In my story about the pie crust tip, I mentioned a trip from hell that has been a part of family lore for years. Before it is lost, I thought that I would record it here as a Daddy story.
While we were still living in Alabama and I was working at The University, I occasionally worked on pipeline projects just outside of Mobile. Little did I know at the time that I was sort of already working for Shell because the offshore gas platform and the onshore processing plant were Shell's. There were several pipelines that were being built from there and I and some of my colleagues were working on the environmental surveys. I had made that trip several times.
This particular time we came up with the idea of taking the whole family to Mobile. Mom and the girls could hang at the hotel for a couple of days while my friend Larry and I did field work. Then, the plan was, to go on to Gulf Shores for a few days of beach time. Sarah was three or four. Emily was just over a year old. Mom was early pregnant with Todd, or, soon would be.
The trip started uneventfuly enough. I had worked at The University most of the day, then drove home to Helena to pack up the car and the kids and head out. We were getting on the road about
6 p.m. expecting a 3-4 hour drive to Mobile.
Just before getting on the interstate (about two miles from the house) we stopped at Arby's to get food for the road. At the time we were both enamoured with the Arby's beef and cheddar sandwiches. We got the food and the curly fries and got back in the car, headed for the beach. Emily was in her car seat and Sarah was in her booster seat.
I put the car in reverse and, as I was backing out of the parking space, Sarah bent forward and spewed all over the back seat and floor. Oh God, the smell was horrible. We drove home and I spent the next 30 minutes up to my elbows in vomit. Mom gave Sarah a quick bath and change of clothes. She wasn't acting like she felt bad, so we thought/hoped it was an isolated event.
Back in the car, we headed South. Fortunately, mom had grabbed a large yellow mixing bowl with a handle.
We didn't make is 10 miles before S got sick again. Fortunately, we had a bit more warning and I was able to pull over and catch the majority in the bowl.
We were now running very late and I had an early start the next, so I pushed on.
Along the way S yaked about five more times. I reached the point where I didn't even slow down. I just held the bowl into the back seat and, bless her heart, she leaned forward and heaved.
We finally got to the hotel about 1 a.m. S had done all she could do and collapsed into a deep sleep. E had been asleep in the car, but was now awake and acting almost frantic. Mom and I were exhausted, so brought E into our bed in hopes that she would relax. I was just about asleep and she suddenly raised up and threw up all over my chest. The bed was now filled with an astonishing volume of puke.
We leapt into action. Mom took E into the tub to clean them both off. I quickly stripped the bed and called the desk for more bedding. They didn't have anyone to bring it to the room, so at 2:30 a.m.
I was running around the hotel trying to get sheets.
When I got back to the room E had already thrown up in the crib, soiling those sheets. The room absolutely reeked, but we collapsed about 4 a.m.
I sneaked out at 6:30 the next morning and spent a full day hiking through the swamps and fields of Mobile county with my friends Larry Davenport (thankfully he had driven by himself) and Bruce Bodson. Mom spent the day shut up in the pukey room with two girls who were beginning to feel better. All the while she was starting to feel bad.
When I returned to the hotel that evening I insisted that Larry come by and meet the kids. When we stepped in the room, I realized that it still reeked of sickness and mom was feeling like something you would be upset to step in.
He later told me that he felt the illness germs jumping at him from the walls.
That night my head hurt so bad, that I laid face down in the tub breathing out slowly until I had to take a breath. Mom was sick a bit. I think I took the girls out to eat, but neither mom or I ate.
I spent another day in the field and mom spent the day getting just a bit better. From there we went to Dauphin Island and caught the ferry to Fort Morgan for the first time. We spent the next two days in Gulf Shores in a hotel that was fairly new. Gradually we all felt better and there is a great picture with the girls pressing their faces against the glass door. Mom and I were actually out on the balcony trying to breathing the sea air trying to feel better. We ended up having a great time.
The rest of the story: You kids may remember that when we used to go to Gulf Shores we would always stop for the night at a Holiday Inn just outside of Mobile. That was the sick hotel. We also always started the vacation by driving to Dauphin Island and taking the ferry (a cruise) to Ft. Morgan. Those traditions started on this trip.....from hell.
Dear Mom,
When I see roses I think of you. Roses remind me of hours spent tending the dirt gingerly pruning each plant and a look of simple content after days spent in the sun. Watching you tend your garden growing up provided me with patience for nature and an appreciation for the attention needed to bring beauty into our world. I hope that one day I have roses so that you can come to my garden and help me tend them.
