Hotel Breakers was awesome! It was so cool to drive along the peninsula, check in was welcoming, we were able to buy half day passes since we'd arrived so late, and gain early access to the park for the next day. We had to pay more than if we'd been able to buy just one full day pass, but considering our unintended circumstances, it was great to be able to salvage the day. We ate a late lunch/early dinner, then headed over to the park. The boys toured the parked, frequently saying "Nope, not that one!" to the more intense coasters, but the ones they selected were awesome just the same. Tyler's glasses disappeared on the Iron Dragon, but amazingly, they survived intact and were returned to us within 20 minutes, without anyone having to stop the ride!
Unfortunately, the lack of sleep from the Dallas fiasco kicked in, the boys asked to return to our room for a nap after just a few hours. I was bummed and wanted to try to rally them, but recognized - if lack of sleep causes nausea, then lack of sleep increases susceptibility to motion sickness. Begrudgingly, I agreed to return to the hotel.
I booked that room imagining that we would watch the sunset from the top of a roller coaster, and enjoy the last hour of the park being open, when most people would have gone home and we'd have no waits on the rides. I even hoped that maybe, just maybe, we'd catch a glimpse of the northern lights. Ok, we'd nap for a bit and return.
We woke up at 10pm, with Tyrien asking for dinner. I gave them cliff bars and jerky and went back to sleep.
We woke up early the next morning, packed our car, checked out early, and headed over to the park. Those early morning passes get you in before the rides start. We wandered the park looking for any rides that would open early. We got to see rides being "warmed up" with test runs. The boys were again saying that the rides looked too scary. I encouraged them...maybe, just maybe, required them...to ride Millenium Force.
Holy crappola! Riding up to the top felt like forever, and it seemed like we could see Canada across the lake. It looked and felt as though we were directly over the lake. Then when we started down, just about when our stomachs felt like it was time to pull out, it was time to realize we still had much farther to go! Such a strange feeling to be in free fall for that long! The second hill was less intense, and Tyrien had time to look back at me and express his anger. As we walked off the coaster, Tyrien's mood gradually shifted from rage and a sense of betrayal to him declaring - "That was terrifying! But fun! It was...terrafun!"
Shockingly, they declined to ride it again. By the time we were done with that ride and walked to the next, it seemed like the park was already open to the public. Still, we enjoyed the shorter waits that come with morning crowds, and rode new coasters, as well as returning to their favorites from the day before.
We had to leave by 2:30 to make it to our dinner reservations on time. Surprisingly, the boys were pretty upbeat about needing to leave - provided I supplied them with milkshakes. Amazingly, the entire time we were in Ohio, we never once were able to acquire any milkshakes!
We arrived right on time at the pizza place in BeaverCreek, just as my Aunt Gaye, Uncle Wayne, and Jonell, Art, Payton, and Shelby were arriving. It was such a joy to be reunited with cousins whom I hadn't seen since my 2013, since my Uncle Jerry's funeral. Gloria, Tina, Tony, Rick, Al, Missy and her husband, Duke, who somehow I'd never met before. The beauty of Facebook - I'd felt like I'd gotten to know Missy and Duke over the past couple of years. It was so awesome to get to tell Gloria how much I used to look forward to seeing her when I was a kid, and feel like she returned the sentiment. It was great to get more time with Dawn, Curt, Leah and Brenda, and to be reunited with Jonell, Art, Payton and Shelby. Tyler had expressed concern that my side of the family was so large, overwhelming and intimidating. So it was fantastic that Shelby and Payton immediately swooped in and engaged them in deep conversation. Dinner was far too short, I wanted so much to spend more time with them!
Fortunately, when we arrived at the hotel, who did we find hanging out in the lobby but Eddie and Roger! We delivered our bags upstairs, then returned to the lounge, the boys playing video games while Eddie, Roger, Jonell, Art and I stayed up late, drinking Eddie's beers and talking, talking, talking. After everyone else went to bed, Eddie sternly told me, "Have another drink with me." It was fabulous to stay up late, catching up.
In the morning, it was fun to see family in the breakfast area, and then finalizing preparations and heading to Deirdre's, wearing our Forever Young tshirts that Leah had managed to get despite the fact that I'd blown the deadline. Upon arrival, we followed the sounds leading us to the backyard pool. I didn't recognize any of the young adults there! These were Deirdre's kids and grandkids! Past the pool were the tables, chairs and tents and the rest of the family. I distributed the Forever Young Bingo Cards and pencils. I laughed at how frequently family members thanked me for using heavy cardstock. Dawn Lauderback won that game in about 10 minutes! It was awesome to watch her accountant brain plow through those questions so quickly. We enjoyed Brenda's concoctions and awaited as more and more family members arrived throughout the day. We ate amazing food, the kids alternated between swimming in the pool and going down the waterslide/playing on the splashpad.
We muddled through the challenges of organizing a family photo, shared words about Aunt Winnie, looking at her beautiful purple urn and remembering her love of ballroom dresses and dancing. Then I led the family through a Forever Young Jeopardy game, which brought out quite the competitive streak, particularly amongst the elder Kepplers. There were so many hilarious moments throughout that game, especially when Roger realized I didn't actually have all of the answers and was expecting the elders to fill in some of the blanks for us.
Late that evening, I attempted to return to the lounge area, only for Leah to inform me that the after party had ended and I may as well return to my room! Tyler discovered that he'd left his bag of games at Deirdre's house. It was a rough evening for us, listening to his sniffles at his loss.
In the morning, we ate breakfast amongst numerous family members, and hugging other family members before their departure. Then we headed back to Deirdre's, approaching cautiously and heading to the area where the tables had been. Deirdre heard us, came out and spoke to us for quite a while, while Tyler found the games right away, and relieved, was able to enjoy playing with Tyrien.
Next, we drove to Cleveland, found a suspiciously available, free parking space, and entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was awesome, but I was so nervous the whole time, fearing that the rental car would get towed and we wouldn't be able to get home. Took tons of photos and videos, then walked down to the dock, which was so cold and windy that we were miserable!
We took photos at the Coast Guard post, then got in the car and headed to the airport, where we again tried and failed to procure milkshakes!
When we landed in Dallas, we again could not locate milkshakes. Meanwhile, Tyrien's nose and ears were stuffy and driving him bonkers. I bought him chewing gum, and upon takeoff, discovered he had already swallowed all of it. I tried my best to comfort him, noting that we were all wearing masks while sitting right across the aisle from our doctor, who was not. He never noticed us, and we never spoke to him, figuring he'd want to enjoy his privacy, though a part of me lamented that he didn't notice Tyrien's discomfort and offer to help.
The next day, Tyrien slept ALL day on the couch, occasionally coughing, but mostly with his nose and ears bothering him. The next morning, he didn't want to go to summer camp. I told him he needed to go, he became upset. I offered that if he had a positive covid test he could stay home, otherwise, he was going. Dang it if he didn't have a positive covid test! I had already dropped my PCR test off the night before, and by midafternoon, I was feeling sick, and advised Tyson that I anticipated my test would be positive, even though I'd taken it before I developed symptoms. Sure enough! Tyler was trying to stay healthy enough to go to Dave and Buster's that Thursday. But sure enough, Thursday morning he came into the kitchen stating, "I think I need to test." Positive. We'd made it three years into the pandemic, but COVID finally caught up to us. Fortunately, no one else in our family caught it, not even Tyson.
It was so fantastic to get to see so many relatives again! I hope that Tyler and Tyrien now feel less intimidated about having such a large family, and that they forever know the joy, love, the powerful draw of family.
