Bye Bye Uruguay, Hello California

Waking up at home I had some anxiety because I could not remember what house and bed I was in. I couldn't remember details about my routine like how much tea I drink every morning or what I eat for breakfast on Mondays. Yes, I would temporarily live in another country again, even if it is challenging to find organic food, to experience a somewhat different culture with warm temperatures during the Vermont winter. Moving into new experiences, shedding the old snake skin, can be enlivening.

On our last day in the Uruguay apartment, Paul spotted a mourning dove outside the front window, instead of the back window where we had witnessed the mourning doves from nest eggs to flying away, described in earlier posts beginning with this one. I just read that observation of mourning doves shows some homing abilities. The mother and two babies greeted us when we arrived in our Uruguay apartment, then perhaps said good-bye when we were preparing to leave. Thank you sweet doves.

Although I wanted to sit tight in our Montevideo Airbnb on our last day there, Paul had more expansive ideas. He convinced me to walk down to the water to experience, one last time, the dramatic Uruguayan sunset that made my heart sing and accept the imperfection of traveling to a new place. We had wonderful experiences yet didn't get to do everything that seemed appealing. There's always more to experience down the road.

Also, on the last day, we had lunch with Leo at a really good restaurant that we had walked by many times but never noticed. Reading Guru'Guay brought us to Estrecho where you sit on stools and watch your scrumptious meal being prepared.

Next stop California: We arrived on my 65th birthday after 28 hours of travel, very little sleep and a five hour time change. Even so, I am reflecting back on the rich highlights of the day.

Siu Hung, Paul's brother's wife, brought me birthday flowers.

Mike and Hung, my in-law siblings, guided us on a not overly strenuous bike exploration of Berkeley and Oakland California. They offered us their Rad E-bikes complete with pet pugs in the baskets. The only other time I have ridden on a Rad e-bike was on my 64th birthday in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Note: Paul and I have expanded our love for Sweet Georgia Brown to all the animals that pull on our heartstrings.

Our adult children contacted me with a birthday song from Yitzi, birthday phone call from Elliott and lovely birthday message from Claire.

Click Birthday song from Yitzi

Here are the lyrics:

Out into the world

For I’ve finally found

A purpose to hold

You’ve made me into a man

You made me who I am

So anything I add

To the world is from your hands too

Oh you’ve given me such love

And showed me how to be good

The kindness in your eyes

The way you make me feel understood

You’ve taught me that it’s so simple

That each moment is letting go

And trusting in God’s warm embrace

The message of your creation

The art of deeply listening

The magic law of attraction:

That deep desire will manifest

If we just accept the present

You’ve given me meditation

And spiritual connection

But most of all what you’ve given

Is the deepest love I’ve ever known

A love that is unwavering

A constant appreciation

For me without condition

A care that is transcendent

Beyond my different actions

My mistakes and forgiveness

Beyond the need to prove it

Lies my mother’s love unending

If ever I feel empty

Or missing your sweet presence

I’ll think of how your love tells me

That I’m forever worthy

No matter what happens here

Accomplishment or failure

You’ve given me the greatest gift

The knowledge of unconditional love

My mother’s love

In addition to the Rad e-bike coincidence, my sister and her husband, Sandy and Steven, just happened to be ten miles away in San Francisco visiting friends while we were in Berkeley. Way to combine east and west coast siblings for my birthday dinner at a cozy and delish Japanese restaurant!

Paul came up with a unique expression that combines my love for coincidence and love for food: Slaw of Attraction.

Our niece Lia and her partner Dane returned from a trip to LA the day before we left Berkeley. Not only did I get to meet Dane and have dinner with Lia, Dane, Mike and Hung, but I got to hear about Lia's impressive animation career accomplishments and art exhibitions.

A couple of people warned us about leaving Berkeley and driving two hours south to visit Paul's cousin Judy and partner Greg in Watsonville, CA. The warning was that we might experience the atmospheric river that had been soaking the state of California since January.

On our way to Watsonville, Paul and I stopped in somewhat rainy San Francisco, where we stumbled upon the famous Tartine bakery and invested $14 in one of the sensational sourdoughs that inspired many people, including our son Yitzi, to use the Tartine book as a sourdough creation bible during the pandemic.

After we were lucky enough to take a merely damp walk in Golden Gate Park (later I discovered that Sandy and Steven were also taking a merely damp walk in Golden Gate at the same time), we drove about an hour south and got socked into Half Moon Bay by a bomb cyclone. The better term might have been a tree cyclone because it was the downed trees that prevented us from traveling further on Route 1 or any of the alternative roads to Watsonville. We were forced to stay in a lovely B&B and enjoy one of the few places where the power was on in a Turkish restaurant with friendly staff. The following morning we enjoyed the B&B breakfast and discovered why Half Moon Bay attracts tourists.

Pescadero lighthouse

After leaving Half Moon Bay, we got to complete the second hour journey to cousin Judy and Greg's lovely house in Watsonville. Delish meals included Tartine's fabulously delicious sourdough plus the best citrus I have ever eaten, grown by Greg.

Judy and Greg's dogs, Rosie and Petunia, became very excited and vocal in the car as we approached their treasured walk on the Monterey Bay beach. The dogs vast appreciation of the outdoors added greatly to our walk.

Highlights of our visit include a beach walk with the doggies, a visit to Judy and Greg's Gitt-Gat-Gite lovely rental retreat and cousin Judy's art studio. Click Studio Judy G to enjoy a virtual tour of Judy's studio that displays her amazing art, and functions as a Watsonville community center with classes and events.

Thank you Judy G. for the birthday week surprise.

Next stop Hollywood.

It was great to spend a few days with cousin John and wife Debbie while getting to know each other a bit better. We learned more about their many traveling experiences and about their interesting careers as journalists. They fed us delish grilled salmon and hiked with us in the spectacular Griffith Park. We took the Hollywood Walk of Fame where Paul bonded with the Marx brothers sidewalk impression. At the local farmers market John pointed out Aziz Ansari casually walking with his wife. Hover and click.

Drone video prep

The Marx Bros

A side trip included a delightful visit with Paul's friend since childhood, Paul W. and his family. Paul and wife Cheryl treated us to delish home cooked mediterranean chicken. We were also lucky enough to visit with one of their adult daughters, Jenna, who was visiting with her cute dog. Paul, Cheryl and Jenna all have careers focused on scientific solutions for our health and environment.

Paramount Studios where they made Paul's favorite movie, The Godfather, and one of my favorites. Interstellar, was a fun and informative. For example, in the movie The Ten Commandments, the parting of the Red Sea was filmed using powerful fans and many gallons of water that filled a blue basin normally used as a parking area. It's available for rent if you need to stage your own water focused event.

Fake city street

Beam me up

Interstellar

On the way to our last stop, before flying back to our home in Vermont, we stopped at Crystal Cove because Debbie described it as beautiful and reminiscent of a mediterranean beach. Although it's not expensive to stay in one of their restored 1930s cabins, making a reservation is like winning the lottery. We'll have to stick with other beach towns for family reunions.

In Delmar we were fortunate to spend time with Aunt Mai-Lon, Cousin Amy and her adult children Jacob and Michele. Amy welcomed us with delish homemade tacos . Paul interviewed Mai-Lon and we learned about her life beginning with growing up in California with four siblings and parents who were busy with a restaurant. Mai-Lon and Marc met at a party and continued to meet every day for lunch or coffee on the UC Berkeley campus. They married and lovingly raised their two children, Amy and Joel. Mai-Lon was a teacher who enriched her student's education with creative writing. She developed a passion for writing poetry that lasted well beyond retirement. Mai-Lon's daughter Amy, also a writer, became a journalist. Marc was an esteemed University of California academic librarian who loved books and nature. Paul and I took a walk at Torrey Pines State Park, Marc's favorite.