Sometimes I feel a little isolated from family. This isn't new. I had felt separated from them even in Fairbanks because it was a six-hour drive across half the state. (For the record, the distance between Beloit and St. Louis is closer than that!) My sisters and my mom live in Alaska. My dad, because he is retired, spends half the year in Alaska and the other half here in Wisconsin. I do have a pocket of extended family around the farm up north - my aunt, who I am very close to, for instance - but we typically see her only about once a month. It's a nice treat when we get to spend time with them. 
Most of Robinson's family lives in Utah, so we visit with them far less - mostly because two of his brothers and father tend to stay close to home. His third brother and his partner live in Ohio and we see them once a year. We had not seen Oldpa (Robinson's dad) since we moved to Beloit two years ago, so we decided to spend almost two weeks in Utah so that the boys could spend lots of time with the other side of the family. 
About this same time, I learned that a friend of mine from college was pregnant and expecting a little boy. Another college friend thought it would be a fabulous reunion if the three of us could get together and reminisce about the "good old days" and catch up on all the amazing things that happened. She lived in San Diego, just a quick two-hour flight from Salt Lake City. I would be leaving the boys for three days - plenty of time to enjoy with Robinson's family.Oldpa took us to the Timpanogos Caves. The hike up is arduous, with a lot of switchbacks and steep trail, but the boys were champs. We took breaks every now and then on the way up, but they never once asked to be carried. Oldpa was pretty impressed with them, and to be honest, so was I. They found the "tunnels" on the trail fascinating and loved running along the yellow paint that marked areas of falling rock. They searched for the copper trail markers as well as the wooden plaques that lined the trail.
Arthur loved the inside of the caves and as we walked through the caverns, he reflected upon the similarities of this cave to the Cave of the Mounds. Balin, on the other hand, was not quite as inspired by the view as his brother. He fell asleep half-way through the cave and had to be carried and it's not easy to schlepp a 35-pound four-year-old through dark, dimly lit tunnels! Strangely enough, this is not the first time we've had to carry Balin through a cave.
This was not my first time to Timpanogos; I had been once before, when Robinson and I were still dating, but the place had not changed much - although it was much, much busier than I remember. 
Robinson grew up in Utah and marveled at how much it had grown. Homes had been built up mountains and next to large freeways. Shopping centers lined the exit ramps of the freeways and the prison - which at one time had been in the middle of no where - sat amongst houses, businesses, and office buildings. Even Orem, his hometown, had melded into Provo, Sandy, and Salt Lake City, creating a mess of suburban sprawl. It was surreal.
Still, this development also brings more cultural activities and entertainment such as museums and restaurants - so many new and exciting things to explore, both in Utah Valley and in Cedar City. Oldpa tried his hardest to keep us busy: we spent most of our days at different museums and attractions: the Museum of Natural Curiosity (water, climbing walls, and buttons to push - what's a kid not going to like about that?), the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point (read: dinosaurs), and Hogle Zoo (read: animals). I think Oldpa was glad when we finally left so that he could return to his normal routine!
Robinson also took the boys (via train) to Temple Square where they saw (and were greatly unimpressed by) the Salt Lake Temple. Arthur did, however, enjoy the large pipe organ.
Oldpa and Grandma Chris promised to keep the boys while Robinson and I drove down to Cedar City to watch a play before the Adams Theatre was torn down later this summer. Robinson had fond memories of this place, as he and his high school theatre chums would often take trips to watch plays and perform.
Robinson also marveled at how much Cedar City had changed, too. Shoney's and their all-you-can-eat bacon had disappeared. The new theatre was already under construction. And Cedar City now boasted a winery(!): the Iron Gate Winery. Most of the wines that we sampled were pretty good - with the whites being far superior in taste than the reds (though none were as amazing as the Cedarburg's Cedar Creek Winery's Marquette, Settlement Gold, or La Belle Vie.)
We ate dinner at the Depot Grill: an old train station that had been remodeled into a restaurant. It was delicious. After dinner, we walked to the Adams Theatre and saw an excellent production of "The Taming of the Shrew." The whole affair was an interesting glimpse into my husband's past and I felt lucky to share it with him.
He also took me to Zion National Park...but more on that in a future post.
Robinson also took the boys (via train) to Temple Square where they saw (and were greatly unimpressed by) the Salt Lake Temple. Arthur did, however, enjoy the large pipe organ.Oldpa and Grandma Chris promised to keep the boys while Robinson and I drove down to Cedar City to watch a play before the Adams Theatre was torn down later this summer. Robinson had fond memories of this place, as he and his high school theatre chums would often take trips to watch plays and perform.
Robinson also marveled at how much Cedar City had changed, too. Shoney's and their all-you-can-eat bacon had disappeared. The new theatre was already under construction. And Cedar City now boasted a winery(!): the Iron Gate Winery. Most of the wines that we sampled were pretty good - with the whites being far superior in taste than the reds (though none were as amazing as the Cedarburg's Cedar Creek Winery's Marquette, Settlement Gold, or La Belle Vie.)
We ate dinner at the Depot Grill: an old train station that had been remodeled into a restaurant. It was delicious. After dinner, we walked to the Adams Theatre and saw an excellent production of "The Taming of the Shrew." The whole affair was an interesting glimpse into my husband's past and I felt lucky to share it with him. He also took me to Zion National Park...but more on that in a future post.
Finally, before we headed to the airport in order to fly back to Wisconsin, we stopped by the cemetery that Oldma is buried. Arthur has very few memories of Oldma - he tells me that one of the only things he remembers of her was that she was lying in "some kind of bed" - her coffin, at her funeral. He was not quite three at the time. She died before Balin was born, so all Balin only knows Oldma through the cassette tapes that she and Oldpa made for them, complete with songs and stories. They listen to them every night.Sometimes I wonder what she would have thought about my boys, her grandsons. I wonder if she would have laughed at their antics and encouraged them. I wonder if they would have reminded her of her own boys.
Ah, but enough now. I find myself coming to tears. She is missed.
Blessed be.
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