POSTCARD FROM SANDUSKY, OH – MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2009

This is a bit late tonight – we’ve been on the road and having learning and growing experiences!  We told you this trip would be all about that!  But first, we had such a great time today!!

After a delicious breakfast that could include waffles if you so chose, we loaded up in the bus and headed out to the Hershey Chocolate property.  What a complex!  There’s this huge school/institution thing up on top of the hill that has in giant letters beneath it on the lawn, “Welcome to Hershey”.  That happens to be the Milton S. Hershey School, a boarding school he and his wife set up, and leaving them an endowment of $60 MILLION in 1918!!  That’s what I call megabucks!  Anyhow, into the complex for a walk through the history of the Hershey Company and then into some cute little cars for a track ride showing the candy making process, from arrival as a cocoa bean to being spit out as a Kiss, Kit Kat or Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.  And guess where we end up after the little tour ------ you got it:  THE GIFT SHOP!  You name it, there’s something with a Kiss printed on it!  Let’s not even begin to mention the Hershey milkshakes!

Back onto the bus back to our hotel for lunch, HAPPY BIRTHDAY cake for Emma (turns 13 today!), and then to change into concert apparel for our final formal concert.  A quick warm up and we were off for Bethany Village in Mechanicsburg, PA.  We had such a great reception there, with about 100 residents in attendance!  How can you NOT love that???  We knew it would be an emotional, last big concert for our seniors and our tour, and that always brings the tears.  Add in that it was Aaron’s last one……  Kleenex was a must on the bus!  As one senior put it, “I don’t remember life WITHOUT choir!”  Monday nights for them just won’t be the same for a while.  At the end of every year, too, we are aware that some or all of our boys will also not be returning, and that’s a hard knock as well. 

But what a wonderful sadness to feel – moving on, growing up, and appreciating all that WCC has meant to these kids.  From my standpoint, and that of all the adults involved, to see these kids grow up, mature and develop as vocalists:  priceless and in our hearts forever and ever.  Nuf said about sad/happy things. 

Onto the bus and hitting the road for our longest trek in quite a few days – about a 6 hour drive from Mechanicsburg, PA to Sandusky, OH.  Lots of talking, and a break from movies for a bit, a rest stop, then movie, then a stop for dinner….no, wait….guess not.  This McDonald’s on the Ohio Turnpike apparently doesn’t have any salads left, and a few other items as well.  So we bagged that idea and tromped back on the bus (fortified by the much-needed potty stop) and headed down to the next Travel Plaza.  For anyone who’s not familiar with these Travel Plaza’s, they are generally fantastic!  Usually they are set up with several different food options, large restrooms, information maps and booth, and a gift shop.  You’d think they’d be prepared for one measly Badger Bus from Wisconsin filled with loving, good natured singers and some oh, so patient, kind, sensitive and caring chaperones…….  Think again!  Unbelievably, this next Travel Plaza was sorely lacking as well.  So much for convenience along the Turnpike.  We muddled through, however, and after the longest wait for food from McDonald’s, back on the bus for our final couple of hours.

We arrived directly at our hotel in Sandusky…..nope, wait……guess they called “Sue Meinholz” today and she cancelled the reservation.  Hmmmmmmmmm.  NOT!  Oh, but wait – the Sleep Inn down the road does have rooms available.  Whatever….

Anyhoo, we’re safe and sound and happy and sad and in the swimming pool or in the rooms right now relishing the day of fun that will find us tomorrow, and while we know the end of tour is in sight, we won’t let that end our good times for the next 48 hours.

Til next time,

Sue