The Wait Is Finally Over!

My mom immigrated to America almost 39 years ago.  My grandma has promised my mom that she would come visit "someday."  That "someday" arrived last Sunday!  The last time we saw my grandma was nearly 9 years ago, when we visited Korea.  My mom has been on cloud nine during this visit.  I couldn't be happier for her.  

I think it is striking how much I look like my grandma.  I think I also get my work ethic, loyalty to those close to me, fierce love for my children, and resilience from her.  She passed these traits on to my mother, who then has passed them on to me. 

This picture cracks me up!  I was making fun of my cousin for her camera stick (she's the only person I know in the world who has one and uses it!), so I snapped this photo of my mom and grandma being cheesy. Amusing.

I took my grandma wine tasting last Thursday.  I had intended for a sunny afternoon in wine country sipping wine overlooking million dollar view, but it ended up very wet and foggy.  The view was almost nonexistent. However, the pucker face my grandma made with every sip of wine (she thought it was gross) was priceless and very entertaining. 

I took my cousin to a Blazer game last week.  She kept saying "wow...wow...wow..." throughout the entire evening.  I suspect this was biggest arena she has ever been to and definitely the first professional basketball game she's ever attended. 

What has been most touching to me, is the instantaneous love my grandma has had for my boys, her great-grandsons.  She couldn't get her hands on them quick enough, in particular this little guy!

 She "steals" Russ every opportunity she has.  He appears to love her back!

Henry is not nearly as accommodating with the hugs, but he did agree to sit for this rare posed picture. 

 Henry's "monster face" made my grandma laugh.  They bonded over Legos.  I love that my 83 year old grandma who doesn't speak English sat and built Legos with Henry, for hours. Bless her heart!

Another foggy day of touring.  We didn't let it stop us though.  We visited the Vista House, Wikeena Falls, Multnomah Falls (which was the number one thing my grandma and cousin wanted to see), Cascade Locks and Pittock Mansion all in the fog.  That evening we took a dinner cruise along the Willamette River on the Portland Spirit.  My grandma was impressed at how big the ship was; apparently she hasn't seen a real cruise ship. 

A trip wouldn't be complete without some time with Henry sitting around in his underwear schooling you on who the ice monster is.  My grandma patiently listened to his explanation (despite the language barrier). 

I am forever grateful my boys had an opportunity to meet their only living great-grandparent.  It warms my heart that they could bond utilizing the universal language of love and kindness. 

I hope my cousin, who is escorting my grandma, enjoyed her trip and that it was memorable.  Along with the activities pictured above, we traveled to Mt. Hood (which of course was foggy, so you couldn't see the view, and there was hardly any snow...no snow at Ski Bowl), took a short hike to a waterfall, got interviewed by Channel 8 news (and actually made it on the 5 and 6 o'clock news), went dancing at a gay bar, met up with some friends for cosmic bowling, went shopping at the Woodburn Outlets (which she apparently learned about via the internet prior to arriving), met up with a PSU graduate student from Korea, toured around downtown Portland, ate some great sushi, went beer tasting, and tried our best to communicate.  All the meanwhile, I still tried to play mom and lawyer (clocking in nearly 30 hours, even though I took most of the week off).  I'm exhausted.  But, it has all been well worth it.  I hope its been memorable enough that my cousin returns for a visit in the future (but hopefully in the summer or fall, so she can actually experience the breathtaking views!).