Chapter 23 – Over the river and through the woods
The winter of 2005 was by far the worst one ever, we took Sammy out of school the week before Christmas and were going to head down to Orlando for the holiday break like we did every year since they semi-moved there.
On Decemebr 16, we got a massive amount of snow. We had to have the able bodied folk shovel the drive out just to get out of the house. This threw a wrench in the plans. Normally we will drive to Washington DC and then take the auto-train down to Orlando. That way the van is there with us. This year the drive was going to be horrible, but Amtrak assured us that we would be able get the auto train in DC and that there was no interruptions to service from DC to Orlando. We delayed our departure by 2 days, and left out of town on late Sunday night, the 18th . Instead of putting Sammy to bed, we just put him in the back of the van in a captain’s chair. I took the large bench seat in the back so I could be comfortable. The drive should have taken a little over eight and a half hours, and we had to be there by 2 pm at the latest the next afternoon, but I wanted to take no chances. This year, since Jake was out of college, we had an extra driver. So it was Me, Jackie, Jake, and Sammy in the van. No driving for me this year
We do pack kinda light, as we got in the habit of shipping what we needed down ahead of time. Stuff like diapers, shorts, short sleeved shirts, etc… We had a tight fit with all the luggage inside the van, but we made it work.
We stopped once to get breakfast and diaper changes, then back on the road. One more stop for the bathroom and a quick bite to eat. It was at this point Sammy asked me something we had never talked about before.
“Daddy, does uncle Jake wear diapers too?” He asked “cause he carries a backpack with him into the potty”
Think think think “ummm, Sammy, that would be something that you would need to ask him yourself” I quickly texted Jake that he had been busted by a 8 year old
U ve been busted by Sammy.. he asked y u take bag n2 bathroom heads up he will ask u if u wear wasn’t going to out u
Jake came back to the table a little red faced, and since it was on the top of his mind, no matter how much I tried to get him to think about something else before Jake came back, he asked….
“Uncle Jake do you wear diapers too” Sammy asked, without using his indoor voice, which caused some other people to kinda stop and turn.
Thank God for my wife, “Sammy that is rude of you to ask, if Jake wants to answer he can, but you have no right to ask him stuff like that in a public place.”
Sammy sunk down in his seat, defeated by his own mother. “I’m sorry”
“Sammy, yes I do wear diapers sometimes” Jake whispered, “but we will talk about that when we get back on the road, I will come sit back there with you”
As promised, Jake laid it all out for Sammy, that sometimes people who don’t need diapers wear them as well. Sammy asked Jake if that was why some of his friends tried diapers when they came over to our house for a sleepover. Jake confirmed, yes, that probably was the case as well.
Sammy even asked Jake if he had a baby room too. Which jake again replied that yes he did. Sammy guessed that it was the room at Aunt Sharon’s that was always locked.
We made it to the train station about noon on Monday the 19th , so we got all our stuff situated. Stuff we were taking on the train with us, stuff that could be left in the van.
We all got out while Jake took the honors of loading the van on the train, with the strict instructions that if he scratched my van, I would kill him.
Normally when it was just Jackie and I we would have to have Sammy sleep with one of us in the sleeper berth, but since we had Jake this time, he would stay with Jake in his roomette down the hall.
The Red Caps showed up to get our bags, and tickets and said that they would get our luggage to our cars, and we could board whenever.
Sammy made it clear that he wanted to board the train ASAP, as he needed changed. Jake said he would take Sammy aboard and get him changed, and we would get settled in our room and meet in the lounge car.
Come to find out the reason Jake was so anxious to get aboard is that he needed to change too. When they came out of their sleeper, the car steward was there to see if they had any trash. Sure enough two dirty diapers.
The steward kinda looked at the diapers, for Sammy one might not think anything of a diaper, but Jake was kind of the exception.
“Hello my name is James, I will be your cabin steward, if there is anything else you need. Would you like me to leave you a few small trash bags for your… umm…”
“diapers!” Sammy spoke up
“Uh yes, diapers” James spoke, kind of taken aback
“Sorry he is just used to calling them what they are around the house. Do you also have the handicapped room at the end of the car as well” Jake asked
“why yes sir I do, do you know them?” James asked
“Yes, that is my cousin and his wife. This is their son. They likely will need a few spare tash bags as well” Jake said
“I will see to that sir. The conductor is having pre-trip reception in the lounge car, I think that is where the couple from up front went. Now young man, don’t eat too much candy, cause dinner is at 6 pm in the dining car” James said to Sammy
We all met at the lounge car, had some drinks and snacks, we watched as the train slowly crept forward and we were on our way. Sammy sat next to the window, totally mesmerized at the sights he was seeing. We then went to dinner, which is always good food and service. We then went back to the lounge car for a bit as the sun set.
James had found us in the lounge car and asked if we wanted our rooms made up for the night, we told him we did, he left and came back 20 minutes later to let us know that they were ready. We then headed back to our sleeper cars, which James had made up. I found my berth had a waterproof cover on it; Jake and Sammy found theirs the same way. Jake got Sammy changed and in hi PJ’s. I heard the door open down the way and somebody running down the hallway crinkling all the way. Daddy this train ride is so cool, Mr. James left me a coloring book and some crayons, and some juice boxes.
I read Sammy a bedtime story and then told him to head back to his room where jake would tuck him in. As he opened the door, James our car attendant asked if there was anything we needed, and said he would make sure that Sammy made it back to his room.
The Tuesday morning we woke at 7am, got changed and made our 7:30 am breakfast reservation and then it was back to the sleeper cars which had been converted back to normal seats and all the dirty diapers and trash gone. As we de-trained, I slipped James $40 for taking such good care of us and let him know when we would be back again. He said that he would likely be our cabin attendant.
We got off the train and out to the van, where it was pulled off the train for us and in a handicapped spot. We called my mom and dad to tell them that we made it fine and would be there within the hour.
Sammy was excited to see his Grandma and Grandpa very much. He was also excited for the trip that we had planned to Disney World, and all the other parks; and the chance to sleep in the new crib that Grandpa built for him, and the new clothes that Grandma always had for him.
Jake would be going to the park as well, but he was going for a job interview, which he hoped to get. It was not a well paying job, just a entry level computer repair tech. Which likely meant repairing PC’s and POS terminals, network lines and parts on the vast amount of technology that the park had, but it was a foot in the door.
The deal was that if Jake got the job, he was going to stay in our trailer and keep it maintained, which would infact save me the money of having to have the grass mowed and other things that must be done, or else we would be fined by the homeowners association.
Little did my wife know, but I had sent some portfolios to designers as well, including Disney, Universal Studios, and some other places in Orlando. While I had not heard anything back, I was ever hopeful. I also had a bead on a small sign shop that was looking to sell.
Sammy was very surprised to see his room at the trailer. It had a large wooden crib, a boarder of little toddler boy items (bats, balls, rubber duckies, toy boats and trains), and the crib had a bumper rail with my favorite, and Sammy’s too, Pooh.
Mom had told me he would be more surprised come Christmas, as she had been busy spoiling her only grandson.
“daddy can I get changed and can we go to Disney” he whined.
“we are going tomorrow, we need to unpack everything and I’m sure that your grandparents would like to visit with you, your mom and I” I said
“Aww ok dad, but I do need changed, I think I’m messy” Sammy said
Around this time Jackie caught the look on Jake’s face as well; just to embarrass him Jackie said “I bet I know some other little boy or boys he need a change as well”
Jake got red faced, but Jackie assured him she was only playing with him “It’s ok Jakey, babies mess their diapers all the time. Go in the master bathroom and get changed, there are diapers in the closet in the bathroom”
She then pointed to me and Sammy “OK, sammy I will meet you in your room, I’m gonna take care of daddy first.” As she pointed to our bedroom and proceeded to diaper me up in one of my cloth diapers like I use at home. Sammy was next on her list.
I was waiting in the living room when Jake came out of the bathroom in nothing but a diaper, with his clothes wadded up. I knew he was not that proficient at changing messy diapers, so I knew what he had done…….
“you better have washed that poop out of them clothes before you put them in my washer” I said just to embarrass him a little more.
He quickly threw the clothes in the washer and crinkled towards the guest bedroom just as Sammy came out of his room in a onsie and shortalls. “Jakey has baby prints on his diapers” Sammy said smiling
“And so do you too” Jake said as he reached down and tickled Sammy merciously
“Stooooppppp, you gonna make me pee” Sammy giggled
“You’ll still gonna pee yourself no matter if I tickle you or not” Jake giggled as well.
“OK you two, Jake go get some clothes on, Sammy, go take this to your grandma next door” Jackie raised her voice. After Sammy left, Jackie asked Jake “Are you planning on going to your job interview diapered”
“Do you think I should take it off?” Jake inquired
“That is up to you, just wear something that covers it, and be prepared to explain it if somebody notices” Jackie said.
Jake said that he understood, but if he was going to be moving down here, he wanted to be able to wear when he wants to. Jake got dressed in a short sleeve dress shirt, tie, and some dress pants. I could tell he was diapered, but that was because I knew he was. Soon he was off to his interview.
Jackie, Sammy and I hung out around the trailer park, Sammy went for a ride on the golf cart with grandpa as the rest of us sat on the patio drinking iced tea and talking about life in ohio, Sammy, Jake and how Mom and Aunt Sharon’s business was going. Along with dad’s business.
An couple hours passed and Dad was not back yet. Jackie was wondering where they were. Mom assured her that they were fine and probably around the park somewhere visiting.
A few hours later I heard giggling and the golf cart horn…. Here they come!! Jake was soon to follow with news about his interview.
“I think it went good, they liked my resume and my eagerness. They said that they don’t normally see people wanting to apply for work this close to college.
I took some tests on how to repair things and the physics stuff behind the robots and systems. They said that they were impressed, and said they would probably call me back after Christmas with a decision.”
“That is awesome, I sure hope you get it.” I just finished saying it as my cell phone rang “Hello This Jayson Ross, uh huh, really, well I am down in the area for the holidays, sure I could find time for that. Yep I got my portfolio and my files with me, ok, I will see you then”
As I hung up the phone all eyes were on me “Who was that?” Jackie asked
“It was Universal Studios, they are wanting to see some more of my work, and do an interview for a position for a freelance graphic designer.
They just bought a small waterpark in Sanford, and need to do all new signage. They also said that they would have more work for me at all their parks, and best of all I could be based out of here for 80% of the time” I said “They want me to stop by tomorrow morning”
“Umm Honey, do they know about your limitations” Jackie asked, remembering the time when I had a client who got all awkward about me being in a wheelchair, they ultimately took my proofs and never called me back.
“Yes, when I sent my portfolio to them I included an About Me section. I explained that I was a paraplegic, and that my limitations are physical, not creative or mental.
They also liked my experience with being able to do my own vinyl. They have people who would be able to assist with the stuff I cannot do. I am mainly creating the artwork, and possibly installing it, but they have their own installers too”
That night I was a nervous wreck, I could not sleep. I wanted to do good on my interview, and wanted to be a good dad and not drag my family across the country just on a whim.
Wednesday morning came way too early, an 8:00 am interview was a little too early for my taste, I got up, got myself changed on my own, got a few bottles of water and took my pills and loaded the van up with my stuff I needed for the interview.
The interview went great, I met the current shop that they had, much of the equipment needed to be updated, which I was promised would be done when they hire somebody. I then showed them my work, and even showed them some technique on getting the best results when putting the vinyl onto sign material like painted wood.
We had to discuss what limitations I had and what accommodations I would need. They said that they had 2 more interviews, but would call before Christmas.
Two days later I got a call and great news; I had gotten the job. I also had better news on the small sign shop that I was looking to buy out too, but I kept it quiet till Christmas. Jake meanwhile got his news, he had been hired, but it was only 3 days a week, and the mood was less than cheerful.
Jake was worried, that with only working part-time, he would not be able to afford to live in Florida. I had told him that it may be tough, but I bet he could get job doing design work down here, or work in a sign shop…. Little did he know.
Saturday night Aunt Sharon finally joined us, as she was not able to get away from her part time job till Christmas eve.
The whole family gathered in mom and dads lanai and dad read “The Night Before Christmas”, Jake and Sammy both were in their footed sleepers, almost like brothers, despite the age difference of Sammy being 8 and Jake being 23.
Next morning was great, Jake got some more clothes for his new job, which allowed his diapers to be concealed better, and were more suited for the climate of florida. Sammy got some more diapers, onsies, and a few more plushies.
Then I dropped the bomb, and I don’t mean messing my diapers. “I got an announcement” I spoke up “as you all know I want to get the heck out of Ohio in the winter….
Well I got a new job that starts the 1st of February, I signed a deal to do freelance work for Universal Studios. They bought the old WaterMania and are re-opening it up; they need all new signs, and I also bought out SignDesign in Sanford, and will be moving the business down here”
My wife about fell over, Jake was happy, and Sammy was estatic.
“When did you find out?” My wife asked me.
“Friday, I figured I would keep it hush hush.” I said sheepishly
“How are we going to do the housing situation. With Jake living here, and us too, it is going to be cramped in this little trailer. What are we going to do with the house in Ohio too?” Jackie asked, kinda getting annoyed at me.
Now that I think about it, I might have made a rash choice and not thought this all out.
“I don’t know, but we have time to work it out. February is when I start the job, but it will involve some traveling and training and such, and I don’t want to up-root Sammy till he is out of school for the year.” I said “Also Jake, remember when I said that you could make it down here, and that a sign shop would probably need a designer, well I know a certain new business owner who needs some employees”