The Grandma:Grandma’s memory may be fading but she’s still a firecracker. We’d laugh, tease, boost each others’ confidence with over the top compliments, share the gumdrop jar and laugh some more. We joke that as I’ve grown taller, she’s grown shorter and that I get my good looks from her. She’s the first person who taught me how to put make up on, sewed my first doll with me, never covered our ears when she swore (still doesn’t), gives pearls of wisdom like, “marry for money” and “it’s ok to steal restaurant bathroom plants if its ‘dying.’” She believes God hasn’t called her to heaven yet because 1.) He’s enjoying his break from having her with Him and is not ready to have to her back yet, or 2.) He’s punishing her and then she stops and says, “oh who am I kidding, I’m going straight to hell.” Which, we know she’s not because she is generous, kind, honest, and a great grandmother. She may not have always made perfect decisions but she has lived a life of hardship and blessings that allow her the perspective and understanding of those around her. I love who she is and what she represents.
Cousin Daedra and Kevin have 2 beautiful daughters, Dareena and Milena who are excellent examples of laughing with child-like wonder and practicing patience. Dareena, at 9 years old, is smart, confident, poised and responsible. Milena is a beauty with a mischievous smile and eyelashes movie stars would pine over. She’s curious, adventurous and an instigator of trouble. Together they are exhausting, energizing and hilarious. At times my favorite game was Quiet Game followed second by Still Game. At other times, their personalities would just shine through and you couldn’t be mad at them. I loved when Milena first met me she introduced herself and her sister no less than 50 times and then would ask me what my name was. Or when her Aunt Alicia told Milena she could eat whatever she wanted (like grandma) when she was 70. She thought real hard about that and that response seemed to placate her and she’s go about her merry way. Or when Dareena showed me her book on Egypt asking me questions about it or when she would tell me that, “If I wanted to see what the inside of a rock looked like she would break it for me. Just ask.” Daedra has the patience of a saint and the sense of humor to make you laugh just because she’s laughing. Her husband Kevin is so great and I’ll show you why in the next post.
I stayed most of the trip at Aunt Karen’s house, which, hello, heated floors, brilliant. She was the hostess with the mostest! Bed with one of those heavenly tempramedic mattress pads, a beautiful bathroom to my own, wifi access, and car when I needed it; what more could a girl want on vacation?! Karen and I eat very similarly so for breakfast we feasted on slow cooked oatmeal covered with vanilla coconut milk yogurt and fresh blueberries (my new favorite). For dinners we had red curry brussell sprouts smothered over steaming rice. Tea in the morning with cinnamon toast from the local bakery and fresh baked cake from a Chinese bakery in Anchorage made it quite certain I wasn’t going to go hungry. For being retired, she is an active artist, takes care of grandma, is constantly doing stuff with the grandkids and for just turning 62 she certainly doesn’t look it. I hope the youthful gene runs in the family.
Alicia and Devin: It had been the longest since I’ve seen Alicia and I had never met her son Devin. I think Alicia is an inspiration as a young breast cancer survivor now working to bring awareness to breast cancer. Watching her and her son interact makes me hope that I have a relationship like theirs.
They all went way above and beyond to make me feel welcome and made my vacation so enjoyable. Love, hugs and gratitude to them all.
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