July 1, 2013
We are safe at home in California going through all the many things we have collected and stored. There
is no place like Central Coast California...the people, the climate, the politics, all of it suits us. Thank you
for following our travels. We plan to continue with local travels...to the Bay area and Sacramento for
Grandkids and family. We have already been to Hawaii (but only for a week!) with Will's cousin Steve
and his wife Brenda. Will went back to Washington once and last weekend we were at the Coast near
Bodega Bay.
Wish you all the very best July 4th. Celebrate Obama, our wonderful country and pray for movement
in the House....hopefully in the direction towards improvement of our infrastructure and creation of jobs
which DO NOT include fracking.
The ending of our trip coincided with my Aunt Vera's death of lung cancer. She was beautiful, vivacious,
warm, loving and such an important person in my young life. I was fortunate to have time with her in
her last couple of years on this planet. Be well and every chance you get....
Meander Aimlessly!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Leaving Washington Soon.
Here we are in 2013. Will has only 24 days left to work!! And he is counting. We will be home in Grover
Beach by March 1, 2013. So let me catch you up before I get back to the current time.
September, 2012: Will went to Korea for a week for work. He ate odd things from street vendors, and the restaurants such as grubs and sting rays! He tried all sorts of things that even some locals wouldn't eat. I went to Woodland while he was gone to see Marly (granddaughter) and then met up with him in Palm Springs where we caught up with movies and just relaxed. Before leaving California, we went to visit his Aunt
Marian in Long Beach for her 90th birthday. Was great fun and visited with all his cousins and family we
seldom see.
October, 2012: In addition to our monthly group dinner "Chat & Chow" with friends, I attended a Gestalt
professional gathering with my friend Marilyn in Seattle. Tom & Martie came to visit for a week which was
great fun. Then late in the month Will and I went to Ashland for 4 days and saw 4 plays! The best were
"All the Way with LBJ" and a play about a reunion of protesters from the 70's including the Black Panthers.
It was called "Protest"...I think. It was fabulous. We also saw "Animal Crackers" and the guys who played
the Marx Brothers were great. The Elizabethan Theatre was closed; they close, usually in August.
November, 2012: Volunteered at the local Democratic Headquarters making phone calls and canvasing
for Obama & Biden. This area, like SLO, is predominately Republican so it was fun to meet groups of
Democrats! We were all fearful of loosing...who knew!? We were so surprised and delighted with his
outstanding win. However, I don't think Washington, DC Republicans have gotten over the shock yet.
Then on November 17th, Saturday at Park Winters; Justin and Maia were (finally!) married. It was a
wonderful wedding with lots of fun, food, drinks and loving friends and family. We all had a blast and
afterwards Will and I watched Marly and her little boxer Kiko. The following week, I left for NC to
visit my Aunt Vera who is suffering with cancer. It was a bitter-sweet visit. She retired her job at
UNC in the Law Library and moved from her 2 bedroom condo in Cary to her daughter's large ranch/
farm in Pittsboro. It's so very painful to see her making decisions based on her condition rather than
expanding her life. She is continuing to fight but her life has been shortened...and for how long...no one
knows. I stayed for 15 days until first week in December, 2012.
December, 2012: Another great "chat & chow" at Rosie's Reflection Cafe on every other Thursday
where we discussed "Maturity." Then to Craig &; Kim's where we made tamales for Christmas! Fun.
We left for California on my birthday, December 20th (66...OMG) and quickly ran into snow along
Interstate 5..which we took to prevent traveling in bad weather. We made it past the Siskiyou Pass
which closed after us, up to 10 miles north of Weed where we learned from a truck driver in the next
lane that the road ahead was closed and probably would be overnight. So after several hours in line we turned around in the sage brush and headed back to Yreka where we stood in line for a room. The next day we were able to move ahead but all my plans for "A Christmas Carol" and a night at the Hilton in SF with grandkids was ruined! Fortunately they refunded our money...but this year we did not make our annual SF holiday. Then there was the conflict with Justin & Maia. It's personal but very hurtful and confusing. There
is a large gap in our relationship...I'm apparently not "good enuf" as a grandparent so "boundaries are being
set"...that's all I can tell you. So Will and I decided to have Christmas in SLO where we visited all our favorite places, took hikes and had a blast at his birthday breakfast at The Apple Farm with his kids and grand kids and later dinner with friends at "Steamers." The riff with Justin and Maia is growing...as the gap in the river gets bigger...it will take an engineer
to build a bridge. Marly's birthday is January 30th and at this time; I will not see her. I've heard of these
family conflicts but this is my first. Justin and Maia are leaving in a few days for their honeymoon in Costa Rica.
So this brings me up to date. My friend Debby in San Francisco is retiring soon and relocating back to Southern California...Dana Point. And Mary will retire from Cal-Poly soon and plans on moving back
to Pasadena. Tessa and Paula are looking at Arizona...hopefully for a second home! So as things are changing...the ground is moving. I guess my balance will get better. Will is so happy to be going home.
So think of us from February 14th to end of February as we travel South....hopefully NOT in the snow.
Beach by March 1, 2013. So let me catch you up before I get back to the current time.
September, 2012: Will went to Korea for a week for work. He ate odd things from street vendors, and the restaurants such as grubs and sting rays! He tried all sorts of things that even some locals wouldn't eat. I went to Woodland while he was gone to see Marly (granddaughter) and then met up with him in Palm Springs where we caught up with movies and just relaxed. Before leaving California, we went to visit his Aunt
Marian in Long Beach for her 90th birthday. Was great fun and visited with all his cousins and family we
seldom see.
October, 2012: In addition to our monthly group dinner "Chat & Chow" with friends, I attended a Gestalt
professional gathering with my friend Marilyn in Seattle. Tom & Martie came to visit for a week which was
great fun. Then late in the month Will and I went to Ashland for 4 days and saw 4 plays! The best were
"All the Way with LBJ" and a play about a reunion of protesters from the 70's including the Black Panthers.
It was called "Protest"...I think. It was fabulous. We also saw "Animal Crackers" and the guys who played
the Marx Brothers were great. The Elizabethan Theatre was closed; they close, usually in August.
November, 2012: Volunteered at the local Democratic Headquarters making phone calls and canvasing
for Obama & Biden. This area, like SLO, is predominately Republican so it was fun to meet groups of
Democrats! We were all fearful of loosing...who knew!? We were so surprised and delighted with his
outstanding win. However, I don't think Washington, DC Republicans have gotten over the shock yet.
Then on November 17th, Saturday at Park Winters; Justin and Maia were (finally!) married. It was a
wonderful wedding with lots of fun, food, drinks and loving friends and family. We all had a blast and
afterwards Will and I watched Marly and her little boxer Kiko. The following week, I left for NC to
visit my Aunt Vera who is suffering with cancer. It was a bitter-sweet visit. She retired her job at
UNC in the Law Library and moved from her 2 bedroom condo in Cary to her daughter's large ranch/
farm in Pittsboro. It's so very painful to see her making decisions based on her condition rather than
expanding her life. She is continuing to fight but her life has been shortened...and for how long...no one
knows. I stayed for 15 days until first week in December, 2012.
December, 2012: Another great "chat & chow" at Rosie's Reflection Cafe on every other Thursday
where we discussed "Maturity." Then to Craig &; Kim's where we made tamales for Christmas! Fun.
We left for California on my birthday, December 20th (66...OMG) and quickly ran into snow along
Interstate 5..which we took to prevent traveling in bad weather. We made it past the Siskiyou Pass
which closed after us, up to 10 miles north of Weed where we learned from a truck driver in the next
lane that the road ahead was closed and probably would be overnight. So after several hours in line we turned around in the sage brush and headed back to Yreka where we stood in line for a room. The next day we were able to move ahead but all my plans for "A Christmas Carol" and a night at the Hilton in SF with grandkids was ruined! Fortunately they refunded our money...but this year we did not make our annual SF holiday. Then there was the conflict with Justin & Maia. It's personal but very hurtful and confusing. There
is a large gap in our relationship...I'm apparently not "good enuf" as a grandparent so "boundaries are being
set"...that's all I can tell you. So Will and I decided to have Christmas in SLO where we visited all our favorite places, took hikes and had a blast at his birthday breakfast at The Apple Farm with his kids and grand kids and later dinner with friends at "Steamers." The riff with Justin and Maia is growing...as the gap in the river gets bigger...it will take an engineer
to build a bridge. Marly's birthday is January 30th and at this time; I will not see her. I've heard of these
family conflicts but this is my first. Justin and Maia are leaving in a few days for their honeymoon in Costa Rica.
So this brings me up to date. My friend Debby in San Francisco is retiring soon and relocating back to Southern California...Dana Point. And Mary will retire from Cal-Poly soon and plans on moving back
to Pasadena. Tessa and Paula are looking at Arizona...hopefully for a second home! So as things are changing...the ground is moving. I guess my balance will get better. Will is so happy to be going home.
So think of us from February 14th to end of February as we travel South....hopefully NOT in the snow.
Monday, August 27, 2012
August 27, 2012: Summer coming to a close.
Wow....cannot believe this year has flown by. Will and I are preparing to return to "I left my heart....in San Francisco"...and parts beyond. This last 3 years (or is it 4?) have been wonderful, trying, exciting, joyful and filled with the likes of new friends and old ones. We both still have the wonder-lust bug but will try to stay in one place (home) for a while. We will return wiser, older, and hungry for familiar, long time friends and places. It's an experience to live on the South East coast....but I wouldn't want to live there! And the North West is fabulous. Great weather, forests, outdoors, rivers, flowers, and fun and generous people. But there is just something about the Central Coast....know what I mean? It's a great place to come home to.
But you say...you can always come and stay with us! Bless you my friends (& Wills!) But you know how it is to live out of a suitcase and use other's things. And how long a stay is too long...you know before you become a hurtle instead of a platform! Even with family....a disruption of the status-quo and someone different in the house can be more difficult than we like to admit. But of course as I get older, I love having
folks come visit and stay over. Actually Tom & Martie promised to come and visit us again soon. And they are both great chef's!
I've learned a great deal both socially and intellectually; but most of all spiritually. Even in these trying times of politics. People are friends now matter where you go. We met some wonderful, delightful friends in the heart of the South....South Carolina! Several Southern families even came West to visit us. And we had a blast. Lots of friends flew thousands of miles for visits here and in S.C. And we miss those of you who didn't. The River Park here in TriCities is about the best planned community park I've ever seen. And in all seasons too. Will has adventured into every fishing stream, river, creek and water way between here and California. He and Chris make it almost every weekend at least for a day. And if you haven't heard about his Tankara reel....you will!
The Reflection Cafe and the Battelle Film club have been fun and enlightening. We hope to continue to visit the Seattle Film Festival each year in May. There are a group of friends who meet every 2 weeks to discuss such varied topics and laugh together...at ourselves and each other! I will really miss them. I enjoyed auditing the classes at Washington State University and only recently learned what a deal I got. Beth was going to audit as well but learned it would cost her $600+ for one class! She's not 62 yet! I love the connections between the locals...many have been here (came as children with their parents) since the creation of the Hanford Site. The secrecy and compound for the Atomic Bomb. They had an almost military like life "on base." The area was set aside from Pasco and Kennewick and protected by guards.
These folks share this history and often talk about growing up here. Many went away for college and families but have returned since retirement. It's fun to listen to them share their history and to visit certain areas where much of the perils of the bomb still lie. I guess the government does intend to make a museum of Hanford, Los Alamos and the Savannah River Project. (I hope that's the right names...Will's in Colorado for the week so I can't check with him before going to print.)
Are you all as tired as we are of the political comments, blows,digs, divisive beliefs and positions as we are??? Isn't it interesting how economic theory has done a turn around...as has the literal belief of the masses? And I'm not talking Catholics...although can you believe all the secretive sexual abuse and the audacity of the Church to try and dismiss the "uppity" Nuns??? And the football coaches are not exempt!
Hopefully upon return to San Luis Obispo in March will allow me to return to my psychotherapy work for 2 days a week. I'm studying the Gottman Couples method and will see couples in long term relationships. It's been strange not to work but I have learned a thing or two about relaxation and socialization. And Suki is
great companionship for both Will and I. Just learned we have another Boxer in the family...Marly's Grammie has a puppy (brindle) named "Rusty". But he lives in Davis!
I cherish my kids and grandkids and look forward to spending more time with them...especially the grandkids. Although both Kannon and Kiara (10 & 8 years) are beginning to think I'm not as much fun anymore....they mostly prefer their friends. As it should be....
Wishing you all a great autumm and blessings surround you, flow through you and embrace you! By for now.
But you say...you can always come and stay with us! Bless you my friends (& Wills!) But you know how it is to live out of a suitcase and use other's things. And how long a stay is too long...you know before you become a hurtle instead of a platform! Even with family....a disruption of the status-quo and someone different in the house can be more difficult than we like to admit. But of course as I get older, I love having
folks come visit and stay over. Actually Tom & Martie promised to come and visit us again soon. And they are both great chef's!
I've learned a great deal both socially and intellectually; but most of all spiritually. Even in these trying times of politics. People are friends now matter where you go. We met some wonderful, delightful friends in the heart of the South....South Carolina! Several Southern families even came West to visit us. And we had a blast. Lots of friends flew thousands of miles for visits here and in S.C. And we miss those of you who didn't. The River Park here in TriCities is about the best planned community park I've ever seen. And in all seasons too. Will has adventured into every fishing stream, river, creek and water way between here and California. He and Chris make it almost every weekend at least for a day. And if you haven't heard about his Tankara reel....you will!
The Reflection Cafe and the Battelle Film club have been fun and enlightening. We hope to continue to visit the Seattle Film Festival each year in May. There are a group of friends who meet every 2 weeks to discuss such varied topics and laugh together...at ourselves and each other! I will really miss them. I enjoyed auditing the classes at Washington State University and only recently learned what a deal I got. Beth was going to audit as well but learned it would cost her $600+ for one class! She's not 62 yet! I love the connections between the locals...many have been here (came as children with their parents) since the creation of the Hanford Site. The secrecy and compound for the Atomic Bomb. They had an almost military like life "on base." The area was set aside from Pasco and Kennewick and protected by guards.
These folks share this history and often talk about growing up here. Many went away for college and families but have returned since retirement. It's fun to listen to them share their history and to visit certain areas where much of the perils of the bomb still lie. I guess the government does intend to make a museum of Hanford, Los Alamos and the Savannah River Project. (I hope that's the right names...Will's in Colorado for the week so I can't check with him before going to print.)
Are you all as tired as we are of the political comments, blows,digs, divisive beliefs and positions as we are??? Isn't it interesting how economic theory has done a turn around...as has the literal belief of the masses? And I'm not talking Catholics...although can you believe all the secretive sexual abuse and the audacity of the Church to try and dismiss the "uppity" Nuns??? And the football coaches are not exempt!
Hopefully upon return to San Luis Obispo in March will allow me to return to my psychotherapy work for 2 days a week. I'm studying the Gottman Couples method and will see couples in long term relationships. It's been strange not to work but I have learned a thing or two about relaxation and socialization. And Suki is
great companionship for both Will and I. Just learned we have another Boxer in the family...Marly's Grammie has a puppy (brindle) named "Rusty". But he lives in Davis!
I cherish my kids and grandkids and look forward to spending more time with them...especially the grandkids. Although both Kannon and Kiara (10 & 8 years) are beginning to think I'm not as much fun anymore....they mostly prefer their friends. As it should be....
Sunday, August 12, 2012
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