We packed up Monday morning, and checked out of the hotel. Our stuffmeter pretty much balanced from the way there, since we had brought two big containers of consumables (snacks and drinks) but then we’d bought a similar volume in board games and books.
Our only big mistake on Monday was in forgetting that it was a national holiday. We had planned to go to the John Glenn NASA Visitor’s Center, something we were all looking forward to (except maybe BabyGirl, who really only looks forward to her next meal). We drove up about ten minutes after their opening time of ten, only to see the gates shut. Well, duh.
So, we did the only thing we could have done. We went shopping at the Border’s Outlet and at an educational supply store nearby. Then we had a quick lunch, and it was goodbye, Cleveland.
JediBoy was talking non-stop about coming back “next year, and the year after that, and every year until we’re too old to come.” We have grand plans for next year already, including visiting the Glenn Center not on a holiday, heading up to Lake Erie for part of one day and possibly taking in a major league baseball game. But definitely going back to visit the stingrays and Jane. I was so happy that JediBoy had such a fantastic time.
I’m glad we went. It was a lot of travel and a lot of money, but the experience of being in a crowd full of other light-skinned mommies holding GuateBabies was so fulfilling. I truly believe that it’s a big part of human nature to seek out that which is similar, and being in a place where for one day our family looked like the norm was a renewing experience. Being able to have that time to renew once a year is going to be amazing.
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