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Column Testy moments, spiritual growth on a weekend road trip
By KRIS BERGGREN
A trip from Minneapolis to Chicago
with my daughter, three of her friends and their mothers has given me new
insights into that quintessential American experience -- the road trip. We
planned and packed for every eventuality: swimsuits so we could enjoy the
all-important hotel pool, a foot massage kit, walkie-talkies for car-to-car
communication, snacks for the road, coins for the toll booth. We were prepared
-- at least for the practical aspects of our journey.
What I failed to prepare for was the emotional journey. Eight
hours eastbound on I-94 was a piece of cake compared to the unfolding drama
that took place inside the cars. The complications of 10 year olds
friendships, and the parallel maternal web of reaction and response surprised
me. Everything is exaggerated while stuck in a car hurtling through Middle
America at 70 miles per hour -- the amusing things become hilarious, and the
annoying things become hurtful.
The first leg of the trip went fine until we stopped for lunch at
a rest area. It was a nice place -- complete with playground. After we ate the
lunches wed packed, the girls ran off to play. They may be preteens who
like to polish their nails and listen to pop music (but puh-leeze, no Britney
Spears, she is way uncool), but theyre still kids who dash for the best
swing when they see an opening. I was chatting at the picnic table with the
other moms when my daughter came up and quietly asked for the car keys. This is
a kid who wears her heart on her sleeve, so I knew there was trouble.
Mom, can we just turn around and go home now? she said
tearfully when we got to the car. It was starting to look like a very long
weekend.
Upon further exploration I discovered someone had said something
mean to her. The details are irrelevant, but suffice it to say that
when my daughters feelings are hurt, I want to hold someone responsible.
One of the moms astutely arranged a community meeting so the girls
could talk it out and patch things up. Yet back on I-94 eastbound, stony
silence reigned for quite a few miles after lunch, as the mother of the
offending friend sat in my front seat. I found myself seething at her. I
inwardly criticized her parenting style, her personality, her very
presence.
What was a good Christian response to this kind of situation? I
guess I was pondering all these things in my heart as Mary,
Jesus mother, did upon being confronted with issues around her child that
she didnt understand, but at that point I dont think anyone would
have seen me in a Marian light. I slowly willed myself to act from the left
brain, not the right as I am wont to do. It was possible that she didnt
see her daughters faults. It was, I supposed, equally possible that I
didnt see my daughters faults. What I knew was that each of us
wanted the best for our children. I managed to talk myself back into a civil
state as we barreled through Wisconsin.
It was easy to put petty feelings aside as I took in a close-up
Chicago skyline from our hotel window, people-watched on Michigan Avenue, and
basked in the energy of one of Americas great cities. Here the paradoxes
of American life are evident. We had a hard time resisting the blatant
consumerism around us -- the girls had to check out the Disney store,
the moms had to check out Crate and Barrel. We window shopped Cartier
and Coach and sidestepped homeless veterans and street musicians. The girls
indulged themselves in the playful pleasures of the citys ubiquitous
revolving doors, and in the budding sophistication of sipping icy frappucinos
(decaf, of course).
Our stay was a whirlwind of museums, elevators, taxis, bustling
crowds and the fun of being on vacation, away from laundry, cooking, schedules,
siblings. We explored the Thorne collection of dollhouse scale period rooms at
the Art Institute of Chicago. Some of the girls werent very impressed
with the institutes famous Impressionist collection, preferring the
modern and contemporary galleries, where as one said, You have to think
about what it means and you can look at it upside down.
We walked through a special exhibit of nudes by photographer
Irving Penn, revealing the human female form in abstract poses. Perhaps
predictably, the girls giggled about ample thighs, generous glutes, and the
asymmetrical breasts of a reclining model. (We moms of course thought it was
fabulous to see, as art, bodies that more closely resembled our own than those
of impossibly lean and smooth fashion models.)
Some of us went to Holy Name Cathedral for Mass. I think the
girls, though they couldnt have expressed it, were secretly thrilled at
being in this vibrant throng of churchgoers in this very Catholic city. Next
time, well make it to Hull House, the Du Sable museum of African-American
history, the Swedish-American Center -- all things on our list that we just
didnt have time for.
Despite the testy moments, the trip expanded our inner and outer
horizons, and we all agreed it was worth repeating next year. For me perhaps,
the road trip was an opportunity for some spiritual growth. In any case, it was
good practice for the next installment -- my familys upcoming August
camping trip to Yellowstone. Stay tuned.
Kris Berggren writes from Minneapolis. She can be reached by
e-mail at krisberggren@msn.com
National Catholic Reporter, August 30,
2002
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