Warriors

During the seven years I was living in the Mojave desert, the northern most reaches of Los Angeles County, the round trip back home each summer had become routine. In my early 20’s, I drove on I-5, the major north-south freeway on the west coast, avoiding two-lane highways that may cut drive time but would be lonely if I had car trouble. In the time before cell phones, the freeway had frequent call boxes, which made me feel more secure.

Next, in 2015, I began making recurrent driving trips to Southern California to spend time with my sister-in-law who had been diagnosed with ALS. My father-in-law had died of the dread disease four years earlier. Soon after learning of Steph’s diagnosis, I told my husband that our youngest and I were going to see her when the school year was over. He acknowledged but didn’t interject any thoughts or plans. Roughly five days before takeoff, it finally struck my husband that I was leaving to drive to Southern California with our younger son. I wondered why he’d been so complacent. I’ve not driven to So Cal by myself since we got married.

Opposition to my idea of driving straight through was strong from my husband and my traveling partner son. Substantial plans were then put in place. One practice that I maintained from my early days was stopping overnight in Redding, CA on the way down (if stop I must!). Upon return, I stayed in Medford. The drive was 24 hours, and these stops broke it up in two 12-hour days. I tossed aside my mom’s fears about a 22-year-old, blonde woman traveling more than 1,000 miles alone. The current plan did take me on the two-lane highway through the middle of Oregon, stopping at Klamath Falls for overnight rest. Cell phone and a teenager changed the course.

Over the course of the next few years, when my sister-in-law lived, the regular annual trips resumed. Varying combos of parents and sons allowed everyone in our family a chance to visit each summer, while providing SIL two separate breaks in her routine. It turned out my visits were all in June, and every year the Warriors were in the championship series, aside from 2016 when they went to conference finals. Now, I’m not much of a basketball fan. When I lived in So Cal in the mid-to-late 80’s, I had a great time cheering on the Lakers but mostly because it was a reason to go out and watch on big screens in bars.

This was different. I found Steph Curry. I really like that guy. He seems to be a standup guy of strong character and high expectations, for himself and the team. Some of the names are the same today: Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and Klay Thompson. These players, and more, were part of my stayovers in Redding every year. They kept me company.

Then my sister-in-law died and the travels came to an end. I’ve still paid attention to the NBA finals, some. This year, I’ve gotten involved again, cheering Steph Curry and the Warriors. Watching them play brings a sense of comfort, warms m heart. It takes me back to a roadside motel at the halfway point of my trip, first in my independent 20’s and later, when my sister-in-law was still alive. I’ll be watching game 6 tonight and cheering for Steph Curry again.

p.s. Warriors win the championship in game 6! Steph Curry was star of the series.