The Whirlwind Grandma

I raced to San Diego this weekend. Literally, raced. I took a noon flight yesterday, landing in San Diego at 12:05 Pacific time. I drove up to La Jolla for lunch with a good friend from my Design Outside the Lines seminars. Her life is exploding with sunflowers right now: on the 29th, she will marry a beautiful man she's known for 30 years. I am thrilled for her and was so happy to hear about all the goodness in her life.

From La Jolla I drove down Mission Boulevard, past Mission Bay, where Chris took John and me to watch hydroplane races on our first visit to San Diego twenty years ago. I made my way across the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge to the Coronado Island Marriott Resort. True to Marriott form, my room was upgraded to give me the beautiful view of downtown San Diego that you see above. After relaxing in the tub to finish eradicating the headache with which I awoke at 3:30 a.m., I received a call from Chris and jumped into the car to have dinner with him and Michele.

Chris is John's son, the younger of his two children. I believe Chris will be 44 this year. I first met him shortly after I met John, about two months prior to Chris's graduation from the University of Maryland with a business degree. He and I lost touch following John's death. The dissolution of his marriage was occuring as his father was dying, and I think it was a very traumatic time in his life, although he is not one to divulge such very personal information. I choose to believe that this trauma in his life contributed to our losing touch.

But I'm thankful that we reestablished contact about eighteen months ago, and now I have two more grandchildren. Elise is three-and-a-half and Lee is sixteen months. These are beautiful, well-loved, happy children and Chris wanted the chance to introduce them to me before I moved back east.

Chris fixed a wonderful dinner last night, grilled sea bass and au gratin potatoes. His mother's mother had passed away a week ago and he and Michele and the babies were just off the plane returning from Colorado. I suggested we forego dinner to give them a chance to get settled back at home, but he wouldn't hear of it. We put the babies to bed and visited for an hour or so. Michele never met John, so Chris and I told classic John-the-bon-vivant tales to contribute to her education. When we were too tired to continue, I retired back to my beautiful hotel room.

This morning I checked out of the hotel at 8:00 and drove to Chris's, where Chris and Lee and I hopped into the car to go to Lee's "My Gym" class. I was instantly transported back to the Gymboree classes Boston and I attended when he was the age Lee is now. What a delight to watch this quiet, sweet little boy explore his world.

After Lee's class, we met Michele and Elise at the Starbucks across the street and Michele and I compared our mocha ordering styles. Then Michele and Elise went to "My Gym" for Elise's class, and Chris and Lee and I went back to the house to prepare brunch. After more visiting and baby-hugging, I left for the airport, 24 hours after arrival.

I like Michele greatly, and the babies are absolutely darling. Chris and Michele are wonderful parents and doing an excellent job of raising these beautiful children. I am honored to be allowed into their lives, and I'm so glad I was offered and took advantage of the opportunity to meet Michele and the babies.

My regret? That I let so much time pass before trying to reconnect with Chris, and that I didn't get out here earlier to meet Michele and the babies.

Our lives are way too busy. I must determine, as I craft my new life in Ohio, to keep mine freer, to make more time for myself.

In a few minutes I'll get on the plane and go straight to the Pi Beta Phi alum club Valentine's cocktail party, Beaux & Arrows. This party gives me an opportunity in a single evening to say goodbye to many dear friends. I must fill my pockets with tissues before walking into tonight's party.