The Getting There
Being in the back seat of the car with your parents who have been divorced since you were 4 is probably not a unique experience but it feels like one. I’m lucky enough that my parents don’t hate each other, they just didn’t work out so on rare occasions, the three of us get to hang out together. Now however, my dad is doing us a favor and dropping my mom and I off at the airport. He doesn’t believe in bladders or something because ever since I was little, on this drive to Boston which we frequented, I would say I have to pee and he would reply “okay I know where we can stop”. I might have been young but route 2 after time gets old and I also had eyes and the ability to read. I too knew where we could stop. Exit after exit would pass, gas station upon gas station, dunkin after dunkin. He would only stop when I started to whine about how bad I had to go. Now is one of those times. I’m 24. With my phone I am plotting for spots because we’ve gone off route 2 to get to Logan.
First gas station, “I’m obligated to tell you we don’t have a restroom”. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I know you have to pee at some point and there is a bathroom. But its not her fault so I say okay and we leave, I tell my dad about the Dunkin that the nice woman suggested that you can practically see from this gas station. He ignores me and gets back on the highway. Pissed (no pun intended) I tell him he better know what he's doing. Second gas station, on wrinkled old printer paper, “bathroom does not work, PLEASE DO NOT ASK”. Now I know that’s a lie, but we have to leave. We have to move on. THIRD GAS STATION, no bathroom again, we don’t even have to full stop to know. I am in so much pain because my bladder is the size of a walnut. Finally, the fourth has a dunkin and I run in there terrified of them also saying they don’t have one but they do. I probably looked insane speed walking as fast as I could to that door. After, I had a pleasant conversation with the Dunkin woman about her nails and nail tech. She works every day but Saturdays and her nail tech is usually booked up, but she was put on the schedule for a Saturday and now has to go to a different time and hopes her nail tech will squeeze her in anyway.
We’re back in the car now thank god. I have my headphones in but I can hear my parents arguing about the Red Sox. I’m crammed into the backseat of the world's smallest car with the world's largest suitcase. My mom overpacked for her 12 day trip to Italy. I packed for a month & a half in two backpacks. I'm an over packer so this is a big feat for me honestly. Donny (my dad) doesn’t use the music in his car, (my old car). No radio, no aux cord, just driving. My nightmare.
We say bye/thank you to Donny, no hugs though, we don’t do that, and then get inside and through security.
When there’s a public space with a piano there’s always someone to play it. I think that's amazing. Someone who is willing to share their talent with the rest of us. Especially something so beautiful, in such a stressful place, the airport.
$75 for two salads and a glass of wine at the restaurant at our terminal. Typical. My mom and I have found our gate and she is anxiously awaiting the flight. I'm surprised I’m feeling pretty calm. I’m just excited to get there and get somewhat settled. I don’t know that settled will ever happen with moving around so much but I’m excited to simply get there. My mom might be fearing the upcoming days more than the flight. We’re close but we disagree a lot or one gives the other too much attitude and the short fuse on our tempers ignites. This will be 13 days together hopefully getting along well but close quarters can be difficult. We have to make it through renting a car and then 6 airbnb’s. We get there at 7am tomorrow and won’t be able to check in until 4 pm. First, I have to tackle putting my compression socks on whilst on the plane. Wow, I can't wait to get there. I forgot my camera accessories but I think that’s it. Thankfully I have people coming to visit who can bring it them to me. I’m getting so excited but truly I have no idea how to budget this. I have $1,200 to my name and the second half of my trip not even booked. Hostels will save me I think.
