A kid is a kid is a kid at heart

My two weeks of vacation have come to an end. I will need to return to work, the daily grind, tomorrow. But I have just had the greatest last three day weekend to end it on.

Friday we went to the Seattle International Beer Festival, more for the experience than any real drinking although the array of beers from all around was quite amazing. The best part was being there as a family and spending the day together. Of course, diet or no diet, we had to stop at Dick's Drive In on Queen Anne. Then, we had to buy our fireworks on the way home. We kept thinking we needed one more thing and in the end, we bought way too much, but oh well!

Saturday was the Fourth of July, Independence Day. We always spend it at home and until last year, it was usually just my husband and I. Last year, the boys stayed around, a few of their friends came and some family. This year, no family decided to come but lots of young friends made it. In fact, my husband and I were the only ones not between the ages of 21 and 26. How special that so many youngsters were okay with hanging out with us!

What I found is that no matter what the age, everyone remains a kid at heart. A summer day, the 4th of July, picnic food and fireworks tends to bring that out. We had a bunch of 20 somethings at the house. It was hot. The legendary slip and slide had to come out. When it did, so did the kid in everyone. I may not have actually participated but the joy I experienced just watching them made me feel young again anyway. We all got into the groove with horseshoes, a new game called "cups" and hillbilly horseshoes.


There was lots of food, a fire with s'mores and guitar and ukelele music. And then the fireworks. There is something about lighting things that blow up that is inherently vital to the being of every young person. We had some wild "wizard" roman candle action going on with Hal, Kale and Sydney. I even got into the act lighting up some of the "Trilogy" artillery shells. While I may have exited a little early, it went on well into the wee morning hours. I hope the neighbors still like us.

The funny thing was, the next morning it didn't end. I got up, got coffee, bagels, juice, fruit ready and everyone awoke in their own time waking up in either their truck, the back of a car, a tent, sofa or bed. Their young bodies had taken a beating on the slip and slide but they got up and going enough to eventually get back into that "kid" zone. They decided to play freeze tag. Remember that game? I have not laughed that hard in a very long time. I so enjoyed seeing these young people just having fun, no adult pressures or expectations to weigh them down.

All in all, this was a special holiday weekend. I won't mind going back to work because basically, I left nothing on the field this vacation. Besides, my sons are home. That's really all I need.

Life is Good

I am in the middle of my second week of vacation at home, the weather is spectacular and I have had all this time to spend with family. I could very well get used to this!

Monday, 6/22, I picked up my boys from their worldly travels and it was so good to get the hugs I have missed for so long. They were tired to say the least but we managed to stay up and talk. We were joined by my oldest son's girlfriend later that night and my world was complete.

Since then we have moved sons to their house in Tacoma, worked in the yard alot, went to Taste of Tacoma, the Dash Point Beach and I have been able to clean the house getting ready for the 4th of July. All of this with the company, off and on, of my sons. I can't think of anything better than that.

I know I have to go back to work on Monday but at least I know that the summer is here, there are many adventures ahead and I can see my sons whenever I want. What more could I want?

The measure of success

Father's Day has come and gone without a post from me. Unusual, you say? I agree but it was a great day at the Mariner's with a 9th inning win!

I have posted on numerous occasions the importance of a great man in my life, my dad. I will continue to miss him as long as I live.

But yesterday was about another important man in my life, the father of my sons without whom I would not be able to say I have two of the best children in the world.

My husband is quietly a great husband and father. Raising my sons, I would easily have let them get away with anything and that would not have been. While a disciplinarian, my husband was also fair. He simply made sure our sons learned the importance of honesty, hard work and respect for others. He displayed these characteristics in himself and was the ultimate example for them.

We lived fairly modestly with the boys growing up. We didn't lack for the necessities but we didn't have the frills either. I know that sometimes bothered my husband, especially when compared to his brother who was a very "successful" architect. I submit, however, that my husband is the most successful of persons, measured by the sons he raised. The world is better with them and certainly better with my husband.

Happy Father's Day. I love you.

Different but the same

I got off the phone yesterday with my sons who were on a bus traveling to Palermo where they were going to catch a ferry the next day to Sardinia. The conversation was full of excitement in their voices. They has seen amazing places, eaten unforgettable food and recently met some true friends. These are the same things I experienced in my travels over 30 years ago.

I went to school at the Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelm Universitaet in Bonn, Germany 1976-1977. I was there for a full year. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:University-bonn_2005-11-18.jpg. I went to school every day in a castle! I had never experienced the history that permeates Europe like that. That aspect of travel hasn't changed.

Between semesters there are two months. I was lucky enough to have parents who fully supported my travels, emotionally and monetarily and was able to travel during those two months using a Eurail pass to go anywhere I wanted. I was able to go to just about everywhere in Germany and went to Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Amsterdam, Morocco, but I spent most of my time in Italy. That is where my sons are now. They went to Rome and Pompeii as did I. However, their travels have taken them to the amazing world of Sicily. What hasn't changed is the emotional and sometime monetary support of their parents or the rudimentary elements of travel abroad.

When I started out on my two months, I met a woman from Federal Way traveling at the same time. Her name was Dee and she had just gotten off of a Norwegian sailing ship and was spending the money she had made traveling. I ended up traveling the entire two months with her and for many years, we remained very close friends. My sons have met up with some travelers from Texas and in a very short time, they have become very close and likely will be friends for a very long time. This aspect of traveling has not changed.

What has changed is the way in which the travelers, my sons, can communicate their experiences as they have them. When I was away for an entire year there was no email, international cells phones, or cell phones at all, no facebook or blogs. In an entire year, I called home once, on Mother's Day. My communication was old fashioned letter writing. I kept a journal, another out of date tool these days, and about every week, I tore the pages out of that journal and sent it home for my parents to read. I left nothing out of this journal and I can only imagine the horror they felt reading some of my experiences. My parents kept that journal for me and until our dog chewed it up, I was able to read it to reminisce over those experiences. I am able to talk to my sons at will (thanks to the international cell phone I purchased for them) and they can email, comment on blogs and facebook. They will have their blogs for the foreseeable future and no dog will be able to chew them up erasing those thoughts. This is very different than it was for me.

I tell my sons every time I talk to them, email them or comment on their blogs to be careful. My parents did not have that luxury. That has changed. I tell them I love them, miss them, can't wait for them to get home. They know that but I like to tell them anyway. I knew that my parents felt that way too but they weren't able to tell me. How did they do it?

It is so important to have life experiences and I treasure those I had for that year in Europe. In many ways they shaped my life to come and in passing that along to my sons, it will keep on growing in impact on the lives of many people as I am sure they will pass this along in life to whatever families they may have.

Finally, one thing I know that has not changed is the fact that as much amazement, fun, unique experiences they may be having, there is a very large part of my sons anxious to get home to their families and friends and friends and family who feel the same. There truly is no place like home so be safe, my sons, and we will see you soon.