Away from home with children and grandchildren

I am doing this posting from Tustin, California, where my wife and I are visiting our son and his family (wife, Carla, and their four children: Chad, almost 18; Melissa, 7; Zachary, 5, and Olivia, 2).This is our third visit to them. I am reminded of the comment of former Vice President Alben Barkley to the effect that grandchildren are wonderful, because the grandparents can love them, play with them, and then turn them back to their parents.

Tustin, and all of Orange County that I have seen, is modern and spotlessly maintained; there is no peeling paint on buildings, scruffy lawns, street signs of various sizes and shapes, litter, and other signs of neglect that one sees in many East Coast towns and cities.

The automobile is as much of a necessity here as clothing and shelter; driving on the freeways during rush hours is a nightmare.

The mixture of ethnic groups is interesting: aside from apparent Caucasians I see mostly Orientals, followed by Hispanics; I have seen few black people. Visiting our grandchildren’s elementary school is a good place to observe the diversity of people.

The weather is ideal for many people: usually sunny and temperatures in a moderate zone most of the year. But not for me—I learned years ago while living in tropical areas that I missed the four seasons. Although the weather in the Baltimore area, where I have lived for many years, is frequently uncomfortable—the high humidity accentuates the cold in winter and the heat in summer—I very much like its distinct seasons; I especially like some cold winter weather when we can huddle around burning logs in our fireplace.