Awake: 5:54am Temp 60 sleep 6+03 sunny overnight @ Newport News, VA.
Kathy packs a medium size canvas tote bag, I pack a small backpack + we each take a hanger full of semi-formal wear for our (2) nights stay @ the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Norfolk. We’ll be in the same hotel as our kids & other wedding guests saving us the (60) mile roundtrip + time in running back & forth to our motorhome. I used some of my Marriott points from many yrs of frequenting the Marriott hotels in my earlier travels; basically it’s a free stay not counting meals or valet service.
Melissa calls while we’re en route to the hotel: she wants to know how we will spend our time today & also would like Katrina’s cell number. “@ this point we have no idea how we’ll spend our time” Kathy tells her; then relates Katrina’s number.
Nick greets us as we arrive @ the hotel. 1st we check in, organize our things in our room & then join our kids about 11:30am. I express an interest in using my Starbuck’s card that Melissa & Kevin gave me for Christmas which I have little opportunity to use; the kids buy on that idea & the (7) of us sashay over to the nearby Mall. Along the way, much to our surprise, Nick & Zack have a slight disagreement on the pickup time @ the airport for Zack’s girlfriend, Katie. Nick, the would be driver, preferred to wait for Katie’s cell phone call, then drive to the airport while Katie is picking up her luggage. Zack on the other hand, wanted to be early & be waiting for Katie to arrive & have some personal + quiet time with his girlfriend. As a result, I end up loaning our Suzuki to Zack for the pickup @ whatever time he chooses.
Meanwhile on the 2nd floor of the Mall, besides having Starbuck’s coffee, the Food Court, etc, there is a carpeted kid play area where Jerry really enjoyed playing & hanging out with the other little people. That made it nice for us; we drank our coffee, Eriko had lunch & Kathy, Katrina & I shared a Philly Cheese Steak on a whole wheat bun from the Steak Escape. Later, Nick had lunch while Eriko watched Jerry. Also, Zack & Nick kept in touch via text messages on their Blackberry’s. When Zack reported that he had picked up Katie & they were on the way back to our hotel, we left the Mall to join them.
After greeting Katie warmly & catching up on her summer job, parents’ health, etc, somehow the discussion led to body ailments of our family & which parent had handed down to what kid what was good & not so good. It was a good time for Jerry to nap as our discussion was lively with variable volume. Nick reveals his foot, back & knee pains as a teenager which we parents had not taken as seriously as we perhaps should have. Katrina brings up her foot problems also. Zack, however, had little to say as he & Katie were busy doing some computer stuff & Zack would be sneaking in a little nap time to keep up with Jerry. This discussion could have gone on a lot longer but we were all aware of other commitments we had for this evening.
The (8) of us get into the Dodge Durango, make a stop for Zack to take his suit to the dry cleaning store & a stop for Katrina at a nearby grocery store. Then Lady Garmin guides us (8) to Lafayette Park where the rehearsal BBQ dinner given by the family of Jason is held. Pulled pork, baked beans, hamburgers, coleslaw, etc, etc. It was all very good & the evening weather was perfect for this pavilion type of gathering. Some 40 people were present + we met a few more of the wedding party & other special invited guests. After most of the food was consumed, the younger crowd tossed the Frisbee & football around while most of us seniors gabbed with other seniors.
With Nick’s encouragement, I tossed the football some, & later, threw the Frisbee with Katrina, Kathy, Nick, Zack, Katie, & Eriko until darkness discouraged any further game time. We were back to our hotel @ 8:45pm.
Nick and Eriko retired to their room to put Jerry to bed while Kathy and I spent more time talking with Katrina, Zack, and Katie in their room before returning to our room.
Lights out: 11:14pm
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