Friday, June 02, 2006

On The Road


Stock Exchange photo and so much like home.


Today was about being on the road. I was a passenger tucked away in the backseat and had an opportunity to observe my children. We were on our way to the Sacramento Airport to send Quanah off on yet another plane trip, this time to Portland Oregon. The objective this time was not a job interview but the chance to see his girlfriend for the first time in three weeks.

On the way up I discovered that communication had again swung back to a balanced center between brother and sister. Kris' successes in school this year have been a huge confidence builder and she has become a more articulate person, more able to hold her own in a conversation without being overwhelmed by emotion. Quanah has changed from being idealistic, judgmental, and dogmatic to a mature confident speaker who actually listens intently, engages in conversation, and offers not the ANSWER but alternate ideas as food for thought. I have seen these two go through so many changes together with the tie of love between them tightening or loosening as their own personal growth sent them off in very different directions. But now with their own paths mapped out and personal loves in their own lives, they have moved back to the tie between brother and sister I remember from their youth.

As we left the airport later, we call friends who live in a little mountain town an hour up the road and a long detour from our straight shot back home. Thus the day unfolded into a series of fun and ordinary events that could be so easily forgotten if not recorded here.

Kris visited with her old friend Paul;
Visiting with Barbara (see Barbara's Hands) catching up on family news
over shepherd pie;
Our visit accompanied by the energetic darting about of hummingbirds
outside the window;
A fast trip to Walmart and crazy laughter as I got hung up on the seatbelt in the backseat;
The purchase of a hummingbird feeder and food;

The purchase of a white nightgown to replace the one I left in the hotel room in Ohio;
A picture frame to give as a gift to Jennifer as she awaits the birth of her child

And finally the trip home and the beautiful early summer backroads that had us passing through El Dorado, Plymouth, Ione, and Clements before finally reaching 99 South, the final leg of our very circular adventure. But the day did not end for me there. The mail brought me a very special package from Vancouver, BC - a gift of socks from
Becky. I had oo'd and ah'd over the color of these socks a few weeks ago and unbeknownst to me, she had decided to send them to the first person who said anything about liking them. I am the lucky and happy recipient. And there was a little box of Dutch Girl Chocolates as well. Ummmm, Heaven. Thank you Becky. So, all in all it was a very ordinary day but experienced as something very extraordinary.






8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very moving thought you have recorded Anne, and so eloquently stated. Love to all, M

Dovic 23 said...

Amazing Blog.

Tongue in Cheek Antiques said...

what a journey you had on the road! The fullness of your path...

vicci said...

Hey Annie...Exactly HOW do you go to take the "back-way" to 99 ??? Last time I came down in November we just went freeway all the way...the scenic route sounds so much better! Glad you enjoyed the trip!

trailbee said...

I'm so glad you wrote this. We live these events and they become part of us, but most of the time we don't not acknowledge their lasting effects in our hearts. This blog will help you to relive them one month from now, a year from now, and each time you look at it, you will feel slightly different about the day, but it will be more intense, because things will have happened since then that will be seen in relation to this Friday.// I saw the photo of the cow, and I had to smile. While you were going north, I was going south, to Woodside, which was closed. I remembered an early morning three years ago having to call 911 when Clover Knolls' dairy cows were out, all strung out along 26 Mile Road! All I needed to see was your photo, and my mind was off on another roll. Thank you for sharing, Anne. I'm so glad it was a fun and safe trip.

paris parfait said...

It's so incredible to witness our children growing, maturing, articulating their thoughts. A wonderful process, that puts me in awe of the human beings they have become. Thanks for sharing the lovely bits and pieces that made up your special day!

Anonymous said...

How very much you got Annie,closely observing. Especially the part about the children's evolving communication styles ... Love, the F

Beth said...

What nice ride you had on friday! So glad you had fun!