About a month ago, I opened and invitation to a wedding in Jersey City, New Jersey. For the past twelve years, I have been living in Ohio. (Long story about a daughter and three grandchildren. We'll have a glass of wine and I will tell you all about it another time) A family friend, whom my family has known for about thirty years was to get married on Friday evening, February 27. After considering that I would be seated with the Princess and Punk along with my X and his insignificant other, I had the sinking feeling that, depending on M'lady's mood, I just might be facing a firing squad. (Also another story to share over a case of wine)
AND THEN -
The Princess phoned and said that we'd have to consider child care for the Trio, her children, my grandchildren (Todd,11; Tess,10; Tanner, 7), not invited to the wedding, assuming that I would accept the invitation. We considered family members in New Jersey until I seized the moment and said: "Tiff! I'm not going to the wedding. I have a fabulous gift that I will send, but I won't be going. I'll baby sit!" With relief, I swear I could hear her smiling on the other end of the phone connection. YES! We would paint the town in Kettering, Ohio!
AND THEN -
About a week later, I was sent a notification that WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) would be appearing in Columbus, Ohio on March 5. Todd and I are veteran WWE patrons (Check out my blog: WWE, TODD AND ME) I phoned Tiff, unable to reach her, I left a message on the landline asking if I could take Todd to WWE on March 5. But, the Trio, in three part harmony returned the call, hours later and told me that they would be thrilled to ALL go to "Smack Down" or whatever. I jumped on that, but for four tickets: SOLD OUT! Now what?
AND THEN -
I received a notification that WWE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA was happening at Madison Square Garden in New York City on...wait for it...wait for it...February 27! Readers, I can baby sit ANYWHERE as long as I have Triple T, my three charges with me! So, I phoned the Princess of Zanesville: "Hey Tiff! While you are at the wedding, the Trio and I will be at Madison Square Garden watching ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA. Thankfully, she does not have Power of Attorney over me, or she just might have had me committed to the basket weaving institution for the marginally insane. I did not wait for a reply, disconnected and ordered four ringside seats at Wrestlemania. I learned that Hulk Hogan was to be honored at that time as well! Well, you just can't beat that! My parents, aka: The Honeymooners, the Trio's great-grandparents live exactly nineteen miles from the Lincoln Tunnel on the New Jersey side. I phoned them and announced that I was bringing the children to visit them for the day - February 27th and from there we would go to the show. We would spend the night and on Saturday, head back. I was trying to pray and strategize between snow storms. The Honeymooners were not impressed. Even though they wanted to see the children, they thought that I was out of my mind to "baby sit" from Ohio, across Pennsylvania, through New Jersey and then New York. There was the idea that I could baby sit anywhere, but really...EVERYWHERE?
WELL -
They began the "shrink cycle" whereby I am demoted from 60 to 4 1/2 years old. "What's that going to cost you? How can you consider driving in the winter with three children? What if it snows? What if one of you has to use a restroom? NEW YORK CITY- What 's wrong with you? When exactly do you think that you'll grow up to be a responsible adult? Well, you'll have to stay here, and that's that! Jeremy and Tori will have to take off for the day!" (Jeremy, my nephew, 22 year old graduate student, living in their house because it is close to the University and Tori, my niece, 17 years old more that thrilled to be truant for any reason, or none at all). They continued: "Todd loves playing with Jeremy and Tori will make over Tess. Poor Tanner getting dragged across the country! What is wrong with you traveling all over when it may, to repeat, snow? You have no sense! You are going to drive into the City? Are you nuts? How do you think you can keep track of three children in the City and at the Garden?" And on and on and on and on for two weeks, twice a day, they took to the airwaves and sang "the same old song" and Motown had nothing to do with it!
SO -
On Thursday, the 26th, I picked up Todd, Tess, Tanner at school after picking up their suitcases, blankets, electronics. We sang and giggled as far as Bethel, Pennsylvania. When we pulled into a snappy hotel parking lot (reservations based on indoor pool, hot and cold running snacks and hot breakfast), with total frustration, Todd jumped into the front seat, ordered me to start the car again, fiddled with the screen on my dashboard and managed to get the sound working on the navigation system and told me to stop trying to shut her up, because the volume mutes every time, "You yell at her Meme!" (may-may). After dinner at the "Midway" (I highly recommend it), we (Todd and I) relaxed poolside, swam like fish, pumped up some music volume (ask Todd) and practiced a little hip-hop dancing (Tess and Tanner). We were happy 1. to be out of the car and 2. have something to do...okay, okay, maybe silly to normal adults, but no normal adult accompanied us. Throughout the night, with the Disney Channel on the television, Tess and I shopped on the "Justice" website, Todd made a simulcast video on the computer, Tanner nibbled, nudged and managed to maintain his primary hobby of getting under foot and on nerves. At breakfast Todd took upon himself to make us all waffles (shhhhh..I don't like waffles, but don't tell him), Tanner scooped fruit and Tess brought me coffee (and conned her way into a cup for herself). We hit the road again and exploded into my parents' house as if we were shot out of a cannon. Jeremy and Todd talked Wrestlemania and stars from Jeremy's childhood in WWF, Tori turned Tess from a 10 year old, into a 18 year old, Tanner helped Tess wash her face. At 88 and 86 years old, I would say that the Honeymooners took it rather well.
AND THEN -
The trio clambered into the car...off to Madison Square Garden. I had driven in and out, around New York for 1,000,000 years, so we managed to get there without incident and park right in MSG's parking lot a few feet from the main entrance. (Yes, I made a reservation in advance)
Our seats were phenomenal! Tanner slipped in first, then Tess, next Todd and I was on the aisle. I could see the whites of the performers' eyes without my glasses and I am seriously near-sighted. The choreography, effects, personalities, energy in the Garden enveloped us and we were swept into the fun frenzy of the evening! I noticed how times have changed I can remember bringing my children into Madison Square Garden for events and purchasing battery operated "Circus Lights" to twirl light with the crowd. At one point, the announcer said, "Light the light for...." (whomever). Todd screeched and grabbed my cell phone: "Meme! Quick! Give me your phone!" He slid and pushed on the screen along with the crowd, he waved a light/flashlight! I looked across the Garden and saw a sea of twinkling cell phone lights!
Hulk Hogan, the ultimate showman, embraced the entire crowd. He was gracious, endearing (always was). The tribute to him left no dry eye. As he exited the ring and passed us, Todd yelled out: "HULKSTER" standing on his seat, striking the typical pose that Hogan usually does. Hulk Hogan stopped, turned, connected with Todd and gave him the pose/point right back! I honestly thought that Todd would stop breathing! He began screaming: "Meme! He knows me! Hulk Hogan knows me!"
Awesome man that Mr. Hogan, in my opinion.
We lingered in the parking garage. But, remember this was "VIP", reservation area Well, I hung back because I saw some impressive SUV's parked near the cashier's booth. Equipment trucks were at the "stage door" and it was securely blocked from the public. I observed that passenger vehicles were not there. The boys were perched on a barricade, so to speak. Of course, we were told that they should get down. (Maybe next month) Suddenly, some of the performers, their handlers, and you guessed it,.. the Hulkster walked past us to get into those vehicles. Tanner reached out and touched Roman Raines (I believe) who smiled and said: "Hey there pal". Hulk Hogan winked at Todd and said, "Hey Bud, be careful there!" Tess quickly said: "Wait until I tell Lila (frenemy) at school), that Todd and Hulk Hogan are friends and that we spent time in New York with him." Not untrue totally, and Lila is a snit. Todd at that point practically did go into cardiac arrest, he was so overwhelmed!
LATER -
As we sat in the Tick Tock Diner, back in Jersey afterwards for a snack, the Triple T rehashed the evening, embellishing where they could, my mind was spinning: trip through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Jersey, to New York - $450. VIP, Reservation parking: $65 plus tip. Tickets for a memorable show- $592. Sitting in the diner (where I sat late night after dates for years and years before) and seeing Todd's face still lit up and those blue, blue eyes sparkling and dancing as he said: "Meme! Thank you! Thank you! I'll never forget this night! You are the best grandmother ever!. This was the best trip and best night of my life! Right?" (Deferring to Tess and Tanner, who agreed wholeheartedly) ...PRICELESS! I was so happy that I decided that with Todd, Tess and Tanner to hit the ROAD (THROUGH OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, INTO NEW YORK) TO WRESTLEMANIA!
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