Trip to Cally

We are home after a vacation to California. What a trip - figuratively and literally. My sister Allie, her son Coltin, myself and my two boys, Solomon and Jerricho all piled in the car and heading to Fresno to see my grandma. Allie and I met up with my older sister Rachel and her boys Jimmy, Jacob and Zachery, as well as our parents in Fresno, so we could all visit g'ma together. Seeing grandma was rewarding and challenging.

I have always felt a special bond with my g'ma. She was so musically talented and influenced music in my life. I remember when I was five years old I called my g'ma on the phone to see if she'd drive down to Southern California to play the piano for me while I sang "You are My Sunshine". This is a song that g'ma always sang to me, and to all the grandkids. It's a very special song. She did, and I sang on stage at a church talent show while she accompanied me on the piano. G'ma couldn't read a lick of music but was phenomenal on the piano - playing by ear. She could jazz up any song you wanted. If she didn't know the song, you could just humm part of it, and she'd be able to play it in no time. I also remember once when I was about 13yrs old, we visited my g'ma. I remember sitting at the piano playing the duet "Heart and Soul" with her, improvising throughout trying to get each other to mess up. The song lasted 20 minutes! How fun.

The challenging part of the visit was seeing grandma struggle with her dementia. She remember many things, but mixed up the facts, and added bits and pieces of everything together. Very confusing. She did remember all of us at some point. She remember that I played piano and was a music teacher, and we sang "You are my sunshine" together. But, the things she would tell me were mixed up facts about her past and about the news, or other people she knows. It was hard to see my strong, and very smart and talented g'ma be so confused. But she still could sing! I wonder if there was a piano around, if she could still play.

The rewarding part was to see her again, and to have the opportunity to tell her the things I've wanted to for so long.

I'm glad I saw her even though it was difficult.
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While in Fresno, Allie and I also met up with our Ex-step-cousin/friend Christine, and her mom-our ex-Aunt Lynn. It was fun to see them.
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Then, we traveled down to Rachel's house in the San Bernadino Mountains. We stayed there for a few days visiting - good chats, lots of laughs and kids playing. I haven't gone down to see my sister in years, and going there this last week has made me realize how much I miss her! Wish we lived closer together.

While I was in Southern California, I was able to go see a very good friend (the one friend I've known the longest too - 2nd grade), Karrie. I was able to see her at her home with her two boys Conner and Owen, and her husband Patrick. It was so good to see her. It had been 12 yrs since I saw her. We had lost track of each other which was hard for both of us - but thanks to the blessing that FaceBook can bring - we found each other again! (Go FB!) That was great to catch up and see that we are just as close as we've always been.

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Allie, the kids and I piled in the car again and drove up north back to Idaho. It was also fun to go on a road trip with my sister Allie. We had good chats and laughs as well.

All in all it was a much needed, good little vacation. I need to get to Cally more often!