...And Boy Are My Arms Tired
As George Costanza might say when he learns his boys can swim:
I'm back, baby, I'm back!
I got in from Boston last night and I'm exhausted. My week at home was pretty much taken up by my sister's wedding as well as visiting my grandfather .
Amber took the trip with me as it was the first time she would be meeting the family...oooh, scary. We took the red eye out of LAX Tuesday and got in early Wednesday morning. After that it was off to the races.
My grandfather had a stroke on Wednesday evening which sent us all scurrying to the nursing home, fearing the worst. Luckily, he seemed to recover by the time I left. One of the best moments of my trip was going to see him on Monday. He suffers from Dementia, but he lit up when he saw me and forced out "John...how is it going in California". He also was intent on arm wrestling me and let me tell you...that bugger still has some serious strength in his left arm. His right arm is useless from previous strokes, but that left arm has got some juice in it. He was getting a big kick out of the arm wrestling and laughing...this is how I choose to remember him no matter whatever happens in the future. I was glad Amber got to meet "him" somewhat...got to see a little hint of his sense of humor and charm. As we left he kissed me and whispered "I love you"...waving as we walked down the hall. I'll see him again, hopefully, come Christmas but I have really good memories of this visit.
The wedding itself was a lot of fun and it was surprisingly the first time I ever had to be in a wedding. Actually, I take that back...I was Best Man at my Dad's wedding but this was the first one I ushered. At first, I didn't want to have to "work" the wedding but I'm glad I did. Me and my brother Jason accompanied George's (my new brother-in-law) friend Neal as the Groomsmen and tried our best not to giggle during the ceremony. I was almost positive that sitting right up front would cause me to get in some kind of trouble during the ceremony, but I surprised even myself.
I capped the week off by taking Amber, my Mom and stepdad Barry out to dinner in Boston's North End (Little Italy). My parents don't get out enough and they were thrilled. It's nice to be able to do stuff like that for people you love.
That's the overall theme of my most recent trip home...being with, and doing for, the people you love and care about. It makes me homesick sometimes thinking about it...but then I just remember what it's like to live in Boston in January and I feel a lot better about my new Southern California home.
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