Seeking God Knows What

This Saturday begins the “Family Vacation” with my family. Now last year was the first year we stayed at the cottages with my parents because Widget was here and we didn’t want to camp with a seven month old. The prior few years we camped at nearby Platte River campground. This year T, Widget & I will be staying at my maternal grandparents’ home in Benzie County just outside of Frankfort for two reasons: one is financial- we can’t afford to contribute to the cottage rental fees and the other is well, it will be too crowded and chaotic.

Of course, T is “abandoning” me after Wednesday because he couldn’t get the last two days of the week off (so dumb). My mother called me today and has “volunteered” herself to help me with Widget by staying at my grandparents at the end of the week. Hmmm… Not exactly easy for me to say, “Thanks but no thanks” since they are her parents. Based on the last few years, I suspect this is her “out” of the chaos being at the cottages too. This development will probably annoy Dad, though, as he likes to have her there all the time. He’ll probably drink too much around the campfire with my brother-in-law E (MK’s husband) since that is what he did last year with T and E. At least staying at my grandparents’ will keep me from getting annoyed with T for staying up too late and drinking and then wanting to sleep in every morning, even though Widget did not want to sleep in.

Now, after last year, I vowed that our family vacation would not be THE Family Vacation. Too much tension, too much stress, I was an emotional wreck last year, we ended up leaving a day early and Widget had an ear infection. Heh heh. Guess what, so far this is our only vacation planned. Now T has promised me he would take some additional time off this summer, he better!

Sounds like tons of fun, eh?

Actually, I do love being in northern Michigan. I’ve been visiting there my whole life. My favorite things to do are to hit a trail or two in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, attempt to skip rocks and watch the sunset at Point Betsie, drive around Crystal Lake and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (no, those are not my photos just some I found when I googled the scenic drive). We usually take one day and visit Traverse City, eating pasties at Cousin Jenny’s and walking around downtown. Just sitting on the beach is the best part, of course.

I have mixed feelings about this vacation. I love being up north and I do enjoy spending some time with my family. However, in the last couple of years, it has just been more stressful than beneficial as a vacation. Plus, I know we need to do more things like this as our own little family. Break free, so to speak.