A/N: Have you ever been on a vacation that seems to never end? Yup, this is it! Well, this is the last, the very last chapter of vacation (5 is too many, anyway). I just have to write some more family dialog; it just flows off my tongue. We will wrap up Lego Land, Disneyland, then the San Diego Zoo. Densi will slip offstage – not to be forgotten. Back to NYC, LI and Bay Ridge. Things are happening, and about to happen.
888888888
CONDO #1 Living room
Hetty has excused herself, she has business to attend to.
After much discussion, perusing brochures, gentle ribbing and more – the decision was LEGO LAND tomorrow. The kids were ecstatic, understandably. The adults went with the majority. Who decided on all these kids, anyway?
8888888888
LEGO LAND
They pay admission, enter and get maps. Of course, you are entering a new, strange and wonderful land. You must have a guide!
"I see a BARN! Mommy, there is a barn, that must be a farm with animals and everything! Come on AJ, let's go!" Mary Rose grabs AJ's hand; "Sofia, come on!" AJ grasps his new friend's hand. MR-AJ-Sofia trot off to find the farm. The adults look at each other, who will follow? Jamie takes off to catch up.
"Look at this mommy, a sound stage! Cameras and everything! Rosa, did you see that, come on!" Cassie grabs Rosa's hand, and they are off. The adults let the older girls go.
"Daddy . . . oh, he's gone. Mommy! They have a little village with a waterwheel grinding grain. And mommy's baking and everything! Come with me, please!" Mal grabs Eddie's hand who grabs Kensi's; off they go.
Marty looks around, he is left with Patrick and Caleb. "Well guys, where should we go?"
"Plane, daddy! Plane," Caleb makes flying circles with his little arms.
"Ok. Patrick, shall we find planes?"
Pat nods, eagerly. Marty thinks he sees an airport control tower, off they go.
Will they Ever meet again?
They do meet; at the gift shop as they prepare to exit.
Both Jamie/Eddie and Marty/Kensi feel fortunate to get out the exit gate with 2 medium sized Lego kits each. It was a close call.
88888888888
DISNEYLAND
The happiest place on earth – for the kids! Who are tall enough to go on the good rides. And whose mommy or daddy sill go along. That narrows the fun, as we will see.
MISTER TOAD'S WILD RIDE
Rumored to scare the living daylights out of little kids. But it looks so little kiddie!
AJ and Sofia ride together, but alone. The parents are called to rescue them. They are standing on the exit platform, huddled together tightly. Sofia sobbing, AJ near tears himself. Eddie and Kensi will have their hands full for an hour or so.
DUMBO'S FLYING CIRCUS
Those elephants don't go that high, really. Pat and Caleb need to be carried to a bench and settled down.
What was Walt thinking?
IT'S A SMALL, SMALL WORLD
There should be a warning sign! Your child will be singing / humming this tune for weeks, maybe months! Earplugs available upon exit.
HAUNTED HOUSE
"Why can't we go there?"
"It's closed for repairs."
"Did the ghosts wreck it?"
"I think so."
TIKI ROOM
"That was boring!"
"Those plastic birds were stupid!"
"That pineapple ice cream was good!"
"Whip."
"What?"
"Whip."
"What?"
"Forget it."
"Forget what?"
Silence.
RACEWAY
"I want a blue car."
"I got red, yay!"
"My throttle doesn't work, mommy! I've got it pushed to the floor and it won't go faster!"
"I want a different car."
"Why can't Sofia ride?"
"She's too little."
"Can she ride with me?"
"You are too little also."
"Hmpf!"
SUBMARINE
"I can still see the top. That's crummy."
"Want to ride it?"
"No thanks."
TRAIN
"Where are we going?"
"Just around the park."
"That's all? Why are we riding this? It's going nowhere."
"To give mommy and daddy a break."
"Oh."
An eight-dollar hamburger and 2 gift shops later, 2 exhausted families are spit out the front gate.
88888888888
SAN DIEGO ZOO
World famous, after the preceding 2 days, it better be!
It was!
After a talking, planning session it was decide to take a surrey, guided tour – two vehicles. Expensive, but Frank/GG had sprung loose the money. Once the decisions were made as to who would ride with who, they thoroughly enjoyed the day. They would stop together; the guides would share narrating duty. Nobody got sore feet, cranky kids were avoided. The guides knew the best place to stop for lunch.
At the end, t-shirts and a stuffed animal or two were bought. Each family purchased a full-color memory book and they left happy.
The ride home was as expected. The kids all conked out, the wife stayed awake to hel hubby so the same.
88888888888
THURSDAY MORNING – 7 AM
Early flight = early breakfast. It could have been worse!
This was going go be a tough good-bye! These two families had grown close. Very close. It seemed like they had known each other much longer. Besides the adults, some bonds had grown together.
AJ-Sofia. This was precious to see. At this age, long-lasting was a long-shot. But if the children desired, the parents vowed to help. Not push, but help.
Pat-Caleb. Different than AJ-Sofia, obviously, but friendship was there. We shall see.
Rosa-Nicky-Cassie. Sometimes Cass felt like the 3rd wheel. Sometimes Nicky felt like the much older sister. Mother? Not much glue here.
The adults? They felt time together was precious. They bonded immediately! Both couples hoped this wasn't a 1-and-done. They would try to make it more than that. NYC? We shall see. The possibilities are rather endless.
LAX
Parting is such sweet sorrow. Marty and Kensi could have shown badges and gotten to the gate. Not their families. So, they said their good-byes prior to security. Much embracing, cheek kissing, tears, words of affection and hope for another visit were in order. Contact info shared and a final good-bye. Densi watched as Jamko wound their way through the ropes and finally the security check. Waves from a distance as they walked down the concourse, and then out of sight.
"I'll really miss them, daddy!"
"Me too, mommy. Won't you?"
"Yes, baby. We all will. Let's keep the good times close to our hearts."
THE SAME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROPE!
88888888888888
TBC
A/N: So, we say good0bye to Jamko and Hetty. They will not be forgotten, they are just out of sight, there in the wings.