24 hours from...

[cosmolinguist]

I've been feeling really homesick lately -- it's worst when the seasons change, for some reason, and also worst when my mental health is not great anyway, which it hasn't been -- so it's nice of my parents to try to cure me of this by dragging me away from soft-focus nostalgia to baffling reality.

Last week Andrew and I got a ticket for me to go back to visit this summer. It's for my grandma's 90th birthday, and Andrew managed to arrange the flights just right so the first part of the time I'm there is also the last weekend of the Minnesota State Fair, a festival in the secular religion of Minnesotanness and something I love and miss.

When I next talked to my parents on Skype, they mentioned the trip and said "We thought we'd pick you up at the airport and just keep on going up to [aunt and partner]'s."

My aunt and her partner live in Ely. That's practically as far away as you can drive in Minnesota and not be in Canada. Another six hours in the car, on top of the 16 or so I can expect to spend from the time I leave my house until I see my parents at the airport.

Not getting to go to the fair wuldn't have surprised me. My parents prefer the first weekend to the second one, which this'd be. (Hell now they're retired they can go on Senior Citizen Discount day during the week.) I accepted that was a possibility, but before I've even had a chance to talk about it with them, they have this plan all planned out.

I don't know why they're so intent on taking me to my aunt and partner's house but they've talked about it since they first visited the new place after Aunt and Partner moved out of the Cities. Except I do know: my parents like it, and my parents think all people like the same things so they're convinced I'll like it.

It's true I like Aunt (her Trump-supporting antisocial partner less so...) and it's true I love the north woods, and kayaking, and all that stuff, but I am already dreading the idea of another six hours of travel for no fucking reason as soon as I get to Minnesota!

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

No! Don't keep Holly from her cream puffs!

[cosmolinguist]

I want my cheese curds, dammit. :)

[lilysea]

Arrrgh!

I'm guessing "Mum, Dad, I was really, REALLY looking forwards to the state fair - can we go to that first, and THEN see Aunt a few days later"

isn't an option? :(

[ironymaiden]

That was my question too. I have also dealt with this type of situation, and have had success with weaponizing my homesickness and scarcity to get what I want. And you definitely can plead your case re 16 hours in a plane.

[cosmolinguist]

Well, 16 hours in two planes and a lot of waiting 8n airports, but yes that's hardly better.

[cosmolinguist]

Oh I'll try. I didn't get a chance in that conversation but I will try. There's plenty of time yet.

[bethanthepurple]

Your poor cramped leggoes and lack of bed!!!

[cosmolinguist]

I knoooow! And the thing is, when they visit here they complain as soon as I meet them at about how long they've been traveling, how tired they are, etc. But they don't seem to think this applies to me visiting them.

I did a few years ago have to go on holiday with them and that meant a drive about as long, but at least there was a day at home between the plane flights and traveling for the family holiday, and vice versa. Even that, with the day to rest, was so utterly miserable I promised myself I'd never agree to so much travel in such a short time again.

[nanila]

Aaaargh. For me, that would be a case of, "Right, y'all have fun at Aunt Thingie's, Imma get the bus home so I can sleep after being on a plane for ELEVENTEEN HOURS. See you when you get back!"

[cosmolinguist]

There's no buses. This is where me not being able to drive really bites. :( I feel like a little kid, still dependent on them, on convincing them to do a thing I want if I'm to have any hope of doing it myself, in my thirties...

[nanila]

This is not your fault. This is the fault of governments not investing in decent public transportation systems. Driving should not be a requirement. It should be an option. In an ideal world, it would be the last option after a slew of other, better, cleaner and more reliable ones.

[po8crg]

That SUUUUCKS.

and I'm assuming you don't have any non-family friends in Minnesota any more that you could prevail upon to give you a lift?

[cosmolinguist]

I'm hardly in touch with any of them any more. :( I used to get to see them a bit when I was home but my parents are so much more protective of my time in recent years, I don't know why.

Neither this nor buses would solve this problem anyway: my parents won't go without me because they think I need to go. And there'd be no point me being at their house without them anyway.

[benicek]

Of what is Minnesotaness comprised? I can only guess. Regional foods?