family camp

3 very different people. Small space. Lots of rain. So many growth opportunities.

Last Saturday was a good day for us to practice being grown-ups. The day was cold and rainy. It was my birthday, which only served to give us all expectations that something better was supposed to be happening but wasn't.
I distracted myself for a large part of the day making a huge, HUGE pot of Moroccan chicken which we had for supper. We watched some of the sweet sixteen games and we bumped into one another a lot.

The weather improved some on Sunday, plus we had 2 great visitors. Frank and his aging dog, Sandy, came to hang out while an "Open House" was being held at Kay and Frank's beautiful home in the redwoods. Nice salmon dinner. Getting used to one another in this space. Reading is good.

Monday was another cold, wet day. By now, Miriam and I are regularly taking walks outside in the rain. I am getting better at working on my alignment while walking slowly and mindfully. Definitely not my natural state, but good. I took Miriam downtown and let her go to any store she wanted and look at anything she wanted for as long as she wanted. Breathe.
The entire time she has been in town, she has been trying to find a restaurant she went to in the 80's and really loved. Today we found it! It has changed hands and names but the space was there and she was very happy to see it.

Our nadir was definitely Tuesday, when Miriam felt really crummy. After dragging her out of bed we went to lunch at a great neighborhood place with my landlady, Virginia. She ate about 2 bites.
Last week we had made an appointment to have her blood work checked today, which worked out well. I had summarized her long medical history on 1 page for the poor family doctor who was supposed to figure her out in 7 minutes and get to the next patient. He was actually very lovely and did a great job given the circumstances.
Since we were in the neighborhood, we went up to the University and I showed her my new work place. Of course, she perked up and charmed all my co-workers. We negotiated what she might be willing to eat, and stopped downtown to buy a smoothie, ice cream and some chocolate before heading back home. Oh, and got a couple more books for her to read.

Hump day! I know I am not supposed to notice since I am not working, but I did. Frank and Kay had us out for a beautiful lunch and then showed us the new home they have purchased. Rich and I got a load of manure from Frank's chickens to help get our garden-to-be started. Miriam and I had a nice sunset walk to the beach along a street with gorgeous Victorian homes before the fog rolled in. And we got her return ticket purchased for next week. A good day. Hopefully more good days to come, hope she keeps feeling well.

1st visit from the fam

Last Sunday evening, my California Cousin Sarah drove me to the San Jose Airport to pick up my mom and sister, Julie. Since Julie was not interested in sleeping with my mom, me or Rich, she rented a house at the beach for she and mom. She picked a fantastic place on line, with great views of Twin Lakes Beach, the lighthouse, and the sunset.
Sarah took off from her teaching job in Sacramento to spend time with them Monday, when I was at work. They had a great lunch on the wharf, but saved room for Julie's 50th birthday dinner at a seafood place on the harbor. 4 of our Santa Cruz relatives joined us for a fun evening.
Tuesday brought more long beach walks and a trip up Highway 1 with mom's brother, Ben, to celebrate her 77th birthday. So many beautiful views of the coast! We had lunch at a place called Duarte's, named for the family which has been serving there since 1894. The  cream of artichoke soup was yummy!
On Wednesday, California Cousin Jill played tour guide for a visit to San Francisco. We met her at her home in San Jose, then drove to Daly City to take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into the city. First stop was a cable car ride from downtown to Fisherman's Wharf, and fresh seafood for lunch. Our timing was then perfect for a tour of the harbor. It was beautiful and sunny until we got out past Alcatraz near the  Golden Gate bridge, then fog prevailed. Unbelievable how fast the weather can change on the bay! We re-fueled with some fresh sour dough bread and dark Ghiardelli chocolate, then took the trolley to the BART to the car. What a fun day!
Thursday we stayed in Santa Cruz, enjoying the beaches, the shops in Capitola Village with California Cousin Steve, and ice cream (twice!). The evening sky was something!
Today was airport return for Julie, but Mother=Miriam=Gran is staying on with us. After retrieving Rich from the golf course, we made our first grocery run together. Santa Cruz is gluten-free heaven for a certain 77 year old who has been surviving celiac sprue over 4 decades in the midwest. I am looking forward to some low key days enjoying this place with my mom.

the good with the bad

Just after I got up this morning and was making coffee, my phone rang. It was my friend Ann calling to let me know our friend Ginny died this morning. I probably suffered more grief 4 months ago when her metastatic pancreatic cancer was diagnosed, but, still, it was hard to hear.
I went to the computer, and was greeted by an absolutely wonderful email from Will. His optimism was the perfect antidote to the sadness and loss I felt.

Then, while at work, I had a call from Chris, the husband of my 30 year old friend, Alison. When I got home, I returned his call. Inexplicably, this beautiful, healthy young woman is in the ICU on a respirator, having had multiple strokes. Just last weekend, I wrote a letter of recommendation for her for a masters program at KU, telling their admissions staff how incredibly bright she was, and bragging on her suburb communication skills. I still can't believe this news.
I then opened a letter from a friend who has known me since I was a baby. Glyna sent me good wishes on our move, and enclosed a story she wrote about her son, Neal, and I when we were toddlers. The story was about the our mothers' plan to let us have a tea party in the afternoons with pink popsicles if we ate our lunches and took our naps. Even with such a prized reward in the offing, it sounds like Neal did some pretty interesting negotiating along the way. What a lovely thing to share, 50 plus years later.

Life! The love we have for others causes so much pain and brings so much joy. Today was a good reminder to cherish each person we love every single day.

full moon #3

so much change in so little time. we are very happy to be here.
the most difficult thing about the transition for me has been being away from my darling friend, Ginny, who is passing into another world.
my "star sister" will not be physically with me on "our" birthday this year---but she will always be a part of me.
wishing you a peaceful journey to the beyond, my dear one.

regular morning visitor

For the past several days, there is a sweet grey cat that paws at the glass in our front door until we come greet her. Or maybe him. She doesn't really want to come in, although Rich brought her in yesterday to show her she would be let back out. I love to watch him crouching down at the door talking to this cat. He says he is not ready for another pet yet, but I wonder.

Yesterday: Banana Slug, Day 1

March 1: Human Resources department UCS---sign lots of forms.
March 2: Student Health Center orientation--- more forms, HIPPA video, blood borne pathogens video, photo ID, electronic medical records log in.

And so: New Banana Slug Doc on the Block!

I had a perfectly pleasant first day yesterday. Good bus stop conversation with a senior environmental studies student. 4 deer grazing in the courtyard of the health center as I approached the building. Welcoming staff. Entertaining medical director-did I mention he sounds just like Alan Alda?

I am going to work full time for the next couple of weeks so I can get comfortable with their work flow. Thereafter, I will sign up for days I am available and they need coverage. Probably about half time...

Go Banana Slugs!