That happy time of year when a young man's and woman's fancy turns to .....Spring Break! Though when I was in school during the Ice Age, it just meant a week away from school which was a celebration in itself. In the days when I could sleep in as opposed to my reality of 5 am these days, just because. Got to get those steps in. Plus after the second or third time hitting the "john" one might as well arise and embrace the dark of dawn.
Today folks plan quick trips to outer Mongolia or Antarctica dragging the kiddos including auto-sized perambulators with them. Remember when air travel was so special and expensive only the adults indulged? Yeah me neither. People take their kids everywhere and at great expense. What inflation? I was in a Florida airport one time hearing a couple arguing with the ticket master when he told them the tiny puddle jumper to the Keys was not large enough to carry a boat-sized baby stroller. I never did discover which of the three got left behind. I hear it's a beautiful drive though.
Spring breaking with the 10-year old grandson was certainly active and expensive and we didn't do anything except mucho fishing (sometimes in a snowstorm), bowling, arcade, shopping at Cabela's (for fishing stuff of course and new waterproof redhead boots) and the Air Zoo. I don't know about him, but I was tired at the end of each day. He refuses any reference to "Kids" menus and orders off the expensive adult one often resulting in those little white boxes that proliferate in the 'frig after a hard week.
As the sun appeared periodically he was hepped up to get some sunglasses that would make him look "Top Gunish" his latest obsession. After Nana rejected the expensive model (knowing I would be committing "kidricide" when he inevitiably loses them), he settled on some more reasonably priced lenses -aviator style. He immediately went into a strut mode which he thought made him look tough. Mistake number 1.
Visited the Air Zoo in Portage which has every flying machine from Kitty Hawk to the Stealth bomber. He was fascinated especially as they had an indoor amusement park. Not realizing my ruptured eardrum was a real and present danger to life and limb I agreed to accompany the boy on the first ride. It went around in circles; and up and down; and round and round (amidst much screeching). I thought I was going to barf all over my young pilot. Geez! Finally someone in the family to ride on rides and my balance abilities have been shot to hell. Which of course put the "kibosh" on my trying out the flight simulator which could not only turn one upside down and sideways but also necessitated being enclosed into a confined windowless space. So much for my dreams of becoming a pilot.
Mistake 2 was exiting the museum hall right into the souvenir shop (do you suppose that is by design?) The boy would not relinquish his new aviators and was thrilled when someone commented on them and then he saw ....THE JACKET!... Abort Abort. All is lost. Oh well happy birthday early. Newly equipped with flight jacket and shades he became 6-foot tall and dangerous sporting a menacing curled lip as he strutted. Of course he got noticed, but he was cool, well sometimes. He would just get so excited. I tried to get him to understand to let the admirers come to him as he definitely stood out, We ended our visit at a second building where he got to sit in real helicopters and chopped up jets. With that outfit the Tom Cruise vibe was unmistakeable and people noticed. What's a few bucks for that much happiness. This spoiling business has its perks.
BRIEF COMMERCIAL PAUSE You know how slime can shift, shimmy and ooze through small cracks and crevices? Well the events of this week were kind of like that. Could be another "nuttin burger" but for one shining moment we believed that threats, violence, lies and intimidation can be overcome and no one is above the law (if only for a moment). 🙈🙉🙊
A STAR IS BORN In conclusion. A young boy had his dreams fulfilled, again if only for a moment, life is good. Peace out....💚 💙💛
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