MamaBlooMarriage. Motherhood. Life.

Follow that Potty!!!

§ September 7th, 2010 § Filed under Stories § Tagged big families, family, posts with pictures, travel § 4 Comments

Recently we went to my hometown of Yakima to visit family and enjoy the blistering dry heat and desert sun.  Going from the Seattle area to Yakima requires going across a mountain pass.  The condition of “The Pass” is forever a source of discussion in the state of Washington.  Is it snowing?  Is there construction? Are there avalanches? Is it backed up with traffic?  Upon entering The Pass there is very very very little in the way of civilization until Ellensburg (smack dab in the middle of the state) and some people might argue that Ellensburg does not constitute real cililization.

So, on late Sunday afternoon we headed back, hoping that the kids would rest, the baby would sleep and we would make it home in time to order take out and watch some DVR-ed shows.  Most people who travel The Pass stop “at the top” to take in the beauty, stretch, and use the state provided bathrooms.  As we passed that last rest area before “the top” I realized that I was cutting it a little bit close in terms of that state provided bathroom.  But, hey, I have a teacher bladder and I am sure I can make it.

Then we hit traffic.

Bad traffic.

Backed up for miles, bad traffic.

I am sure we’ll be along shortly.  We all thought.

So, to pass the time time (no pun intended) and to take my mind of the every-growing need to pee, I pulled out my camera.

Here is Jade’s vote for our Christmas picture 2010.  What is clear to me, is that we need a bigger car.

Entertaining the baby.

After a while I noticed that there were children playing on the freeway.  I then started to fear for my bladder.

Facebook updates informed us that we were looking at 10 miles of backups and a possible 2 hour delay.

I looked to my right — only to see a sheer rock face.  No hope for a behind-the-tree emergency potty break

I looked to my left — only to see tons of oncoming traffic. This is the one are of The Pass that does not have a center median.  No relief there.

I spotted possible salvation parked behind us.

This is one of those times I don’t think I am going to be able to talk Dave into helping out.  There is no way he is going to walk up to that camper, knock ont he door, and ask if his wife can use their bathroom.  Besides, it might have a serial killer inside, or really mean outdoorsmen.

Luckily, 90 minutes after we stopped, the lane next to us starting moving.  The camper pulled in next to us, and then pulled ahead, and as I saw my last hope drive off  I shouted, “FOLLOW THAT POTTY!”  And we did. 

I made it just in time.

Even teacher-bladders have their limit.