Just Roll With It Baby

Today is finally here! We are going to Australia!! WOOT! I am excited! I am thrilled!! I am pooped. sigh. Life has hit with a vengeance this week. Seriously. But, being resilient and stubborn and frankly obligated to go, we are headed "down under". Our journey to get to start this well.....journey...ahem.. has not been without drama. And before you say all the "life happens", "you aren't given more than you can handle", and life vs. lemons equals a fruity summer drink crap, let me assure you I know. Believe me. I am the Queen of seat of the pants, pulling up by boot straps, keep on plugging and all that jazz.

We have planned this trip for months. As one might do when one takes a rather lengthy sojourn abroad. As John Lennon so aptly put, "life is what happens when you are busy making other plans." And life happened. Cool. I am used to adjustments and tweakage and complete one-eighties. Really. I am a middle child. It is how we are wired. Although I have some serious concerns about said wiring. But I digress.

My Mom was to come to Virginia to house sit, pet sit and kid sit. She is quite the sitter. Dad, being actively treated for cancer, was to stay behind with the support of my brother and some dear friends. And Kimmie's dog. Cool. Unfortunately, Dad's cancer decided it wasn't awful enough, and decided to wreak complete and total havoc. Dad tried his best to hide the fact that he had fever and chills from my Mom, but he totally underestimated the power of Momdom. Moms have a sixth sense. Heck they have a seventh, eighth and ninth sense, but we don't want to unduly alarm the male population, so we don't necessarily let on all of our powers. Anyhoo, Dad could not control the shakes and Mom hauled his butt in to the doctor. Now he sits in complete discomfort at the University Hilton in Augusta, eating completely inedible and undefinable food whilst getting the medicinal equivalent of the atomic bomb through his veins.

That left us with a cat and a dog to fend for themselves for three weeks, a daughter not wishing to stay alone for that length of time, and my young nephew. My money was on the pets to figure out a way to make it. Sooooo, turns out that most ( Okay ALL - in a six state area) pet boarding places are fully booked. Especially the week following July 4th. Who knew? There went plan B-F. We decided to haul the menagerie and Ash to North Augusta. She could then take over the care and feeding of my nephew, and Shiloh could go see his grandmother. I know she is equally thrilled to have him in her house.

This was all decided on Friday. We leave today. Fortunately, Paul was able to meet us in North Carolina Saturday morning, and we made our way with a "sedated" cat ( nice way of saying bombed out of his mind), a neurotic dog, Ashley, my sister (couldn't leave her here, cause she is already freaked out about flying) nineteen suitcases and a partridge in a pear tree. Poor Mom. By the time they all arrive at her house, the cat will have the munchies and Shiloh will need extensive therapy. Add to that it was the 4th of July, and since Shiloh is morbidly afraid of plastic Wal Mart bags, I am going to go out on a limb and guess he will not "enjoy" the fireworks so much.

We are back in Virginia now. We are packed. We have enjoyed many, many Bloody Marys to help soothe nerves. That Vodka was out of date or something. 'Cause it didn't work. We will go ahead, though, knowing plans change. Sometimes at the drop of a hat. And we will once again, roll with it. Just Saying.