On the Road Abode: Trading a zip code for a toad: Grand Joy

June 20 - 29, 2025

Tombstone to SoCal and Back

You always know the time is going to fly when you're doing something you love. With people you love. Especially little people.

I make an effort for Ezra and Elliott's summer visit to keep myself in the moment, not look at the calendar, enjoy all of it. Even the occasional we're-little-kids-in-a-different-environment bumps that come with these visits are just part of the experience. With those bumps few and far between, they earn 99%-angel badges from me! So the week is too quick, but it is very special.

The bags I forgot to take in the car make for fun surprises when we arrive. They're happy with the Legos and other toys, but the surprise for me is how much they both love having small blank notebooks and colored pencils to create stories and characters. Wish I'd remembered to take a couple pics of them!

I did however take lots of pics of everything else so they can tell the story of our week.

I'm delighted Ezra is embracing Harry Potter.

Elliott continues to be a Spiderman fan.

Flinging sticky, flippy critters on to the ceiling and waiting for them to drop on your face. Fun!!

At that age where the go-cart is a little too big.

And the small trike is a little too small.

Big brother helps make it work with a game of dodge-wheels.

Opening a portal is also fun!

Excited to see Elio at the theater where we know it will be much chillier than it is outside!

Post-movie, Ezra takes a nap while Elliott enjoys water play. Tessa avoids a second dunk.

This little pool has been a big hit the last two summers.

Elliott's turn.

An early morning trip to the groomer restores the fluffy dog to comfortable cuteness.

Movies are such a great option that we go see another one - How to Train Your Dragon is excellent. Go see it!

After the movie we're picking up pizzas while PopPop gets stopped on his way home in the Jeep with a blown water hose. The shop is around the corner, but a tow is needed to get there. We arrive a few minutes after he gets to the mechanic. He takes the kids, dog and pizzas to the house in the Ford while I wait for AAA. Jeff and Tessa pick me up 30 minutes later. Our new local mechanic has it fixed the next morning - whew!

Bubble blasters - woohoo!!

Bubble-mode on my phone's camera only catches one here - but they blast out a gazillion of them at Jeff and I.

They're just too sweet, these precious boys.

When the heat we've been complaining about feels really good!

Mellow skies all around.

Elliott quietly watches a young buck at the water bucket.

I promised Ezra he could spend a day playing games online with his friends. Their Xbox is set up on the temporary tv in our bedroom and he plays quietly most of the day. I'd like to have him with me, but it's his vacation too :-) His Uncle Jeff reminded me of the importance of that many years ago.

Elliott and I take a short drive through the "old west", and then he plays an elaborate game with toys and narrative in the living room. I join him for some of it (my imagination pales in comparison!), then we read and play games on his tablet.

I could do this for hours. Just a few years ago it was his brother, so I know it doesn't last forever :-)

We're packed up and back in the car at 6:30 Friday morning. Boooooo :-)

Drawing more characters in his notebook.

Four of these stretchy, light-up giraffes in different colors are big fun :-)

Lunch stop for happy meals - the toy is the one character we don't remember from the movie :-)))))

After decades of driving this route (I took I-10 instead of I-8 this time), there's a new sign at the state border. Nice!

With no shade at the pool, we're happy with a nice suite at Comfort Inn for our last night. We enjoy a tasty delivered dinner around our coffee table, and more play before early bed.

Their masterpiece with sticky pipe cleaners. Yes, we cleaned the mirror before we left :-) Both are mimicking the character's face.

Also fun out of the car!

We send the "here we come!" pic to the parents.

After another five hour drive through the desert world of SoCal, the family is excited to be reunited and share stories of our adventures. Mom and Dad got away to Monterey so they have fun tales too!

Mom is coordinating a big Pride event for the next day in their little community so she's busy getting ready. I lend a hand with a little ironing (I still remember how), then the rest of us give her some space and head out for Chinese food.

Where Ezra catches a fly out of the air above our table! Wow!! We're all amazed. He's a little grossed out :-))

Saturday morning I'm out early. I'm sad to see an empty backseat except for the happy dog who gets to stretch out again after a week in the front seat.

Oh maaan :-(

Saturday's event is a big success - this is just a part of all Shalise did.

A big boost for a sad morning is my next stop. Almost two years ago our ninth grand was born, and I have yet to meet Cassidy Jane! I'm so excited to see her and brother Henry and their parents Megan and Chris. Megan is my borrowed daughter, and they are all very special family.

I know from her photos what a happy girl Cassidy is - she and Mom share that great smile.

Handsome Henry is getting so big.

I sure wish they lived closer!!

I make my way back to Blythe where the hotel I left the day before has no openings. The Best Western is a clean and reasonable option. I note that dog friendly only means they allow them, but not that there is any place soft and in the shade to relieve themselves. Tessa too is quite the travel-trooper!

At my friend Maggie's recommendation I have a delicious dinner at Garcia's. They have moved into what was the Courtesy Diner for decades (I ate there several times in high school). Turns out the family owned both restaurants and recently closed the diner and moved Garcia's into the bigger space. Mamma Garcia still in the kitchen makes superb chili rellenos!

I have another good audio book, Turquoise Ledge by Leslie Marmon Silko to keep me company on the last leg. The biography of a Native American woman is very different from many stories, and well told.

Less heat haze this trip, although still heat at 108.

Our southwest states have lovely overpasses on the Interstates, and in some towns art is added to utility boxes on busy corners. This one in Buckeye, Arizona, is one of the nicest I've seen.

I'm back home by 1:00. Hard to believe I just left two days ago!