My trip up north was great on the emotional scale. My parents were so happy to see me. The actual drive up there was difficult, because the sciatic nerve in my right leg was really causing pain; peaking in intensity at my knee and continuing down my leg. It was raining pretty hard for the second half of the trip so I didn't feel comfortable setting cruise control, which meant that I couldn't stretch out my leg to see if that would ease the pain. Instead I rubbed my leg for miles. The return trip was better, with only minor nerve pain, thank goodness.
I helped my mom weed a flower garden that runs the length of their sidewalk. I had weeded it earlier this summer and my aunt has been weeding it, too, but weeds are relentless in their growth and they'd gotten a good hold and were quite established. Thankfully the rain had softened the ground and we were able to pull them, roots and all, without breaking them off. I kept telling my mom she should pull up a lawn chair and just visit with me, but she insisted she wasn't overexerting herself and kept right in there with me. Stubborn lady.
I helped her find her wagon in the barn, someone had set it in the manger and it wasn't easy to spot. She was happy to get it out where she can use it again. She loads it with things and pulls it around the yard to whatever project she's tackling, so it's a handy little thing. After that my dad joined us in raspberry picking. They are just coming into season, so there wasn't much to pick - only about a small mixing bowl's worth. Soon, though, they'll have scads and will be very tired of the chore before the season is done.
My sister has a new job running the county historical museum. I hadn't been there in many years, so I asked if they'd be up to visiting her. When we arrived she was in the process of giving volunteers their breaks, so she had each of us take over a person's post while they took their break, thus speeding up the process so we could spend time with her. It was fun. They've added a lot to the grounds since I had been there last, including a saloon. (That doesn't serve alcohol.) We each had a soda in a glass bottle, my sister's treat. I had a sarsaparilla.
The guy that my dad stood in for was an interesting man. He is two years older than my dad and I swear they could have been cut from the same cloth. The two of them started telling stories of their youth and both of them had gone on "adventures" starting at young ages. Both of them hitchhiked out west and worked on farms and such starting around ages 14-15. Actually, I think my dad started running away from home at an earlier age. Those were different times. I wish we'd have been video taping them, because it flowed so well and wasn't rehearsed.
Once the grounds were locked tight we met my sister and brother-in-law for dinner at a restaurant in town and afterwards they treated us to a pontoon ride on the chain of lakes. My brother-in-law's pontoon is old, but it's functional. Being on the water is so wonderful. It feels good through and through, especially at that time of day when the sun isn't bright overhead, but instead is low in the sky. Its light bright, but softer and less harsh that earlier in the day. I think it's my mother's favorite thing in all the world to do. We turned toward home before reaching the Long Bridge, timing the sun dipping lower than the trees just as we docked back at their place.
That night before bed my father started in on the dinar and general conspiracy theories related to our government. I just couldn't even. Ugh. I went to bed. His crazy talk drains me. I think it ushered in "crazy parent" for the next day.
Here are my posts on Facebook as I tried to capture their quirkiness, and also the fun of parents off the rails and how sweet they can be.
Sweeping your parents' floor: suddenly your parents can't stop themselves from "helping". Equally as helpful as having a three-year-old assist. Back off. I got this. (Remember when you taught me how to do this 40 some years ago?)
And now my parents are taking the scenic way home and they're "introducing" me to all the things as if I didn't spend 30 years here. Oiy vey! Yes, I remember City View farm. Yes, I know where Cowleys live. Yes, that's Vicki's.
WTF?!!
I'm a bad influence on my parents. They skipped church so I could get my dad's new computer set up.
They just got a call from a congregation member; twenty questions is commencing. Considering my mother's heart condition it's rather sweet. #smallcommunities
It was a great visit. I returned home with five dozen eggs, two hostas, and an astilbe. It was nice to return to my family and they do feel like family now. The boys and Bond were starving, but waited for me to arrive, and then we all went to World Buffet. The kids were chatty and in good spirits. We sat a long while after everyone finished eating just enjoying time with each other.