Sandy Eggo

I'm taking it back a few months here...

Early in August I was offered an opportunity I just couldn't resist... My Mom asked me to tag along on a road trip with her to San Diego, just the two of us! She had a convention to go to and just wanted a little company for the drive. At first I had a hard time accepting this offer... I felt guilty for so many reasons, to leave my kids for 4 days was one, to leave my husband for 4 days was another, but mostly it seemed unfair for me to slip away on a vacation when, as a family, we hadn't even been able to squeeze in the time or the money for a vacation ourselves this summer... But even under all of the circumstances my stars were alligned, and with much understanding and persuasion from my wonderful husband, we were able to work it out... I'm so glad we did!

It seems life is so busy these days that it's nearly impossible to even find the time to sit down with my own Mother and catch up on all of these things that are keeping us so busy! It's crazy isn't it? So it was wonderful to have 12 hours alone in a car to talk. It even felt nice to just to sit and stare off into the desert. That is one thing I love about my Mom and me, when we are together there is no such thing as an uncomfortable silence... we are both very much the same in that neither one of us is a big "talker" (for lack of a better word, but if you know either one of us than I think you know what I mean) We're both pretty quiet. I very much enjoyed the silence we shared as well as the conversations, and I think she did too.

I loved being back in San Diego with not a single thing on my agenda. My Mom was in meetings from dusk till dawn every day so she basically told me "Take the car, go wherever you want, come back whenever you want, do whatever you want." What? Wow! This was weird... and for a split second I thought I might be bored. I wasn't sure what to do with total freedom for the first time in a very long time. I love every moment of my life as mother and wife. I absolutely love having my husband and kids to confide in and to make decisions with... but for just a couple of days... it was just me, sunny San Diego, and my camera. So right after that split second of being unsure passed, I found it very easy to relax and just enjoy these few days I had been blessed with.

A day at the beach was all I had planned for my first day. When I found out I could rent a bike on Mission Beach for the entire day, and ride it as far as I wanted to, that's all I wanted to do. It was awesome! I would ride a bit, then lay out my towel for a bit. Then take a few pictures here and there. I spent a good couple of hours looking for the perfect place to order a beer and a fish taco... yum, I found it! This was kind of like heaven for me. It was solitude for me in my own little head, even though I was surrounded by a bazillion other people, I was doing my own thing, none of them were asking me for anything and I wasn't concerned with what any of them had going on either... splendid! I tried and tried to take a cool self photo, but I have a serious issue trying to figure out how to contort my face for pictures... so what I got in the end is a whole bunch of super dorky Susan shots... Oh well... I was a happy dork and that's what really matters! At the end of the day I had rode that beach cruiser bike all the way into La Jolla from Mission Beach.. I was S turning and pumping my way all over the super steep neighborhoods right on the cliffs of La Jolla. What a beautiful slice of Planet Earth that is! I could definitely live there! I made my way back to the hotel then Mi Madre and I went out for a much needed Mexican dinner. mmm... Muy Bueno!

The next day was really important to me. I wanted to go back to Oceanside and visit my old hang out spots. It was hard leaving the beautiful grounds at the hotel we were at. It was a haven for great photos. Such beautiful flowers, so different from everything we grow at home. There were fountains and statues everywhere, just gorgeous. So I wandered around, spent some time by the pools, then after having a nice lunch with my Mom I headed North towards Oceanside. Once I was on the road, I could hardly wait to get there!

So much has changed over the last 15 plus years! It's an amazing transformation! The Pier was a pretty scary place to be in the early 90's, but not anymore... The whole area has been re built. There are movie theaters and nice restaurants and shopping malls. I met my dear friend Dave for a Pacifico on the beach. I was so happy to see him and catch up too. He is like a big brother to me so that was a nice treat. Just as the sun was starting to go down I realized I HAD to get going if I wanted to check out my old High School... this was something I have always wanted to do. I had not been back since we moved after my Junior year in 1992. I have many fond memories there. Had many great friends who, I hate to say, I have lost touch with over the years... so it felt AMAZING to go back and just wander the grounds. I barley recognized the place. Just like the Pier, it has been re built. All except for the Field House and the area where I used to hang out at lunch they were just as I remembered them. What a trip it was to be there... made me so happy. It was completely dark by the time I left El Camino High, but there was one more drive-by I had to make. In the dark, I couldn't really make out which house was ours, but at least I nailed it down to a few possibilities. I was surprised to feel no emotions at all for that house. Like I didn't belong there. I was ready to go now.

I took a few more pictures at the hotel the next morning and even got in a few more hours lounging by the pool, but watching all the little kids play and the grown ups chat was really making me miss my family. The novelty of no agenda and no one to help me make decisions had worn off. By now I was absolutely ready to go home.

This post was sort of a long one for me, but it was important for me to document it. I am really SO thankful to my Mom for inviting me to come along on this trip. I loved having this time with her! I am also SO thankful to Greg for taking care of the fam and holding down the fort so I could go. I am surrounded by the most amazing people. much love.