Family Mellmann

Technically, the first day of school was Monday the 28th, but this picture was taken on Tuesday the 29th. You see, not every morning is a photo-friendly morning.  Sometimes we are disorganized, grumpy, and rushed (mostly disorganized and grumpy).  That was yesterday morning.  Everybody rushed out the door and by the time I realized I forgot to take THE pictur e, it was too late.  So I tried again this morning; things went much more smoothly this morning. Katherine is a newly minted eighth grader (yes, for those of you keeping track, she skipped the seventh grade). Patrick is on the downward slide towards graduation, entering his junior year.  And, yes, that's a motorcycle helmet hanging on his right arm and a tank bag in his left.  :)  There There   There are few cooler ways to get to school than on your motorcycle. I used to imagine what life would be like as an empty-nester with free time and fewer responsibilities. But as I commented to a friend earlier, the closer I g

It's a good thing we have three cars in this family. :-) Well, technically it isn't a car, but when your favorite son leaves you stranded at home when you have a dentist appointment, it's better than nothing. 

I didn't do a very good job of documenting Patrick's solo trip on his motorcycle (neither did he).  He didn't send me too many pictures, but he did take this fun time-lapse video of him setting up his tent on the first night. His journey took him from home, through New York, up into Toronto Canada, and on into Michigan where he made a surprise visit to his grandparents in Grand Rapids.  He spent a few days enjoying the luxury of hanging out with Oma and Opa before getting back on the bike to head home.  His return trip took him down into Indiana, through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, back into Vermont. It sounds like he had a really good time on this adventure, and learned that while he does enjoy riding on his own, he prefers sharing such experiences with others.  Perhaps his next adventure will be with a buddy (or his Mom). :)

It's not as if Patrick hasn't ventured from home on his own before.  Shoot, he had an epic summer travel schedule that put him on the soils of seven countries, some of which he experienced on his own...without parents.  He's even had a big summer motorcycle adventure...with parents.  But this is his first solo motorcycle adventure/road trip...without parents. He has a plan, a little money, a GPS (and a map), a sleeping bag, and all the motorcycle gear, and - of course - clean underwear.  We're only 'generally' aware of his travel plans, and we know roughly when he plans to be home (in time for our annual camping weekend with friends), but where he goes in between is part of the mystery and exploration that defines "road trip". He's not taking his own bike on this trip, but the slightly stronger (more powerful) bike that Joerg bought last fall.  It's a Yamaha SR 400, and it's got all the right stuff for this trip; a metal tank (perf