My bride's friend Linda came to visit us from down San Luis Obisbo way. She and Rhonda have been good friends since they were both probation officers in Los Angeles in the eighties. Linda became a grandmother last year, and she'll be moving to be closer to her daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law.
It was cold and windy, but Linda was game for visiting Turtle Bay Exploration Park here in Redding. The Sundial Bridge spanning the Sacramento River is one of our area's main attractions, and I often wonder why I don't walk across its span more often.
Geez, it's just so easy to take people and places and the other gifts of life for granted. I do that. I wish I didn't.
Linda stayed for the for a long weekend, and left yesterday. I picked Dylan up from school, and he was sad that she'd be gone when we got home. She's one of the warmest people I've ever met, and Dylan has always loved being around her.
We have the family we're born with, and the family we choose.
**
I had lunch with Dylan at his school yesterday. He liked having me sit there with his friends. He'll be in sixth grade next year, and the day could come when he rather hang out with just his friends. I thought of that yesterday, and it put a golden highlight on the moment.
**
A few nights ago, I dreamed that I went to feed the chickens, and our Barred Rock rooster struck up a conversation with me. I don't remember much of what we talked about, but I do remember that he sounded like Billy Idol.
Posts
4 comments:
I'm laughing at the whole "Billy Idol rooster" thing!
That's scary, Hal. I always loved Idol...but.....not sure I want him showing up in my dreams these days...especially on the "lips" of a rooster...
Love the Dylan share!! You'll have a middle-schooler next year and I'll have 2. My latest round of grammer school is drawing to a close...
Cool picture. It's hard to believe he's a 6th grader. Sigh.
"We have the family we're born with, and the family we choose."....
I so love this thought. My kids and I are so relative poor (ex hubbie an only child, I have one brother with 2 kids, and everyone is miles and miles away....) this is a great mantra for us. Think I'll drop a post about it in the next few days. When I thought I'd have to leave Tampa last fall, the hardest part was leaving my extended "family" here (my son is my only relative in Tampa). I just didn't know how I'd get along without them.
And, of course, I think of the soupers here (and Victor, who I still keep in touch with) as extended family, too.
Thanks for sharing.
quid
Great shot. I'd love to see that for real.
Yep, family has many definitions.
Post a Comment