It was amazing. It really was. Probably the best of the trips I have done to see DS.
First - the drive. 17 hours there. 17 hours home. DH and I actually got along. Miracle. I don't think we have spent that much one on one time together in years. We were going to take my SUV but the night before when DH was checking the air, the valve literally blew out of the tire. So we had to take the truck.
The colitis - I was terrified I would have an accident on the drive. I mean, I have a block from my house, so that long a drive....... eek. I threw myself back on a high dose of steroids 2 weeks before we left to try to calm down the flare. I cut myself off food at noon the day before we left. For the drive there, and for the return, I had nothing to eat or drink. zero. nada. not a sip of water. not a mint. not gum. Any one of those things can trigger urgency. Surprisingly, I wasn't dying of starvation. I didn't get the 'I'm hungry' dizziness or headaches. I survived. DH was amazingly supportive, which was a first as well. It was greatly appreciative.
Funny, as we were driving, hour 12 ish, we went by a farmyard super close to the highway. I KNOW I smelled fresh brewed coffee wafting from the yard. It smelled SO good. We laughed as my senses must have been heightened.
The city - oh the weather was glorious. About 24 C. Amazing for end of October. We walked along a few of the scenic trails. We played in the huge waves coming in off the lake. Enjoyed all the sights. Hit a couple local breweries for a taste. Not really beer drinkers but it is very popular there. I learned I am not really an ale person.
The people - I found the parents group friendlier this year. Or maybe I am three years in and more comfortable. It was much more relaxed and chatty. There was a bonfire the first night we got intot he city but we were wiped from driving so far. We just met with our BFF parents and our boys and did supper together. Amazing pasta.
The parents did a brunch together, met for drinks before the first game, and again before the second at an outdoor patio down by the water. I still didn't get to meet all of them. Some are harder to approach - or maybe it' s my shyness. I have trouble around people who .........how shall I put this........are wealthier, have had more success, have all the fancy clothes. I feel .....lesser. They are probably wonderful people but it just feels different. Probably all in my head.
I also got to meet an internet friend..... a big longtime fan of the team whom I follow on twitter. We've chatted a bit on there. There was a jersey auction and she bid on DS's and won. She was so excited to get to meet DS and get a picture with him. She's met a lot of the players over the years and blogged that it was her #1 interaction with one of the boys from the team. The mama in me was 'awwww'. In their picture they are both laughing as he is 6 foot 4 and she is 5 foot 4 and he had to squat so they both could be in the picture.
The hockey. They won both their games. DS got to play in both games (which is less common - there are NHL draft picks here and DS is not on the top 2 lines). I even got to see DS score a goal and get an assist. I realized how much I miss when I don't get to see his games.
I need to tally up the costs for gas to see how much it came to. Certainly less than the cost of 2 flights at the current prices.
It was a phenomenal trip. We drove in thick rain from the border up and it snowed the night after we got home. I am so glad we didn't have to drive in that.
