Two Weeks with Grandma

Fortunately, we were able to find fantastic daycare for Mimi by the time I started my new job.  Unfortunately, both our daycare centers decided to go on vacation in June, one the third week of June, one the fourth.  What to do?  Bring in Grandma. 

As I wrote previously, the offer letter for my new position arrived exactly one year - the the day - after I left my old job in New York.  In keeping with this "just in time" approach to a career, my first day of work was also the first day of my mother's retirement.  I guess it was just meant to be. 

Sumie and I were overjoyed to have such excellent back-up care, but not as happy as Mimi.  She'd get to spend four full days with Grandma, here in SF and at home, over two weeks.  I could barely get her to bed the first night before Grandma's visit.

Grandma took Mimi to the park...

...blew bubbles with her in the backyard...

...and even made sure she brushed her teeth after meals.

One of the days was cold and rainy, so Mimi played dress-up.  Here she is imitating her lovely Mama...

...and here's her J-pop debut.  I wonder if she'll make it into AKB48.

Of course, being the tomboy she is, Mimi couldn't spend all her time dressing up.  Before long she was astride her wagon, honking away.

And then she felt she had to wear a diaper on her head.  No, she's not in a sorority.  I don't get it either.  Maybe it's a manic toddler thing.

On Grandma's last day Mimi got to visit the neighborhood gym, which is decked out for toddlers.

The giant space was a bit intimidating, but Mimi found confidence riding fish...

...and playing under parachutes.

But the past two weeks weren't all play.  Mimi knew how hard Grandma was working taking care of her.  So she decided to help clean.  I'm still surprised Grandma didn't end up in the hospital after this shot.  

Mimi made the adjustment this week back to full-time daycare just fine, but I can tell she's wondering when Grandma will come back.  I have a feeling she's a little spoiled when Grandma's here.  Well, I guess that's what Grandma's are for, right?  Mom, thanks for watching our little one over the past two weeks.  It was a greater help than you know!

Land's End and the Sutro Baths

This Sunday Grandma and Grandpa came out from the East Bay to spend the morning with us here in San Francisco.  The weather was simply beyond spectacular.  Nowhere should March fourth be as sunny, mild, gently breezy, and clear as it was yesterday, especially in San Francisco.  My expectations for the rest of the year have, I'm afraid, been ruined.

Following brunch, we took advantage of the clear skies, extending all the way to the coast for once, and made a trip out to Land's End.  Perched on the North-Western tip of the San Francisco peninsula, Land's End offers trails down to beaches, spectacular views of the ocean and the Golden Gate, military history, shaded seclusion, and even reasonable parking.

The view from the parking lot was pretty amazing, but it didn't quite satisfy Mimi. 

She insisted on heading down the massive, cliff-face stairway to the promenade below.  Naturally, she wanted to tackle the stairs herself.  Well, with a little hand-holding, to be sure, but nonetheless, relatively on her own.  It took several weeks, but we eventually made it down.  

Once on the promenade we hooked to the left and headed for the ruins of the Sutro Baths.  Mimi again insisted on making her own way. 

Our hard work was rewarded at the bottom with an amazing view of the inlet to the bay.  You can see the tip of the north tower of the Golden Gate in the distance if you squint. 

Still too short to take in the views on her own, Mimi got a boost from Grandma up to the rail's edge.  Mimi's quite adventurous for her age, but at least she still has a healthy respect for heights.  The sheer drop to the water below brought a little more caution to her exploration.

But once again on terra firma, Mimi wasted no time taking control of the outing.  Here she is determining our next point of interest. 

There's not much left of the Sutro Baths, just some concrete foundations that hint at the grandeur of the former indoor pool and bath house.  This was no rec pool or day spa.  When it opened in 1896, Sutro Baths was the world's largest indoor bathing facility. 

 Encased in glass, it must have been a remarkable sight. 

And the pools... they were so large that lifeguards used rowboats.  Swings and diving board abounded, making entry into the water far more risky, and more fun.  It would've been a swimmer's dream and an liability insurer's nightmare. 

Sadly, the Sutro Baths came to an end in the 1960s.  Closed and partially demolished, then completely razed by fire, it's remarkable just how little remains of what must have been a colossal structure.  Hiking back up from the ruins I was a little saddened that today I highly doubt we could ever build something so grand, so revolutionary, so unique.  At least the ruins are still there to inspire us.  And to wear out Mimi in preparation for a nice, long nap.

Hot Springs, Cold Nights, and a Warm Heart

It's been a while!  Sorry for the break, but our last few days in Japan were so packed with friends and family that it was all we could do to finish packing in time to catch our flight home, which is where we are now.

Picking up where I left off, though, Sumie, Mimi, and I had braved insanely narrow and snowy streets, in a Toyota Vitz no less, to reach our onsen, or Japanese hot springs.  This would be our base of operations between visits to Sumie's grandmother (Obachan), who would turn 103 years old during our visit.  The journey to the onsen had been a harrowing one, but the end result was worth it.  Here's the view from our room.

 Mimi approved.  She wanted to put on her new galoshes (which she insisted on wearing everywhere) and explore outside.

I had other ideas.  Upon stepping into my room I found my left knee was in agony.  Strange, that, given the car was an automatic.  Luckily, the hot springs worked the tension right out.  Of course, before going down to soak, I had to don my yukata.  One must try to be native, even if one looks ridiculously out of place!

Each morning and evening we'd meet Sumie's aunt and uncle, as well as two of their friends staying at the onsen, for breakfast or dinner.  Here's Sumie, Mimi, and Reiko-obasan. 

The food, traditional Japanese fare, was fantastic.  And Mimi really began to embrace the cuisine of her second homeland.  Here's what's left of a grilled fish she had.  Fish heads, fish heads, yum!

 Mimi even used the fish skewer to get the most out of every bite.  She doesn't always have the best appetite, but she can be quite the industrious little girl when she finds something tasty. 

Despite the pleasures of soaking and eating, that was not why we'd braved the snow and come so far north.  We were in Yamagata to visit Sumie's grandmother and to introduce her to Mimi.  Obachan was staying in a wonderful rest home about 20 kilometers or so from the onsen.  Thanks to the rental car, we were able to visit with Obachan three times during our two night stay.  Here's Sumie and Mimi outside Obachan's place.  You can see that Mimi's still infatuated with her boots. 

Obachan sleeps most of the day now, and her memory isn't what it used to be, but she still looks wonderful and her spirit, that dynamic personality which has brought her through 103 years, still shines through.  At first, Obachan simply enjoyed a few strokes of her hair from Sumie. 

But before too long she turned to meet her great granddaughter...

....opened her eyes, and smiled.  It was such a wonderful moment.  Three women spanning four generations of family.  All together.  All smiling.  Mimi was so taken with the moment that she even came out with a new word: Obachan!

There were many highlights during our Japan trip, but our time with Obachan, despite being brief, was assuredly the most memorable.  Neither Obachan nor Mimi will remember these meetings, I'm sure, but that's really beside the point.  Someday, when Mimi sees these pictures, she'll ask us, "Who's that?" And that's when we'll get to share our adventures in Yamagata and, most importantly, the life of the very special woman who was the reason for our visit.