Quality Friday: Just a Few Miles Down the Road

I grew up in an extended-family household. My Dad's parents, my Nanay and Tatay, immigrated from the Philippines when I was 4 months old to move into our home in Chicago. Dad was the first of his family to come to the United States, and his parents were the next to follow. Over the years, many of his 10 brothers and sisters lived with us for periods of time as they settled into their new lives here in America.

In my late teens, my grandparents took a trip "back home" to the Philippines to visit sell the family house there. On their trip back to the United States, they stopped in Los Angeles to visit my Dad's brother Conrad and his family, and my Dad's sister Aurora before returning to Chicago. During that visit, my grandfather had a major medical emergency that prevented them from ever completing the trip back. Nanay and Tatay bought a home nearby, and their son (and family) and daughter moved in to help care for it and them. A few years ago my Dad's youngest sister, Alice, and her daughters were also petitioned to come, immigrated and moved into the family home.

Trips to Los Angeles were fairly common for our family, and my Dad visited whenever he got the chance, especially as his parents got older. Since both Nanay and then Tatay died a few years ago, Dad really hasn't visited much, the last time being almost 2 years ago.



As my parents were planning their trip to visit us, we talked about somehow trying to get together with the family. We discussed the possibility of driving the 6+ hours down Hwy 5, or perhaps taking the more scenic route and making a sightseeing trip out of it. In the end, their five day trip seemed far too short to make it worthwhile.

But then a few weeks ago, my Dad learned that his sister, Alice, was very sick. After almost 2 months of severe abdominal pain and unexplained bruises, she went to get a second opinion. Masses were found in her ovaries the size of small grapefruits. They are malignant and fixed - not the best combination of diagnoses.

Without hesitation, Dad, Mom and I decided to make the trip down to see her on the last 2 days of their visit.

It was a great road trip, to be honest (although 13ish hours of driving in 2 days is a bit on the high end) - I can't think of the last time that I've had the chance to spend time with my parents all by myself. Something to do with being the oldest child, I imagine:) We got to chat, catch up, and had a whole lot of fun reminiscing about old family vacations - some of which I had completely forgotten!

And as short as the trip was, it was wonderful to see my aunts and cousins. We celebrated Tita Aurora's (or Tita Bebe, as I call her) 61st birthday. I got to spend time with my cousins Josephine and Katarina for only the second time in my life. And most importantly, we all got to hug and comfort and enjoy quality moments with my Dad's baby sister.

Josephine, Tita Bebe, Katarina, Humberto, Tita Alice, Mom and Dad

Tita Alice has lost a lot of weight, and hasn't been able to eat much of anything due to the pain - and she was tiny to being with. Her surgery to remove the masses is scheduled for March 13th, which seems like such a long way from now.

Friends, please keep my aunt's health in your prayers.

This Quality Friday, I'm so thankful that we were able to be with her, to help comfort her fears, and share even a small piece of this burden that she's bearing.

Sibling Love

Celebrating Thirty Years!

"An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow."

This year, my parents chose to make a vacation out of their anniversary weekend (and the following week) - and came to visit Mark and I for the first time in California!

They arrived late last Saturday night [and I must mention here that as we pulled up to the airport to pick them up, Danny Glover was getting into the car in front of us! Mark got a chance to meet him, and said that he was amazingly gracious and kind], and spent a fantastic five-and-a-half days with us, including their Thirtieth Wedding Anniversary, on the Sunday after they arrived. Before Mark headed off to work that afternoon, we were able to take them out to lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants, and enjoyed the early afternoon wandering through the antique shops in downtown Napa.

I love that I was able to spend all day with them, taking them to some of my favorite spots in the North Bay. We took advantage of the perfect Sunday afternoon weather to enjoy the serenity and amazing beauty of Muir Woods.

Mom and Dad, as we stopped to take in the view before entering the woods. I love that you can see the moon behind them in the daylight!

With their baby girl.

Inside one of the redwoods!

We stayed until the park closed, and then headed to the Marin Headlands for what I find to be the best view of the Golden Gate bridge and the San Francisco skyline. After a full day [and we were all surprised when we realized that they had only been in town for less than 24 hours!], Mom and Dad even let me tag along on their anniversary dinner where we all enjoyed fine Indian dining and yet another fantastic view of the city we now call our own.

Mom and Dad - Happy 30th Anniversary! Thank you for letting me spend it with you, and for choosing to spend the week here with Mark and I! I hope it was a memorable way to usher in the next 30 years!

With love,
Your little girl,
Audrey

Well, wouldn't you know it?

Just one day after complaining about the weather, the rain stopped, the clouds broke, and the sun peaked through them to shine down on Vancouver today!

City view from my hotel window.

Rain, rain, go away.

This week finds me in Vancouver, BC - one of my favorite cities to visit on business.

Except when its wet and dreary, and the weekly forecast calls for rain, rain, rain.

These past few days have absolutely solidified for me that I'm a sun-loving girl. I'd rather have cold and sun, then rain any day. Whereas I fully understand that rain is the most important ingredient in the recipe for a lush, green city, after just two days of chilly wetness, I'm ready for some golden rays.

Kinda like the ones I enjoyed last week in San Diego....

Now this is what I call an ocean beach! Its disappointing to me that the San Francisco version of the Pacific is never warm enough to put your toes in.

And what a treat to have spent the week with a partial-ocean view at this famous hotel!

Quality Friday: Celebrating Together Time

Busy season is upon us again, and the past few weeks have been filled with challenges as Mark and I learn to re-adjust to the lives we've chosen.

From Thanksgiving to mid-January, I had a nice long hiatus from extended travel for work. And from mid-December to mid-January, Mark enjoyed his long winter break from classes.

I think we got so used to the time together that we let ourselves forget that the change in schedule was only for a short season.

For me, the travel began again in the week preceding my trip to Morocco. Then, I spent last week in San Diego. Next week I'll be in Vancouver. And the list continues.

For Mark, starting his spring semester has meant auditions, adjusting work schedules, and re-learning the art of Study After Midnight.

Suffice it to say, we've struggled to balance our own responsibilities with the dedication and time needed to nurture our marriage. Sadly, at times we have found ourselves resorting to communicating in frustration and anger, rather than love.

Thankfully, it wasn't to late to re-dedicate ourselves to joyously celebrate in the physical time we spend together while continuing to learn how to best love one another when we're apart.

Celebrating our birthdays (29 and 31!) together with a delicious Japanese dinner at Yoshi's....

...followed by a few more birthday drinks at the Sheba Lounge.

Happy Quality Friday (weekend)!

More from Marrakech

Here are a few more of my favorite photos from Morocco.

Gala Dinner at an old Moroccan mansion:

Evening entertainment

Candle fountain

One of many beautiful doorways. One thing that struck me was how beautiful and colorful they alwasy seemed to be. In a country where all the buildings are the color of the earth, the doorways were often bright blues and yellows, striking bursts of color.

Look at those amazing tile patterns on the wall!

Palmeraie Golf Palace:

Tea service

Outdoor Excursions:

Escape from the sun

Beautiful craftwork

Enjoying dinner, served in beautiful tents, under the stars:

It was the most incredible experience - to be under a pitch black sky, stars shining bright, palm trees illuminated, warmed by the heat of fires like this one. It felt like we were so very far away from the rest of the world.

And finally, one last trip to the Souks before heading home:

Mosque at night

Little black cobra. Doesn't it look harmless? I'm not so sure it was.

Incredible footwork. The cedar skewers on the table are the final result, which I HAD to buy to bring home to Mark

I love that there were six of us - plus the driver- squeezed into an old Mercedes cab as we headed back to the hotel to call it an early night on our last evening there. Yes, we were all very tired at this point.