This exchange between my husband, Ace, and my college roommate, Jessicca, amused me. They hash out logistics of an upcoming trip to the Bay of Fundy. I post mostly to give you a peek into my marriage ; )
Ace writes:
“Jessica: I don’t know how informed you are about the most recent version of our plans. As currently conceived, we would rely upon you heavily. Not sure how comfortable we all are with that idea. I will paint a picture in which you carry a heavy burden for you to consider as you walk the hills of Scotland, such that we might alter them as you see fit.
In the days leading up to the trip, Anne and/or I contact you frequently with ‘ideas'(ie demands) for materials which we might find useful along the coast of NB, but which are inconvenient to carry on an airplane. The ‘ideas’ will surely include pillows for Anne (unless I convince her that a place capable of sleeping 10 will have enough pillows…), coolers, foodstuffs, beach towels, etc, etc.
[Date redacted] sees Anne/[Ace/The Big E] enjoying restful flights to St. John, arriving at 8:08 pm. Meanwhile, Jessica has stuffed her vehicle with pillows, etc, and has driven long, hot, difficult miles in summer vacation traffic, located an obscure house, and is still expected to pick Anne et al. up at the airport, providing taxi service to the pile of Maine pillows.
You will then be expected to participate in a variety of activities, with a quarrelsome bunch of people who hate the sun, but also hate rain, and hate wind. The adolescent may be the most agreeable of the bunch which says a lot, but all will claim they are carsick. There will then be several days of excessive running about, at the expense of your vehicle, and patience.
Just when you can’t stand another moment, dreaming of your quiet ride home, you realize that the entire bunch now plans to accompany you back across the wasteland we midwesterners know to be Northern Maine. When you should be unpacking, washing your clothes and freeing you mind, they will still all be there, right on top of you for another 36 hours—starting [date redacted]! They will expect accommodations of all types. Then, they will demand unreasonably early transportation to the Portland air transit facility, with hardly a thanks, the morning of [date redacted].
You have several options which could minimize difficulties. Some of those options will alter the plans we need to make on our end. So please let us know if you would rather opt out altogether (eg an oversees walking trip suddenly emerging offers an excellent escape route). Let us know if you would rather meet us in NB at a time or place different from the proposed such that we could arrange alternate transport upon arrival. Let us know if you think a second car would be useful in any event (I see some obvious advantages), such that you could avoid an airport run at a difficult time in unfamiliar environs. Let us know if we should book motels/cars/etc for the brief Maine portion of the intrusion, including the Portland airport motel the night before our flight. I will cease listing the options for the sake of brevity, trusting you to make your desires and demands known.
I know it sounds like more fun than you had considered possible, hope your wild anticipation will not blunt your hills of scotland experience. [Ace]”
Jessicca’s response:
“Dear [formal name redacted],
Barring any unforeseen incidents (such as asteroids striking the earth) I would be delighted to join your expedition to the wilds of NB. Maine is not bad in summer to drive as long as I avoid route 1 from June until September so up 95 I shall go and the Expedition has Sirius XM radio so I have entertainment. Pillows I have in abundance and the aforementioned Expediton has tons of space so we are good there. I can also bring coolers, umbrellas, tents, ponchos, hats, books, games, or anything else you might like that will not fit in the overhead bin of the plane.
And the true reason for my agreeing to come (as you should already suspect) is to spend time with The Big E so happiness abounds in my world. As for sun, rain and wind I will bring sunscreen, my new raincoat and my sturdy Maine build (very hard to blow me over). I have managed to navigate across the US not once but 5 times without getting lost and have driving three times to the wilds of Northern Ontario so I should hopefully find the house in NB and the airport. If not then you, my friend, are out of luck.
Friends are always welcome at the Farm or my house in Raymond even when they are tired, cranky and smelly after trekking the shores of the Bay of Fundy. I love to travel and see new places and my goal in life is to say yes to as many cool, interesting things as possible…..so YES count me in and hopefully I prove to be a not too annoying travel companion. Enjoy your week and I am sure we will talk soon!
Sincerely,
Jessicca Grover
Globe Trekking former roommate of Anne Lippin”
Ace chimes in once again:
“Excellent, we will being forwarding an updated list of need weekly until departure, perhaps daily toward the end.
More importantly, what is the origin of the second “c”, or perhaps the first “c”, in Jessicca? Surely one should pronounce your name Jes-sic-ca, not jess-i-ca? If Anne hadn’t scolded me for misspelling your name, I would have forever gone on believing your typing skills were lacking, but not thought the less of you for it—knowing that poor typing skills are closely associated with genius. [Ace]”
Jess says:
“The second c is all mom plus when you say Jessicca with a maine accent it sounds like 2 c’s.”