Bucket List

A lot has happened since our last lunch with dad.  My sister and her husband, Dan, moved back to Fresno from the Central California coast.  A necessary move for various reasons, but a difficult one to say the least.  They had to leave their son, daugher in law and two grandbabies behind which has been nothing short of agonizing for both of them.

 (Mother's Day 2012 Visit)

Of course the obvious weather adjustments and lifestyle changes have been challenging.  As difficult as it was to leave they are settling in to the Fresno/Clovis routine and it is like riding a bike.  Some say Fresno is a vortex...once you move here...you can never really leave.  In my sister's case I suppose this rings true!

My sister started her new job within the first two weeks of moving back while my brother in law, on the other hand, is nursing a very badly injured knee that is due for surgery sooner rather than later.  I feel so bad for him as he hobbles around on what looks like an exotic melon rather than a knee joint!  He never complains and is so willing to help out wherever and whenever needed.  Dan has always been such a hard worker and really loves to serve others.  It is in his blood to serve.  He amazes me.  In particular he loves to cook and watch people enjoy his gourmet dishes.  He has become the household chef for my parents and they are loving every minute of it!

In addition to my sister moving home...Joe and I moved about a week later.  Our new home is larger and closer to the school.  We love it!  Our move was necessary as well.  We had a short amount of time to get out of our old home and into our new home due to Joe's schedule with the railroad.  This brings me back to my brother in law again.  I watched in awe as he hobbled around on a terribly swollen knee tirelessly helping Joe move our entire home, and I never once heard him complain about how badly he hurt.  We are so blessed to have family that are supportive.  Not many people can say that they love their brother in law like a real brother...but I can honestly say that Dan is the big brother I never had.  I am so thankful for him.


I invited my sister and Dan to lunch with dad the first week they were here.  We went to the Doghouse Grill, a restaurant that caters to the college atmosphere and is right across the street from Fresno State.  This was a great choice for hanging out.  Not so conducive to conversation but a great place to reconnect and enjoy each others company.

 We had a great time.  Mariah had just been picked up by Fresno State's soccer team and so we had a blast talking about the excitement ahead of us on the pitch!




















The following Friday dad and I went to the Madd Duck.  This is a local pub that has several flat screen tv's with various sports playing on all of them.  I guess you could call it a sports bar.  Dad and I love the sweet potatoe fries and their sliders.  We didn't spend much time looking at the menu which was great because we had a lot to talk about :)

Apparently dad is still "tinkering" and continues to drive my mom crazy.  Dad said he told her "I won't pull the dirt over my head until I'm dead!"  I cracked up at that one.  I told dad that even though it drives mom crazy...I'm glad he is busying himself with this and that.  For those of you who do not know, my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2007.  I am constantly encouraging my dad to get out in the sun and soak up the vitamin D!  I am pleased that he is tinkering but don't tell my mom ;)

( Dad's Crazy Hair Hat :)

Dad and I ended up reminiscing about my childhood as we often do when we get together.  We remembered the many motorcycle trips we took and the motorcycle club "Trails and Wheels" we belonged to when we lived in San Bruno.  I learned to ride my first dirt bike at the ripe old age of 10 and progressed to bigger and faster bikes and engagd in racing and jumping over mini tracks that we created while camping.  This was a huge part of my childhood and my dad was my hero on the motorcycle.  Dad and I remembered people we hadn't thought about in years and wondered how and what they were doing. 


Dad, as usual, bagged up half of his meal and brought it home for my mom.  We went back to the new house where dad patiently (for the most part) waited for my mom to get off work and pick him up.  This has become our lunch with dad routine and it is nice because dad gets to visit with the kids for a bit...if they're home that is...most of the time at least one or two of them are home, so it works.

Two Friday's ago we decided to try out a new place...Eureka Burger.  Dad said his goal with our lunches was to try as many places out as possible.  I love that idea and told him I thought it was a great goal!  Eureka Burger happens to be a really great little restaurant with probably the best burgers I have ever tasted in my entire life!  The cool thing is we are related by marriage to one of the owners.  If you are a local I highly suggest this gourmet burger joint.  The food is incredible and healthy. 

Dad was in a fun mood and said he wanted to make a running list of wishes.  A bucket list if you will.  Funny thing is...I was going to suggest we make one together.  This lunch with dad rountine has got us in sync :)  The following are some of the wishes we came up with for our Bucket List:

Lunches-New place each visit
Trout fishing
Watch Mariah play Semi Pro (Clovis Heat team) and Fresno State
Watch Marlee in her dance recitals this summer
See Colby play baseball
Get my jeep running again
Go to a Giant's game
Go to a 49er game
Cruise to Alaska
Visit Cananda again
Go back to Hawaii

Here we got a little side tracked and reminisced about our trips to Hawaii when I was a young girl. We have a lot of good memories together and I think this bucket list is do-able. I will keep you all posted...and rememeber to be blessed! Life is too short to live it any other way :)

(Dad Being a nut at Eureka Burger)

(too sexy for my cane!)