Heave Ho!

On Saturday, I relived one of my favorite childhood memories. I went out in Lake Murray on a pontoon boat and went swimming. When I was growing up, my grandparents had a lake house and pontoon boat there. Many a summer day was whiled away with me tracking back into the house, with its linoleum floors and telephone with a "party line," in my wet bathing suit and light sunburn. The house was sold when I was in college, around the my grandmother passed away. So until Saturday, it had been about 20 years since my last lake trip.
My best friend's family still has such a house on Lake Murray, and they very graciously hosted us Conrads for a day of lake fun. I can honestly say it was the most fun I have had in years. Even my husband's irrational fear of snakes, alligators and nature in general faded as he sat alone on the boat and watched us all bobbing and laughing in the water. (He's a city boy, bless his heart.) Soon, he was cannonballing over the side to join the fun.

With the requisite alternating activities of snacking and swimming, the day slipped away before we knew it. Our 2 year old son was slitty-eyed with exhaustion as we piled into the car to head home. We were about 20 minutes into the drive when Mount Vesuvius erupted. Everything my son had eaten that day, and I do mean everything, suddenly reappeared as we sat at a red light in Lexington. "Pull over! Pull over!" my husband cried. Why is it that we always think pulling over is going to somehow stop the throw-up process? Anyway, as I said, I was at a red light and hemmed in by cars on every side. I could only wait. I was certain I caught a glimpse of some peach cobbler from about a month ago.

We pulled into a gas station to mitigate the situation: change his clothes, clean out the car as much as possible, etc. The gas station, as luck would have it, did not sell Lysol. The car seat was wet, with no hope of becoming dry anytime soon. So we had to ride back home (another hour and 45 minuntes) with the windows cracked and my son in a soggy seat. About 30 miles from home, a torrential downpour descended upon us, so up went the windows. And thus we remained, SEALED, until we pulled into the garage. Showers for all, immediately upon entry into the house. My entry was delayed however, until I could scrub, Lysol, and baking soda-ize every inch of the back seat (and some of the front).

Even so, it was still a perfect day, and I will remember it for a long time. Thanks, Marian. :)