Unexpected Detours: Happy New Year

On this last day of January, I’m finally taking a few minutes out to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

It has been a busy time since my last entry.

I spent four weeks in the U.S. visiting the kids

and as many family and friends as time (and covid) would allow.

It was such a treat for all six of us to come together for the week of Christmas

(in a beautiful rental house in Palo Alto, California).

Just being together was the biggest gift

and so affirming to my belief that “home is where we are.”

It was also nice to be there to celebrate Zack’s 28th birthday (on the 28th!). We did so with a trip down to the Monterey Aquarium.

We had all planned to fly out on the 30th but due to flight cancellations, only Isabel could depart.

The rest of us ended up celebrating New Year’s together, too.

It wasn’t hard to make the best of it.

After a few extra days in San Francisco, we parted ways, with Eli & I flying up to Seattle and Han flying home to Holland.

We arrived to the tail end of a winter storm but it was good to be back “home”.

Although, it also felt very bittersweet, of course.

It was so good to spend time one of one with each of the kids.

Eli is living up in Bellingham, in his 3rd year at Western Washington University.

He’s majoring in Computer Science and lives in an apartment near campus with 3 roommates.

Thankfully, the snow disappeared within a few days of my arrival!

I so wish I could’ve seen everyone I would’ve liked to while I was home

but it was so nice to catch up with those I could.

Reunion lunch with Aunt Dodo & Uncle Pat, cousin Erin, and family friend’s: Charlotte & Alan

My next stop was a trip down to Long Beach, California to spend time with Isabel.

She’s busy going to Long Beach City College and also has a job as a Covid Tester for the local school district (and some nearby hotels). She is a real California girl. I loved seeing her life there. It was also nice to stay in her walkable neighborhood and to get some time in the sunshine!

While I was there we decided to find the house Eric and I lived in when we were little. I had an old photo of it and Mom had written the address on the back. It turned out it was only a 10 minute walk away! Such a coincidence. We ended up having a really nice visit with the current owner (who’s lived there 30+ years). She loved seeing the old photo and it was so nice to see how well cared for it was. We made such a warm connection that Isabel has already been back over a couple times to walk her dog. Mom would love this.

Before I took off, Griffin joined us for crepes.

They are such a cute couple!

To wind up my trip, I flew back to San Francisco.

Han and I get really special ticket prices flying KLM and flying out of San Fran is a great direct flight home. So, that works out really well.

Zack has recently become fully certified for Air Traffic Control at SFO and Aidan is busy entering tournaments in the professional gaming world. They are great roommates and finding lots of good things about living in the city.