"What are we gonna do? I'm NOT wearing boots down there with my bathing suit. And I didn't even bring my cover up thingy."
The poor eight, almost nine year old's embarrassment was almost comical, except you almost felt sorry for her. This just an excerpt from my day today at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County.
For some reason, I had the urge to get the heck out of Dodge and go away over Christmas break, even if only for one night. What are you going to do in Indiana, 15 degrees, very small budget, with a family of four? I guess you do something you know works. Go somewhere you have enjoyed before that doesn't break the bank and still scores major points with the kids. The lodge fit the bill. With an indoor water park that is PERFECT for our kids' age groups, this place is perfect.
Now, I have blogged in the past about my unrealistic expectations I put on myself when it comes to "mothering." I have truly been trying to chill out! Stop taking everything so seriously. Don't be so hard on myself. Actually ENJOY the vacations, parties, what have you, instead of being SO rigid.
So I tried it this time. Hell, I didn't even pack until today! Yeah, I was being all last minute, not plannin', just waiting till today to get stuff ready. I'm laid back like that, now, ya know?
Check in time was 1:00. I thought it was 3:00. We didn't leave our house until 12:00. Right there, I was starting to get a bit irritated.
THEN, after checking in and getting into our room, we begin to change into swimsuits only to realize NONE of us had any shoes to walk down to the pool area in. Let me just paint the picture for you of the the water park. Wet. People everywhere. You are NOT going to want to wear big clunky shoes down there. They will get soaked and where are you even going to put them?
Imagine my further horror as I look down to see my naked feet and realize I have "whore toes." You may not know what that means, so let me clarify. A very good friend shared this offensive, yet hilarious term with me a couple summers back. You have "whore toes" if you have let your toenail polish start coming off and have not either A. removed said polish for a natural look or B. repainted the toes so the polish is NOT half on and half off. No offense to the whores....its just a term. (And before anyone gives me any crap, no...my daughter is not aware of this term.)
No flip flops. Whore toes.
We are going to have to go down to the pool barefoot. EWWWWW!!!!! I am a self proclaimed germ-a-phobe. This kills me. But what is worse? Wearing New Balance hikers with a flow-y black cover up? (At least I brought that.) Or poor Indi with tall black boots on with a swimsuit?
And my whore toes...not even cute bare feet walking around on that hotel hallway.
Against my better judgment, we went sans shoes. Once we entered the pool area, I'm sure no one noticed. But then I lost my index finger's fake nail. I just looked a mess. I dropped the fingernail in a plant, not knowing what else to do with it since I didn't see a trash can around. And now, tonight, as I lie here still awake as my family snores away, I am just cracking up inside.
Oh, how we change. And for the better. I know this all sounds so minor, but seriously. I would have been just MORTIFIED had this happened a few years back. Sometimes I scare myself with how W.T. we have become. (W.T.= white trash, another offensive term I probably should not be using, but can't find another phrase that better describes what I am saying.) I see these perfect little families sometimes with their perfectly ironed clothes and immaculate little hairstyles. I know how much work it takes to have everyone looking like that, and I honestly do NOT miss those days. Yep, I had some whore toes tonight. Indira's hair was stringy because she really likes to wear it down. And my fake fingernail is in a flower pot. And today...was a really good day.
Everyone is sleeping, worn out from swimming. Tomorrow morning we will do it all again. Only we have to check out at 11:00, so we will have to put our clothes on in the lobby restroom after we are finished. After all, we want to keep swimming after check out! Ha, ha! That's kinda redneck-ish, too, isn't it! Who cares!
Good night, all!
