Married couples with parents in different states find themselves balancing celebrations. Traveling from the soggy northwest to sunny Southern California is enticing, even in those years when sunshine is sporadic. Does it really matter if we're together on the actual day of Christmas? Not one whit. The house and the town don't know the difference and neither do we.
In 2010, Christmas arrives on the 28th. We've had extra days to prepare and with our daughter's firm veto of the usual holiday meal, there's much less cooking to anticipate. Caitlin and Bobby have graciously accepted our request that they not leave the guest room until 9 am and when they open the door, the reason for that admonishment becomes abundantly clear.
A meandering trail of $1 and $5 dollar bills leads the smiling couple to the living room where more gifts reside. Bobby, the clue deciphering genius, quickly unravels even the most esoteric phrases. Henry and I are really impressed. Caitlin has played this game for too many years. She just tears into the presents pile.
With no dinner preparations looming, we concentrate on French toast. I'm allowed to create the egg mixture. Caitlin will handle the spatula and decide when each dunked slice of challah is flawlessly finished. As the resident cook, not nearly good enough to be considered a 'chef,' I've decided we'll eat at the dining room table. It is festively appointed and has been set for weeks.
Just two days earlier, I'd spent most of an afternoon making a Red Velvet Cheesecake. Though the recipe seemed simple enough, the actual effort involved proved to be extensive. Having only a novice's acquaintance with my Kitchen Aid mixer, I failed to properly mix some of the ingredients. Then there was the 'moisture' problem of unknown origin which made the cheesecake, well, soggy. After returning from Knotts Berry Farm on Monday evening, I'd finished this dessert by making a cream cheese frosting. It, at least, looked good. So much was entailed in creating this first-time cake, that I remarked, "This is what love looks like." Caitlin and Bobby gamely tried several slices as the days unfolded.
There are places to go, people to see. We'll manage to insert a shopping foray between brunch and a visit to the dentist. Caitlin and I are on the hunt for fancy dresses to wear on New Year's Eve. A bonanza of finery awaits us in the Junior Department of Macy's. I think we're like girls searching for prom dresses. I suppose I'd be the elderly chaperone in that scenario. She chooses two frocks with shimmering glitter, netting, and polka dots. Which one will have the honor of the evening is yet to be decided. I'm quite content with a more demure black and white concoction in which I do feel prom-like, despite my years.
As requested, the four of us dine at Great Wall for dinner. This restaurant is owned by the parents of Maureen who was President of Caitlin's senior class. Coincidentally, she's home from lawyering in the Bay area and we see her while we wait for our food. There's animated talk about the 10 year reunion scheduled for mid-May. Is it really a decade since these young women graduated from high school?
Easily recovered from the previous day's rigors, Caitlin and Bobby are off to meet friends for an evening of karaoke. As related the next morning, the venue changed several times as the hours progressed. Finally home around 3 am, they're up in time for breakfast eaten at lunch time.
No trip to town is complete without ingesting as much Mexican food as possible. It is good no matter the hour. Fortunately, the area abounds with good to excellent restaurants specializing in what is considered the regional cuisine. With Las Casuelas continuing its long-standing position as number one favorite, it's the choice for dinner on Thursday night. In between, Guacamole, a bit more casual, is suitable for a late lunch. Quite handily, Del Taco is open 24/7 and a 1:30 am run on New Year's Day tops off an extraordinary evening. Southern California is famous for In 'n' Out Burger and there's one on the way to another gathering with friends in an adjacent town. The unturkey sandwich at Nature's health food store is now strictly gourmet. What average vegetarian would spend $9.50 for a sandwich, regardless of its delicious quality? Just a few years ago, the price was half as much. The almost embarrassed counterperson indicates that all the ingredients are organic. Is that another word for outrageously expensive? This favored food may lose its status in the future.
Friends call, text, drop by the house. One of them implores Caitlin and Bobby to join him and unnamed others at a local place known for its vast array of beers. She demurs, really doesn't want to go there, but is convinced at last. It isn't too awful and she encounters yet another high school classmate. They appear to be everywhere in this valley, either visiting or residing.
Together we've gone to view Becca's nearly new daughter, Nola. They're in town from Denver. This is the first time the couple has seen Becca since she created their unique and delicious wedding cake in 2008. Now she's a mom and a fully credentialed pastry chef at Whole Foods. Another afternoon is spent seeing Raime and her family. The three girls have known each other since they were six.
Thursday night is Village Fest. Palm Canyon Drive becomes a walkway filled with booths selling goods and food. Though it's too cold to tarry, Caitlin and Bobby walk a few blocks with Tracy, a friend from middle school. She lives an hour to the west and labors unceasingly as a young lawyer.
One evening, we're assembled in the kitchen. Henry looks for something in a high cupboard. There is a yelp. It comes from Caitlin. She's seen something from her childhood. Take them out. Can she have them? Are you kidding? These are Welch's grape jelly glasses with dinosaur drawings. Also, a couple of plastic dinosaur festooned cups. The glasses are dated 1988, the year she started Kindergarten. Vintage stuff. They aren't in good condition, having been used to store paintbrushes during her artistic stage. Will I send them to Portland? You bet. I guess they are precious and I'm happy I didn't jettison them last year during the kitchen renovation.
The days are evaporating much too swiftly but there's time to linger at the neighbors' house one evening. Caitlin knows how intricately her parents are connected to these lovely people. She, too, has come to regard them as treasured family members. It is a joy to watch their warm interaction.
On Friday, Caitlin says, with a tinge of regret, "I don't want to go home." She doesn't mean it. Not for one minute. She chose Oregon as her home. I know that home is always here, too. It's just not where she lives. It may be where she's left part of her heart, however.
I wanted to go home, but I was having a fun time. Conflict!
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