Reunited!

Few things fill a parent with the anticipation of seeing their child after a long hiatus. After being in Belize for nearly a week we met up with our daughter at Grandma Elda's house and I felt like a child on Christmas morning. To hold her in my arms.

I was curious to know how it would play out. Both grandmas said that nearly every night she said "I miss my mommy and daddy". A few latitudes below we spent our evenings falling asleep saying how much we missed our little tootie. It was as if we were cooing each to our respective bed times from far sides of the world, yearnings carried by the wind like seeds offering promise, longing and love.

She was having a nap when we arrived. I tiptoed up to the cracked door and peered in to see her sprawled out in bed. Did she really grow that much while we were gone? A sudden pang of regret filled me for all the other times we'd been away and all the moments we missed. A wave of pity hit me for any and all parents that don't see their children often, or worse, don't see them grow up at all. It's truly a gift to be alongside a person as they learn to talk, walk, and reach every other milestone afterwards. As my eyes danced over her sleeping body, I recalled all the moments we've shared and how many more are yet to come. Suddenly, she awoke and sat up in her bed as if sensing my presence. I opened the door and sat down next to her. Without either of us saying a word, she walked to my lap, put her arms around me and hugged me. Tighter than usual.

Later on that night as we were falling asleep, she said:
"I missed you daddy"
"I missed you too honey. I missed you so much. I love you more than you can imagine and I love you every single day".

She fell asleep on her stomach but made a point of having her hand on my shoulder. She wanted to know that I was there while she feel asleep and that I wasn't going anywhere.

A Week With Grandma and Auntie

Grandma Shirley’s Beautiful Ava Blog, July 2012

Day 1. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Our village is Grandpa Gary, Auntie Ali, Auntie Angie and me, Grandma Shirley. We are raising Beautiful Ava for 5 days while her Mommy and Daddy go scuba diving in Belize, and we four are just barely enough J. Today we started the day making Rice Krispie bars (which requires a lot of kneading with the hands and eating off the warm Rice Krispie/marshmallow cream. Ava loves them. Then a trip to the beauty salon for haircuts for Auntie Ali, Grandma and Auntie Angie, and lunch at a Claremont vegan restaurant where Ava gobbled spicy quinoa sushi and hand pressed apple juice. She has a very eclectic palate. Home for a nap and a home-cooked dinner with Grandpa Gary.

Day 2. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. Day 2 was our shopping day at the Montclair mall. All for Ava of course, who, at 2½, is wearing 4T clothes and may grow out of those soon. Grandma Shirley LOVES to go shopping for her only grandchild. We checked out the children’s play area, Penney’s, Gymboree, Gap Kids, and the Disney Store where Grandma Shirley told Ava she could pick one thing for Grandma to buy. Not even a close call, as our girl selected the Minnie Mouse doll (see Minnie on the table in the photo at Nordstrom’s tea room). Found pajamas on sale, shorts, shirts and even a dress, sigh. Macaroni & cheese for lunch, then home for a nap for both Ava and Grandma. Dinner out with Grandpa Gary and the girls at The Press where Ava gobbled the cheese plate and some of Grandma’s enchilada’s rice and beans.

Day 3. Q: How many times can a 2 ½ year old child watch a Peter Pan DVD? A: Almost as many times as she enjoys going to the park. (That would be up to four times a day watching the DVD – we now all know the words to all the songs – and usually once to a local park where she particularly loves the slides.) Also had a coffee (and chocolate milk) break at Starbucks in Claremont today, grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s and home for a dinner cooked by Ali and Angie.

Day 4. Big Bugs and Big Butterflies. Today Ava, Auntie Ali, Auntie Angie and Grandma went to the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden in Claremont to see the “Big Bugs” (wood and reed sculptures of 8 wonderful bugs by artist David Rogers– including a spider, ladybug and dragonfly, ant in photo below) and the Butterfly Pavilion where beautiful Ava watched beautiful California native butterflies on shrubs and flowers. Lunch at (air conditioned) McDonald’s to follow on a hot, hot day.


Day 5. Today Beautiful Ava went to Grandma Elda and Grandpa Jay’s house for the last half of Mommy and Daddy’s trip. Things Ava liked at Grandma Shirley’s: watching the Peter Pan DVD, playing on the slides and sand box at Higgenbotham Park, watching the Peter Pan DVD, putting stickers on “Maggie the dog”, watching the Peter Pan DVD, blowing bubbles, watching the Peter Pan DVD, hard boiled eggs, watching the Peter Pan DVD, raisins, watching the Peter Pan DVD, Rice Krispie treats, watching the Peter Pan DVD, petting cats Brenda and Lucy, watching the Peter Pan DVD, tubby time with Daddy’s old tubby toys (Tupperware cups and ducks), watching the Peter Pan DVD, splashing in the blow-up kiddie pool on the patio, and watching the Peter Pan DVD.

Summer Road Trip's Final Stop: Santa Fe and Albuquerque

I had never been to New Mexico. The buildings all follow a zoning pattern wherein they are all designed to mimic the old architectural style of the southwest. Adobe walls with exposed wooden joists.

It oozes charm. Fitting how were were also there in Santa Fe to celebrate big daddy's birthday. Lisa found a swank hotel marked 50% off so daddy was happy. Ava enjoyed the food at the local restaurants and we hob-nobbed around town until dinner time.I read a Jon Sanford book from cover to cover that night and fell asleep next to my two girls under a big down comforter.

Next was just down the road to Albuquerque. Lisa's uncle Tito was there and loved Ava. We ate, watched movies. Ate, watched movies. Is there anything better with family on summer holiday? We were sent back to LA with a cooler full of food in Featherstone style.

A long 12 hour burn from New Mexico back to LA. A lot of Willie Nelson and Garrison Keillor spoken word. Although it was two weeks, it felt like a month. Thanks to all that made it memorable. To Ali, you've always been the best sister. We'll have to do that pasta again. To Ange: we WILL play golf when I see you next time. To Christie and Papa, thanks for the comfortable stay and sorry I broke your toilet. To Genie and the kids, enjoy all the beer! To Phil: I'll try to incorporate more yoga into my golf game. Kirsten: your secret is safe with us. To Tito, your books will get a lot of use.

Thanks America. You graced us with 3,907 miles of ethereal landscape and not one speeding ticket. You introduced us to some great people, like minded travellers, good weather and a great time. Fitting that we made it back on the fourth of July. Enjoy your independence day.

Summer Road Trip's Second Stop: Denver Colorado

It was a long drive. Leaving Corvallis for Denver was two 11 hours days of driving and Ava was not happy. After a stop in Twin Falls we strolled into Fort Collins to stay with Aunt Cristie and Papa for a couple of nights while Genie and her family came over. The big news of the two days were that  Italy defeated Germany in the semifinals of the Euro cup and the US supreme court upheald the affordable care act as constitutional.

I met up with Phil for a round of golf at Heritage Eagle Bend. My round was typical. I shot a 46 on the front nine and crapped the proverbial bed on the back to walk away with 100. Not my best. After meeting up with auntie Kirsten for drinks at Milos on Evans and Monaco.

The next day we rendevoued with Ava, Lisa and Genie and Phil and I passed the time at the Harley Davidson dealership. Do you know that some used Harleys are as cheap as $7,000? Coming down to Denver, we took a wrong turn at ended up near Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Morrison Colorado. When we got there, we decided to visit. When we learned the Avett Brothers were playing, we got tickets.

The Avett Brothers are one of my favorite bands, and I can't believe the luck we had. Tickets were sold out, but when I approached the ticket office, they said:
"The band will be releasing some more tickets"
"When?" I asked.
"Right now. How many do you need?"

Shiney luck. Redrocks is an outdoor ampitheature with huge rock formations rising up all around. It's a strand sandstone formation that uniquely was uplifted through subduction when the rocky mountains pushed upwards. Denver is in the background. The site is a perfect temperature. Bands are not truly famous until they've played there.

It was Ava's first show. We were mandated to buy a $50 ticket for her, but it was worth it. As we staggered up the steps to find our seats, I reflected on my first concert. Was is really Metallica in grade 10, or did my parents bring me to something earlier? I couldn't remember.

It was tight. The Avett Brothers started with some of their older stuff I've heard and upgraded to some more rockabilly tunes. The audience was very chill and there was a nice mix of young and old people. I think Ava was the youngest. Seeing Scotty Avett play his banjo made me miss my banj-guitar that I couldn't wait to reunite with when we got back to LA.




The next morning, we had a bite to eat and then went to Dinosaur ridge national monument. As a earth science teacher, I was excited to get some more images and videos for my database. Ava enjoyed walking around the fossils and there was some great examples of trace and cast fossils.

Being a palentoligist with the other kids. The large bulbous shape above Ava's head is the cross-section of a saurapod's footprint.

These are some trace fossil prints. Most likely formed when dinosaurs were walking in mud that got quickly covered up by sediment, mostly likely near a water source. From trace fossils, we can infer the size and behavior of dinosaurs. The large hole where Ava is sitting is where looters chisled out a footprint for themselves. Luckily, this area is more protected now and there are great conservation programs in place. Also, luckily, Scotty Avett from the show last nigth was on the same tour as us. We talk a bit, and I managed to tell him how much I liked his music, actually daddy's bluegrass band back home covers a couple of their song. Nice that Ava could meet such a rocker.

The afternoon was spent with friends and family at White Fence Farm. Lisa's aunt and uncle treated us to lunch and we spent the time after feeding ducks and farm animals out back. I hadn't seen George and Claire since our wedding and George and I chatted photography.

We're at Kirsten's now. Beer and brats are on the agenda. We're leaving Colorado tomorrow for Santa Fe in the morning. July 2nd. My birthday.