Earle Travelogue - October 2014
*Note: My daughter has pointed out from her recent studies that in one month, the Earles have traversed all four California terrain-types: Coastal, Desert, Mountain, Valley.Destination One: Selma, CA (The Raisin Capitol of the World)
How did 20 years slip by so fast?? After leaving Steve at home with the kids (stop worrying, he was just fine!) I had an absolutely delightful 24 hours in the Central Valley. My reunion was in a barn, as was right. 33 out of my 66 classmates and some spouses came, making the largest turn-out ever! 20 is the magic year. It's when all the baloney melts away from high school, and you find out how much enjoyable people really can be. I think perhaps I most loved hearing stories from people I didn't know as well, and getting high school from their perspectives. And it turns out that wound-a-little-tight-Jenny has relaxed quite a bit and is WAY more fun now!
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| 33 of the 66! Go Class of '94 |
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| And I moved a mattress... that's a whole other story... |
Destination Two: San Diego, CA (Shamu Capitol of the World)
My birthday weekend! I said quite awhile ago that I thought it would be fun to go to Sea World for my birthday, and as it started to look like Steve could perhaps travel, it somehow became essential to me. I found a Groupon for a hotel in Mission Bay (right on the beach!), and off we went! I felt my soul just being cleansed as we went as a family to do something just so fun.
My brother's good buddy from Biola is an aquarist there, and he got us cheap tickets and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sea Turtles and the coming-soon Octopus exhibit. Best birthday awesomeness ever, without a doubt! I mean, I had a massive 100-year-old sea turtle eating lettuce right out of my hand, and got to experience first-hand (literally) that octopus suction cups are individually articulated. And very, very suctiony.
The kids loved the shows, of course, and I'll always be a sucker for a leaping dolphin. Lucy kept turning to me and saying in this just-for-you voice, "Mom, I'm so glad it's your birthday. I love you so much." Melting. Søren had his perfect, sweet hugs for me all day. That they had their attention and thoughts turned to me and who I am in the midst of the awesomeness (and I mean that in its original meaning!) of Sea World, well, I'll go with "incredibly meaningful" for utter lack of other words.
We also got to fulfill a small dream of mine: Steve got to play on the beach with the kids. They have longed for this, and I think it has symbolized a great loss to me. This beach was right next to the hotel's little paths, and was accessible for Steve with his canes. It was a beautiful moment to see the 3 of them goofing around together in the sand again.
Destination Three: Mammoth Lakes, CA (Weird Postpile Capitol of the World)
While the timing was strange, an opportunity came up for us to use a suite in Mammoth for a song, and when we discovered that the Geringers were going, we booked it and figured we'd pick up any pieces later. Oh, the perfection of it all!
The kids were beyond thrilled to spend part of their time with the Geringer kids: in the pool, playing Uno Attack, playing Minecraft. Or talking about Minecraft. Or thinking about Minecraft. Or thinking about playing Minecraft again. And you pretty much will never have trouble convincing me to spend as much time as I can with two of my favorite people on the planet. Or to spend as much time as I can in the Sierras. So perfect.
But perhaps the hilight for all of us was that Steve...well...he hiked! Doug loaned him some hiking sticks that look kind of like ski poles (you know, like the quintessential Swiss and German hikers have!). I figured he'd get to the Devil's Postpile. 0.4 miles, that should do us for the day, right. No, Steve wanted to get to the top. And by heaven, he did! It was clearly slow going, and there were several times we thought this was the dumbest thing we'd ever done, but that man was not going to get halfway there. Deep, deep joy seeping into my soul.
So then we did it again at Hot Creek Geological Site, a hot springs right off of the Mammoth-Yosemite airport. Amazing site, steep decline, triumphant Steve. Unbelievable.
Destination Four: Selma, CA (Raisin Capitol of the World, and Site of Maternal Grandparents)
I was humbled and honored back in August when I was asked to serve Riverpark Bibe Church in Fresno as speaker for their Holiday Women's Tea. Let me tell you, they do it up right. Each table painstakingly adorned, food exquisitely prepared, and hospitality like nobody's business. I felt welcomed, loved and cared for well before I ever even set foot on their campus. It was an absolute privilege to be there, and it continues to be clear that God wanted to use our story to work in the hearts of many others. I'll tell you more about this one later--I'd love to share some of the insights God granted me as I prepared.
Meanwhile... Magical Things happen when children take their grandfather (and his wallet) to one of the coolest pumpkin patches ever. I think my dad got to experience that deep, soul-filling joy of seeing how God has healed Steve's body. The last time he saw Steve was day 3 or 4 at in-patient rehab. To see Steve (slowly) getting up rustic stairs was jaw-dropping to him, and I could hear in his voice and demeanor the sort of speechless thanksgiving he was offering to the God of all healing. As the by-standing physician who has closely followed Steve's case throughout, he knows the minutia of the body's healing process. The intricate workings of muscle and nerve and cell and mind and will. One who could picture Steve's broken body on the operating table with stark clarity and reality. To then see this man walk from the kitchen to the living room without a cane, to see it with his own eyes. Just imagine.
Trains were ridden, pumpkins were purchased ("Sure you can have as many as you want! As long as you can carry them!"), and then home-grown chiles relleño were fried up to close out the day. Oh yes, and Apple Betty baked, made with apples the kids had picked themselves from the tree Grandpa planted at the farm when their oldest cousin was born.
1900 miles later, I'm ready to park my hiney in La Mirada for a spell, but rarely has travel worked its way so deep into my soul.
