Pirate Booty

Traveling with four ages five and under is an adventure. Actually, traveling with Tony is an adventure. Because, while I'm handling all the mundane little details like potty breaks, he gets to witness some poor accountant turn his camper too short and right into a gas pump. Not fair.

Our most recent travels took us to Myrtle Beach where Tony had to measure an upcoming job. We got to tag along and make it a mini vacation. It would have been one too had it not been raining most of the weekend and if we hadn't spent 45 minutes out in the hallway waiting for housekeeping to finish cleaning our room when we arrived. And if the kids would have gone to bed at a decent hour. And...just kidding. It was a getaway regardless of whether or not Tony and I enjoyed it. 

We all agree, though, that one thing we did enjoy was the pirate voyage dinner theater we went to. I expected it to be an overpriced production put on by a bunch of kids working their way through college. The overpriced part is up for debate, but I was much impressed by the acrobatics, diving and dancing we got to watch. Not to mention the trained seals. Seals are so funny to watch. And did you know that a seal can balance his entire body on one flipper? I know, I didn't either. 

When we arrived at the show, they snapped a picture of us. Later, they caught us at a vulnerable moment when we were busy fixing our kid's plates, and we invested (literally, talk about overpriced) in a picture to commemorate this trip. I'm so glad we did. It captures us in ways that would make a professional photographer shudder, but it captures us as true to life as you can get. 

Yeah, some mom blogs feature lovely images beautifully edited in addition to their wise or witty words. Mine features my deflated hair, sound asleep Marlee, Kaylen for whom eye contact is a constant struggle and the forced smile of my first born. Tony managed to turn out a decent photo so we will skip over him.  Oh, and the baby who was hunting and pecking for her meal. Thankfully, this is a still shot and not a video. 

So, this is us. 

After the show, we exited through the gift shop. Of course. And it was filled to the brim with cheap junk that kids love. We'd already spent a small fortune and had decided beforehand that we would not be partaking in the gift shop goodies. The kids were forewarned as well, but that didn't stop Jacob from bringing a pirate pistol with three sucker darts for us to see. I know he was hoping we would have a change of heart. We didn't. So, his slumped little self went and put it back. 

On our way to the car we were talking about our favorite part of the show. When we asked Jacob his favorite, well, he couldn't answer because he was pouting. The entire experience of the night had been sabotaged by the drizzly rain cloud called discontent. 

Instead of focusing on what he did have, he could only see what he didn't. 

In Jacob's downcast face and gloomy attitude I saw myself. Surrounded by things people would love to have- a loving family, beautiful children, a nice home, good health, no debt, education, a full belly, a new bag of mini kit kats- I often can't see this bounty because I'm too busy wishing for what I don't have. And in the process, I'm missing the million daily joys I could be experiencing. 

So, take a lesson from a little boy. You can spend your life sulking about what you don't have, or you can open your eyes and see the goodness laid before you.