It's a fly by night thing

The family trip to Southern California to visit Sister was relatively peaceful. There was an escalating argument regarding my mother's relentless pursuit of renting a Rug Doctor to clean Sister's carpet against Sister's wishes. My mom won. Sister reports that the carpet is (1) not any cleaner; (2) still wet, days later; and (3) potentially poisonous to Ghost and Mato, the dog and cat of the beach house.

My family hasn't been on a vacation together for at least 8 years. Growing up, there was always a summer adventure in a dilapidated motorhome. One year, that adventure took us to California, just as last weekend did. In celebration of the fond memories that have surfaced over the past 5 days, I have compiled a list of ways that this vacation was different from the Unfortunate Lawyer Family Vacation of 1986.

1986: Mother teases Sister about whether or not she has a boyfriend
2008: Mother askes Sister if her boyfriend of nearly 4 years is "serious" or just a "fly by night thing"

1986: Family exhausted after a full day of swimming, sightseeing, and closing down an amusement park
2008: Family exhausted after introductory video at The Getty

1986: Mother injures herself doing a cartwheel
2008: Mother injures herself by "catching her arm on her purse" and has to "take herself out of the game"

1986: Parents cook campground breakfast on propane stove
2008: Parents displeased with lack of English muffins at Super 8 continental breakfast

1986: Dad wants to spend significant time at the beach
2008: Dad wants to spend significant time at the Home Depot in Marina del Rey

1986: Mother questions me about my childhood boyfriend, Nick
2008: Mother expresses thinly-veiled concern that I might be a lesbian

1986: Mother becomes nervous after not getting direct answers about Nick
2008: Mother becomes nervous after not getting direct confirmation of heterosexuality

1986: Mother produces homemade chocolate chip cookies she brought from the farm
2008: Sister produces cookies and brownies she purchased at medical marijuana dispensary

1986: Sister hides her diary under bed in motorhome
2008: Sister hides all evidence of boyfriend co-habitation under bed in house

1986: Sister and I's first trip to the ocean
2008: Mom and Dad's first trip to Ikea