Graduation Trip - Travel Day 1 - Part 1

So years ago I decided that instead of getting my grandkids presents, that they really don't need, I decided that going on an adventure is much better and the adventure serves as their present.

This spring break I took my grandson on his graduation trip a little early. Why? Because he is shipping out on June 2nd for boot camp in San Diego.

So, with plans in place and a determination to make the most of a bittersweet moment, I put on a very brave face and took the kid to his destination choice - Ft. Worth, Texas.

We had a very early wake up call the first day of travel and we made it just fine. We boarded the hotel's airport shuttle with very droopy eyes but yet filled with excitement of the adventure that lay ahead starting at Lambert Airport in St. Louis.

https://www.flystl.com/

Early wake up. So far so good.

Making it in time for the hotel airport shuttle. So far so good.

Arriving at the airport. So far so good.

Until.................................

The couple who rode the shuttle with us.

In the meantime at the departure entrance, my grandson got out of the shuttle to grab our bags while I was making my way out of the shuttle.

The husband in the seat behind us spoke up and asked where we were going, to which I replied, Texas. He said, "Oh, is it a college visit. The young man is dressed very nicely."

My grandson had on his Texas shirt, tan colored jeans, and a big belt buckle.

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I replied in a quieter voice, "No, he's enlisting in the Marines." The man asked, "Where is he going"? I replied in a louder voice, The Marines."

The man said to congratulate him and wish him well.

Let's just say at 5:00 am, I got a dagger to the heart that I was not prepared to endure. I knew that this trip was going to be rough, but gee, not at 5 in the morning.

After we checked our bags and had our boarding passes in hand, I told my grandson that we would definitely get separated, but to wait just past the TSA checkpoint.

I was 1,000% correct. We did get separated. He had to use the general TSA checkpoint while I got to use the TSA PreCheck. However, I did not know that the general TSA checkpoint was a little distance from where I waited for him right outside of my checkpoint.

I watched and watched for him to come through the checkpoint, but he never did. I'm starting to get worried and in the meantime he sent me a text asking where I was. I saw this a half an hour after he sent it. Bad grandma!

I sent a text back asking where he was, and he replied that he was waiting at the gate where we would board the plane.

GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

I finally found him sitting there at the gate, waiting for me with his coffee in hand.

So...............did the grandson lose the grandma? Or, did the grandma lose the grandson?

Stayed tuned for Travel Day 1 - Part 2