<p>justaMom, are we sisters, because your mother sounds just like mine!</p>
<p>Have a wonderful time. It’s nice to get back some of the love.</p>
<p>So wonderful your D made the overture! How sweet! I hope someday that will happen for me as well!</p>
<p>My parents didn’t believe in long distance calls or care packages. Even when I called, they’d hang up promptly & say they had nothing to talk about! I do send care packages.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. This has been a long time coming. The last few years have been a classic push-me-pull-you time and it has been very difficult on me (I assume on her as well). I’ve been getting a kick out of the idea of staying at her 400 sq ft studio. HER place. </p>
<p>Put out your best energy for some decent airfare please.</p>
<p>starbright, I have tears in my eyes for the same reason. I have 17 yo and 11 yo sons. I know that the 17 yo will be gone before I know it, and I can’t stand the thought. My 11 yo is incredibly sweet, and likes nothing more than being with me. I still read to him every night, and we watch videos together almost every night (Teaching Company music or history videos, Mary Tyler Moore, etc.) I know that this won’t last, and I know that his soft cheeks won’t last, either. He is growing so fast. </p>
<p>Of course you should go, justamom, and have a wonderful time!</p>
<p>justamom- If you haven’t done so already, check Jetblue’s airfares if they go anywhere near her. They had $99 fares from LAX- Boston yesterday. Not sure if that will help you…</p>
<p>So glad you are planning to go, justaMom! No one knows what’s around the corner – a lost job, health problems, an unexpected death. The “moments” of one’s life are the times spent enjoying those we love.</p>
<p>You are smart to jump at this opportunity! What would be a better or wiser use of $300 right now?! Have fun!</p>
<p>Prefer SNA (Orange County) to LGA (La Guardia), JFK, or EWR (Newark). I’ll check Jet Blue.</p>
<p>They do fly out of Long Beach-JFK…not sure about fares…Also check Virgin American out of SNA- JFK (but it stops at SFO).</p>
<p>Frontier is $260, SNA to LGA.</p>
<p>trip sounds very exciting! i just did a similar trip to midwest sleeping in a 400 sqft efficiency of my daughter’s first apartment. it was great! many years ago before she was a freshman in college i asked the kid tour guide at her college what was his favorite thing to get in a care package. he said he never got one but the guy down the hall got cookies from his grandmother he always shared and they loved it- from then on i sent weekly cookies (made from a mix- i know -lame) in a 2day package with less than a pound. the second year (i figured it was the time to stop) she called one day and asked what happened to the cookies?.. i restarted them. the harry and david fresh fruit monthly small packages were also a huge hit - she always shared the goodies. no, my parents never sent anything when i was in college. so i had to figure this out on my own and glad i did. have a great trip!</p>
<p>my oldest son who lives nearby surprised me with a visit at lunch today. i came home later, opened the mailbox, and inside was a note from my youngest son–just to say he thinks of all of us often…</p>
<p>and just when i thought i was jealous because i was a mom of boys…</p>
<p>Must be something in the air. Whatever it is let it waft over all of us! :)</p>
<p>This kind of counts for my youngest son (18.) The dog usually sleeps with him & isn’t allowed in our bed. DS slept over friend’s house so I snuck the pup in our bed anyhow…Horrible night’s sleep, but that’s what I get! Woke up in the AM to see blankets & pillows all over the couch. Wondered why they were there so asked son when he got home. He said he wanted the dog to be comfortable & have his scent because he knew he wouldn’t be allowed to sleep in a bed…OOOHH. I just loved him for that!</p>
<p>I love him, too, for that, Melsmom! What a sweet boy!</p>
<p>I wish we could have a dog. S1 and S2 both have allergies, although the tests indicate that they may have outgrown their allergy to dogs. The allergist gave us a list of dogs we might consider, and a list of rules that would be very difficult to follow (dog never upstairs in the bedrooms; kids take showers before bed to wash off the dander and then sleep in their rooms that the dog never enters; if there is any sign of allergy re-developing in either, the dog goes). S1 does not like any of the dogs on the list, who tend to be small and effete. Lately I have been reacting to a couple of large dogs at houses where I spend time. So I may have a dog allergy now.</p>
<p>Count your blessings, those of you who can have dogs!</p>
<p>justamom, I’m so glad you’re going. That’s why God invented money - so we could spend it on priceless experiences like going to visit your D.</p>
<p>We’re leaving Thursday to fly to Spain to visit S on his semester abroad. It’s a lot more money than we should be spending, but we’re going anyway. The chance to have him act as our tourguide should be great. We’re bringing D (hs senior) it will hopefully be a great experience for her. </p>
<p>I looked at a photo of our family at the Grand Canyon the other day. We had always wanted to take the kids to the Grand Canyon, but it was never the right time or it was always too expensive. Then D’s dance studio went to a competition in Las Vegas. We moaned and groaned about the cost… but it was an excuse to take the kids to the Grand Canyon, and it was totally worth it. So now this is an excuse to be with our kids in Europe, and we’re taking it. I’ll live with my old floral-print sofa for 2 more years, I guess!</p>
<p>Lafalum84 - I hear you all the way. There’s never a “good time” to spend money, but hey, at least I’m back to work after a year!</p>
<p>These times with our kids ARE priceless and it’s experiences we all remember more than “things” anyway. We will be celebrating S’s graduation from college by having him, D, H & I go on a 3 week trip to Europe because he plans to start working thereafter and who knows when we’ll all be able to get such a chunk of time together again? </p>
<p>I have never read of anyone regretting spending money on quality experiences with family. Enjoy! :)</p>
<p>We all tend toward allergies in this household and D who LOVES animals is allergic, especially if she spends any significant time with them, but she’s SO good with them! Oh well, at least her other love, art, doesn’t provoke allergies! :)</p>
<p>Booked. Airfare came in at under $300 r/t. I breathed a sigh of relief. I AM going. Thansk for your support everyone.</p>
<p>Yay to "just"aMom and her D!</p>
<p>Have a great trip</p>