summer travels and memories

Hi again! We're back - and I'm nearly recovered. When I say "back," I mean we're back from a long-weekend family reunion of sorts, and a week of guests. When I say "recovered," I mean I've finished unpacking & doing laundry. At least for this moment. :)

We went to California to meet up with Mr. Kenobi's family. His parents, 2 of his brothers, their girlfriends, and 4 cousins all convened on the sunny state for a weekend of fun. Just before we arrived, his oldest brother had proposed to afore-mentioned girlfriend, and she said yes. So, there was lots to celebrate upon arrival. It looks like there will be ample wedding preparations for the Kenobi family: 2 of the boys are en route to wedded bliss in the next year, and the youngest appears pretty serious. So, maybe I won't be the only daughter-in-law for much longer... HOORAY!!!!!

Yes, if you were able to keep up with that last paragraph, there are FOUR boys in Mr. Kenobi's family. And they all share a wise-cracking, laid-back approach to life, along with their parents. I sometimes imagine their childhood home being much like a really cool clubhouse, with ample treats supplied by Mrs. Cleaver and NO GIRLS ALLOWED posted on their door frame. It's probably far-fetched, but who knows. To spend a weekend hearing the litany of stories from antics of those guys, I wouldn't be surprised.

With that level of testosterone present, it shouldn't surprise anyone that a highlight of the weekend was a baseball game. The Oakland A's played the Anaheim Angels, and won. I must preface this portion of the update with a disclaimer: I have never been a big baseball fan. Having grown up nearly 10 hours (by car, not horse-drawn carriage!) from a MLB team, I had only sort-of followed the Twins.

However, when we first moved to sunny Seattle years ago, we were given tickets to a Mariners' game. We went to the game and loved it, so we went back as often as we could while we lived there. The game of baseball? Fine. The experience of an outdoor game with 35,000 people? Really cool. Having a team in your new city setting records for most wins in a season (2001 in Seattle)? Priceless.

We loosely followed the Mariners while we lived there, though they haven't always been that successful. I tell you this to take the most time possible to explain that this time, when we went to the game, we were rooting for Oakland to win, simply because that would put the Mariners a notch closer to 1st place in their division. See? Not a big fan, but I can enjoy the sport.

So... the really incredible highlight was that Grandpa Kenobi got to throw out the first pitch! At a real, live, nationally-televised, big league baseball game! Am I the only one impressed? Come on - this was cool!! Comment, folks - how often has your grandpa thrown out a first pitch. (Okay, yes, I don't want to initiate a "my father-in-law is better discussion. Take this in humor!)

My sons did not understand how rarely this opportunity will fall on their grandpa. To Obi-1, Grandpa got "the first peach." Yes, the first peach. My boys were mildly disappointed that there was no fruit shared after the ceremonial start to the game. Hee hee...

The first, eh, peach, was good. Grandpa Kenobi should be proud. The rest of the game was fun, too. And, come to think of it, so was the weekend.

Happy summer vacating!