Trip Four - Part II - Family Introductions

By the time we rolled into Orange it was almost noon and the weather was gorgeous. There was still a chill in the air but the sunshine warmed us as we sipped tea outside at a cute cafe across from Paul's old office. As we walked back to the car we passed a men's clothing shop and peered in. The owner was glad to see us, "Hi Paul, how are you?" That small town familiarity made me smile. We then wandered further down the street to the local outdoor store where we purchased a gift for Paul's brother's birthday. Next on the agenda was finding a place to stay for the night. There was a rugby union event in town that weekend so hotel rooms were hard to come by. We tried at the golf club but the attendent, a young man with a funky style, gorgeous curls and a significant space between his front teeth informed us that they were indeed full, so we took a room at the motel just off the main drag. It was quite empty except for a handful trucks left for the day by migrant mine workers. The room was small and cold but just what we needed for the night. After getting settled we headed over to Paul's mum's nursing home. She is a lovely sweet lady and was so happy to see her son, although her Alzheimers made the visit awkward at times. "You're all grown up!" she said a couple of times and at one point she got talking about a donkey or some such thing. It was hard for Paul to see her in that state, supposedly she has deteriorated a lot in the last year, and it was likewise hard for her to let us go. She must be somewhat lonely even though family members seem to visit her often. It was so wonderful to watch as she and Paul joked together, now I know where he gets his sense of humor! On the way back we grabbed a bite to eat at the local RSL club. The woman behind the counter asked Paul how is mother is doing. He said he didn't know her, must have recognized his name, but I suspect many more people in Orange know of Paul than he of them. I was often reminded of his former heartthrob status in his younger years. After a quick nap we got dressed up for the party and stopped by Paul's father's house on the way. The house was a feast for the eyes. Every inch of every wall was covered with art, masks, clocks, and various nicknacks. He is a collector of many things, and has redone every window in stained glass. I now understand why Paul is such a minimalist in terms of decor!! His father's health has also declined a lot in the last year, and he seemed eager to reach out to Paul. Perhaps because he's had a falling out with his other son. He even gave him a family heirloom, some kind of certificate his grandfather had won playing cards. Lou and his wife Joan offered us gorgonzola, ham, crackers, olives, and drinks but we took just enough not to offend and agreed to return for breakfast in the morning as we headed out to the party.