So John and I have been married for almost 6 years. We go visit our families a few times each year, including holidays. In those 6 years, we have taken exactly 2 vacations. One was our honeymoon and one was a 10 day trip to Italy right before we started trying to get pregnant in 2008. Then we had our beautiful baby boy, and we have not been away from him (at the same time) even one night!
Until now.
If you know John, then you know of his love for Pearl Jam. Yes, they are still around. Still producing albums, still touring. John goes every chance he gets. But living in the south, and a remote part at that, those opportunities don’t come around too often. A few years ago Eddie Vedder (front man) was doing a solo tour and happened to be visiting Memphis (2 hrs away) and Nashville (5 hrs away)! Guess who was going to be in Haiti visiting schools?? Don’t feel too bad, in the last couple years he has seen them in St. Louis, Philadelphia, and surprisingly Little Rock. The first 2 were all of PJ and the little rock show was to raise funds and awareness for the West Memphis Three (read more here).
A few months ago John heard that Eddie was doing a solo tour that included St. Louis. We talked about if he should get tickets, if he should find one of his friends to go with, and then a crazy idea took hold.
We could go.
Together.
By ourselves together.
Without Will.
John called his parents then next day and asked if they would come down so that we could take this huge (3 day) vacation to that far away land they call Missouri. They said yes enthusiastically! The tickets were John’s Father’s Day gift, and oh my, what a pricey gift!
Our trip was set and hotels were booked, and the day finally arrived, yippee!
We drove and drove. About 4 hours into our 6 ½ hour trip, we got a phone call. John’s dad went into the garage and happened to see my suitcase sitting in there…all alone. Full of 3 days of clothes, shoes, toiletries, electronics…sigh…
We pulled off immediately in Cape Girardeau. We ate lunch and talked about what I would need. Now I happened to have a very dear friend in St. Louis that I was wanting to see, so it did dawn on us that I might borrow a few things from her. So we found a Target and purchased some essentials. Undies, deodorant, hair products (I know, I know…), a couple of tee shirts, razors, sunscreen, facewash…All things that I had lovingly packed in my tiny suitcase that was now sitting back in my bedroom L But we weren’t really upset. Yes we felt very wasteful having to buy so many replacement items, but it could have been worse! I had my wallet and cell phone. That’s something. And I even had a little cosmetic bag in my purse with some powder, blush and mascara.
We arrived at the hotel and asked at the front desk what they could provide. Toothbrush, razor and shaving cream. In the room they of course had the standard shampoo/conditioner/lotion. They also had a bar of facial cleanser. I’m sure not the best, but hey, we’re improvising!
I started putting things in a separate bag that I could return to Target. Then I talked to my friend in town and she said to come over that night and take whatever I needed. Such a friend!!! What a load off our minds.
We headed off the Fabulous Fox theater to enjoy a fantastic show.
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