A Mom's Weekend - Part II

Sure enough, there was a party going on just outside our hotel...MTV style.

Mind you, we were on the 11th floor.  After staring in disbelief and wondering what in the world we had gotten ourselves into, we unloaded the cart and made a decision to go to the grocery store.  Every elevator that came by was full of screaming teens and we would have to wave them on.  Just as before, the door would open and chanting, hollering, and yelling ensued.  When we were finally ready to give up and abandon the cart, an empty elevator appeared.  We took it back to the lobby and made our way to the car.  The car would prove to be the only peace and quiet we would have on our trip. 

After the grocery store, we had a nice dinner and even discussed, "this isn't so bad."  But our restful dinner was replaced with mass mayhem when we came within 1/4 mile of our hotel.  The hotel was humming and students were stumbling around and yelling all over the place.  We made a mad dash for the elevator and caught one to our floor.  Safe in the hotel room, we got ready for bed.  As predicted, the party was in full swing.  Kids were screaming from their balconies, beating on the railings, and chanting, "Party at the Pool! Party at the Pool!"  or "U-S-A! U-S-A!"  At least they were patriotic. 

The first night, this madness went on until 2:30 in the morning.  It was like a dream, except that we were not asleep - we could not sleep!  We would rest for about ten minutes at a time when the air conditioning unit would turn on and drown out the outside noise.  As soon as it cycled off, we were awake again - running to the window to see what crazy antics these teens were trying to accomplish. 

Where are the parents?  Who in their right mind would allow their teenager to go to spring break in Panama City?  It was the wildest party I have ever seen, and I have been in this world for more than 34 years!  I later found out that at one point - around 2:30 AM, the security guards jumped into the pool after 5 teens, the police arrived, and carted them off to jail.  I have no idea what their offense was, but I was thankful.  Soon after that incident, we were able to get some sleep.

The next morning, I walked onto the balcony and looked in the direction of the pool.  I could not believe that this serene picture was the sight of complete chaos just 5 hours earlier.  Security guards were walking around the pool area.  Someone had picked up a huge pile of soaking wet clothes, flip flops, and swim suits and put it all on a large bench near the pool.  The entire property seemed to be asleep! 

My friend went to the work out room while I made my way to the beach.  It was overcast, but the sounds of the ocean were so peaceful compared to the maddness we had experienced the night before. 

Later, we devised a game-plan for battling the drunkards.  We drove to Target, bought a box fan (white noise), ear plugs, and benadryl.  We then went to a spa and had mani- and pedicures.  The hotel was unusually quiet when we returned around lunchtime.  The teens were still asleep.  We were able to lay out on the beach and relax for about 2 hours before the hoodlums returned to the beach. 

Later, we had an early dinner and came back to the hotel just in time for the party to begin at the pool deck.  We, of course, retreated to our room on the 11th floor.

I am happy to report that the white noise from the fan (on setting 3), Benadryl, and ear plugs sufficiently blocked out the noise from the wild party happening all around us.  The next time we plan a "mom's weekend away," we will research thoroughly the spring break schedules, choose another gulf coast location, and take our party aversion remedies just in case!

A Mom's Weekend - Part I

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine called and asked if I would be interested in going to the beach for a much-needed "girl's weekend."  With work and life as busy as ever, the answer was easy, "Of course!"  So, her husband booked us a room in sunny Panama City Beach, FL using his hotel points.

Early last Thursday morning, we packed up my car and left for our much-awaited trip.  The sun was shining, and for the first time in about 4 years, my friend and I had the perfect opportunity to chat and catch up on each other's lives--without the interference of begging or screaming children.

About 2.5 hours into our drive, my cell phone rang...CDC popped up on my screen.  I'm not referring to the "Centers for Disease Control," but rather, "Child Development Center."  My heart sank, and I got the same pit in my stomach as if it were the Center for Disease Control. 

"Hello, is this 'Lucky's' mom?"
"Yes it is..."
"He has a 102 fever and is walking around like a zombie.  Please come and pick him up."
"I will have someone there to pick him up.  You see, well, I am on my way out of town...maybe I should turn around?  Oh no...thank you for calling."

I was a mess.  While travelling on a country road and in and out of phone service, I called my husband and mom and "Lucky's" pediatrician.  My mother was at a luncheon, but really came through for us.  She picked up my little buddy and took him to his pediatrician's appointment.  The verdict: a sore throat virus and double ear infections.  My mom said he just wanted to be held. 

So, my friend and I continued on our way to the sunny coast, but a little piece of my heart was wishing I could turn around and hold my sick baby.  However, we trudged forward--intent on having the best time we could possibly have.

We never could have predicted what would happen over the next 72 hours.  As we drove closer to the resort parking lot, there were teenagers everywhere.  Greasy, dirty, tattooed and rowdy teenagers lined the streets, walked boldly (and stupidly) in front of cars, and yelled out at passersby.  The thought that this might be a spring break weekend briefly entered my mind several weeks ago, but I never thought it would last into the first week of April.  Our city's own spring break was early in March.  Boy was I wrong.  As it turned out, this was Georgia's spring break.  Several colleges also had their break that week.

We walked into the lobby of the hotel to see several security guards checking wristbands and herding drunk teenagers into and out of elevators.  We were funneled to the check-in area.  The manager of the hotel was not too friendly...

"We are here to check in, the name is Smith," my friend said.
"Yes, I have you down as staying 3 nights.  Now, you know this is spring break, right?"
"Well, yes - obviously."
"It is going to get very rowdy and very loud.  This is not going to be a relaxing situation for you and your friend.  Are you sure you want to stay?"
I said, "We just drove 5 hours to get here.  We are not going home!"
"Well, I am just warning you.  It is going to get very bad."

At this point, we felt like we were being encouraged to go home.  My friend had a look of fear in her eyes and scanned the lobby.  There were teenagers everywhere.  Some teen girls, scantily dressed, made eye contact with her and said, "Ma'am.  I don't think you understand.  This is spring break!  It's a party!  It's going to be loud all night long."

I don't know if we were trying to prove our toughness or what, but we "agreed to stay."  Our reasoning, 1) we could find ways to avoid the stinky teens; 2) we did not want to drive home 5 hours; 3) her husband had donated his hotel points to us, and we didn't want to waste them; and 4) we were by golly going to have a fun girl's weekend!

We unloaded my car and with the help of a security guard, we were shuttled onto an elevator and somehow made it to the 11th floor.  By the way, all weekend long, every time an elevator came to the lobby and the doors opened, a herd of about 20 teens would scream, hoot and holler and stumble out of the compartment.  EVERY TIME! 

The room was nice enough.  My friend went to the window as soon as we walked into what would be our room for the next 3 nights and said, "Oh....my....heavens!" 

View from our 11th floor balcony

...to be continued