Delaney reveals all

This was so much fun to do.  Delaney was just as fun as ever and we had a blast doing this interview, even though it isn’t very long.  It showcases her playful side very well, in my opinion…

Haley:  So Delaney, how are you on this fine day?

Delaney:  That is cheesy.  Anyway, I’m fine.  What about you? 

Haley:  This isn’t about me.  Let me ask you the questions.  How have you enjoyed our trip so far?

Delaney:  It’s been really great.  We’ve seen a lot of cool stuff. 

Haley:  Were your expectations the same as the reality, or did you have a different idea on what it would be like?

Delaney:  I really didn’t know what it would be like.  I knew that it would be really fun and adventurous, but I didn’t really know what to expect.

Haley:  How do you keep busy during the long drives we take?

Delaney:  I write in my journal, listen to my CD player, navigate with our atlas, (though Dad usually dominates with his GPS).  Sometimes I do word search puzzles (Bible version).  And that’s it. 

Haley:  Where have you most enjoyed visiting?

Delaney:  Painesville, Ohio!  I really loved our picnic on Lake Erie.  Okay, I also enjoyed Bar Harbor, Maine.  That was one of the more humorous places of our trip.

Haley:  Is there a funny memory that comes to your mind?

Delaney:  Um, Libbey and how she said ‘chowda in Ba Haba’ and her face that reacted to Mom’s meal of lobster. 

Haley:  What’s one of the worst experiences you’ve had while being away?

Delaney:  I fell out of the top bunk onto the hard floor and got a big scrape on my back and my arm was a bit bruised and my back was in pain for quite a while.  And also when I got all those bad mosquito bites in Vermont and I looked like I had some kind of disease or something.  Oh, another was when I tasted lobster in Bar Harbor (grimaces).  I consider that a not-very-good experience.

Haley:  That being said, let’s turn to lighter subjects.  How about life in the 28-foot trailer?  Do you like it enough to go another three months?

Delaney:  Um, yeah, but home is going to feel really good.  I really miss our bathroom a lot.  I like my comfy bed in the trailer, but I like my one at home too.  My first night in bed at home is going to be so wonderful.

Haley:  Have you realized something new about yourself while we’ve been away?

Delaney:  Not really, but I’ve noticed that it really bugs me when I see even one dirty dish in the sink, and then I think, “Oh great, I have to wash that.  There’s not much room in here, and not any room for a dirty dish.”  I’ve also realized that my bed is constantly filled with stuff.  At home I would just put stuff (that I don’t know where to put) on my desk, but here I put it on my bed.  Then comes nighttime, and I go, “Great!  Where am I going to sleep tonight?”

Haley:  Do you maintain a normal school schedule now that we’re in the fall semester? 

Delaney:  Absolutely positively not.  There are days when I do school, and all of it, and then there are days when we’re going somewhere or we’re doing something out of the trailer, and I can’t do school.  But, in places like Boston and Philadelphia, I’m learning history hands-on. 

Haley:  Would you think that you’ve grown closer to your family in this time?

Delaney:  Well, I’ve always been close with everyone in my family, but being in a tight space has allowed for practice in patience, conflict resolution and graciousness.  So in that regard, I feel like we’re all becoming a better family.

Haley:  By the way, are you enjoying this interview or am I asking boring questions?

Delaney:  You’ve allowed for a lot of laughs (she giggles). 

Haley:  Okay, then what things have made you laugh?

Delaney:  (Laughs hysterically) one of things that have made me laugh are when I emailed you and told you a really silly story about two sisters who fought all the time and they decided to make up and never fight again.  But you know what?  They were not perfect.  And then you laughed really, really hard.   

Haley:  Okay, okay.  Would you take an extended trip like this again in your life?

Delaney:  Absolutely.  Of course.  !!!!! 

Haley:  Why?

Delaney:  Because it’s really super fun.  We laugh a lot, and have friendly arguments that leave us laughing again (usually), we’ve seen a lot of great places and done a lot of great things. 

Haley:  How do you keep in touch with friends and family?  Is it a priority in your day?

Delaney:  Um, I keep in touch with friends using email, and I’ve been able to talk to several of them on the phone.  But I have limited access to the internet sometimes so it can be difficult.

Haley:  My fingers are getting tired.  Do you want me to ask you anymore questions?

Delaney:  Aw, your poor little fingers.  I’ll let you go. 

Haley:  It’s been fun, sis.  Thanks for doing this with me.  I hope all your adoring friends back home like it!

Delaney:  (Raises eyebrows) sure.  Anytime!

Haley discusses our journey with Mom

As I began this interview, I found out quickly how different they would be.  But it is a fun change and interestingly displays each personality.  Here we go with mom…

Haley:  When Dad first brought up the idea to take a long trip around the U.S., what were your first thoughts?

Mom:  “That sounds great; we’ve been talking about it for years”!  Other thoughts were probably “how?” (In regards to the business) and “when?”.

Haley:  As we prepared to leave in the next months, what were some key matters that you needed to accomplish in order to be ready to leave home?

Mom:  I knew that we needed to make sure that Dad had the right office and computer equipment in order to work full time, I needed to have my school resources for the new school year and I needed to make sure that the trailer was outfitted with organization in mind (since we’d be taking summer and winter clothing).  Also spending time with special people was important. 

Haley:  As the departure day neared, what were the last things you needed to take care of?

Mom:  Making sure that the house was in order.    

Haley:  Were you completely on board with the whole idea, or were you not sure how it was all going to work out?

Mom:  Completely on board.  I am used to Dad being an adventurer, and I’ve always shared his adventurous spirit.  I also had confidence in him to make it happen because he is a thorough planner. 

Haley:  Now let’s skip to the third week of our journey.  By this time, had you sort of established a ‘flow’ of our daily life? 

Mom:  By the third week (gets calendar out and goes to the third week)…yes…by then we had.  The first two weeks was a push to get to commitments with friends and family, so by the third week we didn’t have those types of commitments anymore.  Then we started a Monday-to-Friday workweek and traveling on the weekend routine.

Haley:  Because we were establishing a ‘new’ way of life, what were some things you (and all of us) needed to sacrifice in order to make this new life work?

Mom:  Privacy.  And the freedom to just get in the car and go somewhere, because maybe we were so remote that there wasn’t anything to go to, or dad needed the truck just in case he needed to go to a hotspot.  And space (laughs). 

Haley:  What is one of the most common things you’d find yourself doing at home that you cannot do now?

Mom:  Puttering in my yard, walking down the hall to do laundry, and running across the street to Grandma’s for a cooking ingredient.

Haley:  Dad’s work sometimes makes it hard for us to be in the trailer.  We usually have to go out if he needs to concentrate hard or make a call.  How do we cope with this?

Mom:  It does inconvenience us girls, but we know that this is Dad’s office and we have to honor that.  We do take advantage of the nice weather by spending time outside, hanging out, playing and doing school.

Haley:  Do you feel like the historic places we’ve visited have been instrumental in our schooling?

Mom:  Absolutely!  There’s nothing like being there.  It has made the books come alive.

Haley:  Have you forgotten anything from home?

Mom:  Some people have asked me that…yes!  My Turkish coffee pot!  But the girls and I were in a gourmet food shop and Suey and I spotted a sign that read “We now serve Turkish coffee!”  You can bet that we indulged!  I also forgot the round pizza pan and my biology teacher’s guide!

Haley:  We are two-thirds through now.  Has the trip been what you thought it would be, or better, or worse?

Mom:  Because we’ve taken a lot of shorter trailer trips, living in it hasn’t come with a lot of surprises.  It’s been better because we’re seeing sites that we’ve never seen before.  I hadn’t considered how stressful it would be while I am driving and Dad is navigating our course and working on the computers at the same time.  That is very stressful.

Haley:  Would you want to do a trip like this again?

Mom:  Yes, I would want to do it again.  It’s a great experience to share with our family.

Haley:  What are you most excited to do in the next weeks of our trip?

Mom:  I would say going to the Looper’s reunion and seeing the Halls.  And seeing what surprise destinations we have after that!

Haley:  Do you enjoy the long drives we take on weekends? 

Mom:  Let me defer to my sciatica…NO!

Haley:  What has been the most enjoyable or fun aspect about this new way of life?

Mom:  We ride our bikes more, I love that.  And running in beautiful areas!

Haley:  Have you found it easy or hard to keep in touch with friends back home?

Mom:  Hard on the internet, because I get very little internet time.  More challenging on the phone because of bad cell reception and the difference in time zones.  But all this has caused me to hand-write letters and cards, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, so I’ve really enjoyed making it a habit. 

Haley:  Do you find it hard to concentrate on certain things in a small area with four other people?

Mom:  I don’t seem affected by that, and we all seem to be considerate of that (personal space). 

Haley:  Has this trip brought us closer as a family, in your eyes?

Mom:  I think we’ve always been close, and we have no choice but to make it work, so we have to work together to function and resolve issues.  

Haley:  What are some places you’re glad to have seen along the way?

Mom:  Vermont, hands down.  It’s an absolutely beautiful state with all the woods and meandering roads and lakes.  As far as the public sights go…Ground Zero (P.S.  Don’t ever forget 9/11).  We have also visited quite a few libraries.  Every time we visited a new library, I make mental notes as to how our local library can be improved.

Haley:  Do you think we’ll all be more grateful of the luxuries at home, after living so differently?

Mom:  Oh yes, we’ve mentioned them as we’ve missed them.  But I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about them.  I just want to enjoy and appreciate this experience.

Haley:  What advice would you give to those who were going to live in an R.V. for an extended period of time?

Mom:  Be flexible!  That is a reoccurring theme for us.  Also, think of the R.V. as your home, so outfit it as close as reasonable to your ‘stick house’.

Haley:  Thank you very much for spending this time with me.  I’ve enjoyed getting your side of the story.

Mom:  Good night, good luck, good grief!  (Current favorite quote, a courtesy of Josh Groban).

An interview with dad

The following discussion was a brainstorm that I had the other day, as a way of getting our family’s different views of our journey so far.  I will go in age order, beginning with dad, and hopefully it will be an insightful bunch of posts that reflect the various viewpoints of each person.  So, without further ado…

(Conversation between Haley and Dad)

Haley:  So when did you get this idea for our 13-week trip around the U.S.?

Dad:  Well, there’s two parts to the answer.  When your mom and I were first married (27 years ago), we always talked and dreamed about taking a trip around the country together.  Whether it is in our camper truck, or a conversion van, what have you.  But, with goals of buying a home and doing different things and working, we never really had the freedom to do such a trip for an extended period of time.  So, as we began our family, the dream took on a new perspective.  When I started my home business—six and a half years ago—and as that has progressed, it has allowed me to have a more flexible work schedule, in addition, the advent of the internet, allows me to do this trip at the present time. 

Haley:  With this idea in mind, when did it actually begin to take its present form?

Dad:  About a year ago, I planned to take my business 100% “virtual”.  Upon doing that—approximately ten months ago—it soon after dawned on me that taking such a trip was a real probability. 

Haley:  You first brought up the idea to the family of an extended trip this past January.  You were talking mid-to-late spring.  But we didn’t leave until mid-August.  What was it that changed the timing? 

Dad:  When the thought first occurred to me that the trip was a probability, I was excited to go as soon as possible.  But I realized that the spring did not allow enough time to plan the trip, along with planning both for the trip itself and preparations for maintaining the home while being away for such a long time. 

Haley:  As we prepared for the upcoming journey—which was approximately February to August—there were obviously a lot of issues to go over as you would be leaving your home, office, clients, employee, and property.  How did you deal with all this?

Dad:  Well, thankfully, my business has continued to prosper, allowing me to hire an employee (close friend Jesse Telian).  This provided the means that, in addition to assisting with the daily accounting functions of the business, he could also help me maintain the home while we are away, checking the mail, maintaining the yard and pool, keeping up our car at home, and other miscellaneous items that might come up. 

Haley:  Did you feel confident and prepared to leave when we did, which was August 18?

Dad:  Yes and no.  Well prepared, but never prepared well enough.  Sometimes you just have to go and trust that the Lord will provide because if I waited until I thought everything to be perfectly in order, I would never have left.

Haley:  Now that we are two-thirds into the journey, has it been what you hoped or expected?

Dad:  Again, yes and no. 

Haley:  Could you elaborate a little?

Dad:  It has been in some ways more challenging than I expected.  The reasons, to name a few, are that traveling like this can take a great deal of planning.  For instance, deciding where to stay each night, where to go next, and what to do when we get there.  While at the same time, trying to run a business whether it be in a small trailer with lots of distractions or on the highway going 60 miles an hour.  In addition to managing an employee back home and multiple clients.  Doing all this simultaneously has been a bit more difficult than I imagined.  Nonetheless, I have no regrets.  I feel blessed that the Lord has, and is, allowing me to accomplish the task.

Haley:  Did you build the timing of the trip around any events or places you wanted to go?

Dad:  No, although there have been a couple of events along the journey that worked nicely into our overall itinerary that we have had (or will have) the privilege of attending. 

Haley:  How about the biggest joy or excitement for you?

Dad:  Too many to mention!  It’s been inspiring to visit and see many well-known places, landmarks, etc.  But for the most part, it’s the simple things.  Such as just having this amount of time with your mom and each of you girls, because I am constantly aware that it is a privilege that few fathers receive. 

Haley:  Is there a fond memory that comes to your mind at this time?

Dad:  I would say that getting to boat and ski and carp fish on the Illinois River with Nate and Sally is one of my many fond memories. 

Haley:  One of the things that never fails to make me laugh is the picture of you on two cell phones, printing a client’s payroll or checks.  Explain how this works to the readers.

Dad:  This is necessary when I don’t have good internet connection.  So my employee Jesse will have checks ready to print (on his computer) and I need to call the client.  So I call the client on one cell phone while Jesse listens on the other, waiting for the print command.  When the client confirms that checks are ready for printing, I say the words “they’re on their way”, which clues Jesse to begin printing.  Then I end the call with the client, and that’s all folks!

Haley:  On another note, where are some places we’ll be going to in the next couple weeks?

Dad:  At the end of this week in the Washington D.C. area, we will be heading towards Alabama by way of Charlottesville, through Tennessee, to the Huntsville area. 

Haley:  Will we be stopping in to visit people we know in the next few weeks? 

Dad:  We hope to visit our friends Steven and Tricia Hall while in Huntsville.  From that point, we will be on the final leg of our journey.  We will decide as we go our schedule and our route as we daily examine our endurance and desire to extend the trip and/or return home more quickly.  This includes how business pressures might dictate. 

Haley:  Well, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you, dad.  Thanks for putting aside the iPhone and boating magazine to have this dinette-side conversation with me. 

Dad:  Thank you, Haley.  And thank you for blogging/logging our journey.  I am very thankful for your efforts.

Of a week spent in history

Since I haven’t written an update post for a little while, and because of all the things we’ve done this week and limited internet, I basically am writing about all the interesting things we’ve done this week.  I could write about all the un-interesting things that we did on Monday and Wednesday, but they are simply too boring to write about.  So here’s the big post, with a bit of detail and insight…

On Tuesday in the late morning we drove to Washington D.C.  The first stop was Arlington Cemetery, which is an enormous graveyard on a hill where thousands of members of the U.S. military (some with their spouses) and other important people are laid to rest.  There is a special part dedicated to the women who served in different branches or as nurses.  The presidential Kennedy family is buried there, and many war heroes dating back to the Civil War are there too.  A few prominent sports stars have their final resting place in Arlington, and of course, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is there. 

After walking amidst the huge cemetery, we came to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We got there just in time to see the Sentinel replacement, which was really neat.  Everyone watching was very silent and respectful, with the exception of one man whose cell phone went off.  He was quite embarrassed, and quickly silenced it. 

As I looked upon the tomb and the wreath of flowers before it, and the guard who was solemnly pacing in front, I remembered coming here just about ten years ago with dad, mom, Delaney and my paternal grandparents.  I was five years old; about 3 1/2 feet tall and not happy with the un-view I was getting at the memorial.  So, while our family was standing far off to the side of the tomb, I wandered over to the front.  It was an effort, there were lots of people and I remember squeezing my way through many pairs of legs to get to the very front, where I think I sat on the ground and watched the Sentinel pace back and forth.  Dad or mom soon found me and they were pretty relieved, although I didn't think it was a big deal.  I just wanted a better view...

I thought that the Sentinel change was really, really cool.  Every single movement they made was precise, with a commander giving orders.  The commander and two Sentinels did this amazing switch and not a mistake was made.  The Sentinels and commanders are very mysterious looking, which is the idea because they are supposed to look rather 'unknown' themselves.  Aside from their military suits and hat, they have very short, tight haircuts and wear dark sunglasses.  Their faces are positively expressionless, and they never turn their head or say a word, unless instructed to.  They carry guns and wear moistened white gloves to get a better grip on the weapon.  I read on dad's iPhone about them, mostly just FAQ's.  Here's what I learned:

How does the Sentinel rotation work?
They work 24-hour shifts (in which they rotate on and off)..  Time off is not really free...it takes about 8 hours to prep his/her uniform.  They also take physical training, Tomb Guard training and get haircuts before the next workday.

What is the routine of the Sentinel on duty?
The Sentinel takes 21 steps down the mat, stops on the 21st step and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds.  Then he turns to face back down the mat, changes his weapon to the outside shoulder, counts 21 seconds and then takes 21 steps down to the other end of the mat.  This is repeated until he is relieved at the Sentinel change. 

How often are the Sentinels changed?
During the period of April 1 to Sept. 30, the Sentinels are changed every thirty minutes.  In the winter (Oct. 1 to March 31) they are changed every hour.  During the hours when the cemetery is closed, the Sentinels are changed every two hours.  The Tomb is guarded, and has been guarded, every minute of every day and night since 1937.

What about their shoes?  Are they especially made?
The Sentinels shoes are standard military dress shoes.  They are built up so that the sole and heel are equal in height.  This allows the Sentinel to stand straight with his back perpendicular to the ground.  A side affect of this is that the Sentinel can 'roll' on the side of the build up as he walks down the mat.  If he does this correctly, he will move in a fluid fashion and his hat and bayonet will not 'bob' up and down with each step.  This gives him a more formal, smooth look to his walk, rather than a 'marching' appearance.

How do Sentinels get to and from the Tomb without being seen?
Most wear civilian clothes, although the haircuts usually give them away.

How many Sentinels have been female?
There have been three female Sentinels.

The most interesting part about Arlington was the large home at the top of the hill, which overlooks the entire cemetery and Washington D.C. below.  It was the home of George Washington Parke Custis, the step-grandson of George Washington.  Custis had a daughter, Mary Custis, who married General Robert E. Lee in the Arlington home.  Later, the Lee's moved there and it was home for Robert and Mary, along with their seven children.  Quite an interesting home, two-story with huge 'marble' pillars in front.  But it sure had a breathtaking view and was rich in history.  The home was a self-guided tour but the upstairs was closed due to earthquake damage. 

After Arlington, we visited the Washington monument and walked down the Mall to the Lincoln memorial.  I remember those also from our trip here ten years ago, and for some reason I remember being a little camera-shy--almost every picture we have of us in D.C. I am always holding onto dad's leg and half-smiling.  I'm over that, thankfully, or I would be holding onto his neck now... ;)

It was Thursday when dad decided to take us to D.C. again via the Metro.  We all enjoyed the Metro train much more than the trains and subways in NY…it was cleaner and smoother, and much quieter.

When we arrived in downtown D.C. at 11:00, it was just a short walk to the American History museum, which was a small part of the Smithsonian.  A large building of its own, the American History museum was three stories tall and it took us over four hours to see the whole thing.  But it was very interesting and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Then we walked a couple blocks down to go to the National Archives.  It was there that we got to see the original Bill of Rights, Constitution and signed Declaration of Independence.  They were all under glass in the rotunda of the building, and we had to wait our turn to see it as there were lots of people there.  It was a very dimly lit room, to preserve the fragile papers.  The Bill of Rights and the Constitution were in terrific shape, perfectly readable and the ink was still fairly bold.  Every document was hand-written in a lovely, flowing script that would have been normal print at the time.  The Declaration of Independence was not in such good shape though.  The printing was so faded that barely any words could be deciphered and John Hancock’s signature was barely legible (and we all know that his signature was the largest and boldest).  In ten to twenty years, we probably won’t even be able to see the writing anymore.  That’s pretty sad to think about, so I’m glad I got to see it.

Later, after dinner in a place called The Pavilion, we walked four blocks to the White House.  Unfortunately, two things prohibited us from getting a pleasant, good quality view of the White House.  1) It started to rain and was very humid.  2) The President was hosting a state dinner for the president of South Korea (along with a bunch of Marines that we watched file into the White House), and so the whole block was roped off and we couldn’t even get to the sidewalk that was right in front of the House.  So, we got a sorta-good view of the screened-off main entrance, where apparently the President and First Lady were greeting famous people.  There were also a bunch of South Korean protesters where we were, waving signs and yelling and beating weird beats on drums.  We will hopefully get to come back and get a good view on a day when there is no political excitement, so we can enjoy ourselves…

On our walk back to the Metro, it began to pour rain and lightning and thunder also started.  We had to duck inside an AT&T store when a clap of thunder hit right above us (it seemed) and made us all jump ten feet.  (It was also pouring cats and dogs and blowing onto us).  So we waited out the worst of the storm for a while, then walked to the Metro and took it to our car.  Thus ends our second day in Washington D.C. 

Now I’ll write about today, in which we visited Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.

When our family came here with Grandpa and Grandma Beyer ten years ago, it was raining and only dad and mom toured the place (Grandpa and Grandma had already been twice, and we girls were too little to appreciate it).  But this time, God gave us a beautiful day with blue sky, white clouds and temperatures in the mid 70’s.  With the fall colors coming out, and the majestic Potomac River in the background of the property, it was a beautiful sight. 

We spent all afternoon touring the mansion, grounds, outbuildings and museum.  It was all very fascinating and almost all of the artifacts in the mansion were the same pieces used by the Washington's!  In fact, the Washington family lived in the mansion up until the 1860's, when Mount Vernon was purchased by the Ladies' Association.  It is about the same as it was in George Washington's day, and even the trees that he planted on the property still stand tall and green around the front lawn. 

We have spent a wonderful week learning more about American history and getting to see so many neat places, and there will most likely be more to come in this next week.  But tomorrow, we are all going to Annapolis, Maryland, where dad is going to spend the day at the Annapolis School of Seamanship (he loves boats).  He will learn about navigation, safety and the course includes three in-class seminars and two on-the-water instructional cruises.  I think we girls will hang out in the city, which should be fun!  More soon!

...Beautiful Things...

This poem, written by Ellen P. Allerton in the 1800's, is a lovely way to describe true beauty.  I was drawn in by it's eloquent charm, and I hope it brings to mind a friend or family member of yours that displays these qualities, as I have. 

"Beautiful Things"

Beautiful faces are those that wear-

It matters little if dark or fair-

Whole-souled honesty printed there.

Beautiful eyes are those that show,

Like crystal panes where hearthfires glow,

 Beautiful thoughts that burn below.

Beautiful lips are those whose words

Leap from the heart like songs of birds

Yet whose utterance prudence girds.

Beautiful hands are those that do

Work that is honest and brave and true,

Moment by moment the long day through.

Beautiful feet are those that go

On kindly ministering to and fro,

Down lowliest ways, if God wills it so.

Beautiful shoulders are those that bear

Ceaseless burdens of homely care

With patient grace and daily prayer.

Beautiful lives are those that bless

Silent rivers of happiness,

Whose hidden fountains but few may guess.

Beautiful twilight at set of sun,

Beautiful goal with race well run,

Beautiful rest with work well done.

Beautiful graces where grasses creep

Where brown leaves fall, where drifts lie deep

Over worn-out hands--oh! beautiful sleep.