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The girls waiting patiently while being stranded at the rental station.
Grandma and Miss G, coloring paperdolls.
Never underestimate how easy it is to entertain a child with simple toys.
5.01.2010
Last Wednesday we -my daughter, sister and I - took a trip to Grandma's house. This seems rather ordinary except the fact that we had my husband drive us 4 hours to New Orleans, fly 3 hours, drive 2 hours, just to get to Grandma's house. Literally, the saying "over the river and through the woods" could not possibly have described our experience.
The drive to New Orleans wasn’t bad at all. Lots of fun with the Alphabet Sign game being played, music blaring, jokes and conversation being held all the while we went over the river (you know the big one called the Mississippi) and through the woods (everywhere else). I took forever and so did my husband just to say goodbye. Was it like those tear-jerker movies? Not a bit. But we were sappy about it. When I think about it, I had never really been away on a long trip (this being 5 days) without him so this was new.
Miss G. had her first real plane ride and all she could say was "Wow Mom" in that breath being taken away from her voice. Her eyes were all huge and shining. I was so happy for her and of course the whole "my baby is growing up" kind of proud. Flying "over the river and through the woods" we then landed in Baltimore Md.
You see, I had everything planned out. At the airport in New Orleans by 2:00, arriving at 7:30 in Maryland, pick up the rental car, and zip over to Grandma's by 9pm. Everything was perfect...yeah.
What actually happened was just that until Baltimore. Then when I went to the Rental Station where all of the rental car companies hung out, I pulled out my i.d. and said "I'm here to pick up my rental". The guy behind the both smiled and said "do you have another card?" This is the point where my jaw dropped and all that came out was that I had already paid for it. But no, I had paid for it on a pre-paid card. Don't get me wrong people. I do understand and vaguely remember from my before I became a stay at home mom days that you have to have a card in case of damage for anything. I just didn't have that card on me, just the pre-paid card. I explained to him that I had paid for the car, the insurance from his company, more insurance as back up and the car already paid for was now costing me $400. "Sorry" was all he said. So by this time, it's 8:30pm. Yes I know, time flies when you have no idea what to do but panic.
So, on the phone I go, first my credit card company. Then the company I rented the car through and then the insurance. No worries the money will be refunded within 3 days and sorry that the terms and conditions by which I agreed to did not mention my circumstance anywhere in it. Yay! I got my money back but how to get to Grandma's right?
Well here comes the final "over the river and through the woods" part. I call my husband. He panics but I reassure I've got it covered. I call aunt #1 who lives 40 minutes away. No one answers. I call my dad who lives 6 hours away. He reassured me. My husband calls. I reassure him by saying what my father said. He is calm now. I call Grandpa. He thinks that the situation is funny. I am stranded with my little sister and 6 year old daughter. Funny but don't worry he'll come and get me.
In the end what happened was that after all these calls were begin made and cell phone minutes were thankfully not being accounted for because it really was that late, Aunt #1 picks us up only to drop us off near Aunt #2's son, only to take us "over the river (who knows the name of that one) and through the woods (the woods of Maryland)" to Grandmother's house we go.
Thank heavens for family. They thought it was funny. Me? I was just glad we had a wonderful week with my grandparents. They are always such a blessing upon my life. By the way, just in case you are wondering, we got back home just fine.
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