Oh, yes. That is indeed my handsome and intelligent son. All grown up. I can hardly believe it. And that old woman hanging on his arm is indeed myself. Hard to believe that I once changed his diapers, eh? Anyway, here we are on the Pacific Coast Highway where we stopped to perform some (For us, life IS performance art) on the rocky outcroppings on the edge of the road. It truly is beautiful country; I can well understand why once we New Englanders go out there, it’s tough to get us back. In fact, if my other kiddoes didn’t live on the east coast, I’d be nagging at DH right about now to move on out to California with me.

One of the best things about the trip, though, in addition to all the great fun we had driving up through the hills and canyons, ambling down Venice Beach, rock climbing (YES, I rock-climbed! Oprah says 50 is the new thirty, so I must be about 40… 40 is YOUNG! I’m just a spring chicken! Or would that be sprung chicken?) and we did Santa Monica, did the Rodeo Drive shopping, etc., etc., etc….but by far the BEST part of the trip altogether was spending some quality time with my son and having the chance to really, really TALK together, which we don’t often do, what with his typically being home for holidays and all, and during the holidays, all the kiddos, and the kiddos’ kiddos and kiddo’s significant others are milling about - well, you know how it goes. So this was awesome just in that respect - in having some time to share ideas and views and beliefs and plans and hopes, etc.

His apartment - in The Palms, which is sort of a middle-income section of L.A. - is very, very nice: and his significant other was very nice and pleasant - very welcoming, in fact, and seemed very pleased that I was there.

The only thing that I must admit annoys me a great deal about her is that she is rather shallow and aimless; very lovely-looking, of course, but very dependent on DS so far as I could see, and essentially ambitionless for the long term. Looking, it feels like, for a man to take care of her, which my DS seems to be doing pretty well at, but c’mon…in this day & age, a 25-year-old woman with no chick or child certainly ought to be pulling her own share of the load, it seems to me. She works, but doesn’t cook, and cleans only marginally. She decorates, but doesn’t want to keep the place cleaned up. My DS does most of that. Okay, Here’s what offends me the MOST, and trust me, it’s no small issue. Seems her parents are quite the racists, and her mother called her from LAX about six months ago to let her know that she & her aunt were paying her a SURPRISE visit, and could she pick them up at the airport? And so she did, but MY SON had to move temporarily next door so as not to upset her mother.

WHAT? Okay, I’m his mother. Naturally, I’m going to be less objective than I might be, but here is this girl swearing undying love for my son, living with him for the past two years out there, but can’t tell her parents that she’s with him? Like he isn’t GOOD enough for them or something? Like she’s ashamed of being with him? Oh, I tell you, I just wanted SO BADLY to get in a few digs, like “Hmmmm. So why aren’t YOU staying next door while I’m here visiting?” Or, “Believe me, you are no prize, honey. MY son could do a hundred times better than YOU….”

Oh, see? Take advantage of my child, and it gets the old hackles standing straight up, the teeth bared, and the old hag is poised on the balls of her feet, ready to pounce…

Oh, they seem to really get along well…and he seems very happy. So I need to butt out. I haven’t said anything even remotely critical to either of them, but oh, how I wish my DS had his old girlfriend back - the one who was pretty (modeled to pay her tuition through college), smart, AND worshiped the ground he walked on.

No challenge for him, I suppose. <shrug> I understand perfectly. None of us wants someone who presents no challenge whatsoever….but, jeeze. This is MY kid! I want HIM to be spoiled, not visa versa!

And yet, if it were my daughter, I’d be wanting a man for her just like my son!

Can’t win, eh?

Oh, I’m back at work. On Veteran’s Day, no less! Well, at least there was hardly any traffic!

I actually ate pretty well out there. Fruit! Oh, the fruit vendors sold fresh, fresh pineapple and mango slices, and melon and cocoanut…and it was to die for! I ate a LOT of fresh fruits and vegetables…only really stubbed my (dieting) toe once or twice, and even then, it wasn’t too awfully bad.

Smoggy, though. All through the mornings. Burned off after lunch every day.

Good to be home. Kinda sorta. Feeling a little sad that DS lives so far away. I’ll see them at Christmas for ten days, but even so…

I hate that kids grow up and leave home, you know? I think it’s  flawed system. I’m sure there’s a better way.

Back later.

Love to y’all,

Z