Driving

A lot has happened in life since I last typed on this blog in November. We had the holidays. We had one day of snow. There have been school projects and friend gatherings, colds and lazy Saturdays, football and more football, laughter, tears, life. But I will say, while all of our happenings have been important, as no day should be more important than another, I will admit that there is one event that kinda trumps all.

My daughter turned 15 in September, and in our state, she is eligible to get her permit and drive. And that is exactly what she's been doing since mid-December.

My reflection: if I had to do life over again with my children, I would take more risks in the toddler years and cherish the moments when she might have fallen off the monkey bars, or crashed her bike into the sidewalk, or maybe even just cut her hair right off playing with scissors. Because then, perhaps, I would not feel like this is such a huge hurdle to overcome. The fear of a new driver.

I like to think that anyway. I like to think that maybe if she had been through "stuff" that it would make this transition just another "stuff" to add to the list.

But this is all very new. And while I don't give a second thought about jumping in the driver's seat and taking off down the road when I am behind the wheel, or my husband is behind the wheel, or a dozen of my closest friends are steering ... there is something unique that happens when your daughter sits in that same seat. Your life doesn't just float before your eyes in slow motion, in addition to that, it feels like the world is surrounded by Tasmanian Devil crazies spinning out of control from all angles while your car sits right in their path.

Those same law abiding, good, safe drivers that I just passed not ten minutes earlier are now out to get us because my 15 year old is driving.

The brain can be deceptive but the reality is it is s.c.a.r.y. to sit in a new driver's passenger seat. You won't believe it until you've been there done that.

I don't care how awesome your Teen Driver is, this is an element which tests your faith and tests it heavy and quickly.

My girl is awesome. She knows the rules, she commentates on driving while driving, she is confident, ready to listen and learn. With continued practice I am learning to settle more easily into my seat using my cheerleader role through my encouraging ways (and only flinch on my right side so my girl can not see).

I long for the day when the commentary driving will ease into "What's new" and she will become the driver who is not attacked by the Tasmanian Devils in this world. I pray for safe travels of all my family and friends - my daughter now included.

Ocean, Paul Bunyan, and really giant trees

The last two adventures to Santa Rosa have landed us in the off season of grapes on the vine in wine country. We are sure to hit peak season next August when we return to Turn-In Kolby, therefore, in order to optimize our Napa Adventure in 2014, we took full advantage of a November escape to the Redwoods during our recent trip to Graduation.

My husband has a wild tail of his first Redwood experience; it goes like this ...

Insert two middle-aged teens on a road trip visiting family for two weeks in Sacramento. The option to take the long way home via the Coastal Highway was only bought off by two of the four family members. Because on the other side of the road was a very important Baseball Tournament, and a Boyfriend (can I assume correctly you know which was which between my hubby and my sister-in-law?).

Story goes that there were two opinionated travelers who just wanted to get home, and get home fast. Who cares, so what, about the really giant trees; on and on the complaint department was audible into the night when they finally reached the Coastal Highway to start their trek. Stopping in a hotel, the plan was to continue in the morning to the Redwood Forest.

Until, dad got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, and realized the complete peace and quiet the night brought to his family. What was that? Not a sound of complaining, whining about the baseball tournament, the boyfriend, the trees? The room was still. Bliss.

Just as quick as he had realized the perfect ambiance, he flicked the lights, and bags were being swiftly packed by dad, as the teens rose in bewilderment to the ruckus. Yes, it was true - dad was driving the family home at 3am. With two half asleep Teens in the backseat of the Oldsmobile Cutlass, a wife in the front willingly smiling to go with the flow, the family made their memorable trek through the Redwood Forest that one summer day when the sun had not even cast its light upon the trees. Dad was happy, and the kids were dazed in the back seat, without a complaint for the rest of the long hours home.

While my family story does not even compare to that legendary one of my husband's, there were times when my two had had enough of one another. I wouldn't go so far as to say they were fighting, or arguing, but they were just t.i.r.e.d. of being on top of another in the backseat.

At one point, with a smirk and a turn to me, my hubby said,
"It wouldn't be a Redwoods Trip without a little tension."

My Calif Girl

We met through the blog. Her mother was a recipient of a Service Dog through Canine Companions a few short years ago, and she had started to Puppy Raise during the time we were raising Haddie. We chatted via blog, but never joined each other on Facebook or texting or email.

Weeks prior to Haddie's Turn-In in February, she made a comment on my Blog that she would be there, and that it would be fun to meet. I agreed. I was looking forward to seeing her face to face, and I knew that she had a new puppy, named Spunky, that she would be bringing along.

But when the time came for us to meet face to face, all I could do was say a very weak Hi and I had to leave. I was in a slight panic, not really sure how to control my emotions, as we sat through our first Matriculation and Graduation program for Canine Companions. I had been holding my emotions together fairly well all day, until we saw the slide show of our puppies, and heard the personal testimonies of Graduates who were receiving their assistance dogs that day.

In addition, it was within the hour where we would be back on campus to Turn-In Haddie. I didn't want to face the reality, or small talk, or do anything but run the opposite direction from campus. But I knew that I had to go and return Haddie to Canine Companions so she could start her journey in Advanced Training, and ultimately graduate to be a Service Dog.

Looking back, my friend and I can laugh at the awkwardness of our first meeting. Because now we talk daily over social media and texting; and seriously we talk more than just about Puppy Raising! There are so many things we say, or communicate through Stickers (inside joke), or photo share about our randomness of daily life, that this California Girl is just one of my faves.

This time around, my friend joined us to celebrate the Graduation of Haddie. Her first puppy Halo is scheduled to graduate in February. I couldn't imagine going through such an important and monumental day without my Calif Girl. I am so glad she was there for us; taking photos, talking, laughing, and just being by our side. She had gone through this day before; but on the side of a Graduate Family. Being able to ask her questions and get my excitement focused was perfect.

And then, after my sweet Calif Girl snapped the one and only photo of my family with Sharon and Haddie, and we watched them leave the reception hall bound for their life as a Team, we grabbed a few cookies and just soaked in the moment together in the reception hall - finding the outside as one of the last to leave.

Her parents were waiting for us, her mom had mentioned she had heard of a good Italian Restaurant not far from where we were standing, and wanted to know if we should all go there for dinner. Plugging in her Siri and asking for "Italian" ~ the reply was Round Table Pizza.

We had a good laugh, and knowing that was NOT what we were thinking, we ditched the iPhone advice and traveled to an Italian Restaurant that we are keeping "our little secret". So on social media outlets, yes, we went to Round Table Pizza, but in reality it was everything Round Table wasn't.

The dinner was fabulous, the ambiance perfect, and the company spectacular. I can't really put my fingers on any one thing that this Calif Girl and her family provided - they are truly the whole package. We laughed, we talked, and we made a scene when our waiter turned into a Magician, adding more entertainment to our evening.

The inside jokes are ours, the laughter only for us, but the pictures say it all. We connected. I am so grateful for my Calif Girl, for her parents, for the easy friendship that just become more real and more solid on Haddie's Graduation day and night. I couldn't have imagined anything better to end the Perfect Canine Companions Day.

Much Love, My Calif Girl!! Thank you for not giving up on me when we first met. I am glad you gave me another chance. You really are a sparkle of sunshine to my days. 

Photo Journal of Friday, Nov 8th

All photos compliments to my husband. Thank you, Hubby, for taking such amazing photos to long live our memories of this very important Graduation Day. I love you! These photos you will not see on my Paws for Independence Blog.

California

I think I have relived the moment our first Puppy we raised for Canine Companions for Independence Graduated to be a working Service Dog a millions times, but I will not go about rewriting it. If you are interested, please jump to my other Blog and read about our new dear friend here and about Haddie here. It truly was the best Canine Companions day to date. I am more motivated than ever to get Kolby to a Graduation ~ I want to experience that reward over and over again.

Canine Companions has four Graduation ceremonies each year, always on a Friday afternoon, and Haddie was scheduled for November. Because we do not live in the same state as Graduation, it meant that we had the choice to either fly, drive, or take a train to the destination. The funny twist is that you are not called for an official invitation that your puppy is graduating until the Monday or Wednesday of the week of Graduation. This puts a new twist on purchasing a ticket for transportation. Last minute deals are sometimes available, but then also last minute tickets may not be.

We decided that we would drive, again, the long two day trek. Because my daughter had an important class outing to attend the morning of November 6th, we left the house about 12:30p. The kids were very excited to start the road trip, admitting that being "stuck" in a car and driving for seven solid hours was not a bad idea, and resuming the remaining 6 hour drive the following day was still acceptable.

By the time the sunset appeared around 4:45p on the first day, the kids were half sideways in the backseat with a blank stare towards the front. At this point, they were not complaining, but their faces shared all. The drivers were not overly ambitious with chatter or glee that we were still only halfway through our journey for that day. It wasn't that we weren't happy, we were so excited to go, but the reality was that we had forgotten how quickly the sun disappears in November, add some strong rain and wind, and you have nothing to look at outside your window as you pass through Country Life, USA. The remaining hours dragged on. The above is a real photo snapped looking out the passenger side window.

The next morning we were in the car by 9a continuing to head toward San Francisco; we had plans to hit Fishermen's Wharf and our favorite dinner hangout at Fishermen's Grotto as a pre-celebration dinner. Then we'd get back in the car to continue forward to our hotel for some much needed rest before the next day, being Friday, and all-things Canine Companions for Independence related.

The trek to California did not hold much entertainment, but it was enjoyable and doable as we talked, rested, and enjoyed the scenery (so long as nightfall was not upon us). Will I travel this route via car again? You bet, in exactly nine more months when Kolby is scheduled to Turn-In.

The Big Grey Elephant

This is the second time we have put our RV into storage. Last year, we got caught in a horrific rain storm while we were trying to learn how to unravel the monstrous cover to apply it to our 32 foot RV. It was the first time we had ever done such a task, and it was not our finest moment. We should have maybe watched a YouTube video or two.

This year, we had a plan. We first picked a dry weekend and that was a huge bonus. No rain pelting the face as you looked up to try to adjust the cover, and no frozen fingers was a nice bonus. And then also, we were able to roll it out on our blue tarp first to adjust the Front vs Back. Then we rolled it like a giant sleeping bag from the Back to the Front while it was still on the ground. 

Knowing that it was a long climb up to the top of the roof, considering the size of the "sleeping bag roll', my husband was brilliant and thought to tie it up with rope first. Once he was on the roof, he hoisted the roll on the rope with my help in guiding it along. Bingo.We looked so professional. 

From there, he unrolled the "sleeping bag" on the roof and we started from the Front to the Back. I was on the ground pulling the cover down over the front fender, while he was on top adjusting the sides. It worked as if we were ON a YouTube video. 

Yay-Us!!

Then we went to work on attaching all the straps and securing it one last time with rope crisscrossing from side to side through the undercarriage. Regardless of high winds (which we are known to have) this gray cover is not going anywhere!

It is sad to put our favorite toy away, but we are so excited for the adventures it will bring our family next year. I am so thankful that we made the jump to purchase this lifetime memory. The kids really enjoy the open road and adventures, and of course, we do too!

The Big Grey Elephant is ready for winter. 

13th Birthday

What to do on a Sunday afternoon of your 13th birthday; the list seemed never-ending, yet short all at the same time. But in the end, my son chose to go on a family hike, and then enjoy a Sushi dinner at one of his favorites. The weather worked perfectly as it climbed to 76 degrees as we climbed 700 feet of elevation as a family.

My husband and I had climbed this same "mountain" on a date a few years ago, leaving the kids behind with grandparents. We had our Beagle hike it with us on that day and we were amazed at how steep the climb was, and how absolutely amazing our little 12 inch Beagle handled it. This time, however, we left both dogs behind. While the first time worked out fine, I wouldn't say it was the best idea in taking her. Not every dog on the trail is well-behaved, and maneuvering down the trek with a dog at your side isn't the most fun either. One wrong pull of the leash and it gets a whole lot tougher than not.

Now that the kids were older, we suggested we climb. It is a well-known hike in our area, and the kids have heard how steep it was, but to convince them to go for it we said, "Just think, every time you pass this mountain, you will look at it knowing you climbed it!" And that was the quick sell.

The kids were amazing. They are in good shape, and my husband has maintained his endurance too. I, on the other hand, have let the daily exercise routine go and replaced it with everyday life moves of raising two puppies and keeping up with two Teens; my son is obviously half Mountain Goat and never runs out of air. However, for not being in as endurance-shaped as I was the last time I climbed, I wouldn't say that I had anything to be embarrassed about; I was pleasantly surprised (Yay Me!).

There are two views when you reach the top. One looks Southeast, and the next ten minute climb takes you further up just a bit to look the opposite side, Northwest. Both views are amazing and both sides are a hot spot for Para-gliders. Depending on the wind formation will depend which side they are jumping from. On this day, they were jumping from the Southeast, but we hiked to the top of Northwest to see that view as well.

What a great memory for my son, the day he turned 13 he climbed P*P*Point. Kinda a manly thing to do, and glad that we were doing it with him.

We had time to change and freshen up from our hike and then we went to the yummy birthday dinner. I love birthday dinners. No matter the restaurant, it just seems so festive compared to a regular dinner out. We each had our favorites that we tried from the conveyor belt options, and I was proud that my girl actually enjoyed trying new things.

A birthday to remember - a family hike that now he can say he has done every time we pass this peak. Well done, son and daughter!!