We experienced an adventure in coastal Carlsbad recently in San Diego County with our daughter, her husband and our two grandgirls. The trip wasn’t supposed to be an adventure as such, but that’s how they sometimes turn out.

Let me just say that unless you have ever assembled a set of bunkbeds with the innocently dedicated assistance of a 4 1/2-year-old and a 21-month-old, you have not experienced life. Or exercised patience with a sense of humor. This particular adventure actually started the day before when Vicki drove us to a Leviathan department store in Mission Valley.

To say that it’s a big store is like saying that quite a few people live in China. This store has a cafeteria, a play area for children, and a staffed baby-sitting room. The parking lot is Huge. The store interior is frighteningly enormous to those of us who don’t especially enjoy shopping. I think the place also has its own police department, air force and medical center. But probably not.

Anyway, after we ate in the cafeteria, I got to be with Ella Valentina (she’s the 21-month-old) in the play area while Vicki, Jan and Natalie went on safari. They hunted down bunkbeds and the associated accoutrements. We had a bit of commotion at the checkout because of the cart awkwardness caused by large cardboard product containers. Further tumult resulted because the girls wanted some gummy candy, which they got (to avoid additional hubbub), and which we all shared (the candy).

Well, this is getting too long. Allow me to simply note that we used store-supplied twine, managing to “secure” the two large boxes containing the bunkbed ingredients to the top of Vicki’s car. Then we drove home somewhat cautiously, although I got a headache and a sunburn from watching the boxes through the sun-roof.

Demonstrating my mule-like strength, I unloaded the boxes. Next morning I unpacked them, and hauled them upstairs. Then it was, Let the Assembly Begin. Thank goodness that Vicki and Jan understand how to put stuff together. And I take directions well.

The whole idea was to move Natalie and Ella into one room, which meant that Natalie was displaced from what was her room. This always happens when we visit, but this time her former room was to become a permanent guest room, instead of a part-time one.

Obviously this registered with Natalie in the way a child will perceive. Because when Vicki told her, so as to make it easier when we left, that we would depart in two days, Natalie looked at her and said, in all honesty, “I thought they were going to live with us!” Wow, what a feeling.

I think we’ll be going back.