A Baby Shower

Last Friday morning I flew to San Diego to attend a baby shower for my daughter in law (“DDIL” in Flylady lingo) and soon to be arriving granddaughter (Will she be my DGD, then?  I don’t think I’ve seen that one show up in the digests). I arrived just after lunch, where my DDIL and her mother took me to lunch and then to… the BEACH!

Awesome. The dog beach on Coronado island, to be specific, right by where the Navy SEALS train and all sorts of interesting naval aircraft land… We spent most of the afternoon sitting in the sun and sand, visiting, and sometimes getting up to get wet (they did, not me) or talk a walk along the surf-line (that was me).  I had hoped to go the beach while I was there, but didn’t really think it would work out, given the timing and … it did.

To make it even better —  toward the end of the day two dolphins appeared out just beyond the waves diving in and out of the water… first time I think I’ve ever seen dolphins in the wild. Very cool.

By then my son had gotten off work and we met him at the house they just moved into last month– which has a yard that might actually contain Quigley when we come again to visit. After the tour, I unpacked the stuff I had brought with me for them — including some of my mother’s dishes they wanted but had never come back to Tucson to pick up when we decided to put off our planned memorial for her. I’d wrapped them in bubble wrap and put them in my suitcase but was uncertain if they would make it through the flight intact, but they did. Hooray.

Later we went off to a restaurant for foodies called Alchemy. I had never heard of “foodies” before, though I know I have seen them on the cooking channel my mother used to watch all the time: People who have a compulsion to put all sorts of weird foods together in the quest for something new and different. Folks in search of food adventures, as my son put it.

I had marinated medallions of beef that were very good, served over bok choy with kim chee that was… definitely an adventure in food. I think I don’t like kim chee, which is fermented cabbage with chili pepper flakes in it. I’m not sure about the bok choy. I thought it would taste like chard or spinach, but it had a strange flavor that reminded me of flowers or soap or something — that may have been the kim chee, as well, though.  Before the main course we had some small, sweet red peppers stuffed with pulled pork that were fabulous. And the cranberry bread pudding was excellent, too. All in all, a most excellent adventure.

Then it was off to check into our hotel on the water, where I had a room on the sixth floor overlooking the bay. Fantastic! And totally unexpected. Even though I knew the hotel was on the water there are as many rooms that look away from the water as look at it.

Next day was the shower, held in my DS and DDIL’s back yard under a tree with wonderfully twisty, interwoven branches. We ate chicken salad and spinach salad and watermelon and mixed fruit, with cookies and tortes and some yummy blueberry cake brought by some of the attendees. After that we played games — one involving candy bars smashed and melted in diapers (!) Though many of the participants couldn’t bear to look into the diaper at the stuff, I had no problem with that. Too many years cleaning up after the dogs I guess. My problem was that, though I was able to identify the ingredients of the various candy offerings, it’s been so long since I’ve eaten any candy bars I couldn’t remember any of the names.  Duh…

The shower ended around 3 and an hour later my son drove me to the airport where I flew back to Tucson. Arrived at 7:05 pm and was home by 7:30.

Shortest trip I’ve ever taken by air. But very fun and lots of great memories. I have, however, been pretty tired for the last two days…

3 thoughts on “A Baby Shower

  1. Donna Hagan

    Karen:

    Love reading your posts and occasionally enjoy the opportunity to respond here. Sounds like you had a wonderful time! Will this be your first grandchild? Another phase in life that I so look forward to myself one day – my son is only eighteen next month. This post is very uplifting and sounds like you now are the matriarch of your family so to speak. Lots of wonderful things in the Word of God of the great blessings and influence women have on their families. My mother-in law has alzheimers and I do miss that in her, but have come to realized the Lord does pass the torch.

    On a funny note, regarding your diaper story, my sisters did that “baby diaper thing,” when I was pregnant with Ryan. Except they mailed it with some used maternity clothes so it looked like it was on error that there was a “poopy diaper” in there.

    I was disgusted and have zero (physiological) tolerance for visualizing bodily fluids, etc. (thank the Lord for medical personnel – truly a gift!) and gag easily when someone else gags, so naturally I did not “smell it” as they recommended and was horrified (as they held back the laughter) when they asked, “Well, did you taste it?” Then they were roaring in laughter because I was so grossed out (at 7 months pregnant) and horrified. Also included was a maternity bra that looked like two hats and unfortunately it fit – HAH!

    Anyway – I so admire your season in life now (and being 50 have joined the ranks of a new season also – loving it mostly – except for the hormonal stuff – lol!). Your challenges with freedom in your gift of writing and being a published author is really paying off now. Sounds like a season of joy for you Karen, as you have had your share of adversity for sure!

    In Christ-
    Donna

    P.S. Your post made me hungry 😀

    Reply
    1. karenhancock

      Yes, Donna, she’ll be my first grandchild. Glad you enjoyed the post — even the “diaper candy” story. You are certainly not in the minority with your aversion as far as I could tell from the reaction of many of the shower guests. I loved your own story on that, though — too funny!

      As for a matriarch… I’m not quite there yet. I have a stepmother who’s almost 91 and still hanging in there. Though I have to say, I don’t much see myself in the matriarch category — that’s someone wise and powerful and who has their act together, not someone who just bungles her way along, day by day, standing back in awe as the Lord repeatedly takes every messy, crooked situation and somehow makes it come out right. His “right” of course, not mine…

      Reply
  2. Gayle Coble

    Oh, how wonderful! A new grandchild…a girl. I love mine and know you will adore that tiny bundle too. Bok choy is one of my favorites when I do stir fries. Remember Pecos’ wife, Sahkon, is from Thailand and she taught me how to cook several of their dishes. Thus, why I like it…

    Reply

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