Adventures In Grandparenting

Some of my vacation trips are elaborate and go to exotic locations. Other trips are low key and familiar, but equally impactful. Hubby Tony and I just got back from one of the latter trips, visiting the California kids and grandkids. We spent five days with each family, making memories that will stay with me forever.

Foster cat Smokey Joe wanted to come with us

Usually when we go to California we fly into San Jose and use a rental car to get us to Modesto in the Central Valley. This time, though Tony found out that for only a small upcharge we could fly into Sacramento, rent the car there, then return it in San Jose when we left. That turned out to be a wonderful plan; the rush hour traffic going south from the airport was a fraction of what it would have been going the other direction.

As in previous trips, activities at both houses included playing games (both inside and outside), doing crafts, taking walks, and tagging along for errands. This time, though, in Modesto Tony and I watched grands Gee, Evee, and Ian for the better part of a day while their parents took care of some family business. Their mom left clear directions for snacks and lunch, but left the rest up to us. It was great fun to play Barbies with the girls while grandpa did "boy stuff" with Ian.

On Saturday, the day we were going to drive from one house to another we were headed to an extended family pool party in the morning, but our rental car wouldn't accelerate above 20 miles per hour. Google indicated it was probably a sensor issue that could be solved by turning off and restarting the car. That did indeed work, but neither Tony or I wanted to take the car on the interstate for an almost two hour drive over the mountains in case the problem redeveloped.

I contacted the rental customer service office, who told us to go to a Modesto branch for a replacement. However, at the branch a sympathetic clerk told us the only available car was a compact Mitsubishi Mirage. We took it. The car's tiny engine had a hard time going over the mountains, and the suspension was rough, but at least it got us where we were going.

At the second house, because of their parents hectic full-time work schedules grands Jay, Dee, and Ell were signed up for activities and Tony and I had some free time during the day. However, we made the most of our time with the family in the weekend and evenings. Grandma and Grandpa dropped off Ell and Dee at a camp one morning, and took Jay to a preview class for a possible after school activity. I also went with Son Brian to pick up Jay and a couple of friends at a baseball camp.

On our last day in California Tony and I headed up to the grocery store to get food to take on the plane. We took a circuitous walk through new to us neighborhoods, and when I saw this street sign I immediately knew my blog buddy Strayer would want to see it.

Five years ago: Recreation Opportunities Now And In The Future