Across the country, we've noticed a trend in common things about our trip that people are curious about. From feelings to funding, we've developed a series of Frequently Asked Questions of the Roadtrip Life that we'd like to share with you.
1. Why did you guys decided to go?
And we very well might be. But our little bit of insanity has empowered us to create some pretty amazing memories.
2: How can you take a 16 year old?
Jeanette and Sarah would like you to believe that the answer is simple: "You stick her in the backseat and make her make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches". But there is a little more to the logistics of it.
Contingent on Jennifer making it to all 48, Mom & Dad, having home schooled her, required her to have all of her high-school credits completed and to take a state high-school completion exam. Having taken the exam the week before we left, she was on the edge of her seat for the first few states...waiting to receive her scores from the testing center...until she got the call in Vermont! She passed!
If you listened close enough on that sun shine-y day, you could have probably heard her squeals of delight all the way back to Indiana!
3: How are you funding it?
The three of us girls funded the entire adventure ourselves by saving our pennies, taking every job we could...and by scrutinizing the types of jellies we bought. There's really not much more to it than that. We saved enough money until we thought we might be able to pay for gas, car repairs, and food. After that, we simply said a prayer and fastened our seat belts.
I mean, what was the worst thing that could have happened?
If we got close to running out of money, we would just be hungry, homeless, and head on home.
But what really made our journey possible were the prayers and kindness of everyone we met across the U.S.. Staying with family, friends and friends of friends, we underestimated by far how loving everyone would be to us, those we stayed with and those we met in passing. No matter how many pennies we'd saved up, without prayers and the kindness of strangers, this trip would never have been possible.
4: How do your parents feel about it?
Our Mom was all for it. She told us "Go, be free!".
Our Dad was supportive, but still very much a dad. Like most fathers could probably relate, he was just a little worried as three of his little girls traveled into new states and cities. But he loved that we had the opportunity to create all of these special memories that will last a lifetime!
5: If there are six of you girls in the family, what happened to the other three?
Variations of this question are also asked in the form of: "So, what states did you leave the others in?" and "Do you just not like the other three?"
Let's just start by clarifying, we've never abandoned anyone in a state, and we adore our other siblings!
Stephanie is the oldest and has "adult responsibilities" (she works as the loving innkeeper for the historic Allison House Inn in Nashville, IN!). You may remember that she was able to join us for a few states down south though, and then again to celebrate her birthday in Illinois!
Sherry is the third oldest and made a trek of her own out to Utah for her Music Therapy Internship. We did get to stay with her over Valentine's day!
And staying home to take care of Mom, Dad, her frog Dweedlebop and her nine chickens, is Jamie, who was busy doing ten year old stuff.
6: What do your boyfriends think?
They're supportive and love the idea of us traveling! Well at least we'd like to think so. We'll have to let you know when we meet them as they have yet to make their presence known in our lives.
7. How often do you fight?
All the time.
Well probably not that much, but sometimes.
Well probably not that much, but sometimes.
Sometimes our fights went on for so long that we'd have to just stop in the middle and take a snack break.
But more importantly we know how to resolve our arguments. It's not that we don't fight, we disagree all the time. But frankly, you have to decide, is this really how you want to live out the next five months?
And while at the moment, the answer was sometimes "yes", pretty soon we'd realize that there wasn't much room for anger in a 1991 Toyota Camry.
8. Have you run into any bad weather?
Save for that blustery day in Montana when the snow swallowed the mountains, and an icy escapade on our way to Minnesota, we had unbelievably beautiful weather. In five and a half months, we can count on one hand even the sort of dreary days.
Our Dad always tells us that life is no dress rehearsal.
We're all on a free trip around the sun, and we just have to work together to make the best of the journey.
Here's to doing things for kicks and giggles,
Love,
The Crew
