Holiday Tour 2017

Post date: Jan 18, 2018 1:4:39 PM

I don’t get back to the US very often. In fact in the 1.5 years I’ve been living abroad I’ve made it back exactly twice, both times for Christmas. Because it’s only once a year, I save up my vacation and do a big trip back. This year it was three weeks long, and I tried to see everyone (if I missed you, I’m sorry). It made for the least relaxing, most sleep deprived and most loving and fulfilling trip ever.

I usually try to coordinate my trip home for Christmas to see Team Gehrke. Marty, who I’ve known since sophomore year of high school, and his wife Caryn, who is truly awesome, have 4 kids (Martin, Levi, Charlotte and Quentin). But this year, we were only going to get an afternoon together before I left town… so I proposed that I could come up to New Jersey the first weekend I was in town. And let me tell you, it was worth the 4 hour negative degree drive north, because I had an awesome time. I did puzzles with Levi, I played Magic the Gathering with little Martin, I colored with Quentin (who, at 18 months, has learned the word “yellow”, but it has no meaning. All colors, and most objects are called “yellow”), and I practiced putting on winter jackets with Charlotte (this doesn’t sound like much fun, but it was actually delightful. She has this cool move similar to Martin Sheen in the West Wing, and would giggle every time she succeeded. I sat on the floor and played with her for an hour). I also got to read with them, watch TV/movies with them and enjoy delicious pizza with them. It was also awesome to catch up with Marty and Caryn, and see their new home. Worth every minute of the long drive, and then some. Tripadvisor review: 5 stars would definitely do it again (seriously guys, let's plan this trip again for next year?).

Charlotte has NAILED her selfie game. She knows exactly what to do when the camera comes out.

One thing not photographed from this holiday tour is the time I spent hanging out with my grandmother, Staramama (slovenian for “grandmother”). I spent most of the week in my mother’s basement finishing up some quilts (the story of how nice my mother’s sewing machine is needs to be saved for another time. Just know, it’s like the cadillac of sewing machines. I’m not sure I even needed to be there, the machine might have finished the quilts without my help). But I ate lunch with Staramama every day. We sat and enjoyed each other’s company. And she gave my quilts the Staramama seal of approval (which is like gold… possibly more valuable).

After a few days in DC, I headed down to Charlottesville, Virginia, my old stomping grounds, and a mere 3 hour drive from DC. While I always enjoy a visit to UVA (so many amazing memories), the main reason to visit is to see my close friends. Catherine has been my “older sister” since my freshman year of high school. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding, and I always make the trip down to Cville to see her when I’m in DC. She has two beautiful and quickly growing little girls, and I am perpetually trying to buy their love with presents for Christmas every year. They don’t recognize me yet, but the quest continues. Catching up with Cat and her lovely husband, spending time talking over wine and food, and cuddles… again, this is why I come back to the US, so I can see my family, biological or not.

Bonus trip! The last few times I’ve come to Cville, my time has been limited so I focused on Cat and her family. But this trip I had more time in town, so I called up my friend Tamara. Tam and I walked the lawn together at graduation, and she was one of my most loyal and best drinking buddies during my last two years of undergraduate.

The best part? I didn’t tell her I was coming until 3 hours before I arrived (because I'm organized). She left a date in Richmond early so she could come back to Charlottesville and share a drink or two with me. I have the most amazing friends, and it was WONDERFUL to see her. If she’s reading this, she should come to Germany, so we can show the Germans how to drink properly.

One of the places she took me was a “speakeasy” that if it had existed when I was pursuing my undergraduate degree, I would have wasted a lot of money there. And they had Star Wars tiki glasses… which was amazing. I attempted to sneak one into my purse... but the bartender had his eye on me and I totally failed.

The morning before I left I took a stroll down memory lane. I stopped at Bodo’s Bagels (really are the best bagels in the world) and then walked around Grounds (at UVA we don’t call it “campus” because Jefferson deemed it “Grounds”). It was really wonderful, I loved my time at this lovely University.

My roommate Becky and I loved this spot for studying! It is in the special collections library, which is open to the public. Most students never went there, because it’s not a common place to study. So we would get this little nook all to ourselves and spread out our various study materials to learn for hours and hours.

Back to DC, which was defined by dinners with great friends. I used my one weekend on the East Coast in New Jersey (no regrets), so people were working during the day. But above is pictured one of my favorite dinners, at the DC Winery with Natalie. We were celebrating (new jobs, new promotions, old friends) so we asked the waiter for his opinion on their champagne. He went on a monologue about how it tastes like moonbeams, and trying to explain in biological terms why it was superior. Upon a little bit of probing, it turned out he didn’t know any of the biological terms he was using, but that he was very enthusiastic to be serving us, because his girlfriend had said she loved him that day. However, she was still living with her old boyfriend… we got a rinkside seat to his evening and thoroughly enjoyed ours. The food was delicious, the champagne was delightful, and the Natalie remains my favorite in the world.

Marty’s brother Tony has two GREAT kids, who have been calling me Aunt CJ since they were little. So I came over to help them, and their Omi (Marty's mom, who I've been calling "Mom" since we were in high school), decorate the tree. Angie decided that the tinsel had another purpose, to make me into a snowman.

This took most of her time, but she claims was worth it. I had a great time hanging out with them, playing with them on the playground and going shopping.

At one point Tristan (who is 10), and I were sword fighting with his fake swords. As we were sparring (I remain unstabbed, I think Tristan lacks a killer instinct), we were discussing which Marvel character we would be, and whether the Lord of the Rings was the best representation of elves. We also talked about the recent disney movies that were released, and the merits of each. I often hear “CJ you’re great with kids” and it all of a sudden occurred to me why. I was having a blast. I love Marvel movies, and sword fighting. I go to see Disney movies by myself. If I could find adults who wanted to play like Tristan, I’d also have a blast (cough, Jordan, cough). I’m good with kids, because I’ve never grown up…

On Christmas Eve I left the unseasonably warm East Coast (before the Polar Vortex descended), and headed for the actually warm Southern California, to see these guys. When my niece Annie was born I didn’t really understand why it was a big deal. But then I met her and immediately fell in love. So I have promised her that we will spend Christmas together forever. This means going to wherever Annie (and now her brother Mars) are, because they are too small to come to me (although I floated the idea of a Christmas in Germany...). Above you’ll see all my loves, Annie and her puppy Penny (my favorite four-legged niece), and her brother Mars is in the stroller. Dadding like a boss is my older brother, Marty.

Our family Christmas tradition is to open on present on Christmas Eve. It is always pajamas, and when we were little, was intended so that we looked good in the photos on Christmas day. My mother gave up the tradition, because she’s over it (her words, not mine). However, this year my little sister picked up the mantel, and frankly, killed it. She got us matching PJs. Marty and his family all had matching shirts (Marty: Mr. Buck, Krystal: Lady Dear, Annie: Little Dear, Mars: matching onsie), and Shorty and I had matching PJs. They were super comfy and looked great in our Christmas photos. Mom was so proud.

The other great thing about visiting San Diego is that Jen(best friend since I was 13)’s parents moved to Coronado a year ago. As a result, trips to San Diego now include a trip to the lovely island off the coast. I’m usually so focused on seeing Annie that I forget that California is warm at this time of the year (really all times of the year). I once again forgot to bring flip-flops, and only had one short sleeved shirt… but it is really nice to get to sit comfortably on the front porch in December and walk on the beach with my two favorite adopted parents.

We went to the zoo and ate delicious homemade pizza (somewhat of a tradition). They are thriving in Coronado, and it was great to see them doing so well, and to get and give hugs all around.

When my whole family was out for my brothers wedding, they went hiking at Torrey Pines State Reserve. However, at the time I was on crutches, so wasn’t able to join them. So this time I requested that we do the hike again, only this time it was just me and the Shorty (number 1 Shorty around).

It was a glorious and gorgeous hike, and it was wonderful getting some one on one time with my little sister.

Since my last trip to southern California, Eric has also moved out west. He is coaching at USC, and honestly killing it. The thought he puts into his role and how to be better at every aspect of his job is really impressive and smacks of success. I didn’t get a photo of him, even though we spent a lot of time together while I was in the area, but I did get a great photo of his babies, Phin and Boone. They are both camera hogs and absolutely adorable (Phin is photographed above).

Also, I hung out with his wife, Julia, for almost all of New Years Eve, and we had a BLAST. We went to see Dave Chapelle with John Meyer (random, but good show), I danced all by myself, and got a great big bear hug from Julia at midnight. It was awesome.

New Years for my love Hannah (see here) involves going to where her best friend is. Luckily for me, her best friend lives in San Diego, so we made plans for New Years day brunch. On the beach. Hannah and I talk often, but there is something about being next to the person you’ve only been talking with over the phone for the last year that really makes me feel satisfied. We were horribly hungover in these photos.

But again, I was really in San Diego to see these guys. Annie came up with that outfit herself, Mars is perpetually giggly, even when being forced into photos by his aunts (Shorty was complicit in these photos), and Penny and I enjoyed fetch almost every morning. She is still my favorite puppy. Way favorite. By a lot.

I also spent a whole day at Disneyland with Liz, my favorite Shorty, but that deserved it’s own post. So I wrote it already, read it here.

Next stop: San Fransisco to see Roxy, my other sister from my PhD. She’s working there as a data scientist for a start up and she’s killing it. Her (relatively recent) boyfriend moved in with her in the fall and I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting him yet. He is clearly great for Roxy, which is nice to see. Well done Blaine.

Roxy shares my love of wine and cheese. So we broke out both, right away. We also went wine tasting the following day, heading out of the city.

However, we made two mistakes. 1) I wanted to go somewhere new, so we went to the less expensive Livermore, instead of Sonoma or Napa. I would not go there again. 2) We didn’t eat before we started tasting so we were pretty hammered by the third winery. We stopped to get emergency taco bell on the way back to the city. I’ve never eaten so much taco bell in my life. I have regrets.

But one thing we did very well was we went to get oysters and they were divine. Luckily it was also long enough after our taco bell feast that we were hungry again.

Sunday morning we breakfasted at this amazing place that had been recommended to Roxy. On the wall was this massive mural showing the US. It’s stunning to look at, until you start to look at some of the details… then you realize how very racist it is.

For my final day in San Fransisco Roxy and I did what we do best, we went shopping. She lives right down the street from some truly awesome shops, a lot of them vintage, so we set off to do some hard core wandering/shopping. One of the vintage stores is like a history of clothing museum, and has clothes organized by decade. It goes back to 1920, and had some really amazing pieces and an overall really interesting vibe.

At a different clothing store, I found the pefect pair of “I’m moving to Berlin” shoes. They are wedge sneakers, vans, that are black and leopard print. I have already worn them out…

It was again, amazing catching up, and I look forward to seeing Roxy again soon :)

LAST STOP ON THE HOLIDAY TOUR! My friend Andrius and I know each other from the trip to Ghana. But in the ten years since, he’s moved to California, moved back to DC, gotten married and then moved back to California. He and his lovely wife (Nina, who is in the running for my favorite friend’s spouse), now own a home in Los Angeles, and Andrius has gone back to school for computer science.

So I got to high jack two days of his time and we hung out around LA! The last three times I’ve been to Southern California, it’s rained the last day, or last two days I am in town. This trip was no exception. As a a result, or trip to Venice Beach was a little wet, but still really cool. We now have plans to return when it’s less… damp.

Train was in the mood to go to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), so we went. I was fascinated by some of the ridiculous modern pieces (a square of white canvas. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me), while Andrius made his feelings about such pieces clear (see above). I liked the giant billiard balls!

He did not. And objected… loudly… to being photographed with them.

On the other hand we both agreed that the giant comb was amazing and well worth the trip. I’m laughing at Andrius in this photo, not intentionally trying to look evil.

This installation was really cool. It was a city made out of different material, with roads everywhere. However, it only runs (the cars run around the city!) on the weekends because you need an operator to keep the whole thing running.

Nina (who as I mentioned above, is actually the coolest), works at Netflix and invited us to stop by. I was like a giddy child in a candy store. EVERYTHING at Netflix is decorated with Netflix stuff! And behind those clouds is the Hollywood sign! And there were cool snacks and free food everywhere!

This is the cafeteria where we ate snacks. It was awesome.

I have no justification why I think this is hilarious, but there’s a bidet in the ladies restroom at Netflix. No idea, but hilarious.

These are hanging out in the lobby, along with a lot of other Netflix stuff (the banana stand from Arrested Development, a giant television wall). I tried not to geek out too hard. I failed. I was the least cool human being there because I was so excited to be at Netflix seeing all the Netflix stuff. Luckily, Andrius is not easily embarrassed, and Nina was stoked that I was so excited. Please note, these photos were only a few of many that I took. Many, many were taken…

Also, this giant 11 from Stranger Things bobble head was in the lobby at Netflix. I asked my hosts to pose with it, and they nailed the “looking cute” instructions. Or at least Nina did.

Overall, this trip was insane. It was a ton of visiting, lots of people seeing and hugging, wonderful hellos, and too soon goodbyes. I basically survived on 5 hours of sleep a night for 3 weeks, and never really got over jet lag/was exhausted the entire time.

But it reminded me of the cost of making the life decisions I have. I’ve chosen to live abroad, away from all these amazing friends and family. I don’t get to go to bubbly drinks with Natalie once a week, and I have to watch my nieces and nephews (both biological and not) grow up largely from afar. I have to make the time to go see them, so they will know me. And while this is sometimes hard, and for a few weeks results in no sleep, it is worth it. I like my adventure, and love that I have these people who I can go see, and we can pick up right where we left off. It’s often said that when you go out into the world, you can choose your own family and I really loved spending the holidays with mine, both biological and not.

So, a belated happy holidays to everyone, and I’ll see you when you come to Europe, or when I come visit next year during Holiday Tour 2018!