20 December 2009[/u]
Well, here I sit in O’Hare Airport in Chicago. I suppose I should be glad we have made it thus far. The saga started Friday night when the weather forecasters starting using words like ”blizzard”, “white out conditions” and “almost two feet of snow in places”. At first it is easy to brush off some of the hype as this is the first large snow storm of the season. And they do like to play it for all it’s worth.
But then last night they were not only predicting the path of the storm but we started to see its effects along the mid Atlantic states. The grinding to a halt of all air traffic in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York let me know that Boston would definitely be affected. So I tried to get in touch with my airline proactively to see about changing our flight.
And here the odyssey from hell begins.
The first time I called I was on hold for 50 minutes before I spoke to a real person. The woman I spoke with confirmed the website information that our flight which was supposed to leave at 06:55 am had been delayed to 11:30 am getting us into Chicago around 01:05 pm. She was able to find one option for us once we got to Chicago. It involved three transfers. Chicago to Cedar Rapids to Denver to Seattle. And we would be getting in around 11:30 pm. Not wonderful but at least we would get there. I tell her okay and she puts me on hold to confirm them …..
AND DISCONNECTS ME!!!!!!I just about lost it. But trying to remain positive I called back. And waited and waited and waited some more. After almost another hour of being on hold I hear a real human voice - although "human" may have been too generous a word. Not only is the milk run flights now gone but he tells me there are no available seats on any flights leaving Chicago to anywhere I could possibly connect to Seattle on – until THURSDAY. Hmmmm …..traveling on Christmas Eve – NOT my first choice. The only other option he offers me is to cancel my ticket all together and refund my money. That doesn’t help me either. So I just keep the reservation we have and think I will figure it out when I get to the airport.
I then have another brain wave – what about trying to get a hold of the company’s travel agency that booked the flights in the first place. Surely they would be able to help me. Another hour later of listening to cheesy Musak and the same annoying voice telling me how there were higher than usual call volumes and thanking me for my patience and I gave up.
Just in case anyone was wondering – spending almost four hours on hold or the phone is NOT conducive to getting anything else done – like packing.
Earlier that evening we had gone out for Chinese food for dinner. I was not in the mood to cook and did not want any left overs in the fridge to just sit and spoil while we are gone. After we had arrived home Anne’s friend Arnold had come over to give her a Christmas gift and play the piano. That was fine. I like Arnold, he is a nice kid. However after the wasted hours with the travel agents from hell my patience was wearing thin and my nerves were frayed to the breaking point.
I was in my room finally starting the packing for myself when they wandered into the living room and somehow the talk turned to First Night in Boston. Now I found it hard to believe that Arnold, a native resident of Massachusetts, had no bloody idea what First Night even was. So they are asking questions and I am trying to “maintain” and answer them. Except that they keep interrupting me to crack jokes and wander into other subjects. They did this one too many times and I lost it. I just stopped responding because I knew otherwise I was going to blow. But like most teenagers they had no concept of when to leave well enough alone. So when they came upstairs to see why I was so quiet I let them have it. And informed Arnold that as it was now 10:00 pm I thought it was time he go home – NOW.
Then I called my parents and fell apart. Letting them know that my only options did not seem really like much of an option at all. Dad recommended what I was thinking – get to Chicago because at least I would be headed West, it would be harder to blow me off face to face and as I was in mid transit the airline might be more inclined to assist me.
One last phone call to Ruth and our pick up time from home changes from 04:15 am to 08:30 am.
And then it started to snow. And snow. And snow. And snow some more.
For once the weather forecasters were correct – it was a beast of a storm. The southern part of the state got it the worst with Rhode Island getting over two feet dumped on them in under 24 hours. Ruth made it to the house, said the speed limits had been reduced to 40 mph, and while she cleared her windows yet again we loaded up the bags and off we went.
It took about an hour to travel the 26 miles to the airport, and only one stop on the interstate shoulder to de-ice the windshield and wiper blades. A couple of miles out I called the airlines automated service to learn the flight was NOW pushed to 12:30 pm. But at least we had not been cancelled. Seems our plane had arrived the evening before so that was a good sign. And then I saw the line at the terminal.
Snaked back on itself three times it had the earmarks of a modern version of what Ellis Island must have looked like at the turn of the last century. Weary travelers standing with resigned eyes and holding onto their luggage as though having it would somehow prove they were worthy of moving forward that next step of the way. Revise the clothing, remove the MP3 ear plugs and throw in the odd chicken and babushka and it would be like stepping back in time.
After leaving Anne to “watch” our baggage I made a desperately needed trip to Dunkin’ Donuts for a large iced coffee. There was no way I could face that line de-caffinated. It took a little over an hour and a half before we were finally granted access to the front of the line and could make our way like supplicant refugees to actually speak to an agent. And thus began the negotiations.
“So there is nothing leaving Chicago at all today – going anywhere that has an open seat?” “What about flying from Boston to another city, I am not married to the idea of Chicago.”
One of the things my father taught me years ago when he was traveling weekly for business was that the airline agents have the power to either help you tremendously, or make your life miserable. Depending on YOUR attitude and approach to them. So regardless of how tired I am, how long I have waited, and especially if the people in front of me have gone “postal” at desk when they get there – I smile, remind myself to speak softly and carefully. So I said “Good Morning” to the agent, complimented her Christmas earrings and smiled. Then I was able to find out her first name – Rosa – and made sure to use it. I also commented to her how I was so sorry that too many of those waiting were so rude and how I appreciated her and was not sure I could do that job without losing it. Perhaps that is why the events that happened next happened, or more likely in my mind, it had to do with the Rosary I was running through my fingers as a part of my mind silently prayed.
After almost 15 minutes of her checking all the various routes and connections, Rosa finally tells me the only thing she can confirm for me is leaving Chicago on Wednesday. I call my parents to advise them of this newest development. Not sure just what I am supposed to do at the Chicago airport for two days with a 17 year old girl. That’s when I started praying – Hard. And I knew on the other end of the phone, Mom was as well. All of a sudden the agent tells me there are two seats she can confirm out of Chicago the next afternoon. And she places us on confirmed Stand-By for the three flights leaving Chicago today and going to Seattle. Okay, this is progress. If we miss all three Stand-bys then the airline will have to put us up for the evening. At the least that will mean a real bed to sleep in. And the worst case scenario is that we will arrive in Seattle a day late at 06:30 pm. Our luggage is checked in and off we go to the gate.
Does anyone else feel as though the way things are going with TSA and airport security that the day is fast approaching when we will all be walking through the metal detector in our underwear holding our boarding pass? Separate bins for coat, shoes, laptop, remove anything you are wearing that is metal: keys, watch, hair clip, brooch or belt with a large buckle. Remove the little baggie you have hopefully remembered to do before hand with your “dangerous” contents: hand lotion, lip stick, travel sized tooth paste and/or medication like my inhaler.
After a very long wait (another hour) on the ground for de-icing we are finally moving and airborne. FINALLY! We arrive at O’Hare around 03:00 pm and I wonder if there is any way we can even make it to the gate in another concourse where our first Stand By flight is scheduled to depart from in 18 minutes. Oh well – it’s worth a try. So off we sprint – well okay, Anne sprinted and I did my best to keep her in sight. Oh Happy Day – the plane is not even at the gate yet and it is not going to depart until 05:15 pm. What seems to be an inconvenience for those already there is great for me. Now I have time to get some real food.
I often forget how much I take for granted fresh fruit and vegetables until I am faced with either a mall food court or an airport terminal. When you are feeling tired and dehydrated the last thing I feel like eating is a burger or another slice of pizza. But favor was being showered down yet again – a salad bar. Cold crisp lettuce, tomatoes, lean turkey cubes ….. bliss!! Yes it was made for you by women wearing gloves and yes the cost was akin to highway robbery – but to be able to sit down to REAL food over rode my frugal nature. After sending Anne with cash to procure her own meal (a grilled chicken sub) we actually had time to sit and eat like real people.
After returning to the gate I was not surprised to hear Anne ask if she had time to wander the shops. After making sure she knew what time I needed her back by – off she went to find herself a souvenir of being “in” Chicago.
For those of you reading this who perhaps are not convinced that there truly is power in prayer – well, I am not sure unless it happens to you that this story will convince you. After we returned to the gate area I checked us in just to confirm for the gate agent that yes – we were here, and found out that the stand-by list now had 47 people on it. Then it was back to sit and wait yet again. I had made note that if we missed this flight at least the next one we were confirmed one as Stand By was only two gates away.
21 December 2009I was not able to finish writing about yesterday’s odyssey yesterday for a number of reasons, but I have a few minutes now to do so.
Around 05:00 pm the plane finally arrived at the gate and they began to de-board and turn it around as quickly as possible. Then the gate agent began calling the names of the Stand By passengers: Gonzales, Wilder, Schmidt, Anderson, Pruitt ……………… ME!!!!!!!!
Upon hearing my name on the intercom I did not take my time getting off my duff to shuffle my way to the desk like others I have seen do. Neither did I not respond to any of the three pages with my name because instead of waiting where I could hear my name I was in the bar halfway down the terminal having yet another beer and then finally getting to the desk just before the last passenger boarded and scream at the agent for giving away “his” seat in a fume ridden rant.
Nope, I was the passenger that jumped to my feet, hand in the air and all but shouted “HERE!” like a gung-ho ROTC recruit. Short moments later I was in possession of the most beautiful pieces of card stock I had seen in a long time – boarding passes. However I did have the presence of mind to give the agent my tickets for the confirmed flight the next day and ask her to cancel those reservations for us so those seats would open up for someone else. Unfortunately at that time there was another detail that slipped my mind – but more on that in a bit.
Finally around quarter of six we took off from O'Hare and I could actually relax and think I would be in Seattle that day. We only ran into one bad patch of turbulence somewhere over Idaho. But finally we landed in Seattle - 50 degrees and drizzling. Not sure who was more relieved - me or Anne. One last leg to reach the main terminal riding the underground tram then I was hugging my mom and Anne was greeting my dad. Boy, I have not been that glad to see a baggage carousel in a long time.
While we were waiting for the machinery to disgorge our bags from the belly of the building I sent dad off for soemthing to drink for me. After spending some time watching the revolving line of forlorn suitcases looking for their owners I had another brain wave. So I walked over to the baggage desk where three workers sat chatting with each other. coming up to them I smiled and jokingly asked them if they wanted something to do. The woman in the middle laughed and said "Nah, I still have another coat to put on my nails". Chuckling she and I had the following exchange at 09:05 pm:
Me: (taking out my baggage receipts) See, I have a dream. That in this age of technology and computers you can dscan, or enter, the tag numbers and be able to tell me whether our bags ever left chicago.
Agent: (chuckling as she took the tags) Well, I have a dream also. That I win the lottery, quit my job and never again have to work in an airport during Christmas.
But I think YOUR dream has a much better chance of coming true.
(Gotta love it when you run into another smart ass)
Me: Oh goodie, so Santa really DOES exists.
Agent: Hmmmm, well the bags are confirmed on Flight 371 arriving tonight at 10:20 pm.
Me: I see, so I goofed and forgot to tell the people in Chicago to re-route our bags.
Agent: Yep, so you can wait for that flight, come back later, or ....
Me: (chuckling even as she and I both reached for the form and said almost simultaneously) Have them delivered tomorrow morning.
So that is what I did because I was exhausted and option one and two sounded like death to me. So with my receipt in hand I went back to the 'rents and Anne and said "Let's go - the luggage isn't going to be here for another few hours."
Much of the rest of the night is a blur which is what happens when you are that tired.
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Our luggage was delivered around 12:30 pm, so even though I had to put back on either borrowed or rumpled clothing after my shower - we were able to take a shower and brush my teeth etc. Just prior to this momenteous delivery my mother's friend, and Avon Lady, came by: Shin. I have know her since I was a freshman in high school and was pleased to be able to spend a little time visiting with her. She has had a tough couple of years, first with her own successful battle against breast cancer, then the unexpected death this Spring of her husband of 40 years.
It was a rather quiet afternoon trying to recover from yesterday. However I did wind up making a batch of fudge and helping make two pans of lasagna. The pastor and his family along with the student pastor came over for dinner.
The pastor is a very nice mild mannered man who I had a rather interesting conversation with regarding the origins of the three main monotheistic religions. One of the most interesting things that came from the various conversations was Anne's comments about what her understanding of certain spiritual tenents were. Her rather casual assertion that she would of course be going to Hell first caused a rather shocked quiet then some gentle probing to understand just why she felt that way.
Actually, while I was at first rather concern about the "deepness" of some of the talks my mother and she have had I have had to just relax and trust that Mom will not push too hard as they discuss faith, politics and beliefs.
22 December 2009Around 11:00 am Anne and I left to play tourist in Seattle. first stop - Pike Place Market. However before we could get there we were stopped from getting onto Alaskan Way by a train. And not just any ole regular freight train, but one of the longest trains I have seen in a long time. Best as I could count there were over 90 cars. And when the line is moving along at barely five miles and hour - it takes a LONGGGGG time to clear the intersection. Then for reasons unknown to me the automated parking meter would not take my card so we had to find a parking lot with an attendent and then finally we made it up to the Market level.
For those who don't know about Pike Place Market it is a very old open air market whose origins date back to around 1907 and is what I imagine a lot of older markets must be like in Europe. There are established food vendors and a lot of seasonal and/or rotating crafts people who can rent a space in order to sell their wares.
www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=trueAnne was rather impressed with the wide variety of produce and especially the choices when we got to onr of the larger fish mongers. They had the largest scallops I have ever seen. There were also humungeous prawns - 5-7 per pound!! We browsed a lot of the stalls and she found an organic farm stand that were selling apple chips, which I have learned is one of Anne's favorite snack foods.
After having lunch at a small cafeteria style place at a table overlooking Puget Sound and the Seattle Waterfront we hit a few more vendors then back tracked a bit to pick up the makings for Christmas Eve dinner and a lovely dried floral arrangements in holiday colors for Mom.
Loaded down with our purchases we headed back to the car and started to make our way towards the Seattle Center. But then we again ran into bad train luck - because we were prevented from making the turn we needed by yet another train! Except this time it was just sitting there blocking two consecutive intersections. Except then it did start to move, but backwards! Then it stopped again and moved perhaps three car lengths forward before stopping again. Anne and I were laughing not only because this train could not seem to make up it's mind what it was doing, And then it went BACKWARDS again!!
Fortunately this time it backed up enough to free up access to the intersection in front of us so we were off again.
Seattle Center even in the winter is an interesting place - built in 1962 for the World's Fair a lot of the buildings and structures almost shout "1960's" - especially the Space Needle. And now, at the foot of the Needle they have built what has to be one of the UGLIEST buildings I have ever seen. Called the Experience Music Project it look like an architect's nightmare. I don't think even Gaudi would have approved. One end of the building looks like the rear end of a blue elephant, one entrance seems to be covered with a semi-melted spare helmet Darth Vader tossed out.
www.empsfm.org/index.aspAfter walking through and just doing a quick look at the various areas and buildings we were headed back North, with a pit stop at Northgate Mall so we could go to the AT&T store and load up new voice minutes for her. The man who helped us turned out to be a Red Sox fan which was a bonus for us - anytime I can make that kind of connection with a Sales Associate they always will go out of their way to do extra for another Sox fan.
After a dinner of more lasagna we changed our clothes and headed back down to Seattle Center and the Intiman Theater for a performance of The Black Nativity.
www.intiman.org/2009Season/Nativity/default.aspx Written by Langston Hughes it is a version of the traditional Christmas story told through perspective of African Americans. Anne really enjoyed the music, the choreography and overall production quality.
23 December 2009Just before lunch Mom, Anne and I headed out to do some last minute shopping, particularly for stockings. A trip to Home Depot first for some Amaryllis plants as gifts. Anne mentioned that there was a store in Germany called Home Barn with the same font type and colors - I am fairly sure they are the same company, too much of a coincindence in my mind.
Then off to the Dollar Store - god save me. Too many people, too much plastic etc and I barely made it 30 minutes before I just had to get outside to actually breathe. We then went to Burlington Coat factory to get some new shirts for dad, because we and he are tired of looking at his old ones. And then a couple of things I smuggled past Anne that Mom wanted to pick up for Anne.
Then a treat for Anne - fast food. I suppose it is a good indication that I am feeding her well that she still thinks it is a rare occurrence and somewhat of a treat for us to get a burger at McDonalds.
After being home for a short time to clean up and make sure my Secret Santa gift was wrapped I was off to the Fremont District to meet up with nitza19 from my WIR NS/CS thread. We had spoken earlier and arranged to meet up at a Greek restaurant named Costa Opa. They make a wonderful breaded pork cutlet with a lemon sauce that I had not eaten in several yearsand had been hoping to get my choppers around this trip. . Getting there a little before her, and because I was actually able to find a free parking spot within a block of the restaurant, I ordered a local micro brew and settled in for a short wait.
For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Nitza let me see if I can describe her for you.
A slender woman of 30 with a clear creamy complexion and soft brown hair worn pulled back into a casual ponytail. Her wise eyes watch you with a calm grace behind the lenses of her glasses and the edges crinkle often as she smiles. Her voice is a bit larger than one might expect from such a petite woman, but while I can easily imagine what it would sound like as she speaks frankly to an unruly student, it's alto timber falls pleasantly upon the ear as we discuss children, education, family and friends both on and off line. She speaks her truths with a gentle authority that never stikes a discordant note with the listener, and you know from her demeanor that what you have to say is as important to her as what she would like to share with you.
If I had met her without first knowing her vocation I would have had no hesitation in pegging her as a teacher.
Almost four hours later we finally parted ways. But not before I was able to give her her Secret Santa present. A couple of weeks ago Nitza had mentioned that she was at a craft show and had seen these really cool purses made from older hard backed books. She has noted that she really liked them but at $45 a piece they were well out of her price range. However when I read that on the Board my little brain nis going DING-DING-DING-DING-DING - we have a winner.
So after locating several sets of variations on the instructions I went off to the used book store and found a wonderful vintage cook book that I could convert into a purse. When I had posted a while back that I was beginning to stress over my To Do List, nitza had encouraged me to "burn that list" ....which I replied ... but, what about my Secret Santa? and nitza said - forgit 'em!!
So while we were waiting for our entrees I asked her what her Secret Santa had sent her and she said "I haven't received anything yet". To which I replied "Well, if you hadn't told me to burn my list ...."
It did take her a few moments to get it - but then she laughed as I did, and handed her a jar of my homemade jam with the comment "Well, if I had only had more time I could have finished your real gift".
Yes, she was happy with the jam, so I then commented "Oh look, there is something else in this bag" and I then handed her the gift bag with her purse, comb and hand lotion inside. I just wish I had thought to take a picture of her with it. But there are some photos of the purse here, and here, and here.
Arriving back home I found Mom and Anne deep in conversation. They had started to make cookies out of the batches of dough Mom made several days earlier, but it seems they got slowed down talking about faith, religion, politics and family dynamics. Anne sure is not afraid to discuss meaty subjects for which I think she shows a remarkable maturity for her age.
24 December 2009In our family we have a hand made advent calendar that my mother made years ago. On the 24th the square we turn over has an applique of Joseph on it. And most years my mother grumbles under her breath "Oh shit, it's Joe". And that means it is countdown time, it is Christmas Eve.
Anne and my father went out and did the last of the grocery shopping and then a bit later she and I went to find paper plates and napkins for tomorrow's buffet as well as a wedding gift for some friends who are coming over on Saturday afternoon.
A few short minutes after Anne and Dad had left for the store the phone rang, and being closer I answered it. Not recognizing the voice that asked for my mother I asked him who this was? When he said "Nick" I was in shock, and as I repeated the name and in a soft tone asked how he was my mother began to tear up just hearing his name.
Technically I suppose you would call Nick my cousin-in-law. His wife Leslie was the youngest daughter of my father's second sister.
In November of 2007 my brother and his family had moved from Washington to Arizona, and being the first holiday, Thanksgiving, without their grandchildren there my parents had decided to come to Massachusetts to spend the holiday with me. When they returned home there was a message waiting for them on their ansswering machine. The night after Thanksgiving my cousin was having trouble sleeping so she had gone out into the living room onto the couch to watch a little television with their two dogs. Somehow, the space heater she had set to take the chill off the air had fallen over, and being an older model without a sensor that would shut it off, it had ignited the carpeting in the living room. Nick had awoken to hear Leslie screaming for him. He and the couple staying with them had tried to get to her but the room was already engulfed and he was pulled from the house with severe burns to his hands and forearms, as was the husband of the other couple. Leslie and the dogs all perished in the fire that engulfed the entire house.
Since that time Nick has had a very tough time of it. He has not been able to find work for over a year and to say his family, especially his mother, has been less than supportive would be a massive understatement. Mom told me after his call that she had not heard from him in over a year. He is barely surviving on disability pay and is essentially living out of his car or couch surfing when he can. The poor guy has never really recovered from that terrible night two years ago and did not even have the money for enough gas to come up to my parents.
They have already made plans to have him come stay with them for a while after the end of the month when he will get his next check. However now we at least have a number and an address where we can send him some assistance. I do wish he was able to be here for Christmas as I think he needs to be with people he can talk about Leslie with and be with family who love him. I am glad however that he will not be alone tomorrow but has reached out to be with some friends at one of their homes.
Once my parents had regained a bit of equilibrium we were able to finish some of the last minute tasks such as completing the Buche de Noel my mother always makes and I could prepare our dinner.
When I come for Christmas, this evening's dinner is usually my responsibility. This year Anne and I had purchased items from Pike Place Market for dinner. We had bought these enormous prawns and fresh Dungeness crabmeat. So dinner tonight was butterflied prawns baked with crab meat stuffing, tender steamed asparagus and fingerling potatoes roasted with butter, garlic and cracked black pepper. I am so full I can barely move!
In a couple of hours we will be leaving for Midnight service at church, another experience Anne has never had.
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I learned that Anne had never been to a Christmas Eve service before so she was rather interested in seeing just how this worked. In perusing the program before the service began she saw that they had printed the German translation of the first verse of Silent Night and announced that she would be singing it in German - of course.
The service was very traditional and we sang all the songs that for me make it Christmas. My parent's church has a new music director who is quite enthusiastic - so much so that we could all hear him "tapping" his foot up in the Choir Loft. Of course his tapping sounded as though he would be stomping right through the floor of
the loft!
One of the things Anne liked most was toward the end of the service when they turn off the electric lights, two ushers light candles and move down the main aisle lighting the candles held by the congregants and then we all sing "Silent Night".
The first verse we are accompanied by the piano which gradually fades out until we are singing it a capella.
Every year this is the part of Christmas that "gets" to me every time. This year for some reason it got to me especially hard. Anne was puzzled and I think a bit concerned because she asked me why I was crying. However, it was hard to explain during the service - but we did get a chance to talk about it later. About missing loved ones, nostalgia and the over whelming emotional impact of faith.
25 December 2009Christmas morning we were able to get up at a decent time and have leisurely breakfast - which is more than could be said for my brother and his kids. They are still doing the before-the-sun-rises morning Christmas rush. After we ate were were able to spend some time visiting with my nieces via webcam. The funniest thing I
think they got as a present was a little vest and leash harness arrangement for Taylor's guinea pig - FiFi. So she can take her for a "walk" and help the poor thing get some exercise. Because FiFi has show no interest at all in any of her exercise balls or toys.
After the four of us opened our gifts I took Anne on a short drive down to Richmond Beach which sits at the bottom of the large hill my parent's neighborhood is situated on. Richmond Beach is located on the East side of Puget Sound at the northern end but before the Straits of Juan de Fuca provide passage to the open
Pacific. On clear days you look out over the waters to see the outline of several large islands with the Olympic Mountains lifting their peaks skyward behind.
In order to get down to the actual beach you drive down some rather impressive slopes through the State Park. Once you arrive at the parking area you lock up the car and make your way down another sloping footpath that carries you over the four sets of railway tracks that run long frieght trains of cargo from the Port of
Everett down to the Port of Tacoma along almost the entire length of the sound's Eastern edge.
The beach area has changed only a little since we first started coming to it in the 1970's. There are now signs advising you that open fires cannot be built on the beach, there are real bathroom facilities, and they allow dogs off leash to play fetch and play with other dogs.
The water was cold and gently lapping against the greyish brown stony shoreline. the sun was out and with almost no haze or cloud cover over the Olympic Pennisula we have a wonderful vista of the mountains and islands. I was rather surprised at the number of people who were at the beach mid morning on Christmas Day, We were able to take a nice walk along the water's edge just watching the various dogs and their owners, the seagulls surfing the various wind currents, and looking for pretty or unusual rocks - some of which we are taking back to Elle my neighbor and cat sitter. She told me she does not want me to buy her anything as a thank you, just bring her a rock from the Pacific and from Arizona for her collection.
Mid afternoon my "brother" Steve, his wife Mayumi, my "sister" Laura and her house mate Steve T. came over for dinner. It would take another whole web page to describe the history of some of these dynamics and relationships so I will leave that for another time.
Dinner was out usual spread with a variety of foods and desserts: Baked ham, turkey breast, stuffing, scalloped potatoes, salad, southern cooked green beans. then for dessert your choice of apple pie, pecan pie, Buche de Noel, cookies, fudge or fruitcake. No one can ever say they left my mother's home hungry unless it was by choice.
Anne and dad finished watching The Gods Must Be Crazy which they had started the night before and we all called it an early night at around 11:00 pm.
26 December 2009[/u]
For as long as i can remember, Mom and I have had a tradition of going out the day after Christmas to pick up cards and ornaments for next year while they are 50% off or more, and this year was no exception. At least not for us but it was very different once we got to the Mall. Our favorite store for this used to be The Bon Marche which was purchased by, and then absorbed into, Macy's. Just like Filenes was gobbled up by the evil red star company also. People have tried to tell me that it is still the same store with just a different logo, but that's not really true. The store FEELS different and not in a positive way in my opinion.
Another lady on the boards posted about what a big disappointment it was going out after Christmas, and I agree. Not only had I heard that many retailers were cutting back drastically in the amount of merchandise they were stocking for the Holidays, but I think they started the mark downs earlier as well. The for me would explain the lack of selection or even the lower number of items we found. And while the parking lots certainly did look full, it felt as though there really were no people in the stores. While I would normally consider this a good thing as I am not a fan of crowds, in this case it was .... hard to really describe.
Part sad, part creepy. A feeling that the place was deserted or abandoned. I am starting to feel like a real curmudgeon wishing for the "Old Days".
27 December 2009[/u]
The four of us went to my parent's Lutheran church this morning for services. I gently teased Anne about how she had been to church twice in one week. Their church does a Praise Service for the 11:00 am time with a small band - percussion, bass, guitar and about seven singers who also lead the worship.
Before services began Anne had told me that the church in her village is 852 years old. this came up because my parent's church was built in the 1970's and Anne said she had rarely seen a church this new. It boggle my mind having a building in my town that old. She also was telling us that services in German are much more
sedate - and she liked the more "modern" type of music at this church.
After services we went over to the Edmonds Waterfront and had lunch at a local restaurant called "Arnies" for lunch. By sheer luck we got a window seat overlooking many of the private boats that were decorated for Christmas with lights and figures.
This area has an annual Christmas Boat parade where you can stand along various points on the shoreline and see how the boat owners have tried to out do each other with their creativity.
Anne and I also took a quick walk along the small public beach area near the ferry docks so she could take some pictures with the sea lion statues.
I cannot believe we have been at my parents house for a week now. Before I arrive I sometimes think that there are so many days we will have, then the day before we leave I am usually rather surprised that we are almost done and there are still things we did not get to talk about or do. The Good Byes are always difficult but seem to get a bit more difficult as I, and they, get older. I try not to think about it too much but the thought does cross my mind that each visit might be the last time I see both of them well and upright. another of the joys of getting older - facing as a reality your parent's mortality.
After an uneventful flight we were met at the airport by my brother Mike and his oldest daughter Taylor.
28 December 2009After getting up my brother made us breakfast: scrambled eggs, fried ham and French Toast. The original plan was that Mike would go do his workout early in the morning then stay home while Leslie, me and the girls headed out to take a horse back ride through the desert reserve. However my brother really has a "thing" about letting anyone else in HIS kitchen so while Les and I were perfectly capable of making breakfast he insisted on doing it and did not leave until after 10:30 am.
The problem was that he, or someone, needed to be at home because they had a workman coming to do some inside repairs after installing a new heating/cooling system. The other problem is this - for reasons I don't understand I actually left clothing behind at my mom's. And not just one piece - but a LOT of items. Including the full skirt I had packed especially to go riding. So Les and i are planning on heading out for Value Village to get me something to wear. I also left behind five shirts, including my three long sleeved ones and both sweaters. And as I really do not wear pants anymore I have none with me at all.
I actually found a pair of blue jeans that were a bit loose which works best for horse back riding as I think that at my size wearing snug jeans and then straddling a horse for almost two hours there would be major binding and chafing as a result. I also found two long sleeved shirts, a long tiered cotton skirt, a white cardigan
and a cream one - the last item I had not really intended to purchase, but it was only $0.99. I paid under $20 for all six items. I love thrift stores!
www.saguarolaketrailrides.com/index.htmAfter changing we headed towards the Tonto National Forest. After checking in with the "office" and signing waivers for the kids (my two nieces and Anne - somehow forgot I needed to do this as she is under 18) we got them fitted with helmets and mounts picked out for them. And who was the last one up? Me of course.
Fortunately they had small step sets so I could mount. My horse was a large white, part draft horse, named Snowball. And I got to bring up the rear of our little convoy - perhaps because I made the mistake of mentioning my several summers of horse riding during
scouts, or perhaps I knew how to answer the questions the owner of the ranch asked me and not only held the reigns correctly but asked to have my stirrups adjusted.
Either way my horse had a rather strong attitude. But after the third time he stopped to try and browse through some shrub plants, and I let him know in uncertain terms that he needed to focus on the trail he behaved better.
The ride was amazing, we traveled up into the foothills and really got to see the desert plant life and rock formations up close and at a leisurely pace. The only part that caused me a few short moments of anxiety was during the descent. We took some really narrow trails along switch backs where the horses were coming down at about a 45 degrees. Fortunately I knew that the best thing was to relax my hold on the reigns, semi-stand in the stirrups so I kept my body upright and leaned back a bit over the horse's rump and let him pick his way down the trail. With trail horses you have to trust they have done this path many times and know where they are going. Over directing them just stresses them out and makes them confused.
After getting cleaned up we piled into both cars and headed out for dinners. The Mexican place Mike had first wanted to bring us to was closed because it was Monday so we wound up at a place called Waldo's for Texas Bar-B-Cue. During the trip there and back Michael and I drove by outselves and Leslie took the girls. This gave us some time to talk privately. And boy was I glad no one else was in the car because things came up that I had not anticipated hearing and while I tried my best to be supportive I seem to have not responded the way he wanted best. Oh well, things will either resolve or they won't. This is not something I have a lot of control over.
After returning home we finally exchanged gifts and the girls really liked their "Harvard Future Freshman" t-shirts. Les is currently working on the Apache Helicopter project and I got a really cool black Boeing mug along with a necklace and an envelope with a picture of one of my favorite Founding Fathers.
29 December 2009A rather lazy day. My brother, Anne and myself did take a trip to see more of the area. We went into the touristy section of Scottsdale and poked around for a while.
It was rather kitchy but fun. I did see an amazing opal triplet bracelet but did not even go inside to try it on as I could tell just by looking at it that not only would I LOVE it but I could in no way afford it. We also went to an antique mall in Mesa. It is probably a good thing we only had an hour because I could have spent a LOT more time ... AND money ... in that place!!
Later that evening we made a fire in their freestanding fire pit in the back yard, pulled up chairs and roasted marshmallows and made S'Mores. It was more than a little surreal for this yankee girl - to be outside doing a typical summer activity at the end of December.
30 December 2009Okay, while I thought last night had a surreal quality to it - this morning really took the cake. It is December 30th and I am sitting poolside having my morning coffee with temps in the 60s!!!
Les, my nieces, Anne and myself went out around lunch time to the Mesa Historical Museum. A small local museum. However it was not the one i though we were going to - a little miscommunication between Les and me - I though she knew I meant the Natural
History Museum. Oh well, it still was interesting, at least I thought so. My sister in law is not really much for museums I learned. I did like the smaller rooms set up with themes like the history of the first mayor of Mesa and his wife who was the first Post Mistress.
After a stop at a local store for some provisions for the plane flight -
since they no longer feed you on planes anymore - it was time to pack up and head off back to the airport.
Another non-eventful flight, my favorite kind, and we were back in Massachusetts where the pilot announced it was a "balmy" 29 degrees. Oy - talk about environmental shock. My friend from work picked us up and we were back home by midnight. Except Anne was so wound up she did not get to sleep until several hours later. I was so glad to get to finally sleep again in my own bed.
When we got home the cats just started racing around and Tigger would not let me pick him up. This is his way of letting me know just how mad he was at me for leaving them this long. Not that they were actually alone as my neighbor was coming over every day to feed them and play with them.
However after I got into bed the same kitty did something he has never done before. He climbed onto my chest, curled up, tucked his nose under my chin and purred up a storm while flexing his claws ( which really need to be trimmed) in an action my family calls "Cat-U-Puncture". At the same time Naomi was plastered to my left at
waist level while Jericho snuggled next to me on the right. A three point kitty sandwich.
31 December 2009[/u]
Anne and two of her friends, Caroline and Arnold made plans to go into downtown Boston for some of the First Night festivities. She had counted on it starting to snow around 11:00 am though. But it was just under two inches and did not cause any travel problems. After Arnold came over we went and picked up C from her bus stop
and I drove them to the train station with rather detailed directions on how to get to The Common and some of the main events.
While she was gone I had a chance to unpack and start some laundry. As I had cleaned the house before we left it was in pretty good shape. I spent a lot of the day going through mail, putting all the "stuff" you bring with you when you travel as well as what you collect or are given along the way. And basically just hanging out and having a nice quiet lazy day.
Around 09:30 pm Anne called and I was off to pick them up from the train station. they asked whether they could come over and play her new Boston-opoly game and I could perhaps drive them home later. However I turned them down as it was getting late and I just wanted to be in my pajamas, plus I did not want to be on the roads when the amateur drunks left the bars.
They had a good time seeing the ice sculptures and skaing on the Frog Pond, something Arnold had never done before according to the girls.
Anne settled in then said she wanted to "do" something, so she decided to start putting together a jigsaw puzzle she had received as a Christmas present. And not just any ole puzzle. On the face of it the picture was rather simple, Snoopy on his doghouse with Charlie Brown sitting on the grass at the base of it. However each piece is made up of small photomosaics. A real nightmare of a puzzle. We worked on it for a little over an hour before the clock struck midnight and we watched the fireworks over Boston Harbor on television.
The album of our pictures from this trip can be viewed here:
s25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/honey36_/Anne%20T%202009-2010/December%202009/
