9/2/16 20:04
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Where to
start? On Tuesday morning we woke up and
drove to Disney World. Checked into one
of the value resorts, Art of Animation.
A suite was available so we dropped off our things and headed over to
Epcot.
I know
where to start. We should have arrived
last night on a flight, but to an impending hurricane and a state of emergency
for the whole state of Florida, I felt it should be prudent. I scratched the idea of the flight and picked up another rental for a one way drive back to Long Island. Amanda was not having any of it and tried to
calm me down, but I’ve flown in similar conditions and it wrecked me,
turbulence and I do not get along. I panic. But my oldest daughter being the
one who has always set her own course in her life booked herself a flight back to
Boston and had a pleasant flight back.
Given she was flying out hours before the predicted hurricane, and possible tornadoes
which was expected to strike Florida later that night, and would affect 140
square miles, I was not having it.
As
I’m writing this it’s not even a hurricane.
It may not be a tropical storm after all. Booked a hotel on points in Richmond and made my peace with the idea of driving for half a day and into the night.
Dealing with Budget Rental was a mess. I booked a minivan on line, but changed it to an SUV
since Amanda said if she was driving up with us - she was not driving in a
mini-van - she wanted something like her friend’s father. An SUV. It is big and comfortable. Fine.
Made the upgrade and drove a half hour to make the pick up at a hotel in
Orlando. My vehicle was not available, although I made the upgrade and asked for a
pick up at 12:30. The clerk at that
Budget said the mini-van was not running properly, the check engine lights were
on, and she had to have it returned to the airport. But come back at 2:00. NO, it’s no longer a minivan…it’s an SUV and
I need it now. Can I pick it up at the
airport? Considering, I still have the minivan from
Enterprise which for almost a week cost $36.00.
Thank you points. They don't offer one way rentals. Sure, she
says. Go to the airport. Ever get that uneasy feeling that someone is telling you something which is wrong. That someone doesn’t know what they are talking about and you’re going to deal with their
ignorance? That’s exactly what I dealt
with at the airport. Amanda booked her flight when there was no vehicle. Dropped off Amanda
at Jet Blue, hugged and said I loved her though she was pissed since I snapped
at her and Ali. Want to fly? Go ahead.
I’ll drop you off and drive up by myself…and Bella, she was the happy
camper since we were driving. This is
the best vacation ever! Dropped off the
minivan at Enterprise and walked to Budget.
I waited 25 minutes to get to the counter in the garage, car alarm going off, waiting...I assumed I
would pick up an SUV and drive away. I
pre-booked it. Makes sense. Get up to the counter. No, I need to go into the
terminal and pick up the key. Trudge
downstairs, my family behind me while Ali is checking for earlier flights since
we called Delta and there was no answer nor call back. She wanted to fly. Emma – wanted to fly and I think Joe as
well. Mainly it was Bella and her six
foot four father who was not having it.
I didn’t want our jet to twirl in the sky like one of the houses in the
Wizard of Oz. So my imagination was
creating this mess which was being gorged on by constant weather reports.
So, I wait in Budget line in the terminal for another twenty
minutes, but I notice one guy on a radio controlled microphone. After each booking he was talking to
someone in the garage. This guy could help. I ask Ali to speak to the man and explain
the situation. My beautiful wife speaks
to the man and I’m called over. Within
ten minutes we were out of there and I received a hundred dollars off the bill
for the inconvenience. It was also a
hundred dollars more due to airport taxes.
I drove off in a minivan. It was cheaper and Amanda was flying.
By 3:30
we were on the road. By 7:30 we had
dinner at a Cracker Barrel close to Savannah Georgia. Topped off on gas and bought a six pack of
Terrapin Beer which is only sold in Georgia.
Through much of the night it rained and at times it was heavy. We crossed through South Carolina, North
Carolina and finally into Virginia. The
signs for Richmond on 95 were daunting, Richmond 175. A little after 2:00 this morning we pulled into
the parking lot to the hotel, got our key and headed to bed. We were shot.
I was up before 7 and went out to get our bags so we can take showers and
clean up before the drive back. After
breakfast, we loaded up and drove off.
By 11:30 we were in Maryland and picked up some food. We stopped for gas in Jersey and made a
bathroom break at another rest stop in Jersey.
Just after 5, we pulled into the in-laws.
I drove all the way as a penance for my
decision not to fly. I apologized a few times on the ride up that I behaved
irrationally. I know Ali was pissed off
at me and we barely spoke on the drive.
I was lost in the music, singing to songs from the ‘70’s and
80’s and whatever else I found on the satellite radio. That was a game changer. I haven’t heard some of those songs for
decades, but can’t shake off Donny Osmond’s Look away little girl. Give it a listen on YouTube and it lock
itself into your soul.
Thank you for
reading this.
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