Weekend Birthday Trip

Good Evening, Everyone.

If we were having coffee together you would see that we would have to meet at the airport. I am mixing my evening cup of joe with an airport gin and tonic.

It is my grandson’s first birthday. My daughter and her family live on Hilton Head Island–some ridiculous amount of miles away from my Long Island home. My husband and I try to fly out and visit as much as possible. Last month we had to cancel the trip because of Hurricane Florence. Hurricane Michael threatened this months’ visit. My husband and I were especially focused on the storm’s path. Missing this trip would have plunged me into an intense crying jag. I haven’t had my grandbaby fix since July. Although Micheal devastated Florida’s panhandle, it thankfully blew over quickly and did not upset any flights leaving Long Island on Friday night.

If we were sipping coffee and maybe a drink together, I would have to tell you how easily baffled I was when my daughter and I planned this birthday weekend over three months ago. Without looking at my school calendar, I had assumed Columbus Day was on October 15th. A three-day weekend would give us an extra day of play. How excited I was to discover reasonable airfares. I was mistaken. The holiday was a week earlier and it was too late to reschedule since the penalty fees were terribly unreasonable. Instead, I put in for a personal day and went ahead with plans to celebrate my grandson’s birthday in Charleston.

If we were still sipping coffee and a little something else, I would have to brag about my grandson. He is all smiles, a mindless wanderer on two feet, and grabber of anything within his tippy-toe reach. Joy! His four-year-old big sister is an attentive teacher and master instigator. Joy! Joy!

We reserved an Air B&B house; not a boat like the last time. Charleston has a fantastic aquarium and nearby farms for pumpkin picking fun. A balloon festival and a brewery tour may also be on the itinerary. Charleston is also a foodie mecca. Oysters and shrimp will be featured in almost every meal. And, yes, there will be cake.

Go ahead and get yourself another cup. The plane is preparing to land so I need to stow the laptop and grip the armrests.  

Once again, thank you, Eclectic Alli for managing Weekend Coffee Share. Have a good weekend and week, Everyone. Make it great.

Antoinette Truglio Martin is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. The memoir is a wimpy patient’s journey through her first year of breast cancer treatment.

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