When the Cats are Away (week 423)

We have definitely entered a new phase in life and our relationship to our parents.  Late last year, Grandma Dubby and Aunt Pat came from New York to stay with Christopher and I while our parents flitted about the Hawaiian Islands for a family wedding. Although there was some trepidation and some drama (mainly vomiting and illness), it was considered a successful experiment and one that opened the door to many new opportunities and ideas.  Both parents and grandparents were emboldened to try new and exciting arrangements that involved the parents escaping to the great cities of the world for exploration and sustained adult time. 

This past week, our Grandpa John, Grammy, and Great Grandma Betty came to stay with us on Carfax so that we could go to school, practice, and Newport Beach while our parents went to San Francisco for a conference, massage therapy, shopping, and fine dining.  From Wednesday morning to Saturday afternoon, Chris and I were given the responsibilities for maintaining our schedules (with the help of a populated day-to-day table hanging on the fridge), and providing directions from home to the many places we do business.  

Early returns indicate that all parties were very satisfied with the experience and have even suggested that it be repeated in different combinations of nights, days, weekends, destinations, and grandparents.  Surprisingly, the grandparents were still full of life and energy on Saturday afternoon when our parents returned from San Francisco with picture magnets of the Golden Gate Bridge, gross bugs frozen in Lucite from China Town, new clothes from Union Square, strange teas, and lots of post cards of pictures from the City. 

Also surprising was that we didn't really miss our parents that much.  Christopher did make the statement that "he couldn't remember what his mother's face looked like" after only 3 nights and 4 days (and even though there are multiple pictures of his mother on the dining room wall), but otherwise our days were filled with amazing experiences including Denny's (Chris chose macaroni and cheese and corn while I ordered breakfast for dinner), and swimming in the Newport Beach Resort.

This weekend includes Super Bowl Sunday between the Seahawks and the Patriots.  Since last Super Bowl, I have been a rabid Seahawks fan; and since we are members of the Trojan Family, we are cheering for Pete Carroll and a victory over the Patriots.  The party is at the Hubers but we are catering the party with a prize that we won from the Children's Today fundraiser.