loving art, science and creative kids

Expect the Unexpected

Expect the Unexpected

Crazy stuff happens and you learn to roll with it. The past year was a reminder that much of life is dealing with unanticipated happenstances. In ordinary times, people search for new experiences through travel and by being challenged at work and play. Raising children for eighteen years is another trip into unanticipated territory that calls for fortitude. Confronting barriers that inhibit our goals teaches that patience, perseverance, and a sense of humor are valuable assets for getting through difficult times. The way we manage the past helps to guide us through difficult times like pandemics, natural disasters, and civil unrest.

  Years ago, my husband and I embarked on a two-month cross-country tour with four young children in tow. Our route included camping sites at state and national parks along the way. On a hot June day, we piled into our station wagon with rooftop storage bursting with camping equipment, clothing, and car toys. It was a struggle to get organized but we finally did, waking early on departure day raring to go.

  As the kids bounded into the car, imagine my shock at seeing my youngest child glowing a bright shade of red. Though a bit lethargic, she was in good spirits, so we proceeded with the assumption that her appearance was caused by excitement. While singing on the turnpike and speeding past farmlands, I noticed her looking more peaked? Turning back didn't appeal to any of us at the time, so we continued onward and stopped at a motel that evening. By the time we arrived, we were two states away from home.

  It took one glance the next morning to see her problem. My five-year-old was unusually quiet with a blooming case of chickenpox. Thankfully the older children were immune having already suffered through the illness. There was nothing I could do to make her better except keep her quiet and rested. Since the disease would run its course, the car was as good a place to be as any, but my guilt knew no bounds. I wondered how many people she had already infected and how to keep her away from other travelers as we continued. The following week was not easy. We were sequestered in our vehicle and stayed glued to each other--not an ideal way to start a vacation, but we didn't panic. We managed to keep our daughter isolated and in good spirits as her health improved.

  Travel with children brings with it the anticipation that things may go wrong. It is best to start a journey with a "whatever happens is an adventure" attitude. Surprises provide opportunities to embrace workaround solutions.

  Two weeks later we crossed the Rockies in Colorado and stopped at our destination camping area to discover it was surrounded by six-foot-high snowdrifts. It was early July and we did not expect it to be bitter cold on the mountain pass. To make matters worse, a windstorm with punishing sleet descended on us. We huddled in the tent while the gale howled and lifted its corners to make me fearful of being blown away. The children were petrified. The occasion required soothing words and parental calmness, something I hardly possessed. Huddled together wearing several layers of clothing, we put a child in each corner of the tent to keep it from lift-off.

  We kept the kids entertained with jokes, and my husband grabbed his guitar and started a raucous family sing-a-long, outshouting the howling sounds outside. Late that evening the wind died down and exhausted, we fell asleep. The experience made me realize the value of humor and song in family life. Surviving the evening's storm, we awakened to a crystal clear world sparkling with ice and snow that gave us a Rocky Mountain High.

  A few days later I challenged myself by jumping into ice-melt water in a 12,000-foot lake while my children applauded. A five-minute swim was all I could endure, but what surprised me most was how hot I felt when I came out. Blood rushed to the surface of my skin to offer protection from the cold, turning it as red as a cooked lobster. It was energizing and I felt fantastic. After drying off and reclaiming my clothes, we continued our hike and a tremendous surge of adrenaline made me forge ahead to lead the pack. I never tried jumping into ice water again, though I do understand why Polar Bear Club members do so each January. Learning to take calculated risks is a critical skill to acquire. It is helpful when dealing with the unexpected.

  Another disturbing situation greeted us on our return voyage. At the entrance to a mid-west campground, we were told of a gypsy encampment on the grounds and warned to watch our belongings. At most camping areas personal belongings could be left on the premise with the expectation that they will be there when returning from a day's outing. Not knowing anything about the group we wondered if they were thieves or simply being ostracized by the camp's owner.

  In those days, the word gypsy conjured up mystery and intrigue brought about by movie images. We wondered how they dressed and if they were involved in magic, spells, and exotic dancing? Investigating more closely, we found a compound of 6 trailers positioned around a campfire. The trailers were not in the best condition and looked well-traveled but the people were involved in ordinary camping activities. The children were playing and the adults preparing the evening meal looked harmless enough.

  After the owner's dire warning, we did watch our belongings despite the fact that I believed the campground's owner reinforced a stereotype. The encounter made me realize now how difficult it is to shed biases embedded since childhood. The gypsy families on holiday deserved better consideration than they were given. the experience helped me better understand a few nuances of Black Lives Matter uprisings today.

  Unexpected incidents, whether tragic or joyful, require mental alertness. Decisions have to be made that involve trust and questioning stereotypical views. An adage says, "travel broadens you and enriches your thinking," and Socrates reminded his peers that, "the unexamined life is not worth living." Though we have not been able to travel broadly during the past year, we have certainly been introduced to new landscapes that made us understand ourselves and society better. To overcome the pandemic, natural disasters, racial protests, and civil unrest we had to reexamine the way we think and look deeply at our prejudices. We were forced to face uncharted territory and give meaning and purpose to our lives.

  The year certainly taught me and my friends what was important, who we love, can count on, and miss. It made us aware of the health professionals and service people who kept the economy going and of those who were left to suffer. It was a journey, an excursion that opened vistas to change the way we will behave in the future. We understand more. What will be done with that understanding has yet to be determined.

Do comment on my blogsite https://www.eichingerfineart.com/blog and share your insights and takeaways about the past year.

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Art can be seen on my website at eichingerfineart.com. For information contact me at [email protected]

Hope, Love, Survive, 40" x 30 ", NFS

For information about my art contact me  at [email protected]

Hope, Love, Survive  NFS