A Mother and Son Trip

T and I took a flight down to Burbank last weekend. We visited with my friend and her 2 sons. She and I have known each other for a decade now. She and I taught at the same school in NYC. There was one year where we taught 1st grade together. She had the class from hell and I had the one with angels. It was a very unequitable division on personalities, plus as a last minute admission, the illegitimate daughter of prize boxer Mike Tyson was enrolled in her class. Mickey Tyson weighed 120lbs. and stood over 4 feet tall as a 1st grader. Among some of her antics, she locked out the PE teacher from the gym and her classmates wept from fear.

Kristine and I took a Sunday afternoon to pamper ourselves at the Korean baths. We got our bodies scrubbed and massaged. It took 3 hours and worth every minute. Her ex-husband babysat our boys. Needless to say, they divorced 2 years ago due to his adultry and lack of financial support to the family. But he is still very much involved in their lives and loves his boys immeasurably.

T and I then took the Surfliner Amtrak from the LA Union Station down to San Diego where my uncle and aunt are living as visiting scholars. He is on his last sabbatical from Korea and making the most of it by living in the most desirably livable city with perfect weather. T was completely enamored by the train ride and very much at home with the extended family. We had a grand time at Sea World, watching the killer whales and dolphins immerse with the trainers in the water. I was utterly awed by the sheer size of the whales but the heartfelt moments came when these enormous creatures shared such gentle exchanges with the humans in their charge. I was misty-eyed throughout the show. T's mouth stayed open the whole time too.

We were glad to return home, refreshed and relaxed from the time away. H and Mike picked us up from the airport happily as we decided on where to dine for lunch. We are blessed to have a dad who supports us so well.