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Sunday, April 24, 2005, 2:50 am
I have to be at the airport for a 6:00 flight. I am supposed to be up in ten minutes. Haven’t been to bed yet…lay down for ten minutes, that is it. My niece got about 20 minutes. Hubby had the good sense to sleep in the other room and is out cold, as are the kids. Up and out we go, leaving the stress of unfinished things behind. It will be here when I get back.
We get to the airport and it is so early, we really have to find a skycap to help. We have 7 large checked bags, carry-ons, purses and two kids. The check-in line is enormous in spite of the hour, as there is a couple at the desk (with the one clerk working for the airline) and they haven’t budged in twenty minutes. Starting to get nervous. Finally someone comes along and starts pulling those of us who are on our flight out. The other 6:00 has been cancelled. That was not a happy terminal. Finally, we are on our way to Chicago. Yes, Chicago. From Boston. To fly to MoBay. Ever get the feeling that you want to buy the airlines a map?
Uneventful flight, we slept, thankfully, and made our connection just fine. I am coaching my niece on immigration and customs, as well as what to expect when we get there. I cry, of course, when we get to that beautiful blue water. Niece Cole can’t believe the color. My daughter claps and sings about being in Jamaica. Overwhelming joy and elation fill me upon disembarking and hearing the singing greeters fades a little when I see the lines at immigration. Two kids to keep busy makes you antsy, and I am worried about all the stuff we have in our luggage. This is a low budget trip, and if I have to pay taxes, I may not have enough money to care for my children and my niece properly. Me, I could eat dirt in JA. Finally, a lovely gentleman comes over and pulls us out of line and puts us in the Jamaican Nationals line. Phew.
Onto get the baggage and get through the “nothing to declare” line. All the while, by the way, I can’t locate my pen, so we are borrowing one from those around us. We get through without event. Holding my 14 month old in their face seems to be moving us along nicely. Then we have exit to area where all the drivers are picking up people. Needless to say we are inundated with offers. I think my niece is overwhelmed. I keep telling her to smile, say no thank you, all set, keep moving. I direct the baggage handler past all of them to an empty bench at the end. Here, I can pull out my JA mobile that another wonderful boardie has sent me to use, and call my friend…oh no, it isn’t working…..hasn’t been used recently enough. Okay, just sit, he will find us…..we are swarmed by more offers, did we want some cold water, want to use their phone, etc. I was about to take one up on their offer, and I see C & Cy coming towards us. What a sight for sore eyes. Hugs all around, and swinging the kids in the air. Cy brings the van front and center, and proceeds to figure out how to load all of our stuff, and the kids, and us. Cy has brought his baby’s car seat for my boy, but there appears to be no where to secure it to. We strap J in, and hang on. My niece is freaking about this. I feel fortunate he has that much protection, and I know that Cy is an experienced and careful driver. My children will be as safe as his own. We opt to take the mountain road, as it is quicker, and we want to get to Little Bay as soon as possible.
I have to be at the airport for a 6:00 flight. I am supposed to be up in ten minutes. Haven’t been to bed yet…lay down for ten minutes, that is it. My niece got about 20 minutes. Hubby had the good sense to sleep in the other room and is out cold, as are the kids. Up and out we go, leaving the stress of unfinished things behind. It will be here when I get back.
We get to the airport and it is so early, we really have to find a skycap to help. We have 7 large checked bags, carry-ons, purses and two kids. The check-in line is enormous in spite of the hour, as there is a couple at the desk (with the one clerk working for the airline) and they haven’t budged in twenty minutes. Starting to get nervous. Finally someone comes along and starts pulling those of us who are on our flight out. The other 6:00 has been cancelled. That was not a happy terminal. Finally, we are on our way to Chicago. Yes, Chicago. From Boston. To fly to MoBay. Ever get the feeling that you want to buy the airlines a map?
Uneventful flight, we slept, thankfully, and made our connection just fine. I am coaching my niece on immigration and customs, as well as what to expect when we get there. I cry, of course, when we get to that beautiful blue water. Niece Cole can’t believe the color. My daughter claps and sings about being in Jamaica. Overwhelming joy and elation fill me upon disembarking and hearing the singing greeters fades a little when I see the lines at immigration. Two kids to keep busy makes you antsy, and I am worried about all the stuff we have in our luggage. This is a low budget trip, and if I have to pay taxes, I may not have enough money to care for my children and my niece properly. Me, I could eat dirt in JA. Finally, a lovely gentleman comes over and pulls us out of line and puts us in the Jamaican Nationals line. Phew.
Onto get the baggage and get through the “nothing to declare” line. All the while, by the way, I can’t locate my pen, so we are borrowing one from those around us. We get through without event. Holding my 14 month old in their face seems to be moving us along nicely. Then we have exit to area where all the drivers are picking up people. Needless to say we are inundated with offers. I think my niece is overwhelmed. I keep telling her to smile, say no thank you, all set, keep moving. I direct the baggage handler past all of them to an empty bench at the end. Here, I can pull out my JA mobile that another wonderful boardie has sent me to use, and call my friend…oh no, it isn’t working…..hasn’t been used recently enough. Okay, just sit, he will find us…..we are swarmed by more offers, did we want some cold water, want to use their phone, etc. I was about to take one up on their offer, and I see C & Cy coming towards us. What a sight for sore eyes. Hugs all around, and swinging the kids in the air. Cy brings the van front and center, and proceeds to figure out how to load all of our stuff, and the kids, and us. Cy has brought his baby’s car seat for my boy, but there appears to be no where to secure it to. We strap J in, and hang on. My niece is freaking about this. I feel fortunate he has that much protection, and I know that Cy is an experienced and careful driver. My children will be as safe as his own. We opt to take the mountain road, as it is quicker, and we want to get to Little Bay as soon as possible.
(((((GB)))))
OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY 
Of course I'm dyin for the rest of the story, don't be shy! 
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