Missing Happy Hour

We are back home and cannot believe our good luck. We had the greatest vacation and Dads retirement party was so nice. We stayed at the Embassy Suites and you can take a tour here. My Dads good friend at the post office got us a great deal from his Dad who is an engineer there. We have never stayed anywhere so nice and fancy. At least I haven't, Pete has on business travel. For anyone looking for a place to stay I will just mention two words. Happy Hour. This alone was worth the money. Oh, two more words, Gin Daisy, my new favorite drink. It was nice to be home and do some of the things I had only done as school field trips. Colton Hall, Path of History, Point Lobos, San Carlos Mission, Carmel Mission, the lighthouse, butterfly trees and the wharf for Pete. The kids enjoyed all our sightseeing but were really won over by the pool/hot tub combo.
I always enjoy being home and it will always be special to me. This trip was different though. With my mom and John gone and my dad and Sharon on their way off to Oregon it just holds memories now. It will never be what it was to me. Really, I think that started with my grandmas passing, and now with my grandfather gone it isn't the same. The memories and feelings from that home have changed with the introduction of outsiders who feel the need to try and integrate themselves into our memories. Pacific Grove is a funny place like that, people love it and do what they can to be a part of it. So many people that I went to school with feel so strongly about our hometown but so few can actually afford to be there. Even Pete would like to be transferred there. You just can never recreate your childhood.
It was great to see all my Dads friends from the post office. Some of them I had the pleasure of working with when I was the worst cleaning lady ever. Not for lack of experience, but because I didn't want to miss a second of the post office action and my Dads incessant joking around. I will always remember Pebble Beach and meeting our Dad for lunch. Him bringing home wonder bars from the market across the street. Him in his postal uniform. The old Christmas parties. Barbeque's with the Babautas, Rick and his bar tending skills, the first retirement party at Jodys, years ago, when my Dad was attempting to move to Colorado. I think you know Dad that we feel that the Post Office is part of our life just as it is yours. Just in a different way.
Anyway, it was nice and I am excited for my Dad. A lifetime of California and now onto Oregon. I hope for him a feeling of home in his new surroundings. I hope he doesn't lose that sense of excitement and adventure in moving somewhere new. I hope that as great as our memories are that he can look ahead and make some new great memories. I hope that he isn't bored without the Post Office. Not the work and route, but the friends and constant entertainment. I hope that he will make as many new great friends as he has now. I hope that he knows that wherever he goes we will always be ready to visit. I hope that Sharon knows this all applies to her also. I wish you both all the best of luck. We had such a good time with you and miss you already. We cannot wait to go crabbing and clamming and letting Atman walk Hans into a new part of ocean. Enjoy yourselves and just to pressure you a little Dad, I will be waiting for a blog. We love you! Team Lindgren (but always a Sheppard at heart)