We took the long way

OIWe decided to take the kids to DC. It will be fun, we thought.  It's not even that far, we assured ourselves.  So we booked train tickets right from our door seep practically.  12 hours and we're there. We made lists of things to pack; books, iPads, kindles, games, etc.  This should do it, we said. We got this, we assured ourselves. 

Then I got news that Alissa's Grampy had passed.  The service was on Wednesday.  Wednesday!  Change of plans. Separate paths were planned. One was the original, the other a very different route. Bear and I would take a late night bus to New Hampshire and then a flight from Manchester Airport.  Sar and Al would choo-choo it all the way. 

Long story short, neither trip was short. Both were draining and hard, and magical all the same.  Bear got to ride on a bus, one of her life long (3 years) dreams. She had the first plane ride in her memory and could not have been better on the plane. The look on her face when she looked out and saw that we were, in fact, above the clouds, was priceless.  She made people smile the whole way, apparently alleviating a little bit of stress for those around us.  She stopped in the tube that connects the plane and the terminal and snapped a few pictures, and caused even the most stern faces to smiles.  

The train was a long ride. A visual schedule kept them going, they knew their last stop was held a big pay off; not only would they be here, we would all be together.  

They had to knock a lot and then even call the hotel room to wake me when they arrived, having fallen to sleep like a rock when Bear finally drifted off.  How relived this momma hen felt when we were all here.