Friends, Milestones, Memories

Tomorrow is the day we all get off to remember the men  and women who have sacrificed to keep our freedoms. Memorial Day. It has become a holiday where folks BBQ and sit in the sun, eating watermelon and sipping frosty beers.

 

Remembering is an active word. To remember someone or something you allow yourself to recount the days past. You spend a moment letting that memory sink into your heart. You feel the emotion that memory evokes. When we remember those who lost their lives for us we feel emotions like sadness, pride, gratefulness. Those memories may spur us into an action such as thanking a veteran for their sacrifice or to send prayers for the lives lost and those they left behind. Perhaps you will place a flag outside your home or visit a grave and place a flag or flower there.

 

To remember ... to give thanks .... to breath in the freedom we enjoy and live. That is Memorial Day to me.

 

It is also my anniversary, and in the midst of a month and a half of several significant birthdays.

This year most of my compatriots turn 60....(not all but most). There is something about this birthday that causes us to look back and reflect on what went before. How did we get to this place we are today. You relive a thousand moments of joy and a few of sadness and you definitely count your blessings.

 

How very lucky Glenn and I have been. Life is full of surprises, some of which take our breath away. Some of those moments shake you to your core in a way you wonder if you can survive. Deaths of people you love, illness like Cancer, other people's lives which spun out of control in front of your eyes. Those harrowing times I could never have survived without the amazing people who have been a part of our lives for decades. The past two days we were able to spend some time with a few of those people.

 

 

We dined at Chuck and Stefanie's home in Pacifica in a birthday celebration for the 3 amigos, but mainly for Chuck who turned 60 right before me. 

 

They both are tanned and trim and living a semi retired life. Always the most incredible cooks, whose cooking rivals any 5 star chefs out there. We were treated to a sumptuous dinner with stellar wines. LUCKY? you bet!

I might butcher the spelling or explanation of the food which included this timbale, stunning main dish delicately scented and served with delicious whirled peas and better than mashed buttery potatoes. 

Finished with a chocolate almond cherry torte with white chocolate glaze.

 

 Keeping Glenn in mind they severed him a plain steak with a green salad and wedge of lemon and baked potato not to mention a frozen shot glass for his Bourbon.

 

  Better than the food was the warmth of the company. Conversations ran the gambit of past, present and a lot of future. Certainly there will be a lot of future for all of us together.

 

Then yesterday we headed to Lafayette where Dana's family has had a second home for years. Anticipating a warm day, the wind kept us out of the pool, but the guests all enjoyed their time. It was a watermelon theme. I didn't realize this... until the night before, nor did I know there would be an extended list of people attending. I made a quick trip in the morning to Suzy Cakes and brought some mini cupcakes along.

 

Some of those who were there were people we know from sailing. And of course there was the core. Dana, Glenn and Chuck... plus their wives, Misako, Stephanie and me. This six some has been together for as long as I have been married to Glenn... but the boys go back even farther. Glenn and Dana attended elementary school together. Chuck and they all attended Lowell High School together. AND they own the boat together.

 

I don't know if you can see what I feel when I look at this picture.

I feel the kind of ease and contentment that time and love create.

LUCKY

You bet.

Here's to the future boys.

Long walks, but not long winded

It is getting to be crunch time and there is very little time to spend getting ready. So those days I do have I pack it in. I walked Friday to SF. Saturday from MV around Strawberry Point and around the Tiburon Peninsula. Sunday I walked with Leslie and her Mom to Cavallo and back. Monday I rested and yesterday I walked from MV to the Sausalito Ferry (ferry back to Sausalito) and back to MV.

I can say I am officially tired and have a genuine blister. But I am determined to do the best I can in this 3 day. There was NEVER a more important time to do so. The numbers are WAY down for the S 3 day. I am sure there are a multitude of reason the greatest of which is they moved the date up from October to June. That is a very short time to prepare, raise funds and encourage new people to walk.

Some said, if you feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place. That hasn't changed. In fact this past week I heard of yet another woman losing her life to Breast Cancer. We have come so very far, it worries me that people become complacent with the effort.

I truly hope this years walk will exceed expectations, but the fact is the dollars will be down and we (none of us) can afford that. I ask that you please donate to our teammate Arlene. She is 70 years old and walking in her first 3 day. Her daughter had triple negative Breast Cancer, her granddaughter had Brain Cancer and she is a Cancer survivor herself. She has $1400 more to go to reach her goal.  Be as generous as you can... because the reason we walk has not changed, if anything it is even more important this year.

www.the3day.org/goto/arlene

Now enjoy some pictures from the last several walks.

 

Leaving Tam Valley



Stop for coffee and muffin at Coyote Coffee

 



 

Marshlands



 

MT TAM from the dog park

 

Shelter Bay



Sunrise Pointe

 



Seminary

 



Starting the walk around Strawberry Point

 



Great Circle

 



Strawberry Spit

 



 

Below East Strawberry



Across Richardson Bay to Mill Valley

 



 

Tiburon Linear Path

 

Tiburon Wine Festival

Lunch at Guaymas, Angel Island Ferry

 





Tiburon Historical Museum

Over to Angel Island

 



 

Tiburon Houses



The backside of Tiburon is much quieter. The road is called Paradise and honestly... it is pretty close.





Heading back

 

Lyford House

 

This was a 19.5 mile walk when all was said and done... and I made it in time to go to meet a client.

The next day should have been more leisurely but I had an open house at 2. We did take out time walking for breakfast at Cavallo Point. I did however power walk from Sausalito to my car. I made it right on time for the open, after a quick shower and change of clothes. This walk was 10 miles.

 

Yesterdays walk I followed the same path I have many times before, taking a last look at the cool metal sculptures on Crissy Field by Mark Di Suvero

 

http://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Mark-di-Suvero-takes-root-at-Crissy-Field-4523341.php

 

 

Noticing for the second time the protest at the America's Cup venue.

 

At the end of this walk I had clocked another 18. I am definitely getting close to having some confidence that I can walk all 60. I know it will not be easy, but many things that matter are not. Once again I ask please to help my teammate meet her minimum of $2300. Anything you can do will help. www.the3day.org/goto/arlene

Mother's Day - 10 miles - Open House - Chef to go - Skype

Mother's Day was NOT like any other day, it was busier.

 

With no kids around, I no longer lounge in bed and wait for the toast to arrive. Instead I head off for a walk, and plan on being everywhere at one time.

 

I had an open house scheduled at www.413Ash.com for 1pm - 4pm. Glenn hadn't seen his Dad while I was gone so that was a LONG time. So I had already bought the fixings for dinner that night. All that was left was to do something fun... and necessary.... walk.

 

I met up with my dear friend Patti and headed off to Cavallo Point. Its about 10 miles round trip from Patti's Houseboat to Cavallo. Plenty of time to catch up. But I had actually forgotten it was Mother's Day and Cavallo might be busy.

We found out Cavallo was not serving Breakfast at all just a Mother' Day Brunch.

 

So I looked at my favorite waiter and the reception gal (who both know us by now) with puppy dog sad eyes and they arranged for us to go have muffins and coffee with the hotel guests.

ANOTHER reason I love Cavallo.

 

A reminder we have an auction until June 10 for a night in a historic room and breakfast for two at Murray Circle. This is an $800 value. To bid you just comment here or on facebook or by email!

www.cavallopoint.com

 

After all who wouldn't want to chill at the base of the bridge in surroundings like this?

 

I made it home with a bigger blister.... BUT in time for my open house. It was very well attended and I think the house will sell with multiple offers. After handing out Mother Day roses to about 40 people, and meeting and greeting about 30 others, I ran home to get changed, grabbed the food and headed down the peninsula with Glenn to his Dad's.

 

Before we ate we tried out the new wifi we set up in his house and pulled out the mini to introduce Opa to Skype.

 

 

He was amazed by the whole thing. Not the least of which was Alexandra herself.

 

Now it's Monday and I have a very full week. I knew if I didn't post these photos you would never see them...

 

Mother's Day is always bittersweet for me. I miss my Mother every day, but never more intensely than on Mother's Day.

 But I know I am extraordinarily blessed to have two wonderful girls and now a sweet granddaughter to call mine. I just wish we all were closer.