five things
Friday, October 17, 2003
Good evening.
The weekend is here. I have a nice martini by my side. And I
am ready to unwind and enjoy my two days off. I actually sat down
at the computer to check my email and waste some time before James
got home from work. But then I figured I might as well use this
time to catch up. Especially now that summer is officially over
and we're already halfway through fall.
And it has occurred to me that there are a number of things that
I haven't talked about here due to my lack of updating. Things
like...
#1: My vacation in California
Really. I totally meant to update about it here. In fact, I think
there is a half-written entry on my work PC that I started while
waiting for my flight home. The reason it is half-written is that
I was interrupted due to the fact that my flight was cancelled
and I had to race around to find the next plane out of CA. What
was worse was that James was on a completely different airline
since I went out there partly for work. That meant I caught a
much earlier flight in and then had to pick the poor guy up much
later when he finally arrived. We couldn't even see each other
in the terminal because of the way LAX works. Whatever.
In the end it was a good vacation. It was partly stressful due
to some work issues. Then there was the whole eclectic stepmother
whom we stayed with. I love her (Connie, I love you!). But her
brother was staying with her and he hated "refrigerated air"
so he kept turning the air conditioning off in the house. Keep
in mind we were in the desert. In August. It was hot. And I didn't
do well sleeping in a condo that stayed around 80 degrees 24/7.
Eech.
Oh, and she also has this cockatiel (bird) that flies loose in
the house and basically has free rein. That was kind of weird
for me. That and her Christmas tree that is still up and decorated.
There are reasons behind all of this that I won't go into here.
It was just a very interesting place to stay for a week. Although
I am ever thankful we didn't have to pay for lodging during our
stay. Not to mention we got to visit with family that we don't
see near enough.
We also shipped out our bikes. We cycled one day in the desert
(damn wind!). And one day in the mountains (damn inclines!). Then
there was the whole Santa Monica thing. But that's not really
for real cyclists. I felt kind of odd and out of place there with
my clipless pedals and all.
But back to the mountains, we did do some major climbing in the
San Gabrials. We probably ascended a total of 3000 feet. We did
26 miles which doesn't sound like much. But one 5 mile climb took
me approx. 45 minutes. It was grueling. Especially while watching
my computer display my measly 6 to 7 mph pace up the hill. But
I did it. I was very consistent. And the downhills took a fraction
of the time. The same five mile climb took us barely 9 minutes
to descend. And descending down a mountain at 34 mph is quite
a thrill. Pretty scary, too.
While in California, we also did some hiking. Some sightseeing.
And spent way too much time in LA traffic. That sucks, man. I
don't see how people can do that. At all -- let alone twice a
day!
#2: My mother sold her house.
This was a shocker. This is the house my mother said she would
never leave. This is the house where James and I had our wedding
reception. I didn't grow up there. My mother bought it with my
stepdad when I was 18. But it really has become home. It has such
character and beauty. And I'm really going to miss it.
They made a good decision, though. It was a lot of upkeep and
they want to built new and custom. I completely understand. But,
damn!, I'm going to miss that pool.
A side note, we went down over Labor Day weekend. That was my
parent's last weekend in the house and I was forced to go through
the attic and remove my high school memorabilia. Man, I found
so much stuff including my old cheerleading skirt, medals from
Choir, my letter jacket and even a book of poetry I wrote. I also
found a journal of my first year of college. James found an old
scrapbook and made endless fun of that in front of my brother.
Hint to all you out there: don't leave your husband alone with
your high school belongings even if it is to get your hair colored
by your old, deeply-missed stylist.
#3: My great Uncle Kenny died
This was very sad. I wasn't exactly close to him. But he was a
part of my youth. He and Aunt Charlene. They were married for
over 60 years and were the most awesome, awesome couple. Still
deeply in love and tossing barbs at one another just last year
at my brother's wedding. Kenny had cancer. I had no idea. And
James and I rushed down to his funeral in Illinois the minute
we heard. My father and brother were there. We spent some quality
time together outside the funeral and services.
Attending Kenny's funeral affected me in a way I wasn't prepared
for. Suddenly I was deep in nostalgia for my grandfather and grandmother.
I was seeing relatives I hadn't seen since either of my grandparents
were alive. And since my grandfather was so much like a father
to me after my parents divorced, streams of memories and feelings
flooded back. Feelings that even now I can't exactly put in words
even though my eyes are tearing up at this very moment. He was
just the most amazing, wonderful man and I miss him more than
I can sometimes bare. It is such a shame that he died when I was
only sixteen. I'm thankful for the time we had together but there
is also so much that he missed. So much that I have become that
I want him to see. I wish he could know James. I wish that he
could see the life I made. I wish that he could feel the love
that I have for him that I no doubt hid as an angry youth whose
parents where divorcing and was angry at the world.
Probably the most difficult part of the trip was returning to
Rockford, my grandparent's home town. I told James I wanted to
drive by the house. Even though I didn't grow up there, I have
closer ties to that house than any other of my youth. I still
dream about it often. So, we went to Rockford and drove by. Of
course, the house is tiny compared to what I remember. It is probably
no bigger than the house that James and I own now. In fact, they
lived on Maryland Ave in a neighborhood of state-named streets
and I live on Montana in a neighborhood of state-name streets.
Ironic, no?
Of course, the house has changed. The 50's green shutters and
awnings are all gone. All of my grandmother's peonies that I remember
so vividly are pulled up. But it was still there. The house that
I slept in on so many Christmas Eve nights.
After that, we searched out the graveyard where my grandparents
are kept. I haven't been there since my grandfather was put in
the mausoleum. I was sixteen. And all I could go on was that I
knew he was in one of the big things outside of the ground.
James and I searched and searched and searched. And finally we
found them on the last wall of the mausoleum at the very top.
They overlooked everything and I just stood there and bawled.
Suddenly I felt very lonely for them. I knew my grandfather spent
a lot of money on these plots (or whatever you call them). I knew
he wanted the very best. Yet the fact that rarely anyone in my
family comes out here troubles me. My father lives in Kentucky.
I am in Minnesota. They had no other children. So who is in Illinios
to pay them visits? Who is there to watch over this slice of granite
that my grandfather so lovingly purchased when his wife of 30+
years was dying of cancer?
I couldn't bare the thought of them in there. I couldn't talk
to the people at the mortuary even to buy them flowers or learn
about this place that keeps them. I just got in the car and told
James to take me home. And I cried harder than I ever had for
two people who are so much a part of the person I am. Especially
for my Grandfather.
I miss you so much, Grandpa.
+ + +
Okay. On to something lighter...
#4 Tryna is a good dog
As much as this brat drives me crazy. As much as I can't look
her in the eye without causing her to rile and bark and go insane,
I am learning to really love this pup. But don't tell Sienna.
She still is the good dog. Tryna, incidentally, is starting back
into obedience next week. Beginner II here we come.
#5 James and I celebrated our 9th Anniversary
I can't believe it. 9 years. Next year is the biggie. I always
thought large, 10 year anniversaries were for old people. And
look at where we are. We celebrated well. A lovely dinner out.
A couple of gifts. Unfortunately, when James decided to save some
money and hand deliver roses to me on that day, he got hit in
my work's parking lot by another car backing out. The situation
kind of sucks -- especially since it wasn't James fault yet the
other guy's insurance company is giving us grief. Just more proof
that we have the worse car karma ever. And for those keeping track
at home, those WERE the most expensive roses I've ever received.
So, there you go. Five things I've been meaning to write about
but haven't.
Happy Friday all.
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