getting from here to there

My mother lives in North Falmouth, Massachusetts. From New York City, the Cape is an impossibly difficult place to get to, despite its summertime popularity.

When I had a car, I drove.  That was the easiest. Especially if I could plan my trips to avoid Connecticut traffic.

Then it was the train. I love trains. But the train only goes as far as Providence. My mom used to pick me up, but that's 60 miles from North Falmouth, and my mom no longer likes making that drive. So now the train is out.

I never took the Peter Pan bus, as I cannot read on a bus. It takes forever. And, I am not comfortable with the unpredictable passenger-types that frequent this bus line.

But then the Bolt Bus entered the picture, and for $15 to $25, I learned how to read on the bus. And, the clientele were all clean and normal-looking.

But flying is the best. Only 30 minutes in the air.  And a few weeks ago I find and book a $98 round trip fare on Jet Blue. The only challenge is getting to JFK airport.

A taxi is too expensive and defeats the whole purpose of the $98 round-trip fare. So I opt instead for the bus to subway to air train; total cost, $7.75.

I pack last night, thinking I'll pack light. But somehow my thinking doesn't translate to my acting. My carry-on weighs 10 pounds and my rolling suitcase another 27. Thankfully there are elevators at the subway station, though I still need to ask a guy to help me down two flights of stairs to enter the subway. I hope my son would do the same if he were asked.

Because I have no idea how long the trip to the airport will take, I leave my house at 8:30 for an 11:22 flight.  Again, this sort of defeats the purpose of a 30-minute flight.  But at least I'm not getting car sick, restless, or uncomfortable.

I get to the airport by 10:30, then the flight is delayed until 12:45. Fortunately, I end up in conversation with an adorable, interesting guy who recently moved to NY from LA and is a writer for the Larry Wilmore show. I give him my card with my blog address on it, so I debate including the work adorable, but since he was, I think, why not.

I land in Hyannis around 1:30. By the time I get my luggage, meet my mom, and drive back to Falmouth, it's  2:30.  That's six hours door to door. 

I could be in Los Angeles in six hours. Or London. Or Iceland.  But then, I wouldn't seeing my gorgeous 85-year old mom and her devoted cat Ellie.