A Winter "mini" Vacation

A Winter Mini-Vacation!

December 21, 2008
This Sunday morning, I am awaiting the flight I will be flying to Orlando, while sitting in Manchester, NH Airport. Rebecca and the kids have just taken off after spending a wonderful layover in NH. The forecasted Nor’easter has just begun to arrive in Manchester, the snowfall continues to build as the jets pushing back are shrouded in fog from the deicing fluid prior to taxiing for takeoff.

Previously, Rebecca had been mentioning the possibility of taking the kids to see snow this winter, even if it was a close by destination. We had discussed North Carolina or Tennessee, and I realized I had a trip to Manchester, NH over the 20th of December. As we began checking the weather last week, it seemed that there would not be any snow over the layover date. Undaunted, we made plans for a little trip to NH which would include going to Boston for ice skating and museum touring, and we additionally had considered a local ski mountain for snow-tubing.

As the trip date drew close, Mother Nature granted Rebecca’s snow wish, and Manchester was blanketed with 8 inches of snow the day before my layover. So the plan unfolded as we had previously arranged. Rebecca and the kids met me in Orlando as I was between flights, and hopped onto the Manchester flight.

I was overjoyed as I pulled into gate 128 at Orlando International Airport to the smiles and waves of my children. As my “precious cargo” boarded the plane, I realized it was the first time I had flown all of my family as an airline pilot. It was fun for them to be on my plane.

The flight to Manchester was uneventful, and as we descended below the clouds at 6000 feet, the view of white continued since we were now in a winter wonderland!! Ryan later commented on seeing lakes, rivers, forests and roads. An interesting and enjoyable view for a load of Florida kids who have not been near the snow for several years.

The family deplaned, and although I was proud of the landing with stiff winds, a snow covered runway, and low ceilings, Rebecca stated, “that was not the best landing.” Unmiffed, we continued to the rental car counter, and boarded the mini van to Nashua, and the Southwest layover hotel. Along the way, we really felt as though Christmas was near as we passed the neighborhoods of “Christmas card beauty” with wreaths, and candle lights in the windows of the colonial style homes, and observed nature’s winter beauty of snow covered trees and landscapes. The snow continued and we discussed all manners of winter topics.

At Nashua, we checked into the hotel, and quickly donned our winter attire, which was mostly borrowed from no less than 6 neighborhood families. The kids could not wait to go jump into the snow and winter activities.

Our destination was any nearby sledding hill, so we first stopped at Target to get 3 saucers and a plastic sled. Next it was off to Greely Park in Nashua, where we plowed into all the types of childhood snow-filled winter activities. Sledding was a bit slow, and the temperature made hard-packed snow balls difficult to make, but the family continued in an enthusiastic manner to burrow in, eat, throw, jump into, and sled through the glorious snow.

The family’s excitement level brought to mind the first snow storm of the year back at Kings Point as the Hawaiians and (Panamanians?) were giddy-like as they observed the white particles magically falling from the heavens.

The entire afternoon was spent in winter bliss, and as the cold set in, and the sunlight disappeared, it was time to load up and return to the hotel for a warm dinner, and an early bedtime after a full day of travel, and winter time activities for a bunch of Floridians.