Full Circle Travels

EEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!!!  THAT IS AWESOME!!!!!  OH MY GOODNESS!!!!  EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!

Last year I spent some time in California on business.  It was my first out of state client, grown up,  travel.  One morning while heading to the office with a fellow employee, we drove by a huge, pretty building (see above) that caused me to experience some deja vu.  I had never been Los Gatos, CA but yet that building was familiar.  I asked, "What is that?" pointing out the structure to my coworker.  He smiled, "that is the local high school."  I felt like an idiot and told him it seemed familiar but it must just be jet lag.  Then he finished his sentence: "...That was the 90210 high school, you know the TV show."

"Dude,", I said as calmly as I could while trying to suppress my excitement, "I grew up watching that show."  Brenda, Dylan, Kelly, annoying Donna, and my favorite Steve.  Plus it was my first introduction to Dean Cain (remember, Brenda brought him home from Europe as her boyfriend totally hurting Dylan but Brandon loved him, anyway…)  I loved that show.  AND they graduated in 1993, my graduation year.  Each Wednesday throughout high school I was glued to the TV.  They were me (kinda) and I was them (not really). It was Beverly Hills 90210 at 8, then Melrose Place at 9 which was totally inappropriate for me to watch but somehow I got to see it. And for the record, Jake was hotter than Andrew Shue...it was that bad boy thing.

The above picture is not mine, I did not ask my coworker to stop to let me snap it one but I had to post one.   (Thanks Google images!)

Now to the point:  I am a getting older, ouch!  I, like Brenda, Dylan, et all and not we are all grown up.  I am a believer in tangible milestones.  I keep items that serve as a reminder of important events.  I have concert tickets, hospital bracelets, cards, letters, pictures, wine corks, etc.  Each hold a purpose and serve as a reminder of where I have been that opened the doors to where I am today.  The Los Gatos HS was another milestone for me.

My Little Camper

Tonight is the eve of our journey to E’s first two-week summer camp experience. We chose Mystic as her home for the coming weeks and I may be more excited than her to see it. Mrs. Lehman, one of my guardian angels and the motivation behind this blog, always spoke of Camp Mystic’s beauty and the magic of the Guadalupe River. I will not be with E for 14 days but I know she will not be alone. In addition to my angel, Mrs. Lehman (I have asked her to hang close to E), one of E’s closest friends will be joining her at the camp. So she will not be alone but she will not be with me, or any family members (gulp).

Like any good working mother of two, I dropped some balls and did not get done all that needs to be done before we leave tomorrow. Today she and I endured all the ugly traffic of Austin, Texas, the August heat and bad parking jobs to try and complete our checklist. I get why people hate driving here. I do not who failed who: the electorate or the city government but Austin, we have issues. Anyway, we went in and out of stores looking for the necessities that fell through the cracks. I do not remember who thought horseback riding was a good choice for a camp activity but preparing for that one session has neither been fun or cheap. In summary, today was tiring, expensive and not fun. Did I mention the heat?

At each store, we parked, locked the car and E found her way by my side and without thought grabbed my hand. We held hands all day. My first reaction was to shake her off because it was hot (really hot) and our hands were sweaty but I saw she was undeterred. The realization lasted only a second but I looked down at her and decided she can hold my hand as long as she is willing to do so. I am lucky that at 9 years old she not only wants to be by my side but she wants to hold my hand.

Saturday night she will be sleeping in a bunk and far away from my protection. Sunday morning she will wake, dress, eat and walk to chapel under her own direction. Her friend will be in her cabin and she would be willing to hold hand if needed but I doubt E will try. Secretly I hope she won’t try. Secretly I hope she reserves that for me, at least for now.

Tonight we are packing and E and her brother are fighting. I think her annoyance with him is a defense mechanism for her to not miss him as much but maybe that is wishful thinking on my part. I am doing a lot of wishful thinking these days.

Please keep E in your thoughts and prayers. Peace.