A Two-Day Summer Fling

I was in Michigan last weekend, as noted in the previous entry. On Friday afternoon, my mom, sister, and Kelsey went to Wal-Mart to get some groceries. My idea was to get batteries for my camera so I could snap pictures for peopleofwalmart.com, but my mom didn't want to get separated, so I was voted down. After shopping for what seemed like all day, we finally went to the checkout.

My mom then my sister and then I went thru the line with three separate orders. While my mom and sister were separating their items, I greeted the cashier. Her name was Laura and she looked like she would rather have been anywhere but behind the belt in the Walmart checkout lane. I asked her how her day was going and she said, "Pretty good, so far."

There was much small talk, each time, of course, I called her by her name. Charity realized she needed some Off Bug Spray, and Laura said it should be right in the aisle. It was not, so I went and searched other checkout lanes. I found a bottle in another lane and almost the same time Charity did, so they didn't need the one I found. I put it on the shelf in Laura's lane and explained that I had helped by restocking her shelf. I also asked Laura if I could put the batteries in my camera before paying for them. This would allow me to have a picture taken with Laura before leaving. She didn't have a problem with me opening the batteries, but Charity refused to take the photo, claiming that "that goes over the line!"

Saturday night, my mom and aunt had to go back to Walmart. We went thru the line and I asked for a pack of cigarettes. I was told rather curtly that I had to go to another line to get them. It was then that I remembered, sometimes Walmart is not all that into customer service.

I went over to lane 16 to find to my astonishment that Laura was there! I got up to her and said, "Laura, its so good to see you again!" She looked at me with a clear question written in her knotted eyebrows. I'm not sure if it was because she didn't recognize me or because in my excitement I realized that I was holding out a $20 bill and hadn't told her what I needed. Either way, she eventually recognized me, and said, "Don't come back tomorrow 'cuz I'm off."

"That's OK, I'm going back to New Jersey tomorrow anyway. But don't worry, I'll write about you."

With that, she looked up and said, "Where?"

I told her I would write about her on my blog, and we could call it a summer fling. So, here you go...Laura, where ever you are, it was a wonderful summer, but now it's over. Maybe we can rekindle next year.

A Quick Trip To Michigan

This has been an busy and full summer. Several people have been to the metro New York area to visit, and I have been able to get away from the City twice to visit family. One such trip is the one I am currently on-a visit to Michigan to spend a couple days with my grandparents.

They go to Florida each year in October and return in the Spring. This year, upon returning from Florida, my grandpa had some health issues. After many tests and waiting, and waiting and tests, he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I had the opportunity this weekend to make a road trip with Charity, Felipe, and his daughters to visit my grandparents.

Road trips can make or break a relationship, so it was with some hesitation that I got in the truck on Wednesday night. It was as close to being a fly on the wall as I will ever be. Felipe and his girls singing to the radio; Charity attempting to satisfy everyone's needs-It was very interesting to watch a family interact and still be an outsider.

We arrived in Michigan after 11 1/2 hours on the road. It really didn't seem like a terrible road trip, but maybe it was because I had some books and magazines to keep my attention. Naps, however, were in order for everyone once we arrived.

We are at my aunt and uncle's house in southwest Michigan. My mom is here and my dad is coming later today. While it is wonderful to see them, I am trying to keep my focus on my grandparents. (Aside, of course, from this entry.) It has been a fabulous day with everyone. I have learned that I get my story-telling abilities honestly. I have never heard so many tangents in one train of thought in all my life. I am always afraid to walk away because I have no idea where the story will be when I return. And I can't ask them to start over- it would take all day to catch up again.

I have a long-term travel goal of having my picture taken on the steps of every Capitol building in the US. I mentioned this to my grandparents years ago. Yesterday, they asked if we were going to Lansing to take some pictures. That short trip will be tomorrow if everything goes as planned. I am so honored that they would remember and make the suggestion to go....

...We got up early this morning and drove an hour and a half to Lansing, took ten or twelve pics, and drove back. The photos are nice, but the just-0ver-three-hours that I had alone with my grandparents were a time I will always value. I learned more, yes, there is always more to learn about family. They asked questions about me and my life, and we had a couple of great laughs. Two of my favorite quotes are reproduced here:

My grandma said that she would welcome me as a caregiver, but "since you won't leave New York, I won't even bring that up. There has always been something a little different, your tail wags a little differently than others."
"What are you saying, grandma, are you calling me a fruit salad?"
My grandpa jumped in at that point, and said, "No, not a fruit salad, a fruitcake!"
Grandma, perhaps trying to smooth the remark, said, "But everyone likes fruitcake."

Another time, grandma mentioned some flowers that looked like cherry Popsicles, but now look like chocolate bars. We drove on, talking about this and that, when all of a sudden, from the seat to my right- "SHUMAC, that's what you're looking for!" I looked at my grandpa after regaining a heartbeat and asked what he was talking about. He said that the plant grandma was talking about was called shumac. Sumac, shumac, whatever, it sure as heck woke me up!

I love my grandparents, and I am so glad to have the opportunity to spend the weekend with them. I don't know if or when I will have another opportunity to do this again-ever. So, I will put down the "pen" and go spend some more time with them.