It went far too fast. Honestly. Four days with part of two spent travelling. But two days was all I could get off from work through earning my extra curricular hours so I had to make the best of it.
Originally it was supposed to be me, DH and DS2 flying down. Tickets were booked in early September. Then with DS1's accident, a dif vehicle had to make it's way down. So DH's seat was empty, but very paid for, on the plane.
DS2's school schedule was free when we booked and he very much wanted to go. Two weeks before we left DS's schedule was changed and he had field experience exams that he could not reschedule. His seat was empty, but very paid for, on the plane.
Neither was refundable, through expedia. With DS'2, I ended up getting a sort of a credit with Delta.. has to be same passenger, from same departing airport, within a year, and I have to pay a $200 fee. Doesn't sound like much of a deal to me.
Losing out on that money hurt, a lot. I have to do things differently next time.
DS1's BFF cousin ended up driving down with DH. It was his first trip to the US so it was exciting for him. Lots of first experiences. We had room in our hotel room, but he ended up crashing at the house with the boys. Why he'd rather spend time with kids his own age instead of going to bed at a reasonable time with his aunt and uncle is beyond me :-)
DS's girlfriend was there too, so Cousin and GF got to hang out while DS was busy doing team stuff.
Taking the vehicle down let us take a few extra things we wouldn't have taken on the plane. Tim Hortons K cups for one of his roomies. Tim bits for the sports reporter for the city, who asked if we wouldn't mind. I had never met the guy, only tweeted to him now and again about hockey. Old Dutch potato chips - ketchup, and some all dressed chips. DS also requested some Canadian beer, in bottles if you please. It just tastes so much better. With two adults over the age of 21 (State law age, not our province's) I sent 2 x 24...one of which was DS's favourite - Bohemian.....a very old SK brewing company.
I got to see DS1's house - wow college landlords sure can charge a lot for a dumpy, and very old, place.
I got to reconnect with a few of the parents who are easy to talk with, including his roomie's parents, who are very good to DS. I met a few others who are new to the team. There is very much a 'local kids/non local kids' divide, mostly through them knowing each other for years. Some of those parents have a LOT more money than we do, and I have always struggled with being able to do regular conversation with folks who have such a different life than I do.
We didn't cook a meal for DS this time. With six roommates and their parents, that house was bursting. So we took him out for a couple meals. In my 'we won the lottery' fantasies, I have a house down there...well a condo really, over looking the water, where I can have DS over and cook for him :-)
It went far too fast.
We flew out on Sunday morning, and cousin flew out on Sunday afternoon. Girlfriend was supposed to leave on the Wed, when the team left on their road trip, but her flight got delayed, and delayed and then cancelled. She spent the night alone in the big rental house. After multiple cancellations the next day, she finally got a flight to come home. Darn that fog.
Now I am just figuring out bills and costs and such and will try to figure out a way to save for another trip down.
I miss him.
