08/26/08
 
Perspectives -- A Vacation Detour
 
Last week brought the family vacation that wasn't. Instead of making the long drive to Whistler, British Columbia, my family detoured to a hospital in Milwaukie, Oregon to hang out with Grandpa, who wasn't feeling well. I was disappointed to miss out on Canada, but I enjoyed a slumber party with Papa in his hospitaI room, just the two of us watching the Olympics on the small television wedged near the ceiling.
 
Grandma stayed at home. It struck me that I had never seen them apart. I asked Papa if anything other than this trip to the hospital had come between them. He said, "World War Two."
 
Papa offers good perspective. He remembers the Great Depression, just as he remembers listening to the live radio broadcast of the "Long Count" (Tunney vs. Dempsey, 1927). He's also quick to laugh, always asking first for the Comics section from the newspaper. He got a chuckle when I told him that at his age, he's expected to have a few "barnacles on the boat." He was also amused by my interest in buying a motorcycle, but more on that next "Perspectives."
 
I'm happy to report Papa's hospital stay lasted just a few days, and he's back home with Grandma, now, doing his gardening and reading the funny pages. Given gas prices and the exchange rate, Papa ended up providing us a bargain. And I imagine Whistler in August is a lot like, well, Bend in July.
 
I'm happy to be back. It wasn't much of a vacation, but it was quite a relief.
 
Jay
 
jayfrank@kohd.com

Jay Frank can be seen co-anchoring KOHD News weeknights at 5, 6, 6:30, and 11. Jay was the first Oregonian named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Writing, and is the award-winning author of two full-length one-man plays, "Bedroom," and "The Shining Queen." His work has received exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute and been seen by television audiences in 52 countries around the world.