An unplanned trip home at the end of October proved to be a necessary balm after learning that we lost my sister, Mary Jo, at what seems such a young age of 55. So I did see family in Michigan and also her family in California. This allowed me to visit Claire at her new school in northern California and to drive through the redwoods for the first time - an amazing part of the country. My niece shared that my sister always wanted to drive through a redwood tree when Claire and I told her we stopped at that tourist trap after our visit, and as I had never considered such a thing before, maybe we had some 'guidance'?? Then I was able to go to class with Claire one morning and I can attest that she is working very hard in her program. They do acrobatics on a springy floor that was wonderful to bounce on, and the teachers are very focused and skilled. It is a physical theater program - so she will soon be very strong. Such a beautiful area too, for such intense study.
So yes, a trip home, sometimes sad, but not in sum. Here's a memory - my dad built this lounge chair when I was four and Mary Jo six years old, and when the paint was finally dry enough we sunbathed in our sunsuits. I can still sense the happiness of that summer day, on this snowy Helsinki afternoon.
