Visit Aunt Jennie

Road trip! Friday afternoon I got in the car and headed west. I was on my way to California to visit my great aunt, Jennie. It was an uneventful, four hour drive. I really enjoy time in the car by myself - listening to music, talking on the phone, seeing the landscape roll by... Before I knew it (with a lot of distraction from Chris on the phone), I arrived in Palm Springs. Chris sat at the computer and talked me to my hotel. OK, I had a map, but it was too much fun letting him follow my progress/give instructions via maps on the internet. I got to the hotel room and rested for a short while before it was time to pick up Dad. Dad was flying into Palm Springs from Dallas. We grabbed dinner after I picked him up from the airport and then headed to bed.

Saturday morning we got up early and drove another hour to Jennie's house in Hemet, California. The visit started with her showing us all the little tasks around the house she had. Things like a slow sink, a broken toilet valve, and a digital clock that needed to be set. There was a trip to the hardware store and plenty of activity that morning. As the day progressed, we had lunch together and talked a lot. Jennie, who is 92, seems to be doing quite well. I think she's stronger and healthier than last time I visited her. Jennie sent me home with a car full of things she'd like to get rid of. (Jennie has been preparing to die for quite sometime now and always wants us to take her things.) This time I took home her Kirby vacuum cleaner, a set of silverware, half of her stamp collection, placemats, wine glasses, and cactus cuttings from her backyard. Overall, our time with Jennie was really nice. She was talkative and in good spirits. She is thankful for her health and at her age it is a gift.

One of the highlights of trip was *finally* opening the floor safe in Jennie's closet. Jennie moved into the house about 20 years ago but never had the combination to the safe which is imbedded in the foundation. We've discussed the safe a number of times, but it was Dad who finally got a hold of the combination. For a fee, the safe company provided the "default" combination to the safe. It turns out the previous owner didn't change the combo, because we got it open. And as we expected, it was empty. Someone should have at least left a cryptic note inside!

We stayed with Jennie through the afternoon. When we had sufficiently worn her out, Dad and I headed back to Phoenix. He drove the 5 hours through the desert with me, because he loves me that much. (And he couldn't get a late enough flight out of Palm Springs.) When we got back to Phoenix, we unloaded the car, got a bite of dinner, and picked up Bentley. It had been a very, very full day so we both slept soundly.

Sunday morning I dropped Dad off at the airport. I spent the majority of the day at Jennifer's house where we completed our purses made out of ties. Since neither of us do a lot of sewing, we were both very pleased with our newfound skills. It was a fun and quick little project. We've decided we want to try our hand at making jewelry next. I'm so lucky to have a friend like Jennifer. Her friendship is a blessing.