We're on the road again...until we're not

We're ready to hit the road again. We're making a stopover at Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Park near Oakhurst, CA then heading up to Yosemite before the summer crush hits. All's going well until we make a sharp right turn on to Bass Lake Road. CLANK! I get out and check the tow bar and under the back of the RV...nothing, so we continue on.

The clank in the rear end is getting progressively worse. Thankfully, we finally do reach the Bass Lake RV park. We stop inside the entrance at the top of the hill afraid that if we venture down the hill to the park proper we will never get out. We spend two days at the top of the hill (where there are no hook-ups), so we are running out of water and are unable to run the air conditioner in the almost 90 degree weather.

By day 3, we need to rent one of the cabins at the RV park.

Initially, the insurance company promised a tow truck would be there the next day at 9:00 AM. After a no show, we're told by the insurance company that no one is willing to tow a 30+ ft RV with a rear end problem. After a frustrating day of calls to various towing services and repair shops, we call a mobile repair service. He comes out and determines our differential is gone. He does pull the rear axle, which will allow us to be towed. Because it is the differential, we are able to find a repair shop in Oakhurst, just 10 miles away.

So our campsite for the next four days is Sullivan's Tire Pros. A new differential has to come all the way from the east coast. Because of the differential's weight, it also has to be shipped via ground. So we're looking at about a 10 day wait. Fortunately Tom's sister Cathy and her fiance, Dave were gracious enough to let us stay with them while we waited. At long last on May 6th, we finally pick up our repaired RV and continue our trip.

Growing Up Sansei

We're heading back to northern California to tend to some things. It's fortuitous that the beginning of our stay coincides with a reading of Growing Up Sansei, 'Garage Door Opener' at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. The reading stars my sister, Dian, and brother-in-law, Shaun, as the mom and dad. There have been a number of readings all over the state, but this is the first time Wendy will get to see it.

Sansei are 3rd generation Japanese-Americans. This play is the story of two sansei siblings whose nisei (2nd generation ) parents were interned in the Japanese concentration camps. Although most nisei parents have suffered immense scaring from the experience, they never talk about this with their children. After their parents pass away, the siblings go on a journey of discovery about their parents while cleaning out their parents' garage. In the mementos and "junk" kept by their parents, they discover heart-breaking aspects of their parents' lives that they never knew about and gain a better understanding of their dysfunctional family.

One of the things I was surprised to learn about from the play was the stigma associated with answering "No-No" to the loyalty questionnaire withing the Japanese American community. It was a heart-breaking story of many sansei whose parents have passed away and, now, the opportunity to share sympathy, understanding, and love has passed.

Dian and Shaun were funny, inspiring and touching as the parents! Kudos to them! If you ever get the chance to see it, I'd recommend it. 

The reading is preceded by a taiko drum performance

Dian is 2nd from the right and Shaun is on the far right