SPRING BREAK, BABY!

Spring break was a long time coming this year.  State testing, parent conferences, ineligible athletes and long days led up to the early-release day that launched us in to the anticipated vacation.  Unfortunately, it began with Girl8.75 saying, "I wanna go home and lie down on the couch!"  I was dismayed because, not only did I not get the traditional high five and shout of, "SPRING BREAK, BABY!", but generally the afore-mentioned statement is a precursor to a sickness of monumental proportions.  This time was no different.  We went home and Girl8.75 writhed and moaned on the couch while I did my taxes.  Suddenly she was pointing with one hand, the other covering her mouth.  I felt like Timmy interpreting for Lassie.  "What do you see out there?"  I motioned outside.  Her squeal was cranked up a notch and the hand waved fervently.  "OH!"  I suddenly understood.  "You need to throw up!"  I dashed to the kitchen and grabbed a pan, which was delivered in the nick of time.  This, Empathetic Reader, is how Spring break began.  The sun was shining for the first time in months, birds were singing, and I was tending to Girl8.75 and her pan.  There were no high fives for me.

The next day was also a beautiful, sunny day.  Girl8.75 was feeling considerably better.  I knew this because when we got in the car, she announced happily, "Hey!  I found my chocolate bar!"  Before I could caution her to not tempt fate or her sensitive stomach, she inhaled it.  We spent the day outside, coming in only to eat a lunch consisting of peanut butter and apple, and tuna fish sandwiches.  The menu was Girl8.75's idea.  That night, after chicken strips and fries, we attended a local showing of The Sound of Music.  As we sat in the old theater and admired the newly restored organ, the old light fixtures and the ornate walls, it struck me that we were finally on vacation.  I nudged Girl8.75 and stood up, pulling her up with me.  I roared, "SPRING BREAK, BABY!" and we gave each other a big high five.  The rest of the audience applauded with approval.

We were lucky enough to have tickets to a show in Seattle.  We spent a day at Seattle Center, riding the monorail and eating more than our fair share of fries, cheesecake on a stick, and blue cotton candy.  Besides the show, we witnessed the usual city drama, which included panhandlers jumping out of bushes as well as a girl, holding a dog on a leash, shouting in the door of the men's bathroom, "I am so disappointed!"  and stalking away, sobbing.  We made another pass through that hallway and she was there again, this time hollering, "I am so mad at you right now!"  There was no response from the men's bathroom.  After a day of wonderful sights and tastes, we headed home.  Getting on I-5, we drove through a tunnel, which always reminds me of a bathroom with its shiny tiles.  I rolled the window down, held the horn down for an eternity and yelled at the top of my lungs, "SPRING BREAK, BABY!"

Girl8.75 and I were invited to lunch at a Thai restaurant.  After a wonderful meal of Noodles Delight, laughter and friendship, we exited to the parking lot to say our goodbyes.  Satisfied to the brim, Girl8.75 and I got in the car.  I backed out of my parking spot and paused.  I revved the motor.  Squealing my tires out of that lot, followed by a trail of smoke, I yelled, "SPRING BREAK, BABY!"  Girl8.75 was not impressed.

Spring break may be upon us, but soccer practice continues like clockwork.  Girl8.75 ran and played and joked with her friends while I walked the perimeter of the soccer field around and around, doing penance for my Thai lunch.  I was feeling so happy that we had successfully done something fun each and every day, making the most of our vacation thus far.  Once practice was over, Girl8.75 cheerfully waved goodbye to her friends as we got into the car.  As we sped out of the parking lot, our car sprayed gravel in a rooster tail behind us as we both shouted out our windows, "SPRING BREAK, BABY!"  I think she is getting the hang of it.