Probably the one thing that I miss most about not living near Jonathan, Liz and Joshua is not being able to just pick up the phone and call them anytime – being in different time zones nine hours apart – and arrange to meet them for dinner that evening. We all decided that we would not fill every minute of the day with something to do and be more spontaneous on this visit, and leave more time to have with each other. Steve and I are working around their schedule since they are working, and we are schlepping into Los Angeles during the week to make it easier for them.
This past week – our first week here – we drove into Los Angeles to have dinner with Jonathan and Liz, saw their beautiful new apartment and had special time with them. Then on another day we drove to Hermosa Beach to have dinner with Joshua and Lupe and had special time with them.
On our drive from Orange County to Los Angeles we passed the exit on the freeway that we used to take to get to my parents’ house and a flood of tears began streaming down my face, as I told Steve why I was so emotional. Then we passed the exit that we used to take when I went to the Kabbala class with my parents when I was visiting them, and the tears kept coming. At first I said to Steve that I was happy that we don’t live here any more, as everywhere we go reminds me of my parents, since this is where we grew up and is where they spent 50 years of their lives. Then I calmed down and I embraced my feelings realizing that this is all part of the healing process. As everyone says, “Time is a Great Healer,” and by the time we drove passed what used to be my parents’ house the next day, I was able to get out of the car and look around at all of the changes that the new owners had done, and not get emotional. I had no attachment to it at all now as it wasn’t my parents’ house any more. Then I felt happy that I was back in Southern California to enjoy all of the good things about it again.
We finished the week with a family dinner at Mark and Diane’s house (Liz’s parents) – both families spending an amazing evening together – eating, drinking and catching up on everything. We are so blessed that our families are very close and that we always have a good time when we are with them. Here is to many more happy and fun times together during our visit here.
Oh yeah, my girlfriends Carol and Esther met us at their house for a quick visit since they live so close and I even squeezed in a clothes shopping trip with Harriet earlier in the day.
I’m loving being back in our USA home with my family and friends.