Week 51 - Sis

This was the week of preparing before flying home to the Bay Area for our, Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve, holiday. Preparation included holiday food training for the marathon eating while home with tamale making and consuming, being a part of it. Then there was my packing and oneeya's, because she would be boarded and enjoying time with her canine mates during our trip. She would also be enjoying a Christmas dinner that was served and consisted of chicken, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Yes, she would be suffering so while we were gone, sigh! Christmas Eve started with an early flight, that we almost missed due to a gate change, (36 to 32), that neither Lisa or I heard announced. Twenty minutes before our take-off I noticed there were very few people in the area and a group of passengers boarding not for San Francisco but New York City. I made Lisa aware which made her open her "resting" eyes and immediately tapped her iPhone to see what departure gate was ours. Nothing like a morning sprint, before a five hour flight with an upset stomach. When one person is half groggy from lack of sleep and bronchitis, the other is wondering if she will be using the barf bag or toilet, running the distance of four gates isn't recommended. Panting and praying we beat out the last five passengers boarding for a very, very packed and long plane ride. Mid-afternoon California time we arrived in SF, picked out the gutless rental SUV and got on the road to the first stop, Hayward, at our favorite Chinese restaurant. We had placed our dinner order while on the San Mateo bridge and picked it up to share with our family in Livermore. We were staying at the home of my daughter Yolanda and son-in-law Steve. As we entered the empty house, family was out shopping, first thing I was thrilled to see, a real, fully decorated, beautiful green,Christmas tree, but couldn't smell the pine scent. That was probably due to warmblooded Steve thinking anything over 57 degrees is too warm! I swear they could probably unplug the fridge during winter and still not lose any perishable food. After turning up the thermostat to a toasty 70 our blood started to circulate again and we ate our first meal of the day. So we ended the day full, a pleasant visit with the family, welcoming bedtime with open arms.