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December 30, 2004
L.A.
Christmas in L.A. is basically a series of routines for our family--Venice Boardwalk, visiting my deceased grandfather, having lunch at a Chinese restaurant, Third Street Promenade, etc. This year was no different but it was nice being in L.A. with my family and soaking up the California sun and warmth. It's a routine we go through every year and, as my grandmother gets older, one I increasingly value. My grandmother is a special person in my life--before I lived with my grandparents I spent nearly every summer with them and when my parents returned to the East Coast from Houston when I was a sophomore in high school, I ended up living with my grandparents off and on through graduate school. My grandmother is the heart of my family and was my surrogate mother growing up. She's outlived my grandfather by several years but has grown increasingly frail over the last two years. She's 89 right now and the thought that this could be the last Christmas we see her in relatively good health never loomed far from my mind. I really hope she stays healthy but doesn't experience the kind of demise that she dreads--one that involves pain or significant dependence on others. She's one of the most exceptional people I know and I was a little sad watching her wave goodbye by her doorstep.
Posted by Jennifer at December 30, 2004 12:51 AM