Time and time again I am reminded that I am anything but conventional. All I have to do is walk down the street with my family and watch the reaction on the locals' faces to know that I march to the beat of a different drum, so to speak. When I zig zag across New England, stopping at each historical marker sign, or load a plane alone with five little children, I know that, for better or for worse, I take a different approach to life. This spring break I was reminded exactly how unconventional I am. Steve had to work so I was faced with taking the kids alone on a vacation or passing on a fun week away to stay home and try to keep the house clean and seven people happy all at the same time. The best option was obvious. I reserved a condo for a week in Vermont, towards the end of April. To me it didn't matter that "spring" almost as far north as Canada is not "spring" in Florida or even "spring" in Boston and furthermore that our condo was in Killington, a ski resort. An incredulous "Where?!" was the typical response that I received when asked what we were doing for the break, but it wasn't until we pulled up to the Cedarbrook condo complex and immediately noticed that there was no other car in sight, that I started to worry. The term "off-season" was clarified in a way that brought fear to my heart. I can turn around and easily drive two hours back home, I told myself. But when the kids asked if this was the right place, an enthusiastic "Yep! Won't we have fun! We can even have the pool all to ourselves," somehow made it's way from my mouth. We were told that one other family would be joining us later in the week. How I looked forward to these strangers.
Our first day of break was actually spent getting to our Vermont destination. Along the way we stopped at the Hancock Shaker Village in the Berkshires, a place we visited a couple of years before.
The kids looked forward to holding the baby animals that are brought in each year for April Vacation.
The kids cuddled up to the animals, tried on Shaker attire in a small children's museum, and were interested in learning about the Shakers' communal lifestyle. Ezra was particularly interested in learning that the baby lamb that was born the day before was kept warm under a light. He still talks about the baby lamb and his comforting lamp!
After our day at the village, we stopped at an ice cream shack that the kids have been talking about for the past two years. Over spring break in 2008, we frequented this funny ice cream stand everyday!
We are each unconventional in our own ways, and in so being, we experience some of the best parts of our lives. After coming to terms with our lonely condo complex (and pushing every movie I have ever seen involving a lonely hotel right out of my mind), we looked forward to the rest of our week in Vermont, as unique and wonderful as it surely would turnout to be.
4 comments:
another fun adventure. You are so brave to go on all these trips without another adult - you make it work, and have a great time.
Sounds like a great time. My fondest memories from my youth are of going to unconvential places with an unconventional mom and a begrudgingly tolerant dad: Angel Fire, NM; Banff and Jasper; The Pony Express Trail; and Dunnett, Scotland, to name just a few.
Also, I'm a big fan of soft serve - next time we're in New England, I'll be sure to find that place.
It sounds like you all had a wonderful time! Camille you are so adventurous with your children. I won't even drive to St. George alone with mine!
I love how you leave no stone unturned :). Just think of what you would have missed if you weren't unconventional. I experienced some of my most satisfying travel adventures alone, which I'm certain would categorize me as unconventional, as well. Days exploring Manhattan while Carmen worked are memories I return to often in my daydreams and I have an intimate relationship with Madrid, after spending many days and nights alone during one long, hot, enchanting month in July.
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