We made great time yesterday on our way home and Ol' Betsey once again got us through - so in the end, aside from that silly belt issue and being towed into our campsite that first night - the RV itself held up great. She now sits parked next to the garage - her fate uncertain...see we loved RV'ing - but it is a bit small for the five of us. It actually didn't matter much on this trip because we literally just slept there, but if we ever want to use it as a camper - well, then we might actually need a bit more space. We love the whole experience and the entire family is still talking to one another and actually getting along better than ever...when it is just the five of us, Jack gets more one-on-one time with us, and the girls remember that they actually like each other's company.
We didn't have campfires like we thought (sadly, just one) and we didn't cook at the RV as much as we thought we would....in WV we were treated to home cooked meals or picnics everyday! In DC if we ate a meal, it was on the go....we realized on our way home last night that the only time we sat down for a meal and got waited on was a breakfast in WV at Bob Evan's - kids were insistant we go there for historical purposes...we ate at a Bob Evan's while in Hershey a few years ago - and we ate there over and over again since there are very few restaurants around Hershey...and it was as good as we remember!
We got in last night around 5:30 and spent the next two hours unpacking - everything (almost) is put away, laundry is all done and we are actually repacked to head to the Cape for the last few days of our vacation. I can't believe we are packing up and heading out again, but summer is short and we want to make the most of it.
While in DC we discovered that Jack's favorite parts of the day were riding the metro in and out of the city...after the first day, Mel and Mags could look at the subway map and tell us what line to get on and what stop to get off on...it took about 45 minutes (at least) to get in and out - but the whole bus and subway novelty never wore off for them so the commute was never an issue. He also had access to snacks almost constantly - yes, I used them when we were touring to keep him content - it didn't seem completely right, but when you go on vacation, you have to do what you have to do and sometimes keeping everyone happy is what you had to do. We did get a wheelchair for him a couple of times (Smithsonians, the Capitol) but otherwise he walked everywhere we did and in fact, seemed happiest when he could just freely skip or gallop down the sidewalk. Fortunately, most places in DC were very accomodating - actually, all of the places were accomodating - even the capitol that absolutely forbids food and drink let us bring in all of our stuff "just in case" - and they pretty much made everyone else throw anything they had right in the trash - so that was cool....and the security guards at the Smithsonian approached us a couple of times when he was upset, offering suggestions about where to take him for a break or asking us what they could do to help...even walking to the cafeteria, finding a booth in the corner and then walking Mel and Mags over there to their seat (don't worry, i could see them the whole time)...It was very nice...even the people on the subway seemed unfazed by him - sure they glanced over, but then they just turned their i-pods up louder. The bus to and from the campground pretty much became Jack's bus - everyone knew him, talked to him, made way for him....while autism can be frustrating and people's ignorance can be more frustrating - we actually find that we meet the nicest people because of Jack and we see the best sides of those people because of Jack. As Uncle Tom said - Jack is a great teacher.....and he is.
Mel was her patient self all week - went with the flow and as long as I said yes to swimming each night, she was up for anything. Mags was the family photographer - taking photos of everything - and I mean everything! Not a bus or train that we took escaped her lens...and even Mel tried some of the new techniques that Uncle Tom taught her. Can't wait to get all of those sorted through and posted - but that will take a while as Mags filled her memory card on her camera several days in a row..... The kids had snacks and ice cream for lunch and dinner some time - but it was nice to not have to worry about finding a place to eat at 4pm before everyone got cranky - as they get older, they are able to do more without meltdowns - and since Jack was on an IV drip of snacks, he never got cranky for food either.
The interesting thing, for those that know Jack, is that we brought none of his usual stim toys with him - well, I did, but he never knew I had them and I never had to take them out....they stayed stashed away until we got home last night....but on our first day I notice he is stimming with his own fingers - now that freaked me out because if he realizes he can stim without anything but his hands - what is to keep him from stimming all the time? Fortunately a simple "no hands" could redirect him and he did awesome all week with very little stimming - but when we walked in the door last night, he had scissors, a ruler, a singing chicken and a harmonica all going at once within about 10 minutes. I guess some habits never go away - even as hard as we try to make them. He seems pretty happy to be home actually, though I'd say he probably liked living in the RV more than here in the house - he liked the closeness and confinement - he liked being treated like a king, not going to school, getting to swim everynight, have pop-tarts everyday.....enjoy it bean because on Monday, reality sets in - for all of us.
Mel and Mags were so happy to see the cats - for at least 5 minutes or so - before they moved on to other things and even now, they walk by, make a kissing noise to the cats and say how much they missed them and move on...and they aren't all that broken up to be saying goodbye to them again for our weekend at the cape. The cat fur in this house is awful though....but if that is all I have to worry about, then I guess I'm lucky.
I'll post pics soon...everyone have a good weekend!
Metro tokens.....kids wanted to buy extras as a keepsake...we said no, this would do....
kids and I waiting for our last metro bus ride back to the campsite....
Mags in the flight simulator at the Air and Space Smithsonian.....
