My daughter Claire has been retching as we approached our car lately. She says it’s the “smell” but I think it’s psychosomatic; she remembers times she had motion sickness and when she sees the car it triggers an upset stomach. Well, today she went and puked in the parking lot of a rest stop. More details and a technicolor photo after the jump…

We had taken a trip to Hershey Pennsylvania, which included lots of sugary treats, like chocolates and Jolly Ranchers. Out diet consisted of hotel buffet breakfasts and more frozen french fries than in an Ore Ida refrigerated truck. We approached the car after a quick rest stop and Claire started coughing. I hadn’t even opened the door when a flow of breakfast remerged from her mouth and hit the street.

This puke reaction has been really frustrating for me. I’m trying my best to provide the family with reasonably priced transport and it breaks my heart to think that what I’ve got makes Claire sick. Of course, I look at it as a problem to be solved. Is there moisture in the carpet causing a mildew smell? Do we need better floormats? Are the worn rear springs causing motion sickness? If I replace them and get sport shocks, with the ride be too bumpy and be more uncomfortable? Maybe if these kids didn’t spill their damn drinks and goldfish crackers all over the back seat they’d be more comfortable.

We’ll be getting rid of the baby seats and going with slim booster seats this X-mas. Maybe that’ll help. Or maybe I should just ask Desiree to steal some airsickness bags from the plane on her trip to Florida in January.