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Knock on the bedroom door at 2:37AM alerts me that it’s time.
Time to begin an epic drive out of post-hurricane New York City and back home to our Beloved Windy City—Chicago.
The worst part, there’s still no power after Sandy whipped her way through Long Island. So we’re sharing head lamps to find last second items, and in the end I just settle for two socks. Who cares if they don’t match? We are on a schedule and if we don’t leave soon, someone’s going to miss more than a final glimpse of the skyline during a Wednesday morning sunrise.
In all seriousness, [yes, I can be serious] before my parents arrived a few days back for their 45th Anniversary celebration, hubby actually told me that he had plans to wake everyone up on Monday morning and take them to the beach. To watch a sunrise.
“Not happening.” I warned him. “My parents are retired. They cherish their sleep.”
Well, it’s Wednesday morning a little before 3AM. And…it’s happening!
Not the beach trip. But a spontaneous road trip with one mission in mind. To get everyone out of NYC and back to their homes. As of right now, the only way out is by car, bus, or foot. We choose to drive. The airports are shut down until Sunday. And most of the subway lines are still closed. Sandy [which happens to be my sister’s nickname] didn’t stay too long, but you could say she left quite an impression. Just like a woman with an attitude, she whirled her way in and out, leaving New Yorkers in the dark with a hefty tab to pick up.
Because of the RV, we had access to a generator, and do you know what my brother-in-law, whose flight was cancelled even before Sandy arrived, my dad, and Hubs did for the last two days in the partial dark? They got their Bob the Builder hard hats on and built a bathroom. It’s not finished, but the progress these three fellows made in the last 48 hours is more than has happened in the last two years! Yeah for storms! Well, at least on one front.
The coolest thing about seeing these three guys brainstorming and pounding away nails was just seeing them together. Two brothers who love to try new things. An engineer Dad who will never really retire. I can’t actually explain the male bonding thing that happens when guys work with tools, but I know much more than bathroom framing was strengthened this weekend.
So… we’re all piled into the Sequoia and begin our tepid drive out of Locust Valley at around 3:30AM, and it is so dark, that if you blow through a stop light, you could easily run into or over a fallen tree. So hubs takes it slow until we hit the expressway. Then we fly out of New York, making historical time. We’re across the GWB in less than an hour and not a bit of traffic. I think most New Yorkers are sleeping in, schools are still closed, but the last I heard, NASDAQ is scheduled to start back up today. Wondering how all the commuters will venture into Manhattan. Just so happy to see the skyline behind me.
Honestly wasn’t sure how or if we would actually make it out. Without power and the constant CNN footage and updates, we really had no idea what we were facing. So glad it wasn’t as bad as some of the fake photos on Facebook. Which, by the way, I updated my status Monday morning, telling the world that all was fine, I had my coffee and my internet. And as soon as I hit send, I lost it. And it’s one thing to plan to turn off the cyber world, say on a camping trip or vacation. But when it’s taken from you and you have no choice…Wahhh to the wahhh! 🙁 And for once, it didn’t even matter if you had a “smart” phone. No one was getting no where. On line that is. Even cell phone reception is spotty at best.
So besides the cool Eddy Bauer wind-up radio that gave us repeat information on the bridge closings and subway floodings, we were disconnected. And it’s a lot lonelier than I realize. Started wondering if I’d survive the FB withdrawal. Who cares about the mangled grill in my backyard? I just want to know if so and so proposed and what my friends’ kids are wearing for Halloween! Hello? Priorities!
Well, now we’re on I-80 heading west, and the first stop is Akron, Ohio. My parents have a connecting flight from NYC to Akron with their final destination in Atlanta, GA…home. Less than twelve hours ago, Dad called the airlines, frustrated that he and mom would be stuck in New York another week, and found out that if they can get to Akron, Air Tran would let them on the plane. The flight leaves at 4PM.
So hubs gets his wish. Sort of. Because we’re all up before the sunrise, but the rainy, cloud covered sky, doesn’t leave any room for the sun to peek out. But we’re together. And we’re having a blast. We arrive before noon, and the eight-hour drive is more than a fun spontaneous road trip. My parents share stories of their parents’ and grandparents’ exodus out of 1947 Partition Times India, and I’m memorizing details like there’s no tomorrow. History that needs to be preserved. In the end, I pull out my laptop, holding her steady on my lap in the front seat, and type up their stories, because I don’t want to forget. These are stories I can’t wait to share. Someday.
After two second hugs and goodbyes, we jump back in the car for our next, time-sensative drop off. My brother-in-law Arul changed his flight to leave out of Chicago. And since I have plans to be in Chicago for a writing conference this weekend, we’ll just arrive a little early.
The GPS says “Chicago O’Hare ETA: 5:00PM.” Arul’s flight leaves at 6:15PM. If we hit zero traffic and take two second gas station stops, we just might get him there on time. No extra potty breaks allowed. So we limit the girls’ fluids.
“But I’m thirsty” and “My throat is dry” are heard from the backseat and ignored in the interest of Aul not missing his flight. If he doesn’t catch this plane, he’ll be stuck in Chicago till Sunday, and he has four boys and a wife who are missing him dearly.
And the girls do great. No one asks to go potty until we stop only once to get gas. The final hurdle lies ahead of us the moment we spot the Sear’s Tower in the distance. It’s 3:30PM and we’re about to enter Chicago Traffic Time! But that’s where a live GPS comes in handy. Arul zips in and out of traffic like a Nascar driver as Hubs gets step by step directions through text messages from his cousin who is watching the traffic on all Chicago expressways to determine which route will get him closest to O’Hare without hitting a traffic jam. And it works! We fly down I-80, jump on 294N, and stroll into Terminal 3 at a record 4:45PM. We’re early!
More hugs. More goodbyes. And we’re off to visit with cousins and friends.
Nothing like a spontaneous road trip across the country with family. Nothing like leaving a storm behind you to embrace tomorrow’s sunrise. Nothing like being in Chicago to see the Bulls win their opening game! Nothing like making memories. Through the good times and bad. Life.
**How about you? How did Hurricane Sandy affect you? Did you have to finish a pint of ice cream in the interest of not wasting food?
