen one science museum, you’ve
seen them all. But this beautiful
structure sat outside the museum and completely took our breath away.
In the end, our afternoon among the legendary sights of old
San Fran brewed up a fantastically gusty wind that managed to blow my “stink” right out
into the ocean, leaving the sweet aroma of chocolate and sun-kissed children
lingering behind.
What do you like to do when you need to "blow the stink off"?
What do you like to do when you need to "blow the stink off"?
You are admirable and wise and funny. Love this. My kids are always underwhelmed by my nostalgic promises. And I suppose that's probably for the nest. Your list reminds me of my mother, who usually says something like, "I wish you could stay longer," on the first day of our visit. Already missing us when we are standing right in front f her!
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, I have every hope for your future. It is easy to see when we met you thatvs god isn't done with the adventures for you guys yet!
san francisco is a great place to visit...
ReplyDeletelooks like it was a beautiful sunny day...no fog.
Continuing to enjoy your posts! "Blowing the stink off" at our home typically occurs when one of the children are sick and by mid-day I'm announcing that we need to find some fresh air. It doesn't seem to matter whether is 20 degrees outside and we sit on the front porch, wrapped in a blanket, or a gorgeous pring day in Lancaster County and we take a short walk to the stop sign -- they still role their big brown eyes at me.
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