Week 298: Vacation

Human psychology is a weird thing. Under strange and sometimes contrived circumstances it can lead us to do bizarre things like paying $50 for a $20 bill or lose all our fortunes on an obviously lost cause. It can also cause us to take our children out in the freezing rain to Silver Dollar City and demand that BY GOD they’re going to RIDE THE LADY BUG RIDE and they’re going to LOVE IT and they’re going to STOP THEIR COMPLAINING.

But jesting aside, we actually had an overdue and very enjoyable family vacation this last week. We packed up the kids, the car, and Geralyn’s dad then headed to Branson, Missouri. If you’ve never been to Branson, imagine the trademark Las Vegas glitz, but stripped of its sinful indulgences and infused with equal parts wholesome family values and washed up country music stars. We rented a condo for a few days and hit the strip, and the girls LOVED it despite the aforementioned day or two of cold and wet weather.

Among the highlights was Silver Dollar City, where you can stand around watching a one-armed old man blowing glass and whittling a rocking chair –at the same time. There were also rides, which were much more enjoyable on our second, rain free day.

Later that same night we also went to go see a stage show about Noah’s Ark, which was at the grandly named “Sights and Sound Theater” which seems a lot less grandly named once you realize that people have been doing “sights and sound theater” for a few thousand years now. Both Sam and Mandy were entranced by the production, though, and really liked it. Sam in particular has become obsessed with drawing arks, and I’m afraid to serve her any mashed potatoes lest she decide to make an impromptu sculpture.

We also rode in an amphibious vehicle that had seen service in World War II, and let me tell you that when the driver of a vehicle that is currently rolling on solid ground guns it and heads straight for a body of water, your brain kind of freaks out. Once out on the lake, though, the guide invited us all up to drive the car/boat for a bit. Sam had to be coaxed into doing it, but Mandy readily jumped into the driver’s seat and started giggling and yanking on the wheel like she was trying to do donuts.

So, it was a great time and I’m really glad I had the chance to enjoy it.

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