Newark, New Jersey - the mental image we had of that place ranks right up there with New York City. And to make matters worse, every time we mentioned that Hunter was flying in to the airport there, people would say things like "You're not taking that trailer in there are you?" "What day of the week are you going there?" etc. Wow, that really built our confidence! Then I read an article that stated that 25% of the U.S. population lives within 300 miles of New Jersey! That's a lot of people!
Then on Saturday as we left Saugerties, New York, we headed south on the NY thruway; our destination the Delaware Water Gap, PA KOA - which is just across the New Jersey state line in Pennsylvania. We've made this trip several times before, and I carefully outlined the highways we needed to take for Roger - just in case I dozed off. And of course, two things happened: I dozed off and Roger missed a turn. SO, instead of going west on I-84 to Pennyslvania, we ended up going south - straight into New Jersey! The cell phone rang and so I'm chatting along and realize that I'm not seeing any I-84 signs. So when I ended my phone conversation, I grabbed the map and tried to figure out where we were. Yep, headed right for the heart of New Jersey. Thankfully, it was the weekend - and we were on the interstate - so we got through just fine. (It really is a beautiful state). But one thing hasn't changed - you still have to pay to get out! Since it is bordered by water - all exits end in a toll bridge - or anyways all the ones we've ever been on. Then we get back on familiar roads in Pennsylvania and we inched our way to the campground. It's in the Poconos, which is THE recreation area for this part of the country. So Roger and I are chatting and I say, Isn't that our turn off? Sure enough, Roger had missed his turn AGAIN! Twice in one day!
So we get turned around and make the turn. He starts talking about our how we'll work it at the airport on Sunday morning. He suggests he'll drop me off at the door, then park, etc. And I'm thinking, "No way am I letting him out of my sight! He'll end up in the middle of New York City just trying to find the parking garage!"
Took advantage of our last quiet evening off - and just relaxed. So Sunday morning the phone rings about 6:30 a.m. our time - and it's Russ - at the airport and filling out paperwork for Hunter to fly 'unaccompanied'. Now, I know hundreds of kids do this every day, but not our Hunter. So this was BIG for the Hughes family. We got ourselves around, ate a bite of breakfast, and headed out about 8:30 to meet her 11:45 flight! (No, we were not excited, we just wanted to be sure to be there in plenty of time . . . RIGHT!) As we were pulling out of the park, the phone rings and it's Russ, saying her flight has just taken off. He left instructions that we were to phone as soon as she arrived: "I'll be in church with my phone on vibrate. Just let it ring and I'll know she's ok."
This trip we enlisted the help of Roger's friend (the Garmin GPS) "Sylvia" and she took us right to the airport! But I had to take over the navigation - and sign reading - to get us to the right terminal. Guess you could say it was a 'team effort'.
Not much traffic that early on a Sunday. We're feeling really good about New Jersey at this point. Now to navigate the airport! Terminal C is about the size of the entire Will Rogers Airport. So we find the security checkpoint - and a friendly looking young lady at an information table. So she directs us upstairs to talk to a ticket agent about getting a pass to go through security to meet the flight at the gate. OK Upstairs we go - only to find no one! So back down two floors to the Continental ticket counters where we find a gentleman who looks like just maybe he knows something. And he did - and was very helpful - got us both passes to go through security.
So we're back standing in line, doing the 'security routine': empty the pockets, take off the shoes, belt, etc. Right about then, Roger realizes he has his pocket knife. It didn't dawn on him that he would have to go through security. So, sacrifice one pocket knife for the cause! Of course, I always set off the alarms with my bionic knees. Got through security and we ended up only being about an hour early. Which was good - rather us wait, than her, and the flight was about 15 minutes early.
Granddaughter in hand, we head back to Pennsylvania. The first thing she wanted to do was 'unpack and settle in'. I emptied a drawer, and while I made lunch, she unpacked. I thought her sandwich was going to dry up before she got finished. It took several tries before she got things 'just right'.
With lunch over, it was time to start with the fun stuff. She & I walked up to the camp store and bought a post card to send home to Mom. Stopped by the pool for a short swim, for the water is still pretty cold in these parts. The bulk of the afternoon was spent writing the first edition of her very own blog. She has named it "Huey's Big Trip" and you can follow it on your own at http://hueysbigtrip.blogspot.com.
When she tired of writing, she and Grandpa headed out for a round of mini-golf. After supper (chicken with Grandma's homemade gravy for dippin') they blew up her air mattress bed and she settled in for the night. She went to sleep with the computer perched on her tummy, headphones in place, watching the movie King Kong.
I fell asleep in my chair and when I woke up about 11:45 p.m., Grandpa had 'unhooked' her and gone to bed himself. And that's probably how a lot of our days will end while she's with us.
No comments:
Post a Comment