Day 0: The prologue

When I last wrote, I was excited about the trip I am about to take up and down the state of California. Priorities, however, can quickly change.

My mother was recently admitted to the hospital for what discovered to be fluid in her lungs.

She spent three nights there as doctors also treated her for anemia by performing a blood transfusion. I talked to her on Tuesday and she sounded as if nothing had happened. In fact, she was full of energy thanks to the new blood.

But I still worry. Going home now has a new aspect to it since this is the second time in a year where she has been admitted to the hospital due to complications from her diabetes.

My last night in Long Beach gave me a reminder of my last night at home before I moved. It was Independence Day and before I left for Southern California I was able to see the fireworks show in Tracy, Stockton and a white flight community called Discovery Bay.

From the Press-Telegram offices on the 14th floor of the ARCO Center I was able to the show next to the Queen Mary. It reminded me of that last day.

Tomorrow, I begin my trip. I'll update with thoughts on that day. So far, I'm already sort of dreading it. I'm looking forward to get away from work, don't get me wrong. Especially after I worked 10 of the last 11 days (quiet Feenstra) where I had to design special pages and make adjustments to new guidelines set in place by my company.

What I am dreading is the weather. My first stop is Fresno (insert your own joke here) to see my sister Clemencia and her family. The high tomorrow is expected to be 111. The stop after that is Turlock, where my sister Carmen and her family live. On Friday the temperature will level off at 101.

The high in Long Beach today was 77.

But that is what family is all about.

Miles traveled today: 0

Miles traveled total: 0