Introducing Cohen to America

Tuesday 25 February 2020

Making the most of the mild Florida weather (before an expected cool change later in the week), we headed to the coast for a beach day.

It took just over an hour to drive there, but we spotted many interesting birds, and more than a handful of alligators sunning and soaking along the way.

The beach was busy, with a great big pier to our left, some permanent umbrellas in between us and the pier, and lots of people lazing to the right!

The wind was up, so the waves were big and filled with sand, but the sun was warm, as was the water once you got used to it.

We spent a few hours there, with the kids enjoying the occasional wave dunking, but mostly body surfing the waves and splashing around- big kids and small kids alike! Later there was loads of fun digging trenches and writing words in the sand.

An old friend from my exchange days, Dawn, and her 10yo son joined us for the afternoon too. Catching up was delightful, it felt like old times hearing about the swings and round-abouts that have made up her life. Her son brought shovels and buckets, making him instantly popular with the younger kids!

Cohen showed his typical beach-bum persona! The other kids were fairly unfamiliar with an ocean beach, and displayed due caution. Cohen was out in the deep waves straight away, keeping up with the big kids, and showing no fear.

We treated ourselves to an ice cream from the ice cream vendor who walked the beach with his cooler cart! I had memories of Bali seeing him!

Poor Mike lost his reading glasses within minutes of entering the water- rooky mistake I guess. We all kept a feel out for them, but I sadly suspect they’re lost forever to the big blue.

After leaving the beach we made a pit stop at McDonalds, loading the kids up with their favourites- nuggets, chicken burgers and fries!! The energy from the food was short lived, with everyone passing out on the journey home! Was cute to see the van filled with sleeping beauties!

The kids jumped in the pool when we got home, and I prepped lunches and snacks for the next day- Universal Studios! It was a late night, but so much fun being with our loved ones, and seeing Cohen so connected with everyone too.

Monday 24 February 2020

Poor Cohen is spent- late nights and early mornings, but he’s an absolute trooper, and taking it all in his stride. He was hard to wake, so I was pretty much ushering him out the door as soon as he woke.

We said our goodbyes to Stasi, Jacob and Tyler, and left for the airport at 7.30am. I’m glad we left so early as the traffic was slow by Denver terms, and the airport was BUSY! We had a 9.45am flight, and we only had enough time to grab a quick bite to eat on the plane before boarding. Cohen enjoyed Denver International Airport as you have to get a shuttle train between terminals! Planes, trains and automobiles!!!

We were flying United, and the boarding crew were amazing with Cohen, gifting him with his first set of “wings” as we boarded. He was so chuffed.

We had a good flight, a little bumpy, with slow service, and bad plane food, but it was only a few hours: I napped, Cohen watched Paw Patrol!

Arriving in Orlando was great: the sun was shining, and the greenery and landscape reminded me a lot of home. We had to get a train shuttle over to the bag claim area, and it was manic over there- people everywhere, and there area was filled with people coming off the planes, and people going through security to leave! It felt hectic! But we did it, and found Gary easily.

The trip to the accommodation we’d call home for the next two weeks, was a good hours’ drive away. We were greeted with the warmest welcome, I was home. Cohen felt (temporarily) overwhelmed, and skulked away behind my leg for a while. But with a pair of bathers, a pool, and a heap of similarly aged kids, he quickly felt at home and relaxed.

The house is huge, sporting 9 big bedrooms and plenty of semi en-suite/connected bathrooms, a full kitchen, upstairs and downstairs living areas, swimming pool and more. Plus the complex has its own water park, Rec centre and gym.

A delicious spaghetti with Italian sausage was cooking away for us to have for dinner, my brother Matt is a master in the kitchen!

Despite being tired, the excitement kept us up late chatting and catching up. Our hearts are full.

Sunday – 23 February 2020

Cohen rolled over, squinted his eyes open looking to see if I was awake. We smiled at each other, then I said, “I have something exciting to tell you”. He asked what it was, and I told him it was snowing. He sprung to his knees and excitedly asked if we could go look at it.

Our room is on the basement level of Gaye’s house, so Cohen snuck up the stairs, and poked his head around the corner to look out the window! The look of excitement on his face as he watched the snow falling outside was priceless.

We rushed to get dressed, and Cohen enthusiastically headed out to help Doug shovel snow! He spent at least an hour shovelling the driveway and the road, and he LOVED it!

He kept shovelling until our family began arriving at around 10.30 for brunch. Joined by Elaine, Joe & Kate; Jamie & Alex; Jenn, Greg, Nikki, Mac & Westin; plus Nikki’s parents, Darcy & Mary, and of course Gaye & Doug, we had a delicious brunch, enjoying each other’s company, while the kids played like they’d known each other forever.

Mac and Cohen played in the snow and went sledding while Doug built them a big snowman. They threw snowballs, and made snow angels, and had a really memorable time.

After a wonderful afternoon catching up with our cousins, we met back up with Stasi and went back to her place, where we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon- packing, playing, talking, eating!

After dinner Stasi’s neighbour, Cindy, came over and the kids headed outside in the frigid weather to play on the trampoline and thrown snowballs again! Cohen proclaimed that his new favourite food is snow!! I guess he was eating it!

Everyone seemed reluctant to go to bed- after all this was our last night in Denver. First thing the next morning we’d be heading to the airport, Florida bound.

Saturday 22 February, 2020

Well, we arrived, finally! 9.30pm on Friday night (Denver time). Stasi, my high school friend from Chicago, who relocated to Colorado 19 years ago, came to pick us up.

Dark and cold, she had the car’s seat warmers on, and the heater blaring: very well prepared for her out-of-towners!

We headed to her house, where we were greeted by her husband Rob (Stasi & Rob have been married 20 years, and I was in their bridal party- we all go way back!), and their sons Tyler (13) and Jacob (9).

The kids hit it off immediately (nerf guns and computer games sealing the deal for Cohen)! And us adults chatted away until well after midnight- if we didn’t have something to be up for the next morning, chances are we would have pulled an all-nighter. We estimate it’s been 19 years since we’ve seen each other in person, but it was like time had stood still and we picked up where we’d left off.

After a good (but short) night sleep, we woke to a stunning, crisp, yet sunny, winter’s day, and headed out to the Thornton Scout Pack 212 for their annual Pinewood Derby. As we exited the house and drove around the suburbs, Cohen was impressed by all the snow on the ground! This was his first snow experience, and he was in heaven.

The Pinewood Derby was such a well run event, and a really happy, fun occasion, with a real sense of community about it. The Scouts (mostly Cob Scouts) sculptured their own cars out of a pinewood block. The conditions being that each car had to be a maximum weight of 5 ounces, and needed to be individually designed and decorated by each entrant. One car per entrant, which was raced four times (once in each lane), against others randomly selected derby cars. The winner was the person whose car averaged the fastest speed.

We helped set up, and before the race Cohen was given the Pack’s scarf and woggle, and indoctrinated as an honorary member of the Pack. I was gifted a “Mother’s Pin” too. And we shared badges from Australia with them.

Cohen raced a car that Jacob had built a couple of years before. He came first in three of the races, and tied for first place in another. He came in seventh place all up.

Awards were given for place-getters, along with a judges (I was a judge), parents, and scouts choice awards. Cohen received the award for the “Furthest Traveled”!!

Lunch was served too! Turkey or ham and salad rolls, a variety of potato chips, brownies and cinnamon cake.

After lunch we took a trip to the shops to buy a SIM card for me so that I could have a US number, and avoid paying roaming fees. We followed that with a visit to Walmart (affectionately referred to as “Walnut” by Cohen), and Coh desperately wanted to go there to look at dinosaur Lego! They had a reasonable selection, and Cohen walked away with the smallest one I could find!!

Back at Stasi’s I could barely keep my eyes open, so I napped while the kids played. Using snowball moulds, the younger kids used poor Tyler as snowball throwing target practice!! But they all had fun!

I woke to knocking on the bedroom door; my alarm hadn’t gone off as expected, as I’d set it for AM instead of PM!! Rooky mistake!! I packed an overnight bag and we all set off to meet up with family and friends at Casa Bonita, a Mexican theatre restaurant.

With a group of 16, we were seated across three front row tables in a private dining area that had its own stage, where we were treated to an impressive magic show.

Our group consisted of Cohen & I; Stasi, Rob, Tyler & Jacob; friends Sharon & Kent (aka Speedo); and cousins Gaye, Doug, Elaine, Joe, Kate, Kara, Jamie & Alex.

Both Jacob and Alex had the opportunity to get on stage to support the magician- and both were amazing assistants, with the show having us all awe struck.

The meal was ordinary, but the entertainment extraordinary. Right outside our room was a huge waterfall, and throughout the night divers would dive from the top of the waterfall into the pond below! There were characters roaming around, pantomimes, puppet shows, arcades, a walk through mine, fortune tellers, and much more. We all wished we could have stayed longer.

While our cousins tried to coerce Cohen out of the games room, I left to transfer our bags from Stasi’s car to Gaye’s car, as we were staying the night at Gaye’s. To our surprise our cars were parked side by side!! Awesome coincidence!!

We said our goodbyes, and journeyed to Gaye and Doug’s via downtown Denver, where we got to see the city lights, and witness a street-style-rail-jam! It was like a winter outdoor concert, but with a giant inflatable snowboarding ramp that you could ski down on rails! It looked like lots of fun!

Back at Gaye’s house, Doug treated Cohen to airplane toys, and hot wheels cars. Naturally Cohen made himself right at home in no time at all! Again, we sat up chatting. I’ve frequented Gaye’s house enough times over the years that I too feel right at home there- a warm, familiar, home feeling.

Gaye, Elaine and Glen (dec) are my dad’s first cousins. I’ve been visiting them in Colorado, along with their kids since late 1991.

After a great catch up, a cuppa, and some late night snacks for Cohen, we all retired to bed with anticipation of the snow predicted for the next day!

Friday 21 February, 2020

Our bags were completely packed by 9pm the night prior to leaving: the earliest I’ve ever packed for an international jaunt! Usually I’m up til 2 or 3am, which works well, as I sleep and sleep on the flight!

This trip I was already exhausted from months of late work nights, stress and summer entertaining, so early packing had me high-fiving myself all over the place! I need this holiday.

So we enjoyed our last dinner together- a special meal created by Cam, and enjoyed our time together, and Cohen even got a play date in with his bestie next door. We went to bed at a reasonable time, and set the alarm for 6am with the plan to leave home around 7am.

My alarm startled me, it was dark out, and I woke in confusion, unable to compute what was going on. Where was I? Why was my alarm going off? How do I turn my alarm off (a ridiculous question given it goes off every day)?!!! Then through the haze, the penny dropped!! The day had arrived! Four years in the making, it was time!

So up I got! I took my time, enjoying the creature comforts of home. And we were on the road by 7.30, arriving at the airport, after a good run, at 8.50.

Cohen was in such high spirits, really excited about the adventure that awaits. Cam had to get home, so made sure we got checked in, and we said our loving goodbyes. We’re going to miss him so much.

In International this at Melbourne airport we dawdled to keep us on our feet, before finding a Cohen-chosen cafe for breakfast. First course: toasted cheese and ham sandwich, second course yoghurt with muesli that he decided he didn’t like, third course good-old-faithful rice crackers!!!

It was a good induction as to what traveling with Cohen may be like- his legs were already sore, he was refusing to eat healthy foods, he didn’t want to carry his bags, he was bored!! After leaving the breakfast cafe, I stopped suddenly and asked Cohen if we’d forgotten something, without any idea what it might be! Right at that moment the man that had been sitting next to us at breakfast was running towards us with my passport / ticket purse!!! LUCKY!

We then killed some time by introducing Cohen to some new plane sized toys – he was in awe, and played with them in his chair, and sprawled out on the floor!

Our flight to Auckland was a dream. And Cohen traveled so well! He was just so thrilled to have his own personalised TV, and I was thrilled to be sitting in premium economy!! I was surprised by the poor quality of food. It’s been eight years since my last overseas trip, and I feel the good quality was quite good then, but now it’s back to where it was when I first started traveling in the early 90s. Interestingly a work colleague told me, on good account, that because your body dehydrated so much at high altitudes, that the airlines add huge amounts of salt to their meals, but you can’t taste it due to the dehydration. This may not be truth, but I swear that all of our meals were salt laden, not just because of the style of food served and the taste, but also because of the heartburn I suffered!! I was grateful for the apples served to Cohen!

We arrived in Auckland for a 5 hour transit- disappointed to hear there was a flight boarding to LA on the same carrier only 2 hours after we’d arrived. But it wasn’t a bad stop over! We moseyed through the shops, called home a couple of times, had dinner (then desert later on when I realised there was a McDonald’s with a playground- oh the money I could have saved on dinner!!!), Coh played with his new toys, and we read a whole chapter book called “Fartboy”!!!

After a delay, our very full flight boarded! Back in cattle class, we settled in. Cohen was allowed one movie before sleeping, for which I received no complaints, and he slept right up until an hour or so before landing. He missed the turbulence- there was lots!! I slept sporadically.

I also realised that I’d left my scarf, and my two phone chargers in the car! Oh no, my plans to listen to hypno recordings, and type my blog we’re out the window. Adding salt to my wound, was that we had wifi from Auckland to LA!!

Prior to leaving I’d quizzed everyone I knew who’d been stateside recently, along with asking my travel agent in several occasions if 2 hours between landing in LA and boarding our connecting flight would be enough time. All responses, bar one, were positive. I should have listened to my gut and my 30 years of US immigration hold ups to known better though! Cohen and I zig zagged through a human maze for two and a half hours!!! NOT FUN! Particularly because we missed our connecting flight to Denver. (I’m forever perplexed by the lack of empathy or urgency shown in US Customs- it’s such a drab way to welcome people to such a great country- first impressions left a bad taste in the mouth of many if the travelers around us!).

With little to no help from anyone we approached in, or out of, customs, nor from anyone ogling us while we tried to figure out what we were doing, we finally found our way on foot to the United terminal and got ourselves on a flight 2.5 hours after our scheduled flight.

Coh and I had to go through security twice, as we failed to empty his water bottle. We then found a charger, freshened up, made the calls we needed to make, and grabbed some snacks. I’m glad I packed some basic food options for Cohen, because from the snacks we purchased he’s established that he doesn’t like American cheese, or grapes, or green apples, or milk!! He does like the Pringle’s though! Seriously?!!!

Anyway, as I write this we are in the plane, on the way to Denver- heavy turbulence on the second half of the flight- but we’re very comfortable seated towards the front (was prepared for a meltdown when I boarded to find someone in my seat, but it was quickly rectified!)!!

Schedule to arrive around 9.30pm Denver time, I’m looking forward to a shower, change of clothes, and bed! I hear there’s lots of snow in Denver! It’ll be interesting to adjust to the weather, and the short days, but we’re so excited to be here, and to be seeing so many of our loved ones this trip!

Cohen is an expert traveler, and despite my concerns in Melbourne, and his occasional whining when we were shuffling around in US customs, he’s actually been a great traveling companion.

He’s excited about the cars being on the other side of the road, the drivers on the other side of the cars, and being in another country. He also smelt his first skunk today, but didn’t seem to find the stench quite as offensive as I did!!

It was a cold August morning in 1991. I dressed in a skivvy, with baggy dark green Levi’s and an oversized cable knit jumper that my mum made! With my parents and my brothers, my best friend and her parents, we drove the long drive to Melbourne Airport.

Back then the freeways weren’t connected the way they are today, so from our outer Eastern Suburbs home, we travelled out along Bell Street to get to the airport.

I’d packed for a year. This trip was to farewell me! I was 15 years old and was heading abroad for the first time, final destination Chicago, Illinois. I was excited! I was finally heading off to meet the wonderful family who’d put their hand up to have me live with them for a year. With a large young family (3 boys and a little 4yo girl), these generous strangers were opening their home to me. I was their Australian Exchange Student!! And we were a match made in heaven- it was meant to be.

That December my host sister Megan turned 5, and to celebrate we road tripped it to Orlando, Florida, in a seven seater van. We went to Disney, Epcot, Universal and MGM.

Fast forward 28.5 years, 13 grand children later (including Cohen), numerous weddings- of which I was a bridesmaid in each, and Megan was a bridesmaid for me (along with the bestie who sent me off at the airport back in 1991!!). There have been 14 or so trips back to the US, and even after all these years and distance my host family and my US high school friends are still as close as ever. My host mum is also one of Cohen’s god parents.

So, when my host family gave me four years notice to join them in their next Disney trip, it was a no brainer! With Cohen at a great age to remember and enjoy the trip, we all knew we were about to plan the trip of a lifetime!

And so the planning began! Whilst it hasn’t all gone to plan- with Cam no longer joining us due to work commitments, and Hawaii and New York off the cards for this trip now, we still have an EPIC experience planned, and I can’t wait to share it all with you!

One of the many wonderful things about this trip that is extra special is that my little sister,Megan, and I have not been back to Disney since 1991. So we had our first Disney trip together, and now our second. Not only that, we both have six year old boys, who are both going to have their first Disney trip together. And her youngest son will celebrate a birthday during our stay too!

We have so much to look forward to, with some of the expected highlights being visiting our relatives in Denver and catching up with old friends; Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby; Disney, Universal, NASA, Daytona Beach, and maybe Legoland; a surprise 6.5 year dinosaur themed birthday party for Cohen; family holidaying in Florida, with friends holidaying at the same time; Chicago friends; a surprise sleep over in the dinosaur exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum; Jurassic Quest; a weekend at home with my host family; and my first trip to Grand Rapids to see an old Aussie gal pal expat! This trip will be epic.

Packing is well underway- but I’m struggling with my stuff! After all, we’re literally packing for two seasons! With summer weather for a couple of weeks, and below freezing temps for the other two!! I find this challenging- but it will be worth it!

Whilst the trip is ridiculously exciting, and well overdue (our last trip was 8 years ago: the longest I’ve gone between trips), saying goodbye to Cam and our pups for four weeks is going to be depressing. Oh, and the 30 straight hours of travel are bound to push some boundaries!!

So thanks, in advance, for following our adventures! I hope I’ll be able to convey the journey in a way that excites our readers, and creates a great keepsake for Cohen, our family, friends and I to look back on with fondness.

Three sleeps!

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton