Travel Dos and Don't and Never Again!

I’ve been home from my trip to Connecticut for just over two weeks now and figured I ought to let you in on what I discovered.

First, it was terrific seeing my son Mike, my daughter Tammy Sue, and my sister, Donna. But that’s not what I discovered since I’ve always loved spending time with them. And one could argue that I got to spend more time with them since I flew up this time instead of driving. I flew on Avelo Airlines, getting me from Raleigh to New Haven in an hour and a half, compared to spending two days on the road driving. That part was good.

However, because I flew, I needed Cyndi and Bill to drive me to the airport Monday morning for my 9:00 flight.

I needed Mike to pick me up in New Haven when I landed. We went out for breakfast, then back to his house to spend most of the day and at night, he took me to Fairfield, CT to Donna’s house.

It was wonderful seeing her living quarters her son built for her, attached to the main house that she and her husband Joe had lived in for many, many years. Now she has no big house to maintain and a small apartment of her own, where her son and his wife can pop in and check on her throughout the day.

I stayed with Donna until Friday noon when Enterprise car rental came and picked me up so I could rent a car for the drive to Manchester, CT to see Tammy and Curtis.

I returned the car Saturday; Mike was waiting to take me back to his house for a few hours, then to a hotel in New Haven so he could take me to the airport by 5:30 the next morning.

Arriving home on Sunday, Cyndi and Bill once again drove to Raleigh to pick me up, take me to breakfast, and bring me home.

So what did I discover? The next time I go to Connecticut, I’m driving! I’m too independent to have everyone stop what they’re doing and cart me around. If I’d driven this time, no one would have had to take me to the airport, or pick me up from the airport, and take me back to the airport, and pick me up from the airport. I wouldn’t have had to rent a car, which was another headache. The rental place closes at noon on Saturday and are closed on Sunday; therefore, by returning the car after twelve noon on Saturday, I would have been charged an extra TWO days in addition to the one-day rental charge because they don’t bill until Monday when they open again. I believe I raised my voice on the phone and let the manager know that it’s not my fault they’re closed Saturday afternoon and Sunday.  She wouldn’t budge. As it turned out, Mike got there before noon to wait for me and told the manager I was on my way. She said, sweetly to him, “No problem, here’s my card, email me when she gets in.”  Mike was my savior as I didn’t have to pay for two extra days by arriving at 12:15.

When I do make the drive north, I go through Pennsylvania, spend a night at a hotel in Carlisle, and finish the trip the next morning. And reverse the process coming back. So yes, that means two nights in a hotel. And gas, which is minimal with my Prius hybrid. We’re talking maybe $300 round trip for hotels and gas. And above all, not being beholden to anyone, even though everyone said they were happy to cart me around. This trip cost me $200 round trip airfare plus another $200 for the hotel for one night and the car rental. Driving may take longer, but I’m in no hurry and it costs less. I can hop in my car and go anywhere I want right from my front door. 

To add insult to injury, the airport confiscated my tiny Swiss Army knife when the x-ray showed it lying contentedly in the bottom of my luggage.

However, I did learn one good thing—if you’re over 70, you don’t have to take off your shoes when going through security! 

Update Du Jour

 I would like to update you on the goings on in my writing world.

First, a narrator, Lawrence Sonderling, recently finished the audio version of my third novel, Finding Gary. He is also the narrator of my fifth novel, Remaking Danny, and has just contracted to narrate my sixth novel, Redeeming Rob. What was it like to hear him tell Gary’s story? I have to say  I wasn’t prepared to hear it read aloud. I choked up and cried during the funeral scene even though I knew what was happening because I wrote the darn book! It still got to me. The audio version is now available on Amazon for $2.99. Keep the tissues handy.

Secondly, you may remember that my NC Scribes writing group collaborated on a book about our September 11 recollections. The book is called: 9/11, That Beautiful, Broken Day. One of our members, Nancy Panko, submitted the book to the Military Writers Society of America’s yearly contest. The award ceremony was held in New Orleans last Saturday and our book won a silver medal! So, all of us who contributed to the book are award-winning, medal winning, authors! That book is also available on Amazon. P.S. Nancy also came home with two other medals of her own.  Go Nancy!

Thirdly, I will be autographing my seventh and award-winning novel Testing Michael at a few craft fairs in the coming months. If you’re in the area, please stop by, I’d love to see you. September 10-11, I will be in Angier at the Carolina Dream venue on Butts Road from 12 – 4 pm both days.   On November 18^th and 19^th, I will be at the Salem Baptist Preschool Holiday Market on Salem Street in Apex, NC from 9 – 4 pm both days.  On December 3, I will be at the Cleveland High Holiday Bazaar on Glen Road in Garner, NC from 9 – 3 pm.  My book is $12 and gives you a glimpse of the Civil War through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy who joins the war as a messenger, against his mother’s wishes. I include a short quiz about children in the Civil War with each book. Like the others, the book is also available on Amazon in print, Kindle, and audio.

Christmas is coming fast so you might want to think Christmas gifts for the readers on your list. 🎄

 

Quote of the Day from Testing Michael: “Professor, do you think that could ever happen again? That we might have one part of our country fighting another part? Could we ever be that divided again?”

Mike thoughtfully answered, “I certainly hope not. . . I would like to think we learned our lesson about how to live with one another, accepting our differences while appreciating our commonality.”

Jim tapped on his drum and offered an “Amen.”