Happy Birthday, Mom

Union Station Los Angeles

Today is mom's 76th birthday. I hope it's a good day for her. Each day without daddy is hard for her, and I know that special days, like today, are hard to endure. He spent 55 married years with her doing birthdays, holidays and anniversaries, so I know that celebrating these days are just a reminder of being alone.

I decided that I would go to Lemoore to visit with her last weekend and the sisters and I put together a little party for her. We had a pic nic at sister G's place, the weather was great and her back yard is beautiful. Silver and her very cute little boy were there and Pat. It was a good time, but I did notice some behavior that mom has that disturbs me a little.

First off, the picture above is Union Station in Los Angeles. It is very pretty and really does look exactly like that, but with more people. There are lots of people that go through that station, either through Amtrak or the metro line. The reason the picture is on this entry is because that was the station I went through on the way to mom's. I decided, since my poor car has too many miles and can be a bit unreliable, to take the train to Hanford. It was a very fun trip up. I took the surf liner to LA, and changed to the bus to Bakersfield, and transferred to the central valley line to Hanford. The trains all have an upper deck and the view is fantastic. The train is very comfortable and though it took me as long had I driven, I never got stuck in traffic or had to look at the back end of a pick up truck/van/delivery truck/semi-truck. I will say, however, that the lack of information through the Amtrak is amazing. I had no idea where to find the stinking bus at the station, and I asked several people and they all said, "go all the way down, past the Subway stand and out side", but I wondered around too long and had to finally ask the information lady, who took me to the correct "outside" door and wallah! the bus was there. Just in time, but no time for a restroom stop! I got on the bus and off we went. Bus drivers don't waste time! On the way back to San Diego, the bus dropped us off at the station and didn't even bother to tell me which track the train would be coming on. There must be a dozen tracks there, and each one has a tunnel off the main tunnel. I was so confused. So I took a seat, knowing I had a 2 hour layover, and watched the people work the room. Then a very nice lady sat next to me, and I recognized her from the bus. I asked her if she would be going on to San Diego. She told me she was so I asked her which track. She didn't know, since she was handicapped she got to ride the tram to the line and she just told the driver where she was going and they knew which track. She told me that if I gave the driver a dollar, he would take me too. So I did, and I would do it again. I was already on board when they called the train in the station. Great bargain!
Union Station is a melting pot of very unusual people. There are people who will do anything for your money, one man wanted to sell me his stash of books he wrote. Another just wanted my money and told me so. I have to hand it to him, he was truthful. There are lots of "religious" folk there, and they want to sell you their pamphlets and would appreciate a good will offering. Then there are the musicians. Some of them are pretty good, some are really bad, most are either high or very in tune with the muses. I really had a good time people watching. I wish my PacNorWest friend had been with me. We would have had a total blast there. Overall, the train trip was a success, and knowing what I know about the transfer, it would be much easier next time.

As for mom, life has always been on the stressful side. I know that she has been a grudge holder, and has taken me to task for events of the past, but this trip proved to be a disaster. I will not go back alone. I did talk to sister G, because I know that she has endured the brunt of this for years, and this is just par for the course, mom just had some "unfinished" business that she felt she needed to discuss with me. It was not nice. I put my foot down, and it wasn't well received. So my plans have changed about visiting. Once the pain is gone, I will consider visiting again, much later. I hope I am never that way to The Girl. It frightens me to see this behavior, especially when there could be genetic issues as well as spiritual issues.