No Worries

This weekend was spent with wonderful friends from college and our respective families, catching up, telling tall tales and waxing prophetic about all things great and small. One of the longer topics of discussion was our trip. There was much laughter around the variety of personalities in our group of 8. Jean and I, as two moms and career women, are probably the highest tension factor. Jean admits to being a bit "high maintenance" (wink wink), and I have just a little bit of Sybil in me. How will we manage extreme neediness and extreme emotions while in a large van, mid-size tents, or adjoining hotel rooms? Patience, strong and stable husbands, and Valium. Okay, the Valium is a joke.
We are all (and by all, I mean the adults) prepared for high emotions, and are all praying that the rain gods keep the cloudbusters at bay. There will be enough tension and excitement without adding rain and soggy, damp everything into the mix. We have already decided that at those times when emotions or fatigue are running high, we will divide and conquer. At those times, the two families will split up for a few hours or a day - and regain composure. We have even gone so far as to agree to rent a second vehicle if needed so one of the two families can go off for some alone time. We are all fully aware that this adventure is going to be one of a lifetime, and our kids are never going to forget it. BUT - we want it to be remembered for the right reasons, and not because we went postal on one another.
There is a lot to be learned in planning a trip like this one. Not just flights, van rentals, campsites and meals; planning on emotions, personalities, affinities and dislikes are large factors too.
I am certain that those of you reading our blog will follow closely our emotional roller coaster, as well as the exciting travels and sites we visit. No worries, though. We already know that while 8 are going out - 8 are coming home too!