Monday, July 23, 2012

Comfortable out of the Comfort Zone

   I've been traveling.  Not huge big time faraway places travel but comfortable, get out of your own ruts kind of travel.  First, I spent several days at my sister's home near Mt Lassen in north central California.  Laura's home is situated in a small community that sits in the far reaching shadows of Mt Shasta and is down the road from the dormant volcano Mt. Lassen. The homes in the neighborhood are set on large lots with more pine needles on the grounds than grass.  It is a quiet, sleepy little neighborhood that smells like the forest.

    My sister and her husband Doug are always so welcoming and always so much fun.  Laura  is employed full time while Doug is retired.  Doug and Laura are also living with the side effects of radiation and chemo that Doug received three years ago when cancer raged through his body.  It was a horrible year of cancer treatments that left Doug at death's door on more than one occasion but he and Laura were a mighty team with which cancer had to reckon.  These days, they are generally living alone as one of their children is married and the other is in college.  It was just the three of us when I was there two weeks ago.

   The weather in their neck of the woods is relatively mild though they are not far from one of California's hot spots.  They live about a forty minute drive from the northern central valley city of Redding.  While we were there, the temperature in Redding kicked around 111 to 115 degrees.  Yikes! At their home, the temp was closer to 90 and it didn't cool off much at night.  These temps are both exciting and uncomfortable for this more coastal dweller.  The excitement comes in the novelty but the novelty of intense heat wears off rapidly and I find myself remembering fondly the foggy mornings about which I complain all the time.

     We spent some of our time bopping around Redding and the nearby college town of Chico and we spent some of our time enjoying neighborhood walks and relaxing at their comfortable  home.  They are lively people with lots of interests.  I enjoy hanging out with them and I love watching the silly interactions the two of them share.  They have delightful senses of humor and I have been known to laugh uncontrollably in their presence.  Ask my sister sometime about the time when the electricity went out while we were fooling with the remote controls on the bed!

   Visiting at my sister's house is like being at my home away from home.  I know where things are, I know she is comfortable when I rustle up my own towel or peanut butter toast, I know our routines when I am there.  We have been visiting at each other's homes for nearly 30 years and she never fails to make me feel as if I am the best thing that happened to her that day.

   This was the first of my two travel adventures in recent weeks.  I drove up there in my little bug Oskar and slipped away from the routines of home and into a different but comfortable setting.  I had time to connect with my sister and her husband.  Laura and I took long walks and drives and tried, as always, to make sense of our lives.  We looked at what is now, what has been in the past, how we are changing, what our hopes and fears are for the future.  It is always a thoughtful time with a companion who has been on life's road with me all her life and all but 7 years of my life.  This kind of travel takes me out of my comfort zone but is, in fact, comfortable in its own way.  On another day, I will tell you about my second travel adventure of the summer.

 


12 comments:

  1. Sounds like a wonderful time away, emotionally and physically. I'm so glad for all of you to have the time together. How comfortable to freely be yourselves; I wish I had somewhere like that to go - and such good company too!

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    1. I am fortunate, I know, to have such a tight relationship with my sister as well as with all the boys. And you know that you are always welcome to crash here in Sebby! We have space these days and we are happy to share it.

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  2. It is always a high light for me when you come to visit or when I visit you in Sebtown...if only we didn't live so far apart and lead such busy lives!
    XXOO

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    1. True dat - time and distance - but the internet helps with that , no?

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  3. How wonderful for you and Laura to have such a close relationship.
    You describe it quite succinctly in one phrase: “...she never fails to make me feel as if I am the best thing that happened to her that day.”
    Sounds like a "just what you needed" comfortable get-a-way.

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    1. It's true, Lynda. I have been known to flee to Laura's home when life seems impossible here. I always know I have that option and I believe she knows she has the same option. Reassuring when life throws bad stuff at you.

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  4. I never thought the day would come when I would hear you say you welcomed foggy mornings. File that one away for later perusal. This is a sweet post about a sweet lady. I have the two best sisters in the world, not to mention the six best sisters-in-law. I am a lucky guy!

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    1. Yes, we are all lucky - I know I can turn to any of you sibs and you will give me whatever I am needing - and your spouses will stand behind you on supporting me.
      I can't believe that about the foggy mornings either but it was true!

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  5. JT, I am glad you take the time out of your life to renew this valuable friendship with your sister......it sounds very rewarding for you both! Not to mention the fun you have..........your description of the trip was fascinating.....thanks

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    1. Laura and Doug can be so funny! I feel 100% at home there and that is so precious to me.

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  6. A very nice summary of your trip and time with laura....sounds like it was lots of fun. I look forward to hearing about your further adventures! thanks for writing!

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