“You’re going to post another blog about San Diego? Isn’t anything exciting happening in Aura?”

Christopher and Seunghye in San Diego last weekend

I emailed Christopher yesterday to request permission to publish the above photo in this blog.  Just to make sure it was OK with him and his fiance, Seunghye.  (Not everyone is ready for their photo to be published on the Worldwide Web, you know.  Although they may be, if you reassure them that thousands of people won’t be gawking over their photos.  Just a few visitors, you say.  Don’t be shy.  Your photo looks wonderful.)

He emailed back the above response:  “You’re going to post another blog about San Diego?  Isn’t anything exciting happening in Aura?”

For those of you who don’t know, or who know and have forgotten, we live in the town of Aura.  Our mailing address is L’Anse, but we’re Aura residents, for sure.  Aura IS a dot on most Michigan maps.  It doesn’t have a post office or grocery store, but there is a fire hall and community hall.  Also a baseball field.  Years ago, it featured a post office, but that disappeared back when we were young parents who couldn’t even imagine that our offspring would one day be engaged.

The answer, dear Christopher, is Yes.  One more blog about San Diego.  Of course there are many exciting things happening in Aura!  Specifically, it’s warm.  Fifty two degrees Fahrenheit, as I write. That is 11.1 degrees celsius for you folks from South Africa and the Netherlands and New Zealand.  (Question to self:  does Canada use Fahrenheit, or are we the last worldwide standouts on the Fahrenheit system?)

Cactus Park --in San Diego's Balboa Park

It’s raining lightly here in Aura this afternoon.  I’ve been spending the entire week attempting to return to normality, whatever “”normality” might be.  Trying to catch up at home, catch up at work. 

Part of me still IS back in San Diego.  As you blog-readers can tell.  Today will be the last post from the West Coast, I promise.  (OK, unless something wakes me up in the middle of the night pertaining to San Diego.  In which case you shall hear more.  But I am thinking we’re wrapping up last week’s vacation.)

One of the many beautiful flowers in the cactus park

Some of you have requested details concerning our meeting with Seunghye’s parents. 

I am here to tell you that you will have to subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel to read those details.  My husband has written a column describing our meeting.

Yet, for some reason, I feel shy.  Quiet.  Protective.  I don’t want to splash our special meeting across the web–especially photos, without their permission.  I don’t know that her parents would appreciate it–although they might.  I want to hold the memory of our day together very quiet for now.  I hope you won’t mind.

Cactus flower in the sky

Here’s what I can tell you.

We met at Christopher’s apartment.  We traveled in two cars to a downtown San Diego restaurant next to a marina and ate wonderful food outdoors as the sun warmed us.  Seunghye was a wonderful translator.  She made it feel easy.

Don't try to be invisible, Little Lizard. We can see you.

Afterward, we drove to Balboa Park.  Seunghye’s mother–especially–loved the cactus park.  She is a lover of plants and has many in and outside of their South Korea apartment. 

We  liked each other very much–although the language barrier was a challenge.  How do you get to know someone when you speak different languages?

Yet another cactus flower...

While Christopher and Seunghye cooked us a traditional Korean dinner back at his apartment, Seunghye figured out a way for the parents to communicate.  The four of us sat on the living room floor and played a Korean game called Yut. 

We tossed sticks up in the air (known as Yut sticks) and moved our markers (known as mals) around a small board.  Pretty soon Seunghye’s mom and I were clapping wildly–whenever anyone threw a good hand.  Seunghye’s dad corrected us when we moved our mals in the wrong spaces.  We were cooperating, working together, getting to know one another.

Without words–it is still possible to learn a lot about another person.

We had a good time.  It was a good day.  One that we will remember for the rest of our life.

Thank you, Christopher and Seunghye, for making it so special.