We were each sitting in different rows and scattered throughout the cabin, including Ronan!  The kids laughed at the thought of a complete stranger having to take care of Ronan if we couldn’t do some quick rearranging.  Our gate agent was amazing and within minutes fixed the big problem I hadn’t realized I created when I booked the airfare. 

The boys got an open row together with my husband, and the girls sat in a row right in front of me.  I enjoyed hearing them laughing and chatting before they nodded off to sleep.  I sat by myself just like last year and read, then slept.  Before I napped, I looked out the window at God’s splendor below.  It was so nice to just sit and rest for a little bit. 

Thank you, Alaska Airlines!  We love traveling with you!

The arrival in Seattle was dreary, but the rain did not dampen our moods.  With Ronan back in a wheelchair, we were able to zip through crowds toward the baggage claim.  Ronan also got us to the head of the very long line for the bus that takes passengers to the car rental facility.  The line was the longest I’d ever seen, so I told the kids to not look anyone in the eye.  They’d surely be irked to see all of us so quickly jump ahead of them.  Ronan’s gone through a lot in life, so the kids thought it was pretty nice that the airport escort insisted we go in front of everyone else.  Expecting the 12-passenger vehicle, I was happily surprised when the car rental company gifted us with a Suburban, my dream car, rather than that Transit.  When we were looking at booking a car, the Suburban would cost almost $1,100, but the company matched our original booking price and had us out of the facility within minutes. 

It truly was a gift because we’d soon be heading toward the mountains, and a Suburban would be more comfortable and better to drive on some of the gravel roads we’d be traversing.

To the mountains!

To the sea!

To the end of the earth!

From early spring and well into the fall, Ronan dealt with some severe medical issues.  With those resolved only a few weeks before we left, he had only minor struggles while we were on our adventure on the west coast.  We went to places we’d not visited before.  We met locals who gave us the inside scoop on where to go next.  We explored a trail that I’d only dreamed of taking the kids to.  When we got to the trailhead, we snapped a few photos then took off to the most northwest point of the contiguous United States.

The kids loved the hike and being out in nature.  The extra walking we did there, and elsewhere, slowed Ronan down a ton, so he would ride piggyback on my husband’s back.  Other helpers, those amazing siblings, were at the ready as well to keep Ronan moving whenever we were outdoors.  When we were back at the house, the siblings did more on this trip for him than they’ve done on other vacations – because I asked them to do more.  With their assistance, I got a break.  It’s rare for me to actually sit still and enjoy what’s going on around me.  But this time, I got to take photos without worrying about Ronan wandering off.  I got to sleep in a little later without having to take care of Ronan right away.  I got to sit, I got to relax with our hostess, and I got to eat a few meals uninterrupted – all luxuries I dream of being able to accomplish back home.

Thanks to my family, and to our wonderful hostess, it was a really good trip. 

Like the trip west, the return flight to the east coast was uneventful.  The same seating mishap happened when we checked into our flight home, but the gate crew were also quick to get Ronan reseated.  He’d again sit next to my husband and his little brother toward the back of the plane.  The girls and I were not so lucky to get moved closer together.  Each in a middle seat and rows away from the boys, we settled in for a quieter flight home.  

The flight back was quieter, and it was quicker.  As much as I would miss being on vacation, I was
happy to head home.  It took a few days to get completely unpacked, sorted, and on east coast time again.  But one thing that I wanted to make sure we did, even though we were still a bit off our schedule, was to have Ronan go to Mass with us.  He’d been going with us weekly since early December and was able to stay through the 1.5-hour Christmas Eve Mass at my Mom’s church, thanks to the ushers giving him use of the church wheelchair.  I was grateful that we’d soon have another day off – New Year’s Day, to be together, to relax, to watch some movies, and to catch up on some sleep.  But first was to get to the Vigil Mass on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary.  I was again so grateful that the siblings were willing to adjust their wants to accommodate their brother.  The girls sat in the main sanctuary while I sat with my guys in the back.  Ronan, who snuggled up to his brother during the readings, once again stayed through the entire Mass with us. 

Securing that special needs passenger option when we travel with Ronan helps all of us.  I make sure to look for that on other carriers and when we head into tourist attraction sights because it allows him (and us) to enjoy traveling that much more.  I’ve said it before, flying on Alaska Airlines with Ronan is a breeze!  From him being first on the plane when we depart to him walking off last when we return, they are so very patient with us. 

We don’t know when or where we’ll go, but I will look forward to our next adventure.  We push the limit, and we sometimes lose a bit of hope in the midst of a stressful moment. 
But on trips with Ronan, including this one when we went to the end of the earth, we found success throughout the experience.  We did that together, and we made some pretty good memories with each other, too.  I will always hope that other families will have opportunities for an adventure  as well.

Cathy Jameson is a Contributing Editor for Age of Autism.

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