By Tom Valley
I’ve become a creature of habit. I think it’s because of the sense of security that it offers. The repetition of doing the same thing on a routine basis provides less chance that my already vulnerable focus will be altered — or that my single-dimensioned lifestyle will be challenged by something that entails exertion.
And so, when my son, Paul, called two days ago and said he wanted my wife and me to join him, his wife and kids to fly to New York City this weekend, my ability to stutter, stammer, slur and have a total brain-freeze kicked in nicely.
Quite frankly, I don’t travel well. And that’s because ... well, I don’t travel. I’ve never been to the Big Apple. I never had the desire to go the Big Apple. But, in two days, I’m going to the Big Apple.
At first, I declined his offer. I thought that I had some valid reasons why it wouldn’t be feasible. It later dawned on me that I’ve always tried to instill into my children the sense that the words “not” and “feasible” should never appear in a sentence with “family”. I wasn’t practicing what I had preached — and thus, I’m going to New York City. And I’m looking forward to it.
I’ve not flown very many times. I don’t think it’s as much as an aversion to flying as it is a lack of opportunity. I don’t even know how or what to pack. My wife told me that I couldn’t take my 8-track tapes and that I was to leave my “I’D RATHER BE FISHING” T-shirts in the drawer (So much for trying to look cool).
My son knows me very well. He has taken every precaution to avoid possible anxieties that I might encounter. As a matter of fact, he just called and said to read the e-mail he had just sent. It was unbelievable!
He has everything planned and booked. He even sent the weather forecast for each day’s scheduled event and where we’ll be sitting during the Yankee game (What a guy! He knows I love the Yankees). His organizational skills are exceptional and his foresight is eerily similar to his mother’s as he reminded me, “Please, no dumb T-shirts and, for God’s sake, leave the Young Rascals’ music at home.”
Despite those minor inconveniences, I look forward to this unique experience. By the time you read this, the trip will be over. I’ll have returned home — home, pounding out my adventure on the computer so that I can share my story with you.
What happens in New York City, ain’t gonna stay in New York City.
And if I’m lucky, while I’m there, maybe, I can get a new T-shirt!
That’s the way it looks from the Valley.
Tom Valley is a Medina resident who writes a column every Wednesday for The Journal-Register. Write to Tvalley@rochester.rr.com.
