Time to Leave

We know from the weather on the TV that it may be a rough ride back to Philadelphia for our plane ride home.  Tropical storm Karen is heading up the coast and dumped a lot of rain on Atlanta yesterday.  Teresa and Chris went to the gym while the girls and I started cleaning up and packing to go home.  When I was having my coffee this morning looking outside (which is still sunny at the moment) I was remembering when I was a kid.  We vacationed every year in Wildwood and it was such a big deal for my sister and I.  We waited all year for this one week here.  I look at my grandchildren and think at their young age of all the places they have been and how many times they have flown.  I was pregnant with Teresa when I flew the first time and had never been out of the country..ever!  Lindsay at 12, Chris and Paige at 10 have been to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Grand Caymen, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel on 5 different cruises, 6 for Lindsay since she went to Alaska with me.  They have had passports since the twins were 5 years old and 7 for Lindsay.  Their first passports have already expired!  They are good travelers and  seasoned cruisers as well.  I am happy that I have been able to give them the opportunities to travel and have these things to look back on.

We get everything packed and head to mom's to say goodbye.  My sister is feeling better today and is at mom's to see us when we get there.  We hit the road and it starts getting more cloudy the further north we go.  We stopped to get some lunch and then back on the road.  By the time we cross into PA over the Walt Whitman bridge the sky is really looking ominous over the Philadelphia skyline and it was raining pretty good.  We need to fill up the tank before turning the van back in and the kids need to use the restroom so we exit before getting on the airport road.  It is now pouring rain when we stop so I run with the kids inside while Teresa pumps the gas.  They don't have restrooms so Chris goes in an empty water bottle on the way to return the van and the girls are grossed out.  By this time I have gotten a text message from Delta saying our flight is delayed due to the weather.  We drop the van and use the restroom there then get the bus back to the airport.  The airport is packed with people whose flights have also been delayed.  The kids were great through the wait which wound up being almost two hours later than scheduled.  When we go to board they make me check my carry on bag because the guy says its too big.  It is the same size as all the other bags we have but mine gets checked.  Of course this did not make me very happy since we all carried on so we could get out of the airport quickly instead of waiting for luggage and now I will have to wait.  Ugh!  I was a great example of what language not to use in front of your grandchildren.  The plane ride was very bumpy because of the weather and we were lucky that the kids got snacks and drinks before they stopped service.  The kids liked seeing the lights out the window and were able to see the Georgia Dome as we came in to land.  The Falcons were playing on Monday night football so we could see the blimp over the dome too.  Keith was there to pick us up and we were back home in plenty of time to watch the Falcons lose in the last 3 seconds of the game with the NY Jets.  Bummer.

I am very glad that we made the effort to make this trip.  I know that mom couldn't stop thanking me for bringing the kids to see her.  I was also excited to see my daughter Teresa actually admit that she was tired when we sat down on the plane!  Teresa has one speed which is all ahead full.  It was another of our whirlwind trips but it was lots of fun.  I believe a good time was had by all.