Mom and Grandma Do LA
This was probably the most special visit that could have been. Since Grandpa Jim has been in the hospital/nursing home since February 18, the trip was in limbo for Quite Some Time. When it became clear that Grandpa was doing much better, and that his stay at the rehab center would be over soon, Mom and Grandma Peggy made some last-minute rush plans to make the trip happen.
I already covered Day 1 and part of 2 in my last entry (arrival on Wednesday, dinner after work, Thursday's breakfast, the Grove & Farmer's Market, lunch in Santa Monica, and the beach). We went to Chez Nous for dinner to celebrate Grandma's 80th birthday. It was wonderful. Sean, Caitlin, Ryan and Jan came. Sean and Caitlin had to leave early for a work engagement for Caitlin, and then Sarah joined us for dessert. Grandma adored Jan, aka my West Coast Jewish Mom.
Dinner was delicious, and the restaurant brought an eclaire with a candle and we all sang Happy Birthday to Grandma. Then we got a few more desserts to share and just chatted. Grandma had a fabulous time.
I had to work on Friday, but Mom took Grandma on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. They enjoyed the tour muchly, and then headed to Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. Exciting! I met them at the hotel after work for dinner (and then I went to see Sin City at the Dome at the Arclight with the roommates & friends).
Mom picked me up early on Saturday and we had breakfast at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Grandma adored that, too! We went to the Burbank mall so I could switch my cell phone number over (note to friends: I have my old 773 number back), and we got See's Candy and did some window shopping. Grandma had so much fun doing that that I had to laugh a little. She's too cute.
Lunch again at Chez Nous (Grandma wanted to see it in the daytime, and take pictures), and then down to the airport to drop off the rental car and check into the hotel there. Traffic was horrid and we got to the hotel just in time for the second half of the Illinois v. Louisville game. Go Illini! A very exciting win for mah boys.
After the game, we headed out to Venice Beach to watch the sunset over the ocean. Grandma had never seen such a sunset, and was almost moved to tears. Said it really made her trip being able to see that. It was beautiful. I took pictures, which I'll post in my next post. Then back to the hotel for appetizers and some TV watching.
On Sunday, we had breakfast at the hotel and I dropped Mom and Grandma off at the airport. I'd have been fine, but Grandma started crying at the curb saying goodbye, and I was done for. I cried almost all the way home. She so appreciated having the opportunity to come out here, and the trip had come so close to not happening at all (and she wouldn't have done well with the summer heat, so this was the PERFECT time for them to come). I'm just so glad it all worked out, and that she had such a good time.
I miss them.