Planes, trains and...mini vans?

I have a confession to make. I have been fantasizing about something my husband would definitely not approve of… No, not that, get your mind out of the gutter. Mini vans. Yes, I hate to say it, but I have van envy. I’ve been staying up at night while Ian’s at work, surfing Craigslist and Autotrader for an inexpensive van. I’ve passed them on the street while I go somewhere with the kids, longing for the extra space to bring one of my sisters-in-law (and her child) along so my poor mom doesn’t have to keep going places with me as a pseudo-nanny. I’ve even driven to Portland just to test drive a Eurovan. (With Ian’s permission of course, that’s the only van he would consider owning).

When we got married, we vowed to love, honor and cherish. To have and to hold, ‘til death do us part. And to never, ever own a mini van. (Well, that wasn’t verbally expressed at the wedding, but we were both thinking it). Well, we broke that vow today. We are the proud new owners of a Dodge Grand Caravan. Not really proud. Forced out of necessity is more like it. But it really isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, I feel like I’ve aged ten years when I climb into my Mommy Missile, but it’s surprisingly comfy. And it has a working radio, with a CD player to boot! Neither of our cars has had a working radio for at least a year now. At least something positive has come of this.

I’m sure I’ll stop grimacing soon when I say the word, “mini van.” It might even be in the next few days, after we’ve really had the chance to go somewhere with the kids in our spacious new automobile. I’ll probably even be telling everyone I know that they should get a mini van in a week or two. But for now, I’m still adjusting…