The Circus Keeps Coming Back...But Childhood Doesn't

Yes, I unabashedly ripped off that title from President Monson's latest conference talk...but it so accurately describes my motivation for the events of this post. I'm certain I don't need to rehash here, all the details surrounding our overseas move (since I've already done so ad nauseam in previous postings). Adding in an 8 hour round-trip drive to LA in the midst of all of that when it wasn't absolutely necessary might seem like insanity. Maybe it was.

When we met up with the Hinmans at Disneyland this past November, Gretchen suggested (implored, really) that I take Coree to American Girl Place in LA...and we HAD to do the lunch. It would be a life-altering experience...when would we get another chance? It seemed crazy, but I determined that I would do it. Coree knew nothing of this plan (I couldn't stand the pressure, for one, and what if I couldn't pull it off?)


(Trivia: For those of you who don't know Gretchen...she's Cliff's childhood-best-friend Sterling's mom. Cliff was very close with Sterling's family. They even took him on vacations. Bob (Sterling's dad) was a teacher and coach and Gretchen was a librarian. They exposed him to many wonderful things and were just an overall great influence on him. Gretchen has impeccable taste and style, and Bob has a very unique sense of humor.)

Anyhoo, we got down to the wire, and ended up squeezing this in 3 days before our departure. I couldn't believe I actually got a reservation only 1 week out. I knew it would be no small feat. For one, we had no heater (remember?) so we'd really have to bundle up through the mountains. We'd also have to leave by 5:30 AM to make it to the OC to meet up with Gretchen and grand-daughter Kalee, before making the drive into the city for our 11 AM reservation. We would have to make sure the boys were all set for the day, too.



I didn't tell Coree she was coming with me until I woke her up at 5 AM. I helped her do her hair and told her to dress herself and Nellie in cute outfits. She already knew I was going to LA for something undisclosed, so she figured out where we were going pretty quickly. We dropped the boys at Seminary, picked up our favorite salted carmel cocoa at Starbucks and were on our way!

Gretchen did not lie! It was a magical experience.


The lunch room was darling,






the food was art,






and the shopping was sweet!




I didn't know that it was actually part of an outdoor mall, so mom and Gretchen got to do some bonus shopping, too. I was SO excited that I was the one that got to introduce Gretchen to Anthropologie...she had never been to one. I knew she would love it. We have very similar taste (impeccable!). For some reason, she didn't seem quite sincere in her appreciation at the introduction...better for her wallet not to know it exists, I guess? She'll thank me later!



(I found this there for Minetta...can you believe it? I'll have it off in the mail to you in a jiffy!) {hehe...only she and I know what a funny statement that is!}

So, here is one of the highlights of the trip. We were leaving Anthropologie, and who do we see? Adam Sandler! Can you believe it?


Seriously, though...he was just chillin' on a bench, with a stroller, waiting for his mom. We asked if he would pose for a picture with Coree, he was very kind and agreed:


And then Gretchen proceeded to tell him all about Cliff and I, where we've been, where we're going:


He kept looking back and forth between us saying, "Take care! Oh...Stay safe! Best of Luck to your husband...tell him to stay safe!" etc. I remembered to tell him Happy Hanukkah. (Was that too dorky?) Then we went into Barnes and Noble for a bit, and ran into him again when we came out and he waved at me again and said, "Take Care." Then I got this picture of him helping his mom with her pinched finger. Isn't he a nice son?


Then, it occurred to me that I could have been shooting video, so I got this little clip here:

Coree and I disagree on who he waved to (we were standing right next to each other, but he was clearly waving to me).



So we are driving through Beverly Hills traffic, soaking in the atmosphere...


When a gorgeous Jaguar coming toward us wants to make a left turn in front of us. We stop to oblige, and traffic in the lane next to us keeps going. I said to Gretchen, "Don't you just love that, when you try to be courteous and people don't cooperate?" I don't notice much about the passengers, other than the driver is a beautiful blonde, and the passenger is male. (I was too busy reviewing my photos of Adam Sandler.)

Finally, traffic stops and as the Jaguar turns, the passenger leans out to give us a "thank you" wave, and it's Jim Carrey!!! Can you believe it? Was I ready to snap a photo? NO! I was still star struck by Adam Sandler's pics in my camera.

It was a day to remember in SO many ways! Not even mostly for the dolls or the celebrities, but because it felt like a small victory over all the "have to's" and the "maybe tomorrows" that fill my days. I don't want to look back with regrets. As wonderful as it was to reconnect with Gretchen for such a special day, I couldn't help but mourn the loss of all the time which has passed by, time we could have spent building relationships. I didn't dwell on it, but instead lived in the moment.

My goal...to have more days like this one and less days full of "maybe tomorrows"...