Cross-Country Road Trip! Days 2-7, Mile 1063: Family Time.

Okay, so we planned this trip around visiting O's brother, Rudy, in Massachusetts, but the start date of the trip was dictated by the 90th birthday party for my brother-in-law, Glenn Michel. Glenn is my sister Robin's husband. My sister died 10 years ago this year, just a few months after my mom passed.

Glenn is doing well at 90, and it was great seeing him and my nephew, my nieces, and my grandnephew and grandnieces, especially when we found out that my grandnephew and his wife are soon to have a child.

My sister, Catherine, and her husband David came as well. Unfortunately, my brother Burt was not able to make it, but at 87, I guess he has a good excuse.

After we left Las Vegas, we drove the 283 miles to Long Beach, where Glenn lives. Our hybrid averaged over 50 mpg, so we only had to gas up once at high CA prices.

The weather was beautiful and Catherine and David joined us on a short trip to Seal Beach, where O and her family used to visit when she was a kid. She has fond memories of sleeping on the beach with her family.

The beach is still beautiful. 

We strolled on the sand and the pier, then explored downtown Seal Beach. We stopped for cocktails and dinner at Walt's Wharf, a Seal Beach tradition.

Excellent martinis and grilled artichokes.

The house-smoked fish platter was delicious (albacore and salmon).

Glenn's birthday party was a lovely affair. It was great catching up with family we don't see as often as we'd like. The food was good, and the company was even better.

After the celebration, we headed south to Escondido to visit Teresa and Matthew. They are just beginning to enjoy being empty-nesters, and it was so good to see them living in a new way--peaceful and happy-- after the challenging years they've been through.

Matthew's mom died last month, and he spent nearly six weeks in England with his family before and after her death. So he was in a very tender place.

It was such a special time for the four of us to get together. We talked about life and death. We laughed. And we enjoyed each other's company on an even deeper level than before.

Of course, no trip to the San Diego area would be complete without a visit to Old Town. It's very touristy, of course, but there are some great shops and one of my favorite restaurants, the Old Town Mexican Cafe.

Great margaritas and fresh, handmade tortillas.

And some of the world's best carnitas. They offer three styles: shredded, chunky, and crispy.

Pro tip: order the crispy. The plate of porky goodness comes to you looking like a plate of hash browns--a flattened disc of shredded meat browned crisp on the outside and succulent and juicy on the inside. Accompaniments include onion, avocado, cilantro, and jalapeño. Wrapped in a warm, just-made tortilla and washed down with a generous pour of mezcal, it's a little morsel of heaven.

The weather was perfect--low 70s with a fresh ocean breeze--and full spring was everywhere--from the blooming coral trees to flowers in every hue.

On our last day, we drove down Point Loma to Sunset Cliffs. Again the weather was perfect.

The air was bright with the sharp salt scent of the sea.

Beautiful rock formations.

An aircraft carrier was leaving San Diego harbor with an escorting destroyer.

Sea birds abound.

T & M's cats kept us amused with their antics, especially 7-month-old Winston, a Russian Blue and, I firmly believe, part monkey and part liquid. He can flow into almost any position or nook or cranny.

It was a lovely visit, and we hated to leave.

But the road calls.

P.