Long Beach

A few weeks ago I got a call from a friend. Her husband was going to be gone for a weekend so I should come and visit. Not that her husband dislikes me, just that she wanted some company. After locating a cheap plane ticket, and making a rare spontaneous decision in my well planned out life, I found myself spending last weekend in Long Beach, CA.

The traveling portion was far more eventful than it should have been. I hopped on the Max to head to the airport with a friend from work, who was also PDX bound. He was going to run a marathon, I was going for a girls weekend where we did nothing but eat carbs and chocolate. Amazingly enough, of all the Max trains headed to PDX, I found myself also riding to the airport with a couple who I’d met a few times previously through the friend I was going to visit. This turned out to be quite significant; as it was at this point I realized I had no cell phone. I still can’t find my cell phone and have dug one out of my junk drawer from a few years ago since returning. Again, it was amazing that these people were on my same train, because as my work friend was calling people at work asking people there to look for my phone, these friends could call our mutual friend and explain that I didn’t have a phone. It was also at this time that I realized the only phone number I knew by heart anymore is my parent’s home phone. Which wasn’t going to help at all.

Thankfully, after receiving a weird message from me, via this other couples phone, and them also saying hi on the message, I made it to Long Beach and found Robyn and the kidlets waiting for me. Upon entering the car, after a chorus of “Hi Auntie Heidi!” Laina hollered for her mom to turn the CD to #10. Which happens to be my favorite Lady Gaga song, “Boys, Boys, Boys.” She’d remembered from the last time I’d seen her. That is one of those nice surprises from kids that make you feel special.

The next morning, promptly at 7am, the kids sprinted into the room I was sleeping in. After a brief conversation, they got to the heart of the matter, “Auntie Heidi, can we please play your iPod?” They then proceeded to take turns playing nicely on the foot of my bed while I went back to sleep. To be clear, they aren’t technically a niece and nephew, but my brother isn’t in any hurry to give me any so I had to adopt some. For breakfast we had my favorite treat when visiting this family . . . sticky buns. Apparently earlier in the week Caden had been quite concerned that I was coming and they didn’t have the ingredients for sticky buns. As always they were a delicious treat. Both mornings.

We spent the morning puttering around a crazy cheap fabric shop that had almost no fabric but lots of crafts in a scary section of Long Beach. Laina and I found matching tiara’s. And proceeded to wear them for the rest of the morning, including during a trip to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. I felt a little self conscious about running around So Cal with a tiara on my head, but half the workers at the restaurant told me how they liked my tiara and how cute it was that we matched. Note to self, if I’m ever feeling like I need a tiara day, do it with a kid. Apparently that makes it un-weird.

At every possible opportunity, Laina wants to play cars. She treats them like other little girls treat barbies. They go places, have conversations, etc. I always get to be the little green VW bug. It’s super cute and apparently the prized car, as no one else but me ever gets to be the green bug. If only showing someone you heart them was as simple for the rest of life as it is when you’re four.

The rest of the weekend passed in a blur of playing, reading books, playing cars, singing along to Lada Gaga in the car, being crafty, riding bikes and eating junk. It was as mellow and relaxing as being at home, minus the part where the kids pounced on me every time I had to rest my eyes for a few minutes. Kids are exhausting! It was a short, but fun and productive trip. Next time, I’m staying long enough to hit Disneyland.