4 women, 3 kids and the beach

I am getting ready to go on a small vacation. “Small” may be the wrong word because work has been so busy and will be even more so when I return. Perhaps this is really a big vacation even though it is only for about a week and a half and I will not stray too far from home.

At work I have been feeling like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, all the time knowing I am only delaying the inevitable deluge that will fall on me like a 50 foot wall of water and stay at nose level for the next year and a half. So, this is an opportunity to kick up my heels, and/or lie on the beach and let it all drop away for awhile. Calgone take me away!! – Shit I have to pee now from all this water metaphor crap!

I am really excited about my beach trip, or as we say here in the Pacific Northwest, my trip to the coast. We have rented a house right on the beach, like you step out of the door and into the sand and surf. Big picture windows for prime sunset viewing. And, best of all I’m going with my three best friends! We have talked for years about taking a vacation together, but this will be the first time. Granted there is the potential for disaster on a truly heroic scale, but I have faith in us. We practically live in each other’s pockets now. I think it is safe to say we know each other, warts and all. Not that I’m saying any of us are possession of any warts. I’m a good friend and will stridently proclaim that they are all, all three of them, absolutely perfect in every way. Even better than Mary Poppins, who was only practically perfect in every way.

I think the real hic-up potential for the trip will be the kids. I say this for three reasons, 1. We are taking three children and three kids can only get along for just so long and then two will either gang up on the third, or close them out, both actions creating hard feelings. 2. As much as we love each other, we are all mothers before anything else and bears when protection out cubs. And, 3. None of them are mine so I can truly be objective. Oh yeah, and two are girls and one is a boy. Even thought I know we will work out whatever comes, I fear we are on a collision course to drama.

Tonight we have our first big challenge, the packing! Our plan is to pack up Wendy’s SUV with almost all our stuff. This is stuff for four women, two adolescence girls and one boy. Thanks goodness we’re not flying, it would cost a fortune! Tomorrow morning Danna and I will drive over, with the kids, in my little red car. Wendy and Debbi will follow after work. By themselves, no kids. Danna and I are so screwed if they don’t show up!!

I’m still really excited and despite of all that can go wrong, I know we will have a great time!

I think our next vacation together will be Vegas. No kids, No man. And, what happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas.