After Work: Sunny Daze

"Will you be home at the end of June?" she asked. "Yes." we answered. Thus began a conversation exploring the availability of our guestroom for two traveling friends. Several discussions later, the number of guests grew to four. The Oregonians simply couldn't miss an opportunity to reunite, albeit briefly, with two young ladies whom they like a lot. The promise of triple-digit days and cloud-free azure skies may have been an extra incentive.

On Thursday last, we found ourselves in Orange County shopping at my favorite mall with hours to squander. Amply fortified by cheese raviolis (Henry) and a chicken pomodoro panini (1/2 only) paired with a superb spinach salad (for me), we (mostly me) wandered through multiple stores, seeking nothing in particular. With a text alert notifying us that the Long Beach bound flight would be several hours late departing Portland Airport, we improvise an itinerary. After a short drive, we park near the water in Newport Beach and walk to a dock where we watch wave walkers paddle by and party boats glide toward the twilight. The sea air is so refreshing that I wished I could bottle a bit of it to take home to the desert.

By the time we arrive at the designated airport, it appears that the only people inside are busy cleaning bathrooms and restaurants. The very late flight from Portland will be the last to land that night. At about 11:30 PM, two tired familiar people emerge with other weary passengers and we leave immediately for home.

Caitlin's agenda for the late June visit includes sun, swim, sun, swim, eat, swim, sleep when absolutely necessary. She brings multiple swimsuits and sundresses and little else.

Having spent almost two decades' worth of summers in this house, she has an intense affection for water which isn't diminished at all by her current northwestern address. Bobby, though less accustomed to continuously available watery pursuits, also enjoys the pool and spa.

With three much younger 'swim buddies' and an assortment of pool floats, the sun soaking stretches through the hours.

In late afternoon, the doorbell finally rings. They've arrived. Madeleine and Sandy, here from Malmo, Sweden. Lovely blondes with the most charming accents, they're special friends who saw Caitlin and Bobby in Sweden about a year ago. Madeleine, an identical twin, is a librarian and the editor of an on-line music website. Sandy teaches elementary school. Their current trip includes stops in San Diego, Los Angeles (especially Venice Beach), Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff. With so much driving and sightseeing, Sunset Way is a welcome respite.

Displayed in the guest room is a beautiful sign proclaiming "Valkomna" ('welcome' in Swedish).

This thoughtful gift was crafted by Hanna, Jessy and Maddy. It is greeted by wide smiles and maybe a bit of nostalgia for Madeleine and Sandy's native country.

Towels tossed across the swing or a patio chair await dripping young adults who leave the pool or spa reluctantly.

The foursome is firmly bonded and immediately conversations unfold about mutual friends, sights recently seen, the omnipresent heat, and how delightful the deep water feels.

Gathered in Henry's office, music soothes the effects of almost too much sun for four guests and a little later, spinning images promise payouts large and small.

Mexican food at Rio Azul provides an introduction to beloved local cuisine. The next evening there's a bar-be-que with six of us settling comfortably around our venerable dining room table.

We tell Madeleine and Sandy that they are the guests who have traveled the greatest distance to dine with us. That's quite a record for our thirty-five years together.

Lemon Apricot Cake, a family standard, is requested and provided. It is an all-purpose cake which means eat it anytime. Take home the remainder. Share it with friends.

We open gifts from Sweden and find sweet licorice, and a fridge magnet that will remind us of Madeleine and Sandy each day. Caitlin is tickled with her Malmo snow globe but most especially by the cans of cider carried in luggage thousands of miles to an appreciative recipient.