Felt badly for this family

[TheBeachHouse]

Family of four including two large boys, 19 and 14. Traveled from Europe to Boston on Christmas Eve to find that the rental car company would not take their card. I guess it was a check card and not a credit card. So they got themselves to the train station only to miss the 2:30 train. The next train (because it was the weekend) was 5:30. The 5:30 was cancelled!!!! On Christmas Eve!!!! The next train was 8:30PM!!!!
(I still haven't found out why they canceled the only evening train on Christmas Eve.)
They were in touch by phone, so we told them to get food as there would be no place open when they got here.
I called a taxi to meet them at the train at 9:49 PM.
We put a bottle of wine and two cokes in their refrigerator, put out some hummus snacks (along with the standard fruit and cookies,) and put some Christmas cookies in their room.
Before I went to bed, I went to turn lights off and there they were. In our common room, playing board games, bottle of wine on the table.
They were here for 2 nights - no car. I gave them info on the Chinese restaurant that delivers. They walked downtown on Christmas to see Santa greet the town children. DH drove them to the train on Boxing Day for their plane out of Boston.
They made the best of it, but I felt so badly for them. (And we did make extra bacon, cuz, you know, boys.)

 

[Copperhead]

It is hard to travel, or be somewhere else during Christmas.
A few years ago I was in my childhood home town at Christmas when my Mother was in ICU. Nothing was open, not even the hospital cafe.
This Christmas my nephew is in ICU at a specialty hospital and my sister & husband are staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital as the hospital is 2 1/2 hours from their home. Thankfully the R. McD house had food catered in for the families as nothing else was open. I had warned them of this and they had purchased snacks to tide them over til the meal.

BTW: a plug out for the R. McD House charity. If you ever have spare change while at the register, please consider dropping it in the box. I was amazed by all they do for these families that are in need. Not only do they provide a comfortable room for those with so much stress and sadness, it provides a place where they can comfort others dealing with the same emotions.

 

[Morticia]

You would think this would be obvious when the car reservation was made that the card wouldn't work. (Because of the screwy things car companies do to your card, we always travel with two different cards so one is bound to work.)
Good deed done by you!

 

[Jcam]

It is hard to travel, or be somewhere else during Christmas.
A few years ago I was in my childhood home town at Christmas when my Mother was in ICU. Nothing was open, not even the hospital cafe.
This Christmas my nephew is in ICU at a specialty hospital and my sister & husband are staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital as the hospital is 2 1/2 hours from their home. Thankfully the R. McD house had food catered in for the families as nothing else was open. I had warned them of this and they had purchased snacks to tide them over til the meal.

BTW: a plug out for the R. McD House charity. If you ever have spare change while at the register, please consider dropping it in the box. I was amazed by all they do for these families that are in need. Not only do they provide a comfortable room for those with so much stress and sadness, it provides a place where they can comfort others dealing with the same emotions..

True people don't realise all the extra costs involved when a loved one (especially partner) is sick, kids to deal with, 1 salery,stress and worry and then to top it off
(1) parking charges which in the UK hospitals have realised is a massive cash cow
(2)travel - petrol or bus

 

[Generic]

It is hard to travel, or be somewhere else during Christmas.
A few years ago I was in my childhood home town at Christmas when my Mother was in ICU. Nothing was open, not even the hospital cafe.
This Christmas my nephew is in ICU at a specialty hospital and my sister & husband are staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital as the hospital is 2 1/2 hours from their home. Thankfully the R. McD house had food catered in for the families as nothing else was open. I had warned them of this and they had purchased snacks to tide them over til the meal.

BTW: a plug out for the R. McD House charity. If you ever have spare change while at the register, please consider dropping it in the box. I was amazed by all they do for these families that are in need. Not only do they provide a comfortable room for those with so much stress and sadness, it provides a place where they can comfort others dealing with the same emotions..

True people don't realise all the extra costs involved when a loved one (especially partner) is sick, kids to deal with, 1 salery,stress and worry and then to top it off
(1) parking charges which in the UK hospitals have realised is a massive cash cow
(2)travel - petrol or bus
.

Parking at the hospital got so out of hand, the government had to step in and force them to bring down the cost. They were $30 for anything over 60 minutes until the government stepped in (now it's $25 for anything over 90 minutes)

 

[gillumhouse]

It is hard to travel, or be somewhere else during Christmas.
A few years ago I was in my childhood home town at Christmas when my Mother was in ICU. Nothing was open, not even the hospital cafe.
This Christmas my nephew is in ICU at a specialty hospital and my sister & husband are staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital as the hospital is 2 1/2 hours from their home. Thankfully the R. McD house had food catered in for the families as nothing else was open. I had warned them of this and they had purchased snacks to tide them over til the meal.

BTW: a plug out for the R. McD House charity. If you ever have spare change while at the register, please consider dropping it in the box. I was amazed by all they do for these families that are in need. Not only do they provide a comfortable room for those with so much stress and sadness, it provides a place where they can comfort others dealing with the same emotions..

True people don't realise all the extra costs involved when a loved one (especially partner) is sick, kids to deal with, 1 salery,stress and worry and then to top it off
(1) parking charges which in the UK hospitals have realised is a massive cash cow
(2)travel - petrol or bus
.

Parking at the hospital got so out of hand, the government had to step in and force them to bring down the cost. They were $30 for anything over 60 minutes until the government stepped in (now it's $25 for anything over 90 minutes)
.

Dang! We have one one you! Parking at our hospitals (at least in WV) is FREE.
Parking at my local airport is also free. At Pittsburgh in the Long-Term lot is $28 per day & $48 in the short-term lot.
Back to the stress of illness - in 2007 when Himself had a 6-way bypass, it was an hour each way to hospital and then rehab plus all the other commitments I already had (and I kept all of them) for the 7-weeks duration. it was the year of the horse shows in Kentucky and I had a revolving door of guests. One day I stopped for a cone on the wy home and a woman fromchurch told me to get my mower out because she and her granddaughter were coming over the nextday to cut my grass. I had not even noticed it was over my ankles (I who rarely cry- did). It was the hottest summer we had ever had and the most stress was given when the rehab case worker told me he was coming home the next day in the wheelchair - we had no ramp.
I was so addled by that, that I did not think to call my friends who would have built it for me for nothing. Instead a local friend found someone who built it for $700 (which was a struggle to get). My friends ended up rebuilding it because he built it too steep.

 

[Generic]

It is hard to travel, or be somewhere else during Christmas.
A few years ago I was in my childhood home town at Christmas when my Mother was in ICU. Nothing was open, not even the hospital cafe.
This Christmas my nephew is in ICU at a specialty hospital and my sister & husband are staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital as the hospital is 2 1/2 hours from their home. Thankfully the R. McD house had food catered in for the families as nothing else was open. I had warned them of this and they had purchased snacks to tide them over til the meal.

BTW: a plug out for the R. McD House charity. If you ever have spare change while at the register, please consider dropping it in the box. I was amazed by all they do for these families that are in need. Not only do they provide a comfortable room for those with so much stress and sadness, it provides a place where they can comfort others dealing with the same emotions..

True people don't realise all the extra costs involved when a loved one (especially partner) is sick, kids to deal with, 1 salery,stress and worry and then to top it off
(1) parking charges which in the UK hospitals have realised is a massive cash cow
(2)travel - petrol or bus
.

Parking at the hospital got so out of hand, the government had to step in and force them to bring down the cost. They were $30 for anything over 60 minutes until the government stepped in (now it's $25 for anything over 90 minutes)
.

Dang! We have one one you! Parking at our hospitals (at least in WV) is FREE.
Parking at my local airport is also free. At Pittsburgh in the Long-Term lot is $28 per day & $48 in the short-term lot.
Back to the stress of illness - in 2007 when Himself had a 6-way bypass, it was an hour each way to hospital and then rehab plus all the other commitments I already had (and I kept all of them) for the 7-weeks duration. it was the year of the horse shows in Kentucky and I had a revolving door of guests. One day I stopped for a cone on the wy home and a woman fromchurch told me to get my mower out because she and her granddaughter were coming over the nextday to cut my grass. I had not even noticed it was over my ankles (I who rarely cry- did). It was the hottest summer we had ever had and the most stress was given when the rehab case worker told me he was coming home the next day in the wheelchair - we had no ramp.
I was so addled by that, that I did not think to call my friends who would have built it for me for nothing. Instead a local friend found someone who built it for $700 (which was a struggle to get). My friends ended up rebuilding it because he built it too steep.
.

Yeah, the parking is free, but the hospital costs... around here, the hospital is free, but the parking costs
The airport's cheapest rate is $15 a day or $85 a week. (Their highest rate is $40 for 24 hours valet parking), but the rates relate to how close the parking is to the actual airport.

 

[Jcam]

It is hard to travel, or be somewhere else during Christmas.
A few years ago I was in my childhood home town at Christmas when my Mother was in ICU. Nothing was open, not even the hospital cafe.
This Christmas my nephew is in ICU at a specialty hospital and my sister & husband are staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital as the hospital is 2 1/2 hours from their home. Thankfully the R. McD house had food catered in for the families as nothing else was open. I had warned them of this and they had purchased snacks to tide them over til the meal.

BTW: a plug out for the R. McD House charity. If you ever have spare change while at the register, please consider dropping it in the box. I was amazed by all they do for these families that are in need. Not only do they provide a comfortable room for those with so much stress and sadness, it provides a place where they can comfort others dealing with the same emotions..

True people don't realise all the extra costs involved when a loved one (especially partner) is sick, kids to deal with, 1 salery,stress and worry and then to top it off
(1) parking charges which in the UK hospitals have realised is a massive cash cow
(2)travel - petrol or bus
.

Parking at the hospital got so out of hand, the government had to step in and force them to bring down the cost. They were $30 for anything over 60 minutes until the government stepped in (now it's $25 for anything over 90 minutes)
.

Dang! We have one one you! Parking at our hospitals (at least in WV) is FREE.
Parking at my local airport is also free. At Pittsburgh in the Long-Term lot is $28 per day & $48 in the short-term lot.
Back to the stress of illness - in 2007 when Himself had a 6-way bypass, it was an hour each way to hospital and then rehab plus all the other commitments I already had (and I kept all of them) for the 7-weeks duration. it was the year of the horse shows in Kentucky and I had a revolving door of guests. One day I stopped for a cone on the wy home and a woman fromchurch told me to get my mower out because she and her granddaughter were coming over the nextday to cut my grass. I had not even noticed it was over my ankles (I who rarely cry- did). It was the hottest summer we had ever had and the most stress was given when the rehab case worker told me he was coming home the next day in the wheelchair - we had no ramp.
I was so addled by that, that I did not think to call my friends who would have built it for me for nothing. Instead a local friend found someone who built it for $700 (which was a struggle to get). My friends ended up rebuilding it because he built it too steep.
.

at least here hospital would have lent you a portable ramp and we have regs on how steep things can be. they will also pay for adaptions to your house as its cheaper to keep you in your home than pay for nursing home care.

 

[2cat_lady]

Ever wondered.....?
Pay for parking at hospital but free at the mall... life is out of whack

 

[Jcam]

Ever wondered.....?
Pay for parking at hospital but free at the mall... life is out of whack.

that my friend is the truth!

 

[Lee2014]

It is hard to travel, or be somewhere else during Christmas.
A few years ago I was in my childhood home town at Christmas when my Mother was in ICU. Nothing was open, not even the hospital cafe.
This Christmas my nephew is in ICU at a specialty hospital and my sister & husband are staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital as the hospital is 2 1/2 hours from their home. Thankfully the R. McD house had food catered in for the families as nothing else was open. I had warned them of this and they had purchased snacks to tide them over til the meal.

BTW: a plug out for the R. McD House charity. If you ever have spare change while at the register, please consider dropping it in the box. I was amazed by all they do for these families that are in need. Not only do they provide a comfortable room for those with so much stress and sadness, it provides a place where they can comfort others dealing with the same emotions..

True people don't realise all the extra costs involved when a loved one (especially partner) is sick, kids to deal with, 1 salery,stress and worry and then to top it off
(1) parking charges which in the UK hospitals have realised is a massive cash cow
(2)travel - petrol or bus
.

Parking at the hospital got so out of hand, the government had to step in and force them to bring down the cost. They were $30 for anything over 60 minutes until the government stepped in (now it's $25 for anything over 90 minutes)
.

Dang! We have one one you! Parking at our hospitals (at least in WV) is FREE.
Parking at my local airport is also free. At Pittsburgh in the Long-Term lot is $28 per day & $48 in the short-term lot.
Back to the stress of illness - in 2007 when Himself had a 6-way bypass, it was an hour each way to hospital and then rehab plus all the other commitments I already had (and I kept all of them) for the 7-weeks duration. it was the year of the horse shows in Kentucky and I had a revolving door of guests. One day I stopped for a cone on the wy home and a woman fromchurch told me to get my mower out because she and her granddaughter were coming over the nextday to cut my grass. I had not even noticed it was over my ankles (I who rarely cry- did). It was the hottest summer we had ever had and the most stress was given when the rehab case worker told me he was coming home the next day in the wheelchair - we had no ramp.
I was so addled by that, that I did not think to call my friends who would have built it for me for nothing. Instead a local friend found someone who built it for $700 (which was a struggle to get). My friends ended up rebuilding it because he built it too steep.
.

We have one one you! Parking at our hospitals (at least in WV) is FREE.

Free parking at the hospital here as well. This is the land of high pay parking everywhere else to the point that the business pay teens to guard their parking lots from tourists. Just try to park your car and walk out of the parking lot….