We have arrived--Day 9

Hello all--so sorry to leave you hanging without completing this journey.  We woke up on Day 9, all so very excited to arrive home today and finish our long days of driving.  I found it interesting that a few days ago I was mourning the end of the trip and entering reality.  But after the last few long days of driving with very little sightseeing (except Niagara Falls), I was more than ready to reach our destination and get out of the car.  I was tired of packing and unpacking the car 2 times a day and living off of car-ready food.  I guess it is like being pregnant.  The thought of birthing a child is scary, until the final weeks when you are so tired of being huge and swollen, that you rejoice in the fact that the baby will arrive soon, without fear. 
      After hitting multiple tolls in Ohio and Pennsylvania and spending amazing amounts of money every couple of hours, I bought an EZ pass during our potty break at a service area.  I got online and registered my pass, stuck it on the dashboard and BAM!  I could just drive through the tolls without stopping; unable to tally the amount at each toll until I look my statement.  It was quite liberating and began my authenticity to the east coast--my toll pass.  Amazing how the small things can be such a large statement.  We drove for 6 and 1/2 hours straight; stopping only for gas and toilets.  I was dead set on arriving in NH before rush hour hit.  We were heading through Massachusetts which has always been notorious for their traffic jams at rush hour.  Without exceeding the speed limit too much--Mass police are less forgiving than Auburn police if you can believe that!--I made excellent time.  I also forgot how insane the people in Mass drive.  They call them massholes for a reason!  My sister and her husband were texting the count down with me...."when you reach exit ......, it is 2 hours", etc., until we were almost there.  We made it at 4:30, just before the rush hour.  It was quite surreal to have finally arrived.  It felt like we had just arrived for a visit like we had in the past, but actually we were here to stay.  The kids immediately changed into their bathing suits and jumped in the pool with their cousins and swam until it was time for bed.  A great ending to a great trip, yet just the beginning of our journey!