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.
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.
posted by Dave @ 11:14 AM
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