, 1999
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Oh, yes. By the way.... I get to take Troy to dinner (and breakfast and lunch) and drive him around and I didn't have to pay $16,000 for the privilege! Well, I did pay for the photo shoot but that doesn't count! And does he ever look good! How does he do it! I look like a tired old wreck! And my photos show it! I have my little AFS and I use it when we are seated for dinner. Of course it misfires on the group shot - we get John's camera as a backup for that one. I have a real close-up of each of the three of us - for my son is also in tow - but against the black window. I like them. Memories do not have to be perfect. I originally went for the Dom to drink a toast - but Troy is a bartender-wine connoisseur after all and he talks me into Moet - White Star - very good! I have two glasses! I always have to go to the Ruben E Lee showboat to celebrate - a paddle Wheel Mississippi River boat in wet dock on the San Diego Harbor. I go here once or twice a decade to have Champaign and celebrate a life change. New job. Whatever. It is expensive. It is required. It is a treat. Oh, this is a life change! Hear me, Joan Rivers! Another life stripe earned! I have shrimp cocktail - the four shrimp are big enough to tow the car. I eat them all. I have salmon - perfection! The boys have their appetizers, salad and dinner. We are all stuffed turkeys! The food was excellent! The waiter was a delight! We were about the only people in the restaurant! Like renting the boat of the evening. Because San Diego on a Tuesday night..... I stopped the Champaign at two glasses early in the dinner - because I am the driver. Afterward, we hang over the rail to see the city lights and the water lapping the boat - it didn't sway much this time - I have had it really sway when a big ship moves past. The cruise ship was too far away to bother us but very pretty to watch - It was really moving. Outside the bay, it gets rough real fast. I've been on a fishing boat with salesmen and young children on a trip where someone fed me a greasy hamburger. I spent the voyage in the captain's area on a couch. My younger son was in a stroller - with me. My older one was the bane of the fishermen - who finally taught him how to not tangle his line and how to fish - we ate fish for a month. The fishermen cleaned them. Part of the package. Most of the salesmen spent the trip over the side - polluting the bay. I got to hear the radio - there was a white shark cruising the area - and they (the fishing boats) were keeping track of it. I was keeping track of my stomach, my baby and the lifejackets! This time, the bay was calm and San Diego was beautiful. We had a peaceful dinner. I want to come home! I miss blue sky! My son got a lovely shot of the city across the water (we are on Harbor Island) - city lights - beautiful! I herd my charges back to the car and we travel back to the hotel - inland about 20 miles. Right past my house. Rented out at the moment. I resist the urge to drive by and whimper. We have a 4AM wakeup call to make the plane! (Which I just barely made!) We are all exhausted. I am still not letting this hit me full force. Tying not to dance on the ceiling. |
Copyright 1999, 2000 Donnamaie E. White. email to dewhite@NOSPAN_best.com