713 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND :)

Our holiday weekend was wonderful in every way.  And as sciatica flared, now it's good to be home. 

On Friday, our son, Barry, who met us at the airport close to dinnertime, whisked us to Chucky Cheese, where his lovely, raven haired girlfriend, Marie, and her adorable sons, three year old Tony and 20 months old Ray, were intent upon racking up points toward prizes, playing video games, which stood side by side by side in rows that seemed to cover a city block.  Upon walking over the threshold into that brightly lit emporium, this older adult felt like I'd landed in Vegas-on-steroids-for-kids. 

This was my second time at CC, the first occurring when our son, David, was about eight.  I must say that over this past quarter century, the noise has quadrupled or my hearing has magnified :)  Anyway, time spent enjoying Barry, Marie and her precious little guys far outweighed any onslaught to my senses, and over the next hour or so, a good time was had by all.

As Marie was baby sitting for close friend, Louise's eight year old son, Lee and six year old daughter, Rose, our group numbered eight.  Once the adults had their fill of this high energy experience, which never fails to delight the young, we returned to Marie's new place, a small, snug, two bedroom house with a huge yard, offering little ones a secluded park-like setting in which to play.  Their new home is on a charming street to which Marie and the boys had moved the previous week while Barry had been traveling throughout South Africa after 'best-manning' at the wedding of a close friend in Cape Town. 

Happily, this cheery house provides Marie and her precious peeps a cozy retreat from the world at large, and the spacious park-like setting in the back offers two active, little guys with energy to spare plenty of space to run around from daybreak till dusk when bath and bedtime draw near.  Upon returning to their new home, Tony, Ray along with Rose and Lee were sweet and funny ... and though thoroughly exhausted, no melt downs occurred while roughing housing with the men.  And as laugh followed laugh, pretty much non stop, a good time was had by all, again :) 

Later, while driving from Marie's to Barry's house where we stayed over the weekend, laughter bubbled up while recapping the children's antics as well as their squealing delight in response to trying, unsuccessfully, to escape The Tickle Paw, which everyone knows mere mortals cannot control.  Then, while unpacking in eldest son Barry's guest room, our youngest son, David, a screen writer, rang the front bell after having driven down from L.A. to join in the fun. 

Needless to say, welcoming David widened my smile, because he's smack in the middle of penning a script for an upcoming episode of a hit tv show, and we've come to know that during this creative process a writer's mind offers little downtime.  So the fact that David had reached a point in writing this script where his mind felt free to join in the festivities set my spirit dancing :) 

While listening to David hint at new story lines spicing up this season's episodes, which begin to air in two weeks, it was obvious that his spirit was thriving, as well.  When asked to offer specifics, my youngest son grinned like the cheshire cat while responding—you'll have to wait and tune in, week after week.  His reply, which came as no surprise, made me laugh for this reason:  Though my curiosity always peaks, causing me to beg for inside info right before the start of each new season, David's stock reply remains unchanging.  So while falling to sleep that night, my spirit continued to sparkle, because coveted time spent with each of our sons enriches my heart :) 

As for second born, Steven, he and his wife, Rachel, had chosen to enjoy the weekend relaxing at our cabin, a mountain retreat ... though I'm not sure how relaxed this holiday proved to be, because we kept receiving calls concerning exterminators and electricians.  As our 'kids' dealt cheerfully, thus admirably, with disposing of carpenter ants and electrical problems—both of which attach to the enjoyment of owning a get-away home—my heart felt light and mind carefree :)  

Anyway back on the coast, Saturday morning saw the rest of our gang, as well as Marie's high school friend, Louise and her kids, Lee and Rose, out to brunch.  As the coast offers many charming breakfast nooks, we congregated in one before embarking upon a two hour boat ride on the placid bay in a covered Duffy, which, resembling a mini house boat, may be likened to drifting peacefully on a well padded couch in an open aired living room while cruising past one luxurious mansion after another, each with its own yacht, moored at the shoreline ... while munching on veggies, dip, cold meats, cheese, water, wine and beer ... because Barry—whose patient, playful eye carefully maneuvered around other boats and wind surfers with each of the kids on his lap taking turns steering our craft—knew, along with Marie, that the best way to keep loved ones—including a favorite gimp, whose sciatica tends to flare—entertained, was by providing munchies ... so as you shall see, we grazed, all day :)

By 1pm, leg over ready to elevate on pillows on Marie's spacious, L-shaped couch, which, thankfully, offered plenty of seating for others, as well.  So after docking the Duffy, a BBQ followed at her house ... kids in yard, tumbling all over each other.  And throughout the weekend, we enjoyed food, glorious food and weather blessed by the gods.

As Louise, newly divorced, had just moved out of her house, she and her small peeps stayed overnight at Marie's throughout the weekend.  Watching Marie, a single mom who works full time, take her friend's family under her wing without losing her heartfelt stride, made my heart surge with warmth.  And from my perch on the couch, I reminisced back to those times when my mother-in-law had come to stay with us for a week to ten days.  After several non-stop days, she'd say, Annie ... please sit down!  Watching you spin from here to there like a top, non stop, is exhausting me to the point of dizziness.  Once she'd asked, are your washing machine and dishwasher broken?  No I replied, what made you ask that?  I don't hear them running, and they're always running!  Then, we laughed at the truth :)

Sunday offered the delights of back yard BBQ number two, where we enjoyed meeting Marie's extended family.  She and Barry invited several of her friends and his as well as our niece, her husband and their three sons, who remind me of younger versions of ours.  As over twenty adults joined in the fun with kids in tow, the yard swelled with folks of every age, switching tables in hopes of making friends of strangers, offering yet another good time to one and all. 

Barry had purchased two large kiddy pirate ship pools, each equipped with cannons, which, when attached to a hose, sprayed water at the 'crew' on the other ship, as well as a slip-n-slide, so the kids were happily engaged for hours.  And having hungered for grandkids, this couch potato's senses were delighted each time I ventured off off the sofa and sat on a chair, set out of the sun in the shade for a spell.  I mean, sciatic nerve having had the nerve to act up was not about to stop me from enjoying the company of so many people I love as well as those I'd yet to meet :)

Monday offered a day of rest—not by choice—by way of gastrointestinal unrest, and thus did balance in all things come into play :)  So Memorial Day found the couch potato ensconced on the guest bed at Barry's ... not a bad thing considering the previous three days, and perhaps that complete day of rest is why pain did not elevate to the point of setting my longing for independence even further back.  The fact that I've been unable to drive for the past month makes me focus on elevating leg in hopes of flying to the midwest to enjoy time with my mom in June.  As you can imagine, looking ahead at what's coming up helps to minimize any angst, concerning whatever I can't do, right now.

Memorial Day evening saw Carrie, one of my two 'daughters' by mutual 'adoption' ringing Barry's front door bell.  She and I have engaged in a mutual admiration society since Barry brought her home  at fifteen when they were classmates in high school.  I remember Carrie's expressions of delight when she and Barry, both student body officers, were leading a student council meeting in May of their senior year, and while taking her place at the table, Carrie was surprised to see a giant chocolate chip cookie that said—Carrie, will you go to the prom with me? Barry. 

While reflecting back and finding reason to laugh again, I said to Barry—I always relaxed when you went out with Carrie ... she was so responsible.  At that, Barry replied with a chuckle—Mom, of all my friends, Carrie looked more mature and had the best fake i.d.  Oy!  Just goes to show how little we know about what's really taking place right under our noses :) 

Having married and moved to the coast about a dozen years ago, Carrie, also a single mom of two precious boys, had spent the weekend packing to move in with her fiancé, who had been her college love.  So happily, talk of rekindled love filtered into a weekend already bursting with happy thoughts of each one's future unfolding in ways that offer every spirit reasons to thrive.  As awareness suggests that life does not often paint a picture of bliss, appreciation for these particular moments continued to deepen. 

Carrie and I enjoyed private girl time on the bed, where her questions asked for insight concerning melding her two boys and her fiancé's two girls into blended family life.  It should come as no surprise that our conversation highlighted the significant roles played by patience and positive attitude while six stouthearted sailors sail a shipshape craft into this real life adventure—sure to offer surprises around every bend.

While Carrie and I were enjoying each other, Barry recovered from his gastric upset enough to run over to Marie's, and my heart overflowed with love when the two of them, each carrying a small smiling boy, surprised us by returning with ice cream, so that Marie and her munchkins could hug us good bye, right before Tony's and Ray's bedtime.  In short order the ice cream was gone, and it was time to hug and kiss Marie and two little guys, who'd begun to yawn while rubbing their big, brown eyes—so long till next time—which we hope will be soon :)

So, having read this post, describing moments, which grew, hour by hour, day by day, into a weekend in which many hearts and spirits felt well nourished, it's plain to see why this Memorial Day weekend proved memorable in countless ways :)

Then, while awaiting our plane on Tuesday, came the cherry atop the sundae when this text came from best-girl bud, Angie—Hey Annie ... missing you ... girl's night out, Wed.?—offering my spirit's smile reason to look forward to enjoyment, again.  Guess the trick to getting the most out of life, painful limitations withstanding, is to figure out how best to feel relaxed with limitations, beyond control, while fully appreciating the people we love and enjoy.

 Upon embracing this attitude of pain as part of life, you can see why I see   myself as a lucky duck, because, all told, life is good—wait—make that great :)