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Last Edit April 16, 1999 My son's completion of his Eagle project and the passing of the Board of Review for the Eagle Rank in Boy Scouts signaled our time to fly away to San Diego. My son's choice.Go home. So I booked a flight (1st class return - only seats available), a hotel, a car. It was that or drive 8.5 hours at 70-MPH through a series of Chevron and MacDonald's stops. I know this route. I pass. No. No. No. Fly this time. We leave as per usual - in freezing (33 degree) weather, cold, ice on the windshield, the dog cowering in her house. It's hard to drive until the windshield defrosts. We drag ourselves early to San Jose. Funny. I am carrying my own luggage! Wait a minute.... No, he lifts when I can't roll, trudges off and baby sits it when I need a rest stop. Minimally helpful. It's an awakening to him - he needs a picture ID and must also answer questions from security. His bag has a lead-lined film case and must be checked. He hasn't flown for a few years. Good training. And he insists on the window seat. So he can watch. He loves planes. Owns almost every flight simulator made for the Mac and a joy stick to fly them (on his second one). We sit on the wing and he gets to watch the flaps, the clouds, the scenery. 1994 was the last flight for him. He was a lot smaller then. He gets both chewy bars and orange juice, I have my tea. And we land early. A hefty tail wind. Gained 10 minutes. We spend 20 trying to find the car rental desk - seems San Diego has removed them from the airport. You hike, and hike, and hike, and catch a shuttle. I had asked the Auto Club for Hertz, they gave me Dollar, which somehow became Budget in my mind so we get on the Budget shuttle. Oh well. They are, it turns out, across the street from each other. The driver was nice enough to drop us at the entrance to his driveway and we walked a whole block. And we pick up.... A Neon. A new, white one. 1004 miles on it. Cute. Little. Not as fancy as the Camery but OK. I drove a new Camery while Toyota fixed the van for the third time. We find the hotel - 10 minutes from the airport on Hotel Circle - the place is showing its age a bit but holding on. We can't check in - but we can leave the luggage behind. I prefer to do that rather than drop it in the parking lot at Sea World. It's a BIG parking lot. Then we are off to find the mall. Because we need..... Camera Batteries! For him! The boy who works at Ritz Camera - who bought (his own money) a $300 lens for the trip and 14 rolls of film, and a lead film pouch forgot batteries and also decided he had to have the camera strap-around-the-waist case. So we find the mall - it's been five years but I remember and get us there. Yep. We flew from San Jose to San Diego to stop at a mall and eat bread from San Francisco. And visit Ritz Camera. Of course. And of course it's too windy for my cowboy hat and I must be protected so we go to JCPenny for a hat. And he has checked in the clothes he wanted to wear so we must get him a shirt. And we actually do this in under an hour! Nice shirt. Green. Peachskin. Nice hat. Chin strap. So I bought two. They fold up. Will pack well. Then we are off - another 10 minutes and then 20 in the line to drive into Sea World. It's a mob. Horrors. But wait. This time I can afford... Preferred Parking! Right by the entrance. Neat. Just double the parking fee. I debate a moment. My son says, "Pretend you have two cars". Works for me. |
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