I'm not going to go into all the details right off, but I'm happy to say that my parents' visit was manageable. All the prep leading up to it figured significantly in making it so, but there were also moments that were enjoyable entirely for what they were, not because I used any magical thinking or conversational stealth to make a difficult situation better.
Troubadour Dad stayed for an extended weekend; my mother stayed for an additional week. During the last part of her visit, we drove down to Long Beach, a tiny town at the southwestern corner of Washington, for their annual kite festival. It's been running for thirty years, but D only found out about it early this summer.
Road trips to new places with Troubadour Mom are always fun because she still has her sense of adventure (my dad is another story, but Mom works on him every now and then). We were pleased to give ourselves lots of firsts on this brief weekend, which included:
Mom's first visit to Oregon! (We stayed Friday night in Astoria, which is just across from Long Beach Peninsula by way of this bridge.)
First time flying a Revolution kite for all of us, and the first time flying any kind of kite for both me and Mom. A master Rev flier was giving lessons to interested bystanders, so we lined up for a try. What a rush!
Mom even managed to land the kite on her second attempt without crashing:
These aren't easy to fly in light winds, but they can do amazing things. Each of the Revs in this clip is flown by a different person:
Then there was my first time dipping a toe in the Pacific Ocean. Even though we moved to Seattle three years ago, I'd never had the chance -- the Puget Sound isn't the same thing even though it's technically connected.
Two weeks of playing parental vacation director means more than a few things around the house are in need of attention. And the fall semester started yesterday! So it's back to earth after much flight. But I'm on both feet and glad.
First photo courtesy D; second, third, and above photo courtesy Troubadour Mom
6 comments:
Really glad the visit was manageable. Kite festival! Totally cool, CT.
Yay for a less than dramatic family visit! And the pics from your visit are so amazing. I love the shadow pics!
A kite fly, how cool is that! Glad you had a manageable visit with your folks. LOVE the bridge!
Oh I am delighted the visit went off okay and that you had such great times with your mum, if not your dad. You, better than many, understand how many little things I am bowed under with this move. Blogging takes up so much time and I have felt so guilty at not being around much.
I hope you are feeling much better than you were back in the late spring. At least all the visitors have gone, a new term will be looming and I hope your creative juices will be at their best.
Hugs
J
BLW -- me too! And the kites really were incredible. I think we know what D wants for Christmas this year :)
Jane -- I got the shadow picture idea from my sister. She took some like mine when she came for a visit three years ago (can't believe it's been that long already).
SuziCate -- the bridge was pretty neat, especially since our hotel was practically UNDER it. I'd never gotten to wake up with a truss staring at me through the window until that weekend :)
FF -- thank you. And yes, I do know how many little things pile up in the process of moving! I'm glad you're through the messiest part of it -- actually getting everything from one place to the other. Now you can take your time settling in.
Hope things are on an even keel for you, dear CT. I don't know why I feel anxious about you today but I do. Silly old me, eh?
x
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