Poor little Ellie, I feel bad for her. But, she’s brought this upon herself. You see, Ellie doesn’t travel well. She’s a horrible traveler, actually. And now, she will be left behind.
The entire family is taking a much-needed vacation to Disneyland here in the near future. We’ve been planning this trip for more than a year, and now that it is approaching everyone is very excited to go. Everyone but Ellie, that is. Because Ellie will be staying home.
A few months ago we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. On the way home, Ellie sealed her fate. She screamed the entire way home. This is no normal scream, it is a demonic shriek that pierces the skull and echos around even after the shriek is gone. Had there been a sizable cliff to drive off of on that fateful trip home, I would have been tempted to Evel Knievel right off that thing. I recorded nearly 4 minutes of this, the MP3 version is down below. I’m sure it could be a best-seller on iTunes in the torture-and-self-mutilation genre (if one existed).
Another issue with the scream is that there doesn’t seem to be any purpose to it. When she gets out of the car seat, she’s fine, even pleasant. But while buckled in she is a banshee. The screaming seems to be lessening with time, or maybe I’m just going deaf from it.
This screaming phenomenon lead me to issue the following ultimatum: “Either she stays home, or I do.”
Manina doesn’t like to drive on long road trips, otherwise I’m sure I would be staying home.
Download the audio here: Ellie_Wailing_Her_Guts_Out
(I dare you to listen to the whole thing, on high-volume, and not want to jab yourself in the eyeball with a fork.)
MightyJohnsons 
That is pathetic! I know you’re just trying to relieve your guilt…
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I have zero guilt. If you actually listen to the entire 3:51, you’ll understand.
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I am gonna miss my baby girl…and Seth is right, if it weren’t for him driving, he would be left home. 🙂
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I’m with you, Seth. That’s pretty incredible! I followed your instructions and turned the volume up all the way, called Kathy to come listen and let her rip. About half-way through, Kathy handed me a fork and said, “Do you want to go first or me?”
I’m with you, Seth… 🙂
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OK… I have to retract that comment about Kathy handing me the fork (above). I made that up. However, now she is going to use it on me if I don’t tell the truth. 😦
I’m still with you, Seth…
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If I had a dime for every time my wife threatened me with a fork… Glad you have my back around here, Gary.
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The “rest” of the story…….While Seth and his one-short-of-being-complete family were twirling in the teacups in Disneyland, G’Pa Mike drove to American Fork and examined the car seat that Seth and Manina torture sweet little Elle with. Upon close scrutiny, Emily and I discovered a NEEDLE that had somehow become lodged in the crease of the car seat that seems to be hitting the poor little thing on the back of her little leg…not deeply enough to leave a mark, just deep enough to illicit the scream of death. Emily and I removed it and have sent it to DFPSC (Department For The Protection of Screaming Children). You guys have a great trip…we’ve got Elle where she’ll feel safe.
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Wowee…that IS a brutal scream. Maybe we could patch that in a good metal song somewhere. LOL!
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