Barbara J. Hamby

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Sibling Harmony

Our mother would probably have been pleased to observe the get-together of my three sisters and myself, at our youngest member’s Oceanside, California home. We are back to our own homes today on the 96th anniversary of our mother’s birth. My two Seattle sisters flew home today.

I returned home yesterday. My flight was less than delightful, starting nearly two hours late. I started feeling under the weather (pun intended) while sitting in the San Diego airport reading a novel and, by the time I got home at about 1:15 a.m. I was really sick. I’m much better tonight, however.

Our week in the area formerly known as Sunny Southern California was great fun, even in the rain. Our sibling rivalry was jovial. The shared memories were many. Our baby sister reportedly finally lost at Scrabble last night when I was no longer there to shed my bad luck on the games. Our hostess’ husband, a gourmet cook, (he wouldn’t allow me to call him a chef) treated us to many delicious meals. One sister was prompted to observe that she would definitely recommend their bed and breakfast.

Dramatic weather prevailed during our stay, including two electrical storms (one nearby and very loud) and a tornado watch. The resident dog had to be sedated several times. The green hills we saw all around Oceanside and San Diego are uncharacteristic for this time of year. The flooding and the landslides are awful to see.

Side trips to Old Town San Diego, to Carlsbad’s Museum of Music and the Genealogy Floor at their library were completed during sun breaks most of the time, or at least between cloudbursts.

And, as they say, “a good time was had by all” of us whose former surname was Fairfield.