Last fall I was pretty sick. I had a couple of kidney stones, a blood infection and two surgeries in about 6 weeks. While all this, and more, was going on Papa's Granny, his last living grandparent, slowly went down hill and then passed away. We wanted to go and say goodbye and see the family. This meant a 16 hour drive and a border crossing. Neither which are super fun, never mind with 8 kids packed like sardines in the travelall. The last time we'd done a trip like this we'd had 6 kids packed into the same travelall and it was pretty full, but at least everyone got their own seat. This time the two big boys and Papa and I would be sharing the front bench seat and none of us like the idea of being crammed together for 16 hours, one way!, never mind right after surgery.
After Papa saw me in for my last surgery he headed downtown to find something to eat, on his way downtown he saw a Transit. It was parked in a car rental business and it gave him an idea. When I came to, the idea was fully planted. We would rent a 15 passenger Transit. Papa had heard of them before, they've been common in Europe for years, and even done a bit of research on them. He liked the idea of them right from the start. It was the start.
We rented the Transit, loved it, and the morning we left on our trip Papa was telling me all the good things about it. I was already sold. I'd been in it less then 20 minutes at this point. I had my own seat, several cup holders, and a beautiful view out the front! Besides that, the kids were happy in the back, all the bigs had a little and we still had enough room for all our stuff no problem. On the return trip we even managed to fit a little desk in the back with everything else. As Papa was telling me all these other good things I had yet to notice and some I never would have, he'd driven it to our place the night before, I stopped him. Flat out told him to stop. I did. We weren't even 20 minutes into our trip and I told him flat out. IF you DO NOT want me to FALL in love with this van even more, stop talking right now. IF this van is something you'd even consider buying KEEP TALKING. If you're trying to convince yourself. KEEP TALKING. I'm already sold. IF you can not even consider buying a van like this; STOP TALKING RIGHT NOW. The kids were all ears in the back seats. It's not very often they hear that tone at Papa ;). He was quiet for about 5 minutes. Then he kept on telling me about the van. And I smiled, but I didn't believe it. Not even a little. I don't think I really believed it until he handed me the keys and told me to get in.
But we have quite a bit of story between left. Which I think I'll save for another day.
