Home For The Holidays

My Christmas holiday was extremely relaxing and so worth the cost of going home. I even gained patience; don’t ask. If you have ever seen me in action and know my boundaries, you would have been shocked. My father and sister had a bed going and I blew them out of the water:)

I arrived on a Saturday afternoon; it only took 29 hours of travel to get to Bakersfield, CA:

2 hours before flight at Guam airport
4 hour flight to Japan
9 hour layover in Japan
10 hour flight to LAX
3 hour wait for the bus to Bakersfield
2.5 hour bus ride to Bakersfield.

My Dad and Aunt met me at the bus and took me home. It felt so good to walk into my parent’s house. I wish I had words to describe the feeling but I don’t have them. It was……..home!

Most of my family was at the house waiting or about to arrive. My niece is just the cuties little handful ever!! Trust me she is a handful. She can give attitude and doesn’t like being told NO. Which I took great delight in doing! My brother Keith, his wife Elisa, & their daughter Reagan are amazing. I love my siblings more than life itself and just to be around them made feel at ease.

My mother spoiled me rotten for two weeks. She and Dad are incredible parents and it never ceases to amaze me how giving they are. Who else do you know would adopt 5 children? They love each us in different ways but they never treat anyone differently. We all get our asses kicked!

Kid count:
4 girls (Becky, Donna, Trina, & Dee)
2 boys (Damon & Keith)

At one point I felt like the middle child instead of the oldest. If you are the middle child, I feel for you; trying to keep the peace is a bitch. I did the dishes, laundry, and other chores while I was there and didn’t care. Now that is just too weird for me.

I was able to see friends whom I haven’t seen in years. My best friend arrived early Sunday morning the day after I got home. CeCe is the best and I love her like a sister. She has a family now and her 1 yr old son is so huge.

Another friend flew in to see me for about 36 hours and then had to go back east. I received a call from the “perfect man” on Christmas Eve and this was the best present I could hope for. I have missed our conversations and look forward to more in the future. He knows who he is and I won’t elaborate.

My nephew Scott drove down from Fresno to spend a few days of quality time with Auntie Kat. What can I say, I’m a bad ass Auntie!!!! We hung out, laughed, looked at our travel pictures, and basically just bull-sh***ed for few days. It was fabulous.

My sister Dee and I spent a lot of time together. I accompanied her to her Salsa night and watched in utter amazement; the woman rocks!!! I was so impressed. My other sister Becky and her husband (Bill) made it to town for my birthday weekend. We had a great time shopping and getting pedicures. All of us girls got the same darned design; go figure, sisters! Then the funny girl’s introduced me to a new comedian, Jeff Dunham; OMG, Becky, Dee, and I laughed until we cried. We annoyed everyone in the house!!!! Nnnaaaggggg, biiiittttccchhh

The only down side to my trip home; my brother Damon wasn’t able to fly to California. He and his family live in Minnesota and at least I was able to talk to him a few times. It meant a lot to talk to him. Damon is like my twin; we are only 6 months apart in age and have done everything together our entire lives. Being away from him and not having that connection has been tough.

I also attended a mini Rosedale Elementary School reunion. I saw friends I’ve had since kindergarten. This was also my birthday and I was able to celebrate it with them. Then Christmas Eve we went to Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks for dinner; my sister Donna and niece Christina were there. I've missed them both.

Overall, I had the best Christmas EVER!!!! I was sad to leave and cried when I left my family. Yes, I cried…….. However, I’m glad to be back on Guam and in the sunshine. I can’t wait to see what 2008 holds for me.