Prelude to a vacation

Second day back from a really wonderful week away. First, some background.

We really hadn't planned on going to MD at all this summer, with gas prices so high and the money we wanted to spend on the house. But with my uncle sick and my wife needing a break, we went for an extended weekend over Memorial Day, which ended up being a really nice little getaway for us. Since then, my wife's mom has been diagnosed with cancer, which we now know started in her colon (over 50's, don't fear the colonoscopy; it's a life saver, and mom's doc apparently didn't believe in them) and has spread to her lung and liver. (Surgery tomorrow; prayers, please, if you're thus inclined.) Also, wife's full-time gig as a grandma grows increasingly frustrating (read on for an example), and she really needed a break. (Mind you, we're not complaining about the grandchildren. They're a joy to be around, and we're glad we're able to be with them.)

Too, my aunt had a family get-together planned for Saturday, which may be the last chance we have to all hang out with my uncle while he's still able to enjoy our company. Finally, two of my wife's sisters' families have established a tradition of going to Ocean City together for a week each summer. My wife has wanted to join them for several years, but it had never worked out for us; they had their condos reserved for last week.

All-in-all, it looked like a good time to head east again, spend a few days at the ocean and a couple more visiting family on "our" side of the Bay. Our conviction on this was strengthened when our daughter refused to make her own alternate child care arrangements, even though we'd provided phone numbers for willing helpers. If she'd been dealing with me rather than my wife, she'd have been out of luck, because I absolutely wouldn't have done it for her - where does she think she gets her stubbornness from, anyway? Our primary relationship with two of our daughters seems to have become free child care provider, and that's going to change.

Adding to our frustration was some conflict with our oldest, who was on the outs with the youngest over a petty issue, and evidently was not too pleased with us, either, at one point accusing us of playing favorites.

With our youngest granddaughter's 3rd birthday party scheduled for the 3rd (oldest's family not present; "I think I may have a heart attack and die from 'not surprise'!"), we decided to forego the preceeding weekend and just head out on Monday, spend the night in her folks' spare room - thereby giving us a chance to cook supper for them - before 4 days/3 nights at the ocean, with our last two nights at my wife's oldest sister's house, partly so we wouldn't burden her mom. Even though we're well able to take care of ourselves, if I were in her position my time to myself would be really important to me.