Family Dinner

Sunday December 13, 1992

Prayer is answered. I awake feeling good. We're ready to go to Phil and Deb's about 10:00. We read the Sunday paper and leave about 11:00. We are first to arrive. We visit with Dee and Deb. Phil and Steve have gone to Pick up Frank's folks in L.A. They arrive about 1 p.m. Paul & Judy & Tayler arrive about 2 p.m.

We have a nice lasagna dinner about 3 p.m. We open gifts. Steve & Dee must leave early to pick up a friend at the airport from Australia. We stay until 5:30. Stop in Simi for a hamburger.

Donna and Bob arrive about 10 p.m. We talk until 12:30 a.m. I feel real good.

This is the first time I have heard of a Reina Family Reunion. It sounds like Frank's oldest son Philip and his wife Debbie hosted the early Christmas dinner in Palmdale. How nice! It must have been somewhat difficult to get everyone together as Frank's parents lived near Los Angeles Airport 70 miles away and needed a ride, and Delores (Dee), Frank's daughter, and her husband Steve, lived in San Diego, 170 miles away. For Mom and Frank to travel from Simi Valley was only 60 miles, about a one-hour drive. Frank's youngest son Paul and his wife Judy lived right there in Palmdale.

What a busy day for Mom. I am so glad she is feeling better. It sounds like Dr. Semrad was right about her tumors shrinking and the fluid in her abdomen being gone. For her to have such a long busy day and be up past midnight visiting with her best friend from Pollock Pines, she must have been feeling great. Praise God!

Wild Animal Park

Saturday August 29, 1992

We're up and off with Dee (Steve had to go to work) to Wild Animal Park. We arrive about 11 a.m. It's a hard uphill walk from the parking lot. I'm relieved when we reach the entrance. Once inside we hike up the hill to see the Dinosaur exhibit. It's tough and I sweat alot though the weather is in the 70s. It's a great exhibit.

Later we stand in line 45 minutes to ride the monorail, a 50-minute ride around the park. We see lots of animals. We have lunch, then wander around, see the bird show, the butterfly exhibit, the gorillas, etc.

We had a great day and are home tired at 5:30. We rest, eat and leave for the Padres/Pirates baseball game. It was great fun, but the Padres lost 2-3. After the game there was a great fireworks show. I felt great and did fine!

Whew! What a day! Just hearing about her day makes me exhausted, and I don't have cancer. I am amazed that Mom still has so much energy. I have been to San Diego Zoo a couple of times, but have never been to Wild Animal Park. Now that we have flights from Sonoma County Airport to San Diego, it sounds like we'll have to plan a trip there soon.

San Diego

Thursday August 27, 1992

Up and packing and ready to leave for San Diego by 11 a.m. We enjoy our beautiful ride down except for the traffic. Dolores in there to greet us when we arrive at 3 p.m. We spend the evening visiting with Dee and Steve We sleep well on their couch bed.

Frank's daughter Dolores went to college at CSU San Diego where she met her husband Steve. After they both graduated from college they settled down in San Diego. She is a teacher and Steve is an architect.

San Diego, pictured above, has a population of over 1.3 million. It is the second largest city in California (after Los Angeles) and eighth largest in the country. No wonder there was so much traffic on the drive down. Los Angeles County, Orange County and San Diego County make one huge metropolis with bumper-to-bumper cars. The climate in San Diego is what attracts so many people, as it is mild all year round, has beautiful beaches and warm water.

Surprise Birthday Party for Dolores in San Diego

Sunday July 5, 1992

Up at 5:30, we're off at 7 a.m. to pick up Frank's folks at 8 a.m., then off to San Diego for Dolores' surprise birthday party at Peohe's Restaurant on Coronado Island. It's a lovely drive and a lovely restaurant. She had been told we were coming but all were very surprised to see the folks. We had a really good brunch at 11 a.m.

After brunch we go to Dee and Steve's house for birthday cake. We visit a few hours. I'm tired from my cold and cough but have felt pretty good all day. Wonderful compared to last week! I help drive home 1/2 way. It's good to get home. Dolores loved our gift of rabbit wind chimes.

Thank you, God, for answering my prayer for recovery! We go to pick up Justin at 7 p.m. but they're still swimming so Gary brings him over at 9 p.m.

This sounds like an exhausting day for someone who is battling cancer as well as battling a cold, but in spite of all circumstances, Mom is thankful for a good day. Peohe's Restaurant on Coronado Island looks like a beautiful place with scenic views of the San Diego skyline. Frank's daughter Dolores must have been very pleased and surprised.

Chris & Ric Visit Her Dad

Sunday December 22, 1991

I'm up at 8 a.m. but very tired. We fix a big breakfast for Steve & Dee, then the rest as they slowly arrive from bed. Steve & Dee and Mom head home about 10:30. Mom goes only to Pasadena and will go home tomorrow.

Chris, Ric & Justin leave for Bob's house about 12:30. Frank and I go into high gear cleaning house and changing all linens on beds and baths and washing clothes. Big job.

At 5 p.m. we are finally cleaned up and ready to go to Turner's open house. We go but stay only an hour. At home later we fix left-over dinner for Chris, Ric and Justin. We all watch TV til 11:15.

No wonder Mom is tired after staying up past 1 a.m. the night before. Thank goodness she had a break from company for most of the afternoon, although it wasn't the least bit relaxing. Thank goodness Frank was right alongside her cleaning, vacuuming, making beds. He was a big help to Mom.

Ric, Justin and I went to visit my dad in Granada Hills for Christmas this day, as we did every year until they moved to the Colorado River near Parker, AZ after the Northridge earthquake in 1994. My mom and dad were married until 1972. They divorced when I was 19 and my brother Gary was 16. Dad (Bob) is pictured above with his mother Alda and two brothers George, on the left, and Clyde, on the right. It was Grandma Alda's 75th birthday party in July 1985 when this was taken.

Grandma Helen is still very independent in 1991. She drives her pick-up truck from Desert Hot Springs to Pasadena to stay with her son Gene Thomas and daughter-in-law Cathy Thomas, then drives the rest of the way to Mom's house in Simi Valley. She does the same routine going home. She was very blessed to have good health and outlive her daughter. She lived to the ripe old age of 89. Up until the last few years when she lived in an assisted living home, she was able to live independently.

Five Weeks After Surgery

Monday November 11, 1991

Five weeks after surgery.

We're up at 7 a.m. to have breakfast with Steve before he leaves for work. Dolores tries in vain to sleep in. By 9 a.m. we are on our way to Frank's folks for lunch. I'm feeling really great! No bad effects from the hill walking yesterday. We stop for a snack at 10 a.m. I really don't think I'm any more hungry than usual with the new kemo. I think I should be able to lose a pound a week with a little effort. I'm ready to get back to walking.

We visit with Frank's folks a few hours, then head home to go square dancing. I am full of energy after a one-hour rest and really enjoy dancing with our friends. I dance every dance and don't even sit to rest in between tips. We eat out after with all our friends.

We have careful intercourse for the first time. It's great!

Wow, a full day driving from San Diego, visiting the in-laws, square dancing and then out to eat with friends, and Mom still had energy left over to have sex? I'm exhausted just hearing about her full day, and I don't have cancer. I'd say she is recovered from her surgery!

La Jolla

Sunday November 10, 1991

Slept so well! No hot flashes last night! Wonderful! I wake up feeling great! Dolores makes us turkey bacon and egg toast. We enjoy!

We take a walk and later drive to La Jolla. Steve gives us the "nickel tour" of his architectural firm. In town we stroll the streets and down to the beach. It's mostly cliffs and rocks. There were some swimmers. Sunny day, water 62 degrees.

We stop at an estate sale and Frank buys Steve a book on house repairs. Later we drive to Mission Beach and we buy lunch at a nice restaurant. We walk on the beach. We go for a drive and arrive home about 5 p.m. Dolores fixes us a nice dinner. I am tired. This was quite a day of walking for me. Surgery was 5 weeks ago. I did well today. Some strange pains, not bad.

Well, I had never heard of the term nickel tour, so looked it up and it means to show you around the place quickly. Must have been a saying from mom's generation. La Jolla is a beautiful town north of San Diego. Dolores and Steve actually moved there several years later and paid lots of money for a tiny fixer-upper. So I guess the book Frank bought this day might have come in handy for later.

Off To San Diego

Saturday November 9, 1991

Best night this week. Only 4 hot flashes last night. I feel really good this morning. I'm awake at 6:45 and ready to rise and shine. By 9 a.m. we're packed and ready to go to San Diego. The traffic around Los Angeles is "stop and go". Awful! But we finally do arrive about 2 p.m. We stopped for a nice lunch at Marie Callendar's in Capistrano.

The kids are glad to see us. We get the grand tour of their new house. It's really a neat little house. We will sleep in the trundle bed in what will be the baby's room someday.

We go to Old Town for dinner but all the restaurants have long waits. We end up at Acapulco where the kids don't care for their dinners. Steve buys dinner.

At home we eat the key lime pie we brought from Marie Callendar's. I call and talk to Yvonne but it's hard. She's doing customers' nails while we talk.

Wow, 5 hours to travel 160 miles from Simi Valley to San Diego, and this is on a Saturday, when traffic should be much lighter! Several years ago, when our two teenage boys were very young, we took them to Legoland which is in Carlsbad, north of San Diego, and I remember the traffic coming north to Simi Valley through the Los Angeles basin, including the Long Beach area. It was 8 lanes of traffic on Interstate 5, all crawling along at 5 mph. We have not been back since. The horrendous traffic is one of the many reasons I left Southern California after graduating from college in 1974.

I remember mom talking about how small Dolores and Steve's house was in San Diego, where prices were so expensive for housing. Dolores is Frank's daughter, who went to college at San Diego State, met her husband there, and stayed in the area after graduating with a teaching degree.

I am so touched that Mom called Yvonne who lived in San Diego (and perhaps still does?) Yvonne was my brother's girlfriend 35 years ago. That's one thing I admire about mom. Once a friend, always a friend.

Where's the Trick-Or-Treaters?

Thursday October 31, 1991

Frank lets me sleep in a bit. I'm up in time to call credit check on Laura's application and be ready to go shopping when Kathy Murphy arrives. Frank is going to lunch in the valley with someone he used to work with. Kathy and I are off to Country Rainbow to buy her some square dance clothes. We have a great time. Everything looks good on Kathy. She buys 3 outfits. We have lunch at Jesse Cates. It's really good.

Back home about 4 p.m. I am tired. Laying down awhile really helps.

We call Dolores & Steve to say we can't make it for their Open House party in San Diego this Saturday, but would love to come another weekend. They'll let us know when.

Only 10 kids come for trick-or-treat.

Dolores is Frank's daughter in San Diego. She is a teacher there and her husband Steve is an architect. Housing prices are very expensive where they live, but they finally saved enough to buy a very modest home to raise a family.

10 kids for Halloween? In our neighborhood we always run out of candy no matter how much we buy. We have hundreds of kids, including many who come from other neighborhoods. Our neighborhood is safe and well-lit with houses close together so the kids can quickly fill their pillowcases with candy. It is also a neighborhood that goes all out with decorations on the houses, both for Halloween and for Christmas. On July 3 every year several streets into the neighborhood are closed off after 5:00 because the streets are jammed with cars around the park in the center of our subdivision. Many of the streets have neighborhood barbecues and block parties and everyone gathers in the park or their front yard to see the fireworks display from the high school next door. It's a great place to raise a family.

Pitch Woo?

Monday August 5, 1991

Slept in until 8 a.m. and lazed til 9 in bed. Up and at um! Lots of unpacking, house cleaning, washing, etc to be done.

All done, we're too tired to go square dancing. Instead we take a lovely bath and pitch woo--it was a long lonesome week in twin beds--SMALL twin beds--on the ship.

Big news! Steve calls to say Dolores is pregnant and her due date is March 17, 1992. Oh joy!! They'll make good parents, I think. I hope Steve is truly ready for the Big Change in their lives.

I am cracking up! I have never heard the expression Pitch Woo! I had to look it up on Wiktionary, and sure enough, it means making love. I sat on the edge of that huge soaking tub in their master bathroom every time I visited Mom while she meticulously applied her makeup and fixed her hair.

Yikes, small twin beds on a romantic cruise! Even more reason to avoid a cruise. Could they have requested a queen size or even king size bed? No wonder Mom was so tired trying to balance on a narrow bed.

Dolores is Frank's daughter, his youngest child. She and Steve are pictured above along with (from the left) Frank's youngest son Paul, Mom and Frank, Frank's oldest son Philip and his wife Debbie, Frank's parents Florence and John Reina. Dolores is an elementary school teacher in San Diego, and her husband Steve is an architect. Their child will be born 4 months before my son Derek.

Flying A Kite

Saturday June 15, 1991

Woke up feeling a bit woozy. Fixed french toast for breakfast again but still felt like I had a flu--ache all over. Kept laying back down while trying to get ready. Dolores and Steve will be here about 11 a.m.. They arrive at 11:45. I feel somewhat better. I fix lunch for us and we head for Ventura beach to fly our kites. My kite flies real good but Frank has lots of trouble with his.

We come home through Santa Rosa Valley--big beautiful homes. I prepare dinner for us all. Dee and Steve stay til 8:15. We must pack and get ready for our trip. We fly out tomorrow at Burbank at 6 a.m.

It's 11:00 by the time we are packed and ready and exhausted.

Oh my goodness, mom, do you ever just take a day off? Just read a book or watch a movie? Always on the go, always entertaining, always putting on a brave front, even when you are not feeling well. You are burning the candle at both ends, as they say.

A Real Fixer-Upper

Thursday June 6, 1991

Dolores awakens me at 6:15. I have slept very well and feel good again. We arrive at the house to buy at 8 a.m. for an inspection with the inspector and realtor.

The house is badly in need of many repairs, some major, some minor. Looks overwhelming to me. I suggest "Do Not Buy". They think Frank can come help put it into shape but it's way more than he can handle. It needs a roofer, electrician, mason, plumber, new carpet, carpentry, yard work, etc., etc.

We suggest to Steve that it looks like too much work for 2 busy busy people.

We arrive back home about 7:30 tired. Steve and Dee call to say they have decided not to buy the house. We agree. Dee's pregnancy test is negative.

Wow! What in the world made Dolores and Steve make an offer on such a house? I know that housing in San Diego is very expensive and maybe this is the only house they felt they could afford. But by the time they paid for all the repairs, the cheap house would become very expensive.

Dolores & Steve Buy a House

Sunday June 2, 1991

We're up at 9:30 for breakfast. After unpacking and Frank vacuuming the house, we're off to Northridge Park for the festival. We see Maria (daughter in law) and Anna (her sister). I feel surprisingly rested instead of jet-lagged. My legs feel heavy and tired after an hour and a half of walking around so we head home for a nice steak, corn and baked potato dinner at home.

Lots of phone calls to catch up on. Dolores (Frank's daughter) and Steve (her husband) have bought a house in San Diego and want Frank to come down to inspect it for them and give an opinion. So we'll go Wednesday afternoon and come home Thursday afternoon.

The folks are all OK. Mother sounds good. Couldn't reach Gary--gone fishing!

We are ready for bed by 10:00. Smokey (the cat) is very glad we're home and wants lots of lovin, and we do. The girls, Daisy and Punkin (the dogs) are happy to see us too. We love our animals.

My brother Gary always did enjoy fishing out in nature. His favorite spot is up near Mammoth Lakes in the Sierras. Since this post was written on a Sunday, there's a good chance he went up for the weekend.

Dolores, Frank's daughter, met her husband Steve when they were both attending college in San Diego. They married in 1986, pictured above. She went on to become an elementary teacher and Steve became an architect. It wasn't until Dolores went off to college that mom and Frank got married. He was a single dad raising 3 children, Dolores being the youngest, and bringing a new mom into the picture would complicate things.

Dolores & Steve

Saturday May 11, 1991

Busy morning, Frank and I giving each other permanents. Of course, I put all the curlers in. Frank puts the chemicals on.

We enjoy french toast together. I am sleeping much better now. Frank works in the yard and I putter about.

Dolores arrives about 5:30 and we take her to dinner at our favorite Japanese restaurant. She brought me a lovely lily plant. She stays until 8 p.m. when she leaves to spend tomorrow with her mom--Mother's Day.

Dee and Steve have found a house they'd like to buy in San Diego and plan to make an offer. Steve is at his mom's house.

We go for a yogurt and watch TV. In bed for whoopee by 10:30.

Dolores is Frank's daughter, currently still living with her husband Steve in San Diego. She and Steve met when she went to college at San Diego State. She is a teacher and Steve is an architect. They have 2 teenage children. Strange coincidence that Frank's daughter and mom share the same not-common name. The above photo was taken at Dolores and Steve's wedding in 1986. From the left are Frank's son Paul, mom and Frank, Frank's daughter Dolores and her husband Steve, Frank's daughter-in-law Debbie and Frank's son Philip with their son Joey, Frank's mother Florence and his father John. John died shortly after mom's death in 1993.