Driving to Escape

It was strange. Just three of us in the Jeep.

There should have been four.

Two humans. Two dogs. Two of each. For the last six years, that's how we defined our family. Chris, me, Molly, and Dehlia. Just the four of us. Inseparable.

And for the last six years, road trips had always been one of our favorite things to do. The dogs loved the sites and the smells of the road. Chris and I loved the excitement and the change of scenery. Hitting the road was absolutely liberating. The constant hum of the tires against the pavement was soothing, and all four of us would be more than relaxed by the end of the trip.

We had a system - sort of. Sure, there were some chaotic moments. (Okay, many chaotic moments. But with two lively, energetic dogs, how could there not be?) But it was always worth it. Every insane, seemingly unmanageable moment was complete and utter bliss. Because we were together.

Today, we still love road trips. They're still exciting, liberating, and relaxing.

But now we're split. Our Molly has moved on, changed form, and is now swirling beyond our grasp. Just out of reach. And I'd give anything to be able to align with her again. Right now. I know it will happen eventually. Of that, I'm absolutely certain.

But I'm also impatient.

Last Saturday, on a spur of the moment whim, the three of us piled into the Jeep and drove. Drove to forget. Drove to remember. Or drove just to get our minds off the fact that, one week ago to the day, we laid one of our own to rest.

This is where we ended up. Lake Chelan. It was our first visit to the area, and the little bit that we saw took our breaths away. We made it to the lake less than an hour before nightfall, so we didn't have time to stop and explore. But the views from the road were enough - at least for the time being. We definitely plan on going back.

Chris. Dehlia. And me.

The three of us.







_______________________

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-- Author Unknown