About 10pm Thursday night (Troy had gone to be bed early..Steve was just getting home from a meeting)...I received a phone call from one of Troy's friends from KCTC (Kent Career Tech Center). He introduced himself and said..."I know this is really short notice, but I was wondering if Troy could come with me to NEW YORK CITY for the week-end!!!" I can't even described the flurry of thoughts that were rushing through my brain!! Like...... is this legit? Who is this kid? Would I really send my son with a mere stranger? Would they drive? Would they fly?
As I questioned David, I soon realized this was for real and they would be leaving Friday at 7am...WHOA! Would Steve let him go? Should we even wake Troy up? I'm pretty sure my words were all coming out of my mouth jumbled up as I described the phone conversation to Steve!! We woke Troy up and asked him what he knew about this...he said "am I dreaming??"....I know nothing about this! By the details David gave me, I knew this was for real..Troy assured me ..this is real!! Troy's friend, Tyler, was also invited to come along. These were the details we knew...they would fly out on a private corporate jet at 7am....they would be stopping by a college in MI and then off to a college in PA...then on to NYC by Friday night. They would stay in Times Square and spend Saturday and part of the day Sunday sight seeing...and then fly home.
After much thought, prayer and consideration (all before 11pm..yeah that's right, 1 whole hour!) we decide to let him go (are we insane???) At that point, Steve called and talked to David's Dad who would be escorting them the whole way. (I left that detail out..kind of a crucial detail..oops!) After that conversation Steve felt fully confident to let Troy go) So between 11pm-12:30am we packed, found dress clothes, ironed clothes, got out suitcases, found the swimsuit...a flurry of activity was going on in the Buckner Household! I think Steve, Troy and I were pretty much "hovering" around the house....we were all so excited...you would have thought we were all going to NYC!!! Troy's emotions quickly turned from fear to excitement! This was so surreal! Just think...an all expense trip to NYC on a corporate jet! Well, not every day we receive a phone call like that..at least we don't!!!
Lest you think we are crazy irresponsible parents for letting our own flesh and blood go with a complete stranger..we thought we were too! The news headlines flashed before my eyes..."parents let son fly to NYC with complete strangers!" We pray often for Troy's safety and we pray we never have to read those headlines. We also knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity....but we did not make our sole decision on that opportunity! We pray for his safe return...constantly!
Steve & I got up early Friday morning and made sure he had everything. Steve left to pick up Troy's friend Tyler and headed to the airport. They arrived at RapidAir terminal to be greeted by the pilot and a crew member. They were able to go on the plane..a Falcon..(I don't know the number for you plane people).
Steve felt even more confident after meeting David's Dad in person. First stop, was Hillsdale College and then to a college in PA...
Our text's from Troy...
*This is GREAT!!!!
*They made me a hamburg (he's on a GF diet)
*Landing in NY..helped land the plane!!!
*Going to a Lakers Game tonight
*In Times Square
*Went to bed at 2:30am
*Going to see a Broadway show... 'Spiderman'
*Going to the 'Today' show
*Bought a NY sweatshirt!
*Three 16 year olds roaming around NY
*JUST IN--Empire State Building
--Wall Street
--Ground Zero
....And we haven't even talked to him for a majority of today (he called us at 8am)
This will be something that is forever etched in his memories...what fun memories to hold on to! A dream come true for a couple of boys!
1 comment:
Very impressive and you are right - this is a story he will tell his kids some day. I was so excited just reading about it.
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