Randy, our youngest, had said we could stay with him. But we didn’t wish to appear we were playing favorites – although it would have been more practical. He and Carrie recently purchased a house much larger than they need in an area about 45 minutes (without construction) from where we ended up staying. Instead of visiting each boy individually, we would make them come to us.
In all honesty, neither Jenna nor I were looking forward to the drive or the changes that we had known occurred during our absence – and those things that had not. We knew that Randy would continue to try being funny and monopolize everyone’s time. In all honesty, the thing I was looking forward to the most was seeing my sister and her family.
As I had mentioned in a previous post, I hadn’t slept well this entire month. Traveling has always been worse on my sleep patterns. Thus I wasn’t thinking clearly when I suggested an out-of-the-way route we should go – the one the bus lines use because it seems the safest and I wanted the roads to be clear should there be snow. With the amount of rainfall we have had all year (or lack of it) I think we would have been okay to take the less traveled roads. My biggest worry was because of the amount of rain which filled the river beds in two days (instead of gradually during the last four months) and the coldness could create ice. But whatever. So we traveled a great distance in one day (Roland really should have stopped in Boise or somewhere before Tremonton; it is wrong to stay awake for 20 plus hours in a row.)
Over 2000 years ago, a census was brought forth not just in Rome, but most of Europe. A census had also been issued in Palestine. Only it was under Jewish law rather than Roman law. Families were ordered to return to the lands of their births (or their fathers births) in order to pay taxes. Joseph and Mary had made the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
According to Google or this site, it takes only two and a half hours to travel there by car – today. Joseph and Mary did not have the luxury of traveling by car. They had to walk. On dirt roads. They didn’t get to wear hiking boots or running shoes. They wore sandals.
I really didn’t mean to, but for my lack of sleep, I complained about my twisted pretzel shape position I had felt in the car. We had stopped for Ben Gay to soothe my aching muscles. We stopped often to stretch, to eat, to use the toilet or what have you. Mary and Joseph most likely did not have those luxuries. We don’t know how many stops they made, where, or at what expense. Mary and Joseph weren’t traveling to Bethlehem because the wanted to. They had been ordered to. The expenses issued were the ones that the government provided. We chose our own expenses.
Mary may have not walked the entire way. It has been speculated that she might have been on a donkey at one point. Either way, she was pregnant. Nine months pregnant! I don’t know about Mary, but when I was pregnant, I had to use the toilet even more than I do right now. Roland would have had to get a room in Boise or even before that as we would have been making bathroom stops every 20 minutes. Did Mary even have that luxury? Plus, we were able to adjust the temperature of the car according to our desires. I know that Mary and Joseph didn’t have that option.
There was no room for them at the inn. According to this site, there really weren’t any inns or motels as we think of today. People would stay with their relatives in a guest room – which, again, we did have the opportunity to do so with Randy and Carrie – but it was another hour drive – through construction. Our “inn” was crowded that first night but we had made a reservation. That is another option or luxury we had that Mary and Joseph did not. Cell phones, reservations . . . we were expected – well, the following day. Our reservations weren’t complete.
Roland had added a day just in case we did arrive early, but the information had not been communicated. They were completely booked except for two rooms. Our choices were between a smoking room which they said they could febreze or a room with a bathroom designed with a shower for one who might be in a wheelchair; it had no tub. As I am allergic to cigarette smoke and will get headaches even if febreze is used, we choose the one with the handicapped bathroom facility.
Mary and Joseph had the choice of sleeping outside or inside where animals were kept – probably in some kind of cave. I imagine a midwife was called. She is probably the only human who offered services. We had waiters, maids, running water, access to a small pool and spa. The only animals we saw were the fake lit up deer Christmas decorations. We didn’t have to have Jenna sleep in a manger. We each had our own bed. It was really nice – though I may not have appreciated it at the time.
I would like to express my appreciation to all of those who provide service at the rest stops and maintain the properties and such. Thank you to all those who stayed open on Christmas to either wait on us or provide us with shelter. Thank you for giving up your Christmas so that I could have mine.
