Filipino Road Trip
My brother and mom in the old Chevy van at the beach It is that time of year again that we plan the family vacation. My husband tried to persuade me to "road trip it" from Texas to Virginia and my heart sank. He romanticized the notion with childhood memories of meandering through small towns and enjoying the countryside of America. When he was growing up, he recalled there was no need for hotel reservations or extensive planning. If there was no place to sleep, his family would simply pitch a tent at the nearest national park. His story did not convince me. My memories were far too different. Imagine a van from the 80's - a beige Chevy, an empty shell with no seats, no windows, or seat belts. We had a mattress in the back, five kids, grandma, and "the bucket". Eventually dad outfitted the van with chairs when he could afford them, but not in the early days. I recall weekend trips to Galveston. My brother was charged with sitting on the cooler so