For Thanksgiving this year, we decided not to celebrate in the traditional way. Holidays are hard for AJ and me, so instead we chose to take a trip to the Grand Canyon. AJ, AS, AE, and I made the drive from Texas, and it turned out to be one of the hardest trips I have ever been on.
AS had just come home from the Marine Corps, and it is always great having him around. But AE does not do well in the car for long distances, and the two days of driving tested everyone’s patience. AJ had not been able to get his meds renewed in time, so there were many stretches where he went without them. That meant lots of impulse issues and constant shrieking, which drove everyone crazy after hours on the road.
By the time we checked into the Airbnb on day two, we were already worn down. On day three, we finally made it to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was incredible to see, and we managed to get some great photos, but AE continued to act out and not listen. Between the challenges on the drive and the behavior at the park, we cut the trip short and decided to head home the next day.
The drive back took another two days, and during that time AS and I agreed that I will not be taking AE on long road trips again. AS even said he will never go on another if AE is along. That might sound harsh, but after this experience, I understand his point.
We got back home on Thanksgiving Day. As much as the trip had been a struggle, we were thankful to be back. On the way home, we picked up a turkey and all the sides, and we managed to have a Thanksgiving meal after all. I was very thankful the grocery store was open
Drifted Notes 