The Mac Family: Day 9 & 10: Goodbye CSR, Hello CSR, Goodbye CSR

[dpamac]

You know how when you prepare for a trip you keep a list in your head of things that you don’t want to go wrong? Hope the car doesn’t break down, no one gets injured, don’t forget about Aunt Edna’s dog . . . Well, one of those things from my list is about to happen. It’s brief, but frightening. Well, for me at least.

I woke up on our last morning and headed off to Pepper Market to get breakfast for all of us. I opted for bakery items so that we weren’t all weighed down in the car. The girls slowly got moving while I went down to the car to prep it for packing and leaving. Naturally I spent at least an hour removing the Love Bug remnants from our windshield. Even at 8 a.m. it was already hot.

We packed the car and decided to do one last walk around CSR. We stopped by Panchito’s for a last bit of shopping and refilled our mugs for the last time. Gert was refusing to go, Matilda was lollygagging and I was trying to see if I could finally get a photo of the gator that lives in the lake. No such luck.

We got in the car and said goodbye to CSR. Goodbye casitas, goodbye buses, goodbye weird little lizards, goodbye health club owners. There was a tinge of sadness in the car.

Gert wanted to watch a movie and asked if we had any movies about Disney World. We didn’t bring any thing, figuring, you know, we’d BE there.

“I just want to remember the Magic Kingdom,” she said. She plays me like a violin.

Because my family cannot go on a vacation without finding something to do that would delay our imminent departure on the last day, we went off to Downtown Disney to pick up a few things on our list that didn’t get taken care of. As well as a Magic Kingdom DVD for Gert because I’m a giant sucker. Matilda began to complain of not feeling well. Matilda cries wolf a lot, using stomach aches as the go to excuse to: not eat something, not go somewhere, not have to walk anymore, get to stay somewhere longer, etc. So, we chalked it up to either being tired or her not wanting to walk anymore. Honestly, we assumed that it was the walking thing. She had gone the stomach route several times on the trip instead of asking for a break, only to then shove an entire Mickey Bar down her throat five minutes later.

We got in the car and headed off to gas up at Hess before we hit the Western Way out of dodge. There were some Happy Limo guys at the gas station, so I chatted with them for a bit (yes they do know INTERCOT). We loaded up and we were off.

We were 10 feet out of the gas station and Matilda said, “Mom I don’t feel good.” Mom started to soothe and ask questions when . . . yeah, you know what happened. In the Florida heat, on cloth seats . . .

We panicked. What to do? Luckily, the first thing to show up was . . . Coronado Springs! We explained the situation and they let us back inside. The people at the resort gave us all they could to help us get back on the road without incident.

Gertrude, who had been sitting next to Matilda, said “What are we doing back? Matilda got sick? When?” For the record, we drive a Saturn Ion. And there was sheer chaos in the car. Whatever Gert was doing at that moment and the ensuing five minutes must have been pretty amazing.

Thanks to some MacGyver skills, we were back on the road about two hours behind schedule. Turns out we think Matilda had some bad food, possibly breakfast because I felt sick the rest of the day as well. Matilda felt better by our late lunch and I was okay by dinner.

On the road I discovered Pepsi Max with ginseng and 38 mg of caffeine. I love caffeine. Caffeine is, perhaps, 90 % of my body at this point.

We stayed overnight at the Chattanooga Choo Choo in Chattanooga, TN. It was cool and frightening at the same time. They need to do some rehab on everything there because it’s all a little shabby, but staying in a vintage train car was very, very cool and the girls thought it was the coolest thing ever.

We were packing the car in the morning and mom left us alone in the train for five minutes. Possibly less. Within that amount of time, both girls ended up in the luggage racks on the walls. I don’t know how it happened. Strange. Hmmm.

Shortly after leaving Chattanooga, we saw a Passat with the license plate “VIZSLA”. Could that be INTERCOT moderator Vince in far southern Tennessee far, far away from Pennsylvania driving a car from Kentucky? Nah . . .

At a rest stop outside of Metropolis, IL we found Superman. The REAL Superman, he claims. A man in a Superman costume, driving a white pickup with the Superman logo, stopped off for some relief. I was able to snap a photo of him as he drove away. It was surreal.

Somewhere in Illinois we decided to listen to some Disney music to remember. We “Yo Hoed” and found our laughing place. But, as soon as the monorail spiel came on Gert demanded we stop listening.

“It makes me miss it,” she said. “I don’t want to go home. I want to go back to Disney World.”

I guess I did okay, in the end. Even though she was afraid of things I didn’t anticipate, she had a good time. She was happy and wants to go back. Not next year, but immediately. As soon as humanly possible.

But, alas, we did make it home. And Matilda started summer enrichment classes and Gert’s off playing with friends.

What did I learn from all this?

1. That, no matter the amount of planning you should just let the vacation happen. You can’t really plan ahead. Just let go.
2. That Gert loves everything that is alive. Figment, ducks, random birds, goats, princesses, cows, dragons and even love bugs. She would hold love bugs in her hands and say, “It’s okay little buddy, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
3. That Matilda will cease being a little kid very soon. I didn’t get enough time with little Matilda. I’m in the market for a shotgun to fend off boys, in case anyone has recommendations.
4. That, no matter what she does (even knitting in line for rides), I have the best wife in the entire world. You may disagree, but you’d be wrong.
5. That, as I’ve been told, a week off the bike is actually good for you. Shortly after returning home I clocked my fastest ride in history. If I decided to race, I could. I won’t, but it’s nice to know I could finish a race.

That said . . . I want to go back. Now. Maybe Gert and I can figure a way . . .

Edited to add:
Epilogue
After returning home, unpacking and getting settled back in, we put the kids to bed. Somehow, the next morning when a very unhappy Gert was getting dressed to head into her summer routine she discovered a note on her dresser. When she opened it, pristine, shiny magic (what you find on the ground is scuffed and dirty) spilled out on the floor. The note said (I had to sneak in and get it so I could copy it):

Dearest Gertrude:

Thank you again for helping me choose Cinderella's outfit as my very special Fairy Godmother in Training. When you left Disney World, one of the fairies told me that you had lost your pack with the magic inside. We looked high and low but we couldn't find it. But here is some more very special magic just for you! Hold it tightly in your hand, close your eyes, and make one special fairy wish.

All my love,
Fairy Godmother

She won't tell us what she wished for, but I have a feeling I know what it might be . . .

[sgdisney]

Gary, I have thoroughly enjoyed your ramblings! Actually your rambling made for very good reading. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

[Bethis26fan]

Thanks for sharing you trip, it was a lot of fun to read them.

[faline]

Sorry your trip home was delayed a bit. Glad you arrived home safely.

Thanks for a wonderful set of reports. I've enjoyed reading each one of them!

[WDWdreamer87]

Thank you for the enjoyable recap of your amazing Disney Trip.

Your family seems to be one in a million, and I laughed at every post.

[Lizzie]

Thanks for all your great trip reports I have really enjoyed reading them.

[Christine]

I am so sad to see these reports come to an end!

Maybe you could write some reports about random trips to the supermarket, dry cleaners, or McDonalds to hold us over until your next WDW trip!

Thanks for sharing your incredible journey, and I hope you guys get back to the magic very soon!

[Melanie]

Awww, Gary. I loved your wrap up. Very, very sorry to see your reports end. I had no doubt that everyone would have a good time, no matter how the vacation 'happened'. Thanks for taking us along!

So, is Gert going to let you get away alone in October?

[Emily]

Yikes, sorry to hear about Matilda's protein spill. I have a vomit phobia so my hat is off to all of you parents who deal with that. (I have real trouble when even the cat gets sick.)

The day you leave is the worst, isn't it? Doesn't matter how soon I know I'll be going back, it never gets any easier.

But your reports were phenomenal, Gary, I thoroughly enjoyed them! Thanks so much for sharing.

[kaylamag]

Wait, did i miss the part where Gert got her magic back. How were you able to give it back to her in a 'magical' way?

[dpamac]

Wait, did i miss the part where Gert got her magic back. How were you able to give it back to her in a 'magical' way?

Gah! I forgot that. Loose ends!

I'll add an epilogue . . .

[TiggeRia]

I really enjoyed reading your trip reports...thank you so much for sharing them!!!

[Dsnygirl]

Okay, now I know why you're a freelance publisher... you know how to write a misty moment very well!! I have tears in my eyes, sitting here @ work at 2 am... what a sweet way to bring the magic back to your little girl!! Thanks SO much for sharing your trip with us... the reports were awesome, and I've enjoyed getting to "know" your girls better. (And I'm glad no one was any sicker on the ride home!! ) Can't wait until you go again and have more reports to share!! (Bet the same goes for you and Gert!! )

[offwego]

thank you so much for sharing with us. (well maybe not the part but all the rest is fantastic!!)

What an amazing report to hold onto as your kids will continue to grow and change.

[Ian]

That Matilda will cease being a little kid very soon. I didn’t get enough time with little Matilda. I’m in the market for a shotgun to fend off boys, in case anyone has recommendations.

I have a semi-automatic Beretta 20 gauge. It's nice ... high capacity magazine, very fast rate of fire, but not so big as to be ostentatious. I highly recommend it.

Great finish to a great trip, Gary (well ... minus the protein spill that is). I thoroughly enjoyed reading your reports! I think I know who's going to get volunteered to write up the reports from the 10th anniversary trip!

Those that can be published anyway.

[Jeff]

Great reports Gary and again well done as a father.
The ending bothered my allergies a bit. (That's macho code at my house for when my daughter does something that makes me get tears in my eyes).

[Beach Club Babe]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! All your reports were witty and entertaining! I'm so glad that Gert got her magic back and that she wants to go back soon!

[MizMissy]

Great reports! I very much enjoyed reading them.
Your reports reminded me that you never know how your children will react to different environments. I am bringing my son for his first trip in September and I am trying not to let my expectations get too high about how he will react to different rides. In fact, now, I'm reaching the paranoid stage that he will all of a sudden develop a fear of the dark before September!

Oh well ... Thanks again for sharing your reports.

[TikiGoddess]

I thoroughly enjoyed your trip reports!! Thanks for sharing them with us. I loved the whole bit about the magic --- isn't it the best when your favorite moments of the trip are the ones that you can't plan...

TikiG

[LandFan]

Wow Gary - that was some trip - I'm practically wiping away the tears. I'm so glad Gert got her magic back - she's to young to have it stolen from her!!

It is pretty obvious that you are a publisher - I am a freelance writer who works with a publisher and I recognize the signs

Thanks for the read - it was great!