Tuesday, April 2, 2024

We woke early on Tuesday after not sleeping well the nightbefore, despite being exhausted. This was our only day to finish the laundry,put the clothes away, empty the luggage and store it, straighten the house,open a week’s worth of mail, pay bills, visit the bank and post office, shopfor food, and prepare for the following week.

We managed to get most everything done, but by earlyevening, we were worn out. To bed early.

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 – Larry’s Birthday

We would be celebrating Larry’s birthday with a party onSaturday, but his actual birthday on Wednesday was spent on trips to theairport.

Kim had not been able to visit during the holidays, so weflew her out for this occasion. She would be staying for two weeks. It soundedlike a long time when we made her reservations, but we had a lot planned.

She arrived at noon at John Wayne (Orange County). Since itwas lunch time, we stopped at a restaurant to eat.

We’d just placed our orders, and Kim asked, “What time willSilvia arrive?”

OOPS!

Our Spanish daughter, Silvia, was arriving in the afternoonto surprise Larry. She was our first foreign student, who had come to us rightafter we moved into our house in Dana Point 1987. She was fourteen years old.She arrived with a Spanish high school group, although she was actually fromTenerife in the Canary Islands. We had stayed in contact with her through snailmail, email, and Facebook.

Lorna, Silvia, Kim, Larry 1987

She had gone on to a career as a model, completed heruniversity degree in Public Relations, was named Miss International in 1990,and worked in Spain.

A few years later, she arrived to spend the summer with us.

Lorna, Larry, Silvia in San Francisco

She had worked as an actress in Miami for a few years beforethe pandemic. During that time, she had talked about coming to California for avisit, but her work schedule never allowed for a trip. It had been nearlytwenty years since she had last been in California. However, she had somephysical problems and returned to Tenerife, just in time to be quarantined. So,she still had not returned to Miami, although she expects to do so soon.

Kim, Silvia, and I had made plans for Kim to pick her up atLAX at four o’clock in the afternoon while Larry and I would be picking up ourJapanese son, Toshi, at John Wayne at three. We had intended to surprise Larrywhen Silvia arrived at the house.

However, the surprise came a little earlier than planned. Atleast, he was surprised—and delighted

Toshi’s flight from Tokyo was on time, and we collected him.

Kim and Silvia arrived a little before six. They had pickedup food on their way home, so we all sat down and ate dinner together.

This was the first time Silvia and Toshi had met, and theyhit it off well. (They both knew about each other, as do most of our kids.)

While we had been out, the cleaners arrived. They hadfinished by the time everyone arrived home.

We were all tired. Silvia and Toshi both had a bit ofjetlag, and Kim had been up early to catch her plane out of Plano, TX. We wereall in agreement to go to bed early. I think most of us went to sleep early,although as he usually does, Toshi remained on Japanese time in order toconduct some business meetings on Zoom while he was here. (I have no ideawhen—or if—he sleeps.)

Having all three of them in our house was a terrificbirthday gift for Larry.

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Silvia spent the morning enjoying the rock garden. She foundit a restful and peaceful place to unwind.

Silvia relaxing

Kim got up early and started the coffee, but she went back toher bedroom to rest for a while longer. Toshi slept in a bit.

Once everyone emerged, Toshi suggested brunch at Bonjour Café, one of our favorite restaurants.

Toshi, Kim, Larry, Lorna, Silvia

In the afternoon, Larry’s niece, Carrie, and her family fromUtah, along with his brother and sister-in-love, and their great-granddaughterall came to visit. Shaun’s son, Tyler, arrived with them. Shaun arrived a bitlater.

Carrie and Loren and their family had to be back in Utah bythe weekend, so they would be unable to stay for the party. They brought pieand ice cream to celebrate Larry’s birthday. Shaun’s birthday was that day, sowe celebrated his, too. Larry was delighted!

Years ago, I had given Carrie’s older son, Eli, my electronickeyboard. Last year, I sent him my melodeon. He has become quite a musician, ashe demonstrated for us.

The younger son, Asher, recently has been playing his dad’sguitar.

Larry had two Ovation guitars of his own. One had not beenplayed for years. (He doesn’t really play either of them anymore, but he has afavorite.)

He brought down the one he had stopped playing for the boysto see.

Asher opened the case, removed the guitar, and startedstrumming. Then he took it into another room before his brother could get it.He never came back.

I started to laugh. It clearly was meant to be his. I toldhis mom, “Well, Eli got the keyboard and melodeon, so it’s only fair that Asherget the guitar.”

We really enjoyed seeing all of them. Larry especiallyenjoyed the pie and ice cream.

During their visit, Silvia went to the backyard near thewaterfall to record her Thursday podcast. Sheinterviewed Larry and me at the end of her broadcast.

The afternoon went quickly, and we had another busy day aheadon Friday with the party on Saturday.

Silvia and Toshi left for a short while to go to the beach tosee the sunset. Kim took our other car to run some errands of her own.

We all agreed on another early night, and Toshi had moremeetings scheduled.

Friday, April 5, 2024

Friday was the day to get all the pieces in place for theparty on Saturday.

Toshi borrowed our car to meet friends in San Diego. When heis here, he tries to get together with his So. Cal. friends. Since they plannedon a late night, he said he would stay in San Diego until Saturday morning, buthe promised to be back in time.

Silvia’s friend, Stephanie, came down to pick her up, andthey spent the day in Los Angeles. They had a great time.

We loaded some of the party items in the car. Then we wentto Costco to pick up the cakes (one chocolate, and one white) for the party andflowers for Sunday.

We enjoyed spending the day with Kim and looked forward tothe Big Event the next day!