“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal, and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again, but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to.” — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross?
Sue could convince a rock to crumble, and she was so smooth at doing it. To demonstrate her abilities, the picture below is me in a Ferris wheel at California Adventure, and I hate heights. For Father’s Day, Sue always had a plan involving family and some activity. She would spend all sorts of time planning some elaborate adventure to make the day unique for all the dad’s in our group. Over the years we went yachting in Newport, lunch on Catalina, jet boating to Long Beach, mountaineering in Palm Springs, dining at Disneyland, train rides, etc. She always was thinking about others!
This year was different, I was not with my dearest one, but she taught well. The weekend was full of activities, and by Sunday evening, I fell into bed, tuckered out. Sue was a special lady, an extraordinary lady!
Fathers Day 2017 at Disneyland
Up at 6:00 AM and ready to go, but no one is going to be here until noon, so I did some work around the houses before going to the store to get supplies. I planned to make corn chowder, but it was a massive failure, all my fault. I did not get the ingredients out ahead of time, and I did not measure carefully, I tried to sautee veggies without using oil, I lost track of time… it was a total disaster. I finished the process as best I could, sat down and took a spoonful of the concoction to my lips, and quickly jumped up and poured the entire shebang into the garbage disposal. Lesson learned: do NOT get in a hurry when cooking!
I used the Bat Phone with Colleen and checked up on Cassie who has been in and out of the hospital with what we think is a severe allergy. Things were stable this morning. I miss Colleen and wish she could be here.
But then things turned around as at noon, right on the money, Bob and Robin came in! We visited for a while then all of a sudden, someone else was at the door! Just what a need, an encyclopedia salesman!
I about fell over backward, it was my kids from San Diego. Pete and Lisa came up and joined the party! Wow! Gee Whiz! Garsh! I did NOT expect them at all. Now the day was getting better by the minute! I forgot the kitchen failure as we got busy killing off two boggles of champagne before 1:40 PM which was “take-off” time.
Pete and Lisa drove up from Oceanside to be with us!
Take-off to where I attempted to ask? Everyone got quiet. The first went into my closet and picked out my clothes but on the bright side, I was not in a tuxedo top and bathing suit bottoms!
Now I gets to open my Father’s Day presidents! Robin and Bob got me two pairs of pajama bottoms which were a) the correct size for my mew physique and b) shorts so I will not swelter all summer. They were perfect! I did have to promise NOT to send them a selfie with the PJ’s on! Then, Pete and Lisa got me an electric tooth brush that tells me when I have brushed enough, Plus, Pete got me a bottle of Whiskey. Not just a bottle but a bottle of Jeffersons Ocean Aged fourteen-year whiskey.
I only knew it was a short walk and we had twenty minutes to travel to where we were going. Robin said, “Head for PCH on Seal Beach Blvd”. My mind raced, where is a girly bar on PCH? No, that’s not it. Arriving at PCH, I got ordered to turn right. Ah-ha, we are going to Malarkeys! Nope, I was directed to turn left on Main heading right down the center of Seal Beach and twenty dining establishments!
Robin had an address and spotted the place, which I did NOT recognize. The Grey Ghost slid into a parking spot and we all walked carefully toward the address. At the last minute, I figured it out, The Tea House. This was a special place as Sue and I went there many times for a restful afternoon tea!
The family took me to the Tea House on Main Street in Seal Beach, a favorite of Sue and I.
Did You Know? Tea drinking was popularized in England by Charles II of England and his wife the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza. It was not until the 1840s that the concept of afternoon tea was introduced by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford. In the 19th century dinner was often served at 9 in the night. Anna who became hungry requested “some tea, bread and butter and cake”. The idea became popular throughout the Edwardian era among the wealthy and elite.
Afternoon tea gave people the chance to show off the best china and table linen. Upscale hotels and restaurants became popular meeting grounds for patrons of afternoon tea. The concept has lost popularity since the end of World War II, though it has revived in modern times.
There was a nice salad, a tomato bisque soup and then the finger sandwiches and scones and other delicious goodies. I drank an entire pot of tea myself. It was delightful!
Oodles of goodies and great tea!
Sue and I always found this restful, especially in the late afternoon. We just put a hold on life, sat back, and enjoyed the meal and each other, a special time.
HAndsome and de-boner as usual.
Pete, our Marine, looked suspicious at all the dainty cups and saucers. He was ready for a burger and a beer! We fooled him. Lisa was dressed to the nine’s with a perfect outfit for the occasion!
Pete and Lisa
Bob got the cup holding just right and, in fact, he could do a pinky-promise while drinking his tea! Robin had the million-dollar smile and was proud she pulled one over on old dad, I had NO idea where we were going!
Robin and Bob
It was a super afternoon which I absolutely enjoyed.
A word cloud about Father’s Day.
Quick like a bunny I freshened up and headed the Silver LAdy toward Fullerton to go to Chomp at 5:00 PM. I was gong to meet Mitch, Zack, and Conner and families but alas, Chomp was closed!
No one was home!
We decided to go to Zack’s and order Italian and of course, I ordered pastrami which was outstanding. We had Connor and Kerrick join us and had a family dinner in spite of the closure. Great fun.
Returning home, I was beaten so I hit the hay at 10:00 PM and was out like a light.
