The Trouble With...(Pt. 13)

Let us take a moment to talk about the two types of people in the world. I grant you there is a lot (and I am not making that number up) of different views on this subject. There are memes that will keep you laughing for hours. There are educational discussions on the matter that make you think you should not judge others. While this is inherently true, there is something within us that automatically divides. For example, without one the other could not exist. They may be obviously opposite, but they compliment each other. They stand interdependent, and are still interconnected. They relate to one another in a way that brings meaning to chaos. It is the Yin-Yang principle, if you will. It is almost assuredly why we say "opposites attract" when we talk about relationships. And you cannot have night without day, hot without cold, true without false, or right without left. The list could go on. I do not pretend to be an expert. I can only give you my opinion. Why do we subconsciously make this division within ourselves?

My personal theory is this: our brains are divided into two hemispheres. That's it! Right Brain vs. Left Brain. Right and left. Together, connected. Sometimes working as one, sometimes in chaos. There is a lot of information out in the universe about this (again, I am not making this number up). If you wish to do some research, I encourage you to do it. It is fascinating. For the purposes of this story, I am only giving you some background.

The Right Brain is basically the creative side. If you are right brain dominant, theoretically you are more imaginative, intuitive, artistic, and rhythmic. You may be more empathetic or be more aware of nonverbal cues. Your way of thinking may be more visual and less organized (which is a relative term) than someone who is Left Brain dominant.

The Left Brain is the logical side. Those who are Left Brain dominant like order. If you are Left Brain dominant, you are probably more verbal and analytical. Your thinking is more linear and sequenced. You need to get things done in order or by a list. You need the facts, and just the facts. Mathematics may be a strength.

The Whole Brain works together. Do not think that you are only one side of your brain. The brain is amazing and capable of learning new things. If you want to strengthen one hemisphere, try something out of your wheelhouse.

I told you all of that so I could prepare you for a journey. The Abel Family trip to Grandma's in Illinois began as an ordinary trip. Forty-two calls between us about what to bring, and about the weather, and about the things she had already planned for us, and about all of the animals on the farm, and about which beds we were sleeping in, and about what time we would arrive, and about... You get it. OH! Did I mention this was before cell phones? If we were not arriving when we said we would be there, it was an issue. Your parents are standing at the door waiting until you arrive after an 8 hour drive. Fact.

We pulled out of the driveway with everything we could possibly want for our journey. Buckled in, ready to go! Then drove around the block to go back in for sunglasses. Boom!

Now we're moving. It's a beautiful day. We started early, so we should get there by dinner. I let the kids pick the first round of music. They are asleep by the first or second song. Boom! We're two hours into our trip and my husband, Jamie, and I have been chatting non-stop. He stops at rest stop and when he returns, I am asleep. Boom! This is so typical of our trips. I think he rather enjoyed being able to turn off our music and put on talk radio.

Later we stop for a quick lunch and get everyone out for a stretch, walk-about, and bathroom break. We are over halfway there and into our second state by this point. Now we have lots of travel games to play, like "the Alphabet Game," "The License Plate Game," "I Spy," and others. This gives Jamie ample time to hone up his dad-joke skills. We are locked in and cannot get away. Jamie, ever the creative force, is supremely quick-witted and has a very dry sense of humor. Stephanie is just like him. Whenever he dropped a dad joke, she was right there with him, but also giving it right back with the one-two punch, "Ugh! Daaad!" By the age of 6, she had his number.

On the other hand, or should I say, on the left hand side, Justin spent most of his time asking, "What? What's so funny?" With most people, if you have to explain a joke, it just isn't worth it. With Spud, it was almost funnier to see him "get" a dad-joke. They are notoriously ugh-funny to begin with, and they became funnier when he would laugh at them. It became a one-two-three punch for the family. Dad tells joke and guffaws, Stephanie rolls her eyes, Spud has to have it explained then laughs. Boom! The whole family laughs!

We roll across the border into Illinois. The kids are getting anxious because they know we are getting closer. I mean, we are in the state! Jamie continues with his jokes. He says to Spud, "So, Spud, I have a riddle for you. Pete and Repeat are sitting on a wall. Pete jumps off. Who is left?"

"Repeat." Spud answers. "Repeat," says Stephanie at the same time.

As he starts to repeat it, "Pete and Repeat are..." "UGH!" Stephanie screams from the backseat. I just start to chuckle.

"...sitting on a wall. Pete jumps off. Who is left?" Justin says, "What Steph? It's Repeat." She says, "NO! SHUT UP!"

And Jamie begins again, "Pete and Repeat are sitting on a wall. Pete jumps off. Who is left?"

Stephanie continued yelling at Spud to stop. Spud continued to go over and over it in his mind. He was positive the answer was "repeat." He could not not answer the logical answer. Every time he said it, Jamie would "repeat" it. Stephanie, at 6, could not get him to understand that it was a joke. He, at 10, could not wrap his head around the fact that it was not logical. He was giving the correct answer. How else could you answer the question?

This lasted the rest of the trip; at least 30 minutes of driving. Stephanie was furious and frustrated, but also laughing at the situation. Jamie continued to repeat it every time he said the word. I could not stop laughing. I am Left Brain dominant, and I couldn't get Spud to not answer the question. In all honesty, neither could I stop my husband from continuing to drive that nonsense into the ground. To this day, we never mention Pete or his friend.