LA trip –

As we were wrapping up our vacation in Missoula, my cousin Arlinda called me and told me that her father Joseph (my dad’s oldest brother) passed away and that the service would be in LA the following week. My parents are in Portland for the summer so we started trying to figure out logistics of moving everyone to LA and moving around LA to visit people. Chris, who is spending the summer here in DC, flew with me to LA. My parents flew to LA from Portland and we all met up. I rented a car – over the span of 4 days, I drove over 400 miles, quite possibly a record for me. LA driving is not straightforward – the entire trip was exhausting, but actually great in a way. When someone dies at 90 years old after being sick for a long time, the funeral has a palpable sense of relief and we were, in some sense, happy to spend time together.

The first night, we had dinner in a San Gabriel Sheraton – here’s aunt Jane:

Uncle Robert:

most of us at dinner:

Cousins Chris and Andrea:

The next morning we drove to Malibu where we visited Carrie’s house which out of about 300 houses, hers is one of 40 left standing from the fires earlier this year.

We went to the third street promenade for lunch and then to my uncle’s Buddhist service. My cousins, his daughters are in the photo. Did anyone know Joseph was Buddhist? ummm, not really. But the ceremony was beautiful, gorgeous.

We burned lots of money and houses and cars for Joseph in the afterlife. Vince and Dani drove up from Irvine to attend the service and dinner and drove back after dinner.

The next day, I dropped my parents off at the airport and went to Westwood to pick up Chris – his parents were going to fly home to Texas and Chris and I were planning to spend a few days with Vince and Dani in Irvine.

At Irvine, I saw Vince’s lab (beautiful)

We had pho dinner with Dani’s parents and went to a dessert place so Asian…only mango desserts.

Saturday morning, I got to visit Keyla in Palos Verdes and the kids are doing so well.

And then back to Irvine to spend the afternoon at the mall with the kids and watched Superman and then had dinner with Dani’s family and then went to a sound yoga class with Dani’s mom. Then to bed and Sunday Chris and I flew home back to DC. Overall, a great trip. Got to spend time with lots of people and get to know everyone better. Loved being able to spend time with Vince and Dani and Dani’s family. Now back at home, Jeremy is leaving for California today on business. Nothing stops.