Good News or Bad News first? Bad news you say? Okay.
I’d rather be poked in the eye with a sharp stick than sit at an airport for 5 ½ hours…..TWICE!
I’ll try to be as clear and concise as possible. IT SUCKS!!
There’s a reason why I don’t travel much, and it couldn’t have been made more clear than this latest trip to my daughter Julie’s for the Christmas holiday. The only shred of sanity that kept me going was the ‘pot of gold’ waiting at the end of the rainbow….spending time with my kids and grandkids. It’s amazing the level of frustration one will endure for the chance at that sweet pot; and thank God it was all worth it.
My daughter, Jenna and I left Chicago’s O’Hare Airport that Sunday afternoon under some pretty suspect weather conditions. Extremely cold and icy weather and strong, gusty winds….just short of tornado standards, was the menu of the day. Yes sir, just the kind of weather I want to be flying around in an airplane in. Hell, they even had to de-ice the wings of our bird before we could take off….a view I watched intermittently right outside my window.
Ah, take-off. Now that seemed to be the keyword of the day. It would suggest that one would actually be leaving the ground en route to another destination. Oh believe me, there was some concern that it might not happen.
We could have made the fatal mistake of just showing up at the airport in plenty of time for our scheduled departure. Does anyone do that anymore? As luck would have it….and my dislike for hanging around airports, I called my handy American Airlines 800 number four or five times from home to see if our flight was leaving on time. Each time I called they added at least a half hour to our departure time with the explanation that they didn’t have an aircraft available yet. WHOA…that’s kind of an important detail to be missing. When I finally got the same departure time three times in a row, we were on our way to O’Hare. Oh, if only it were that easy. What made me think it would be smooth sailing from there on out? Naivete?? Stupidity? Both?
Long story…short….
We had two gate changes and three more delays. By the end of the day we rolled into Julie’s driveway some 4 ½ - 5 hours later than planned. My daughter, Jory and her husband, Jesse, had it even worse than us....coming from California. They had a layover in Texas and were literally in an airport or on an airplane for 16 hours or more. Needless to say, our travel mishaps put a big damper on our first day together.
The trip back home was just as frustrating with a four hour delay and one gate change. It seems there were some mechanical problems that couldn’t be easily remedied and we had to wait for a new plane. At one point they were issuing ‘free food’ vouchers and giving people the option of going ‘stand-by’ on a rival airline that might leave an hour or two earlier. Now THAT seems like a bad day in “Airlineville” to me….but you should have seen the line of people who took them up on it. With no guarantees that this option would be any better, Jen and I stayed put and waited out the 4 hours.
The flight was smooth and uneventful…something we were all hoping for by that time of night. When I limped through the front door at about 12:30 a.m., my tired and achy body couldn’t fall into bed fast enough. I could still hear those ridiculous garbled airport messages in my head as I hit the pillow.
I found out the next day that Jory and Jesse had it worse than us again....arriving at home at around 3:30 a.m (my time) after sitting in an airplane on the runway at O’Hare for several hours. (layover….again) I think I’d go friggin’ crazy sitting on an airplane going nowhere for that long.
Well, that little recap was good therapy. Now let’s concentrate on the Good News…..
EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!
Well, except for Jenna slipping on Julie’s wooden staircase the day after Christmas and bouncing down a few stairs on her butt. We’re pretty sure she has a bruised tailbone, but she’s a trooper; and with a good attitude and some ibuprofen, she managed okay. Besides, Bastian thought she was the best thing since sliced bread…and that will keep Jenna going forever.
As a matter of fact, we all had such a good time with Bella and Bastian that we actually opted to rise at ungodly early hours every morning when we first heard him go downstairs with Mommy or Daddy. He was addictive. I just loved to sit and watch and listen to everything he said and did.
“Da ball, da ball” …..as he whipped any number of toy balls past our heads.
“Choo-choo, choo-choo”….as he sat on his new tricycle from Santa and read his train books.
But the best part of all was the hugs and kisses…..and he was very generous with both. He never ran out, and he had them for everyone…topped off with a little chuckle or two.
Then there was the delightful and often hysterical antics of 4-year-old Bella. What a card that child is. She was in rare form and chatted with all of us about everything….school, friends, movies.
“That’s the first I’m hearing about this,” Julie said in amazement.
Bella doesn’t always volunteer to just chat about these things…..only if the time and tides are right….and she’s in the mood. Julie was enjoying it as much as we were. We never did get to some of the things Bella had on her “to do” list; like having a tea party with her new tea set and polishing and putting decals on all of our fingernails.
What with presents to play with, gingerbread cookies to make, and movies to watch…a girl can pack only so much in a day. She’s presently working on being a female Harry Potter. She already has the hat.
It was a wonderful five days together. We had great, long conversations, played scrabble, watched movies, and devoured good food and every moment we could with Bella and Bastian. Aunt Jory and Aunt Jenna were recruited for bedtime stories...and happily accepted.
And for anyone wondering….’Stoney’ never intruded in my fun. I may have had my normal aches and pains, but Stoney didn’t contribute to them. I still don't know what his plans are.
Christmas dinner was the biggest standing rib roast any of us had ever seen. Jesse prepared it, and it was beyond delicious. With dishes by Jory, Julie and Chris…and dessert by Jenna, dinner was perfect and supplied us with a couple of days of great leftovers.
The day was just what I’d hoped for. All of us together in love and laughter, merriment and memories. At one point I took a quiet moment to call my son, Joe, who wasn’t able to join us. He was the only link missing from our family chain….he….and his dad. They both would have loved that beef roast... and tossing the ball back and forth with ‘our little guy.’
Happy New Year everyone! May 2008 be good to all of you.
The joys of flying..
Glad you made it home in one piece, along with the rest of the family.
Happy New Year Joy!
Posted by: janeywan | December 30, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Welcome Home, Joy.
Sorry about your flight delays but I know from reading the rest of your post that the delays were definitely worth the rewards you got from being with the children.
Glad you didn't hear from SS.
Happy New Year
Posted by: Nancy | December 30, 2007 at 05:39 PM
JOYFUL! Happy, happy, joy, joy!
So glad you enjoyed the time with all the J's and B's! I was tempted to bust in on the fun while home with my Mom, but thought better of it! And as for the travel nightmare, you should have called me, was not so long ago, on my flights from hell, you were always on the other line with some "Joyful" words and an "M&M" moment or two!
Love you, best of health (no ss crap) and happiness for you and the Joyfull's!
xoxoxox
Posted by: miffy | December 30, 2007 at 06:02 PM
Darn airports. At least the pay off was excellent for all of you.
Posted by: Denise | December 30, 2007 at 06:57 PM
Hello Joy! Great. You've touched down. Certainly wonderful to be spending Christmas holidays with loved ones. Thank you for sharing.
Here's wishing you ooodles and ooodles and ooodles of activities and nice things happening for 2008. Take care. LOL.
Posted by: leawaugh | December 30, 2007 at 08:19 PM
We were trapped in an airplane for a few hours last week. We had to wait to be de-iced, then while we waited to take off the wings iced up again, so we had to wait and repeat the de-icing before we finally took off. I guess it's better than traveling by stagecoach, though.
Posted by: Travelinoma | December 30, 2007 at 08:34 PM
It sounds as if your time with your family was worth all the frustration of the flights. Bella and Bastion are precious!
Posted by: kenju | December 30, 2007 at 09:00 PM
I'm glad you made it there and back in one piece Joy. Your christmas sounds great and I hope you have a fantastic 2008 too.
Posted by: jen at semantically driven | December 30, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Glad to hear that The Good far outweighed The Bad. Happy New Year, Joy!
Posted by: elsie | December 31, 2007 at 06:38 AM
Joy, what would life be without a few challenges along the way? Glad that all things worked out, especially around the family gathering, that is most important (as you well know)!
Have a most happy new year!
Posted by: Steve Sherlock | December 31, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Joy, what would life be without a few challenges along the way? Glad that all things worked out, especially around the family gathering, that is most important (as you well know)!
Have a most happy new year!
Posted by: Steve Sherlock | December 31, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Welcome Home Joy - I MISSED YOU - so loved the pictures and stories of family times - so sorry about the airline stories.
I too was hung up coming home from San Francisco but only 3 hours. It was worth it. I had a lovely time at home - cooked great food, fed wonderful people I loved, drank some special wines and walked in the SUNSHINE with FLOWERS blooming. Oh happy day.
As 2007 closes, I want to say thank you for your friendship and generous sharing of yourself this year. Now, here we go into a new year = may blessings shower you and may you know joy and new adventures in this year ahead.
Posted by: Suzann | December 31, 2007 at 03:32 PM
I feel your air travel pain, Joy! So glad you made it safely. Have a very Happy New Year, Joy!
Posted by: MaryB | December 31, 2007 at 05:56 PM
'Tis good to have you home friend. Sorry about your travel hassles, but glad the holiday visit with family made you forget the inconveniences of delays and that "stony" didn't cause you problems. As always, you tell your tale with flair ... keeping us on the edge of our seats. Loved the photos of the little ones. Aren't they QTs! Happy New Year's Eve to you and may 2008 bring peace, wonder, and joy to you and yours.
Hugs and blessings,
Posted by: storyteller | December 31, 2007 at 06:56 PM
Joy,
Well, in the end, the good times out weighed the bad times so YOU are the winner! :)
Happy New Year, Dear Joy.
Junie
Posted by: | December 31, 2007 at 08:02 PM
It sounds like you had a wonderful time, delays excepted. I'm glad SS wasn't too much of a pain. I've only just caught up and read about the nasty little thing. Hope it clears out soon although - oh, I am cringing just thinking about it!
Hope the New year is wonderful for you.
Posted by: Liz | January 01, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I'm going to focus on the positive in this post, because, boy, is there a lot of it! :) Happy New Year, Joy! Wishing you much love and snuggles with your grandbabies in 2008! ;)
Posted by: Marilyn | January 01, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Glad that you had such a wonderful visit.
Flying has become such a pain that the only reason any of us do it is that the distances are so great and it does save time.
Posted by: Maya's Granny | January 02, 2008 at 03:02 AM
Air transportation (which I used to really enjoy) just keeps getting worse. I read Jory's tale on her blog and you both went through hell!
It sure does sound like the trip was worth the inconveniences though, considering the great time you had! Spoiling the little ones had to be the icing on the cake and I'm glad for you.
Then again, I speak for a lot of folks in saying you were missed here in the Blogosphere.
Posted by: Kay Dennison | January 02, 2008 at 03:28 PM
What a lovely recap of the Holidays, Joy. Grandchildren are the sweetest. It certainly wasn't easy getting there but I'm glad you got there and back safely. Maybe in all that tension and adrenaline, Stoney dissolved. I hope so.
Best of the New Year to you, joy, and thanks for thinking of me and leaving a little card at my place.
Posted by: Roberta S | January 03, 2008 at 02:27 AM
I hate airports and taking planes with a passion!
So happy for your sake that the stay with your family, afterwards was well worth it.
Wish you a happy 2008.
Lots of love
Claude
Posted by: Claude | January 03, 2008 at 07:32 AM
Joy
I feel all warm and fuzzy all over from your delightful descriptions of the time you had with the family. Those grand children are just the most precious little ones. And what a cute age.
4 of mine were here(they live locally) with their parents(our adult children) and it was such fun. They are 7, 9,9, and 11. Somewhat past the cute stage but still wonderful.
Happy New Year
Janet
Posted by: Chancy | January 03, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Dear Joy ~~ Sorry about all the travel delays and hassles, but as you say the pot of gold was at the end of the rainbow. And what a lovely time you all had together. A lot of memories to treasure always. I hope all goes well with the stone.I have had a few zapped over the years. Take care, dear friend and thank you for being my friend for 2 years in the blogo-sphere. Have a wonderful 2008 with all good things for you.
Much love, Merle.
Posted by: Merle | January 04, 2008 at 02:54 AM
OK, so I'm a little behind, just catching up on Dec. and Jan. Blog. Had to comment on the picture of Jenna/Bella/Bastian. That is SOO cute, hope she framed that one! I envy you with your little grandbabies! Onward 2008!!!
Posted by: Mary Kay (the sister-in-law) | January 23, 2008 at 02:42 PM