Whenever I want to recapture a bit of my youth, all I need to do is get in the back seat of my parents' car, and I'm instantly transformed to a girl of about 15 instead of a married mother of three.
I should really do some research to find out if this effect is only on me or if it would work on anyone. Perhaps my parents' power transcends their own offspring. I could be looking at a billion-dollar idea. Perhaps I should look into a patent.
When will I ever learn? It seemed like such a great idea to take them up on their offer to drive with them to my cousin Donna's 50th birthday party at Belmont Park.
Joe stayed home with the kids, which included taking Peter, our 9-year-old, to a schoolmate's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. I thought I was getting the better end of the deal until I had to fend for myself during the hour-long drive with Mom and Dad.
First, my mother had to set up Nellie, her pet name for my parents' GPS.
Yes. Not only does it have a name, but my mother talks to "her" and about "her" as if "she" was a real person. This went on throughout the hour-long ride.
My mom let me know she was a bit mad at Nellie because "she" had gotten her lost the other day.
The GPS had my mother going in circles for almost half an hour while she was trying to get to a function for her garden club.
"Mom, how did it mess you up that badly? Is it working properly?
"Well, I MIGHT have taken a right turn when "she" said take a left, but then "she" just kept confusing me."
I glanced at my dad who was driving, and he shot me back a look that said, please don't take this any further.
"Warren, why are you going right? Nellie said to go left. Are you taking Jericho all the way there? Shouldn't you take the expressway? Nellie says to take the expressway."
"Andrea, I know what I'm doing."
"Well, now Nellie is going to have to reset herself."
"Recalculating," says the computer-generated voice.
"Mom you do know that even though it talks, It's not real?" I'm trying not to laugh, but I'm not succeeding.
"Yes. Kathy I know she is not real. But she has been with us for almost nine years. And, well, to me she is real. Aren't you Nellie?"
We were only 10 minutes in, and I was regretting my decision to bail out on Chuck E Cheese. I hope Donna knows how much I love her.
My parents go back and forth throughout the whole ride. My mother corrects my father, and my father pretends not to listen to her.
Years of childhood memories start flooding back to me. Some good, some less than stellar. I seriously am in awe of the fact that the two of them have managed to stay married for 50 years.
I can't help wondering how my own kids will look back on the family rides Joe and I are in charge of, with me complaining that he is trying to bake me and him accusing me of trying to turn them all into icicles because I need to have the air on full blast even when it's freezing outside.
I also have a tendency to claim that he's trying to kill us whenever he changes lanes. It's the same complaint my mother makes to my father.
Will one of my kids write an essay about me and Joe one day? I don't doubt it.
We arrive at the party, and my parents have a few more exchanges that make me grateful when I see my sisters and can escape. We laugh over my adventures in the car just like we did when we were girls.
Then, before I know it the party is over, and it's time to say our farewells. Of course my mother asks me if I've said goodbye to everyone, not unlike she did when I was 9.
It's then when I realize that no matter how old I am, or what I may accomplish in my life, I will always be their child.
This can be extremely maddening at times. Yet, I can't quite help thinking how profoundly lucky I am that I still have them around to drive me crazy.
This post originally was published on My dishwasher's possessed!
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.