When your granddaughter is coming to visit you from the congested summer heats of Sacramento and she hasn’t had much of a summer vacation, you feel the need to right the wrongs and set her world a bit straighter than it was — at your place, suitably named Solace. You want to give her a darn good countryside vacation any which way you can.
She’s headed for middle school this fall and likely won’t want many more vacations with the grandparents once the serious friend groups come along, let alone — horror — boys; so, we must seize the day, carpe the diem and make it happen for her while we still can. I remember so fondly my maternal grandparents and how lovely they always made me feel — weekends, holidays, whenever. They were always my safe harbor. I want that for her.
Madison Rose had informed me that one of her very favorite movies was “Moana,” the Disney classic. Of course I had never seen the flick, and I purchased the DVD in advance of her visit so we could enjoy it together. Then I see that the lovely Ariel Children’s Theater in Salinas is producing “Disney Moana Jr.” I rushed to buy tickets for that. Being quite the little actress herself (last year she was in “Annie” no less), I knew she would adore to watch other kids acting and in her very favorite show in addition! I was going to get the crown for Best Grandmother Ever this time around!
What else, what else? Ohhh, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Maybe she would like to go there! It has been too long since we were there. Somehow you don’t do the tourist things if no one is visiting and no one has visited us in a long time. Even though the Aquarium is pretty much in our backyard, there never seems to be the time to go over there, does there!
So, I asked the granddaughter if she was interested in going there. “OH YES I DO!” Her response came back to me immediately in caps, and I recognized that as an enthusiastic affirmation from my 11.5-year-old who can sometimes take a while to text back. Tickets were swiftly purchased for that little sortie. They were a little more expensive than I remembered, but it is an amazing facility for sure and what did money matter if you were filling the heart and mind of a special child! Her staycation was going to be the best — no electronic babysitters, just wholesome fun, interesting outings and lots of fodder for her curious and developing mind.
Oh, neither of these wonders disappointed one bit! Even though the Aquarium was packed to the gills — ha ha — with visitors (good for the area, I told my grumpy self as I struggled to see the otters feeding), there were many things I did not recall from my last visit and I was very impressed. Truthfully, so impressed I am thinking about getting a membership for next year and enjoying the sights and sounds of the bay in the off season, where I can go early and stay late without worrying where the tween queen is in the dark shadows of the deep and is everyone in our group waiting for me to leave. We watched a young scuba session for the early comers to the tank-and-snorkel class in the shallows by the Aquarium itself. “Oh, I want to do THAT!’ she cooed and I registered that in my gift backpack of something that is special and will get her out of the house next summer vacation. (There’s one Christmas present in the bag, I tell ya!)
The Ariel performance was wonderful too in a different way! The Disney play was the product of three weeks only of summer theater camp participants, and I have to say they did a splendid job! I heard young folk behind us chitter-chattering about auditioning for the “Narnia” play that will be produced in December. (“Oh, grandma, I’d love to do that,” whispered our girl, glancing behind her at the tweens in envy.) Too bad she doesn’t live close by, or that might be a possibility; but there are shows to be enjoyed in Sacramento too, so we will just have to explore the opportunities for her that might lie up there. We also managed to sneak in a visit to our local movie theater and the movie, live-action performance of “Moana.” I have to say I was a bit Moana-ed out at this point, but she loved it and, simultaneously, critiqued it alongside the book and the original movie as she crunched on her popcorn in the back row of the movie house.
My parents used to take us on holiday when we were young, but I do recall that when my sisters were very young, that was not an option. And I see that for Madison’s family, since she herself has two young sisters — one only 2 months old! This is where the grandparents need to step in, where they can, and put some memories in the bank for our young ones. I’m so happy we did the 10-hour round trip adventure one week and the eight-hour round trip the next. I’m now looking at where we might take her to the theater for her birthday in December.
And on the backside of all that fun and frivolity, it was time for this old broad to give some of her valuable blood. How fun indeed. I did, at least, have a driver this time around. (Last time I passed out in the post office afterwards!) My driver and I enjoyed the best tri-tip sandwich in the world at the Tanimura & Antle café and then signed in at the Spreckels hall where the American Red Cross was hosting the drive. There were literally folks from all walks of life there, taking time out of their day to donate the red stuff — the old, the young and the middles. As a Universal Donor, I do feel the push to donate my blood when possible. I had been constantly reading about the emergency need for blood, so I answered the call.
Apart from feeling a little tired afterwards, it was a non-event and I was glad I had participated. It was not quite as fun as the Aquarium or watching my granddaughter’s face light up during “Disney Moana Jr.,” but it’s part of being a responsible adult that we should not ignore, and I have now checked that off from my adulting list for the next few months.
Madison Rose enjoyed her staycation very much and so did I.
Columnist Lucy Jensen may be reached at lu*************@***il.com.
