Family Vacations

Vacations are a much needed break for many families across the country.  Chaotic and busy lives drive us to the edge of life.  The family vacation has, in my opinion, always had the power to re energize someone, as well as the family overall.  According to the United States travel association, the number one reason for Americans to vacation is to visit relatives.  My family is no exception.  For the past thirty five years, my relatives have visited the Outer Banks,  North Carolina.  Last year marked my nineteenth time making the long eight hour drive to the beach.  However, these trips are so much more to me than trips to the beach.  They showcase the power of family unity and the importance that family has in my life.

In my times traveling to and from the beach, I have spent over twelve days driving to and from the Outer Banks.  It is quite a hike, especially in a hot minivan with seven people that is filled to the point that the car is quite obviously sagging very low.  The stories of the annual OBX vacation provide plenty of rich and disgusting memories for my family.  For the purpose of the blog, and hopefully the entertainment of readers, I will recount the disgusting.  The most recounted story regards my brother Ryan.  Every year, without fail, he vomits within two hours of the start of the ride.    He has vomited in my lap, on the window, on the floor, and on just about every other surface of the car.  Another favorite story that is retold to embarrass me is the time that I decided to dive into the ocean in about three feet of water, which resulted in a concussion and a very bloody face for me.

I forgot to mention a very important part of this vacation.  Each year there are 27 of us in one house.  It is a scene that resembles a war zone.  Fourteen kids (not including my uncles), run wild around the house that we rent, creating messes and problems as we go.  Despite the chaos, it all turns out to be a perfect week for our family to catch up and forget the worries that plague us outside of the utopia that vacations often create.  We fish, hunt for sea shells, hit the beach, play hundreds of rounds of Parcheesi, and engage in furious and profanity ridden matches of badminton.  The bottom line is that being close together under one roof, sharing stories, food, and fun builds our family up in ways no other event can.  

Sadly, like much of family life, the rate of adults traveling with their children is declining steadily.  We may often look forward for a family getaway to simply relax and take time for ourselves.  While important, we cannot forget the need to build our families stronger.  Next time you go on a vacation as a family, step back and enjoy the time that you have with them.