Moni's Travel Blog

August 12, 2005

2005-08-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have gone to another address so if you are following this and haven's gotten the email with the new web site here it is:
www.monastravels.blogspot.com

August 5, 2005

2005-08-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

The last two days were spent on Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This privately owned and sponsored by the Nature Conservancy scenic area is so beautiful. Driving up the mile high mountain, the road is surrounded by manicured edging and moss, with shrubs, trees, and vistas that are magical. While it seems like a park and in places it is natural, some of it is groomed by groundskeepers. The first day we went by ourselves and the second day, our daughter in law Shari and the two children, Rachael and Noah joined us for this and other sight seeing. On the second day we went first to a little lake at one of the stops along the Blue Ridge parkway and went for a walk to stretch our legs a bit. The children were looking forward to a "hike" and the duration was workable for their little legs. On the way we found fish and frogs, a camp ground, the large collection of rhododendrans that seem to be everywhere in this area, and a large rock upon which to have snacks. Then to the Grandfather Mountain and after to Blowing Rock, a little charming town in the area.

Grandfather Mountain boasts one of the highest swinging bridges in "America" surrounded by the great peaks of the southern appalachians. While it used to be a rope bridge it was more recently rebuilt of steel and is not as much "swinging" any more. The views are fabulous when it is clear. The center also boasts an assortment of animals that are in refuge due to injuries of one sort or another. The collection include bears, white tail deer, river otters, two bald eagles, one golden eagle and three mountain lions. One can feed the bears with peanuts or their special food for a cost of $.50 per cupful. There are many sites to picnic and stop the car to view the area. They also have a nature museum with collections of rocks and gems, photos of the area, collections of reproductions of birds and flowers of the region and an assortment of films about the mountain. Yes and many hiking trails. And there is a cost to enter the area. It actually felt special to go two days in a row. A definite must see.

Today was the first day I actually felt that I wanted to be home. While I was watching the world pass by, I saw a man sitting on his lawn mower mowing the large area around his home. Now I don't have any lawn, nor a sit upon lawn mower yet somehow it reminded me of my garden and a desire overcame me to be there and work with the vegetable beds. Oh well! This reminds me that most of the homes throughout the south that we have travelled through have large pieces of land and they are manicured by mowing. Some have gardens of flowers in small spaces, others not. Then there are those with small vegetable patches. No need to water given the usual afternoon thundershowers. The feel is so very bucolic.

We have been traveling on the Blue Ridge and for awhile today on highway 221 which parallels the parkway and goes through towns and rolling hills. So very lovely.

Sitting now in Roanoke, Virginia writing this and feeling that I'd like to be on the road again and not in the cities. We seem to prefer driving away from cities and more in the rural areas. Much more soothing for the soul for us.

August 3, 2005

2005-08-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

I realize I have to catch up. We have been having such a good time, there was no opportunity to post. After leaving Concord and coming to the mountains - the Great Smokies that is, we went to Cherokee. There is a big casino in the town run by Harrahs and owned by the Indian tribe. No we didn't gamble, although our motel was across the street and we actually went in one night for a late snack.

The town is spread out along several roads and in one area there is a river in which people wade and move stones around to make designs. In one there were several older women sitting and enjoying the cool water in the hot weather. yes I got a photo. We went to the Museum of the Cherokee which was very interesting and shed light on the history that we saw in the play the previous night at the amphitheater "Unto these Hills." This is a schmaltzy version of the real tragedy of the Cherokee, about 17,000, being driven off their land and marched to Oklahoma in 1823 (approx) in which over 5000 members died on this long march. The Eastern band that remains in the Smokies on about 56,000 acres are the descendants of those who hid in the mountains when the long march took place. They didn't cooperate. The play plays to a mostly white audience from the south. But that is my northern and western assessment. Anyway the play was well done. While we were sitting and waiting, the sky opened and a rain storm ensued. Many got up to stand on the sides to await the rain stopping, and finally everyone came back having bought plastic rain ponchos. The play went on with all of us sitting in the rain for the first half until the rain finally stopped. It was funny - not the play although there were comic moments in the dramatic protrayal.

There is also the Okunaloosa Village which is a living museum and we were able to see some of the old crafts being kept alive, as well as some of the construction of the homes the Cherokee lived in in different periods of their history. There were some talks about their ceremonies and their religious customs - all informative. Most Eastern Cherokee are Southern Baptists now of those who continue to follow a Christian Faith, although there are many churches in the area of various denominations.

By last night we had become fed up (ha) with eating at restaurants and found a room with a kitchenette, bought food and ate breakfast in the room and made our own lunch to take to the Grandfather Mountain. Not to keep you too long, I'll report on that later. We go to the town of Boone tomorrow.

Sunday July 31,2005

2005-07-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

This morning we left Concord, North Carolina and said goodbye to our family with difficulty. We drove off in overcast and intermittantly drizzling weather which lasted the entire day. For the past three days we have had rain. the first day was filled with lightening and thunder which seemed to be overhead. We went out to dinner, it was booming and shafts of lightening were all about both on the road and while in the restaurant. It was quite an experience that we don't often get in the Bay Area. San Francisco Bay Area that is.

On our trip to the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountain Ridge Road, we stopped at Claremont to see the one standing covered bridge left in North Carolina. We were sure to spray ourselves with mosquito repellant as the little critters are everywhere. Walking about 500 yards on a trail we came to Bunker Hill Covered Bridge which was built in the 1800's and reconstructed in 1994. Now it remains a historical site for viewing and of course for photographing. Lots of photographing.

We proceded to Asheville and to our delight and surprise we came on the last day of their largest street fair. We walked and walked for blocks seeing crafts, arts, music and of course, food. Again we had our cameras in hand and took some interesting photos of very unusual buildings seen from the streets we walked. The cupola on the city hall was done in a rose and green motif using what looked like tiles. We were told by the man at the information booth that the architect had designed two others in town and one was a church which we saw while driving. No photo of that one. There is also a building from 1929 with unusual blue and yellow tile at the roof line. Photos taken. this building had a sign on front reading "Self-Help". Lots of people in attendance, and very diverse.

While we had been at the Bunker Hill Bridge we ran into two women who had just moved from Wash DC to Asheville who asked where we were from. When we said Berkeley they responded " Very liberal not like North Carolina." Yes, I said, although you are in Asheville - the liberal corner of the state." We all laughed.

Tomorrow we go to Cherokee.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

2005-07-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

We are living the good life, swimming, swimming and swimming. Oh yes, we also went to Concord Mills, a large one mile around shopping center and walked the mile with Rachael along. And we had Nathan's hot dogs for lunch. I told Rachael about how we used to drive to Coney Island when I was her age and triple park the car while my dad would go on line to buy hot dogs and french fries, and sodas on a hot summer night. Nathan's always brings back fond memories of my childhood. The police never bothered us or any of the others lined up to buy the hot dogs. Of course they were 10 cents a piece in those days. Don't recall the cost of fries, although they were probably a nickel. The street was a mob scene with so many buying these items. Sometimes we'd even eat their corn on the cob dripping with butter and salt. This was before all these foods were bad for you and I was still a skinny kid..
Nights here are spent eating dinner on the patio or rather cabana near the pool, and while Shari is preparing dinner and Josh is bbqing, friends may be over, and the rest of us are in the pool swimming watching for the bats that emerge from the trees at dusk and skimming the pool for a drink of water or a choice insect in the air. We'll be here through Saturday and then move on. More difficult to do so as the kids (all) are such a delight.

July 26, 2005

2005-07-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't logged on, however we arrived in Concord at my son and daughter in law's home and have been swimming ever since. Luckily they have a pool and air conditioning in the house as the temperatures have been in the high 90's with high humidity and the pool is wonderful, although so warm it feels like a bath tub. Hiwever I am not complaining. In spite of Tim's continued unwillingness to go swimming on this trip, he finally got in with his clothes the first day and finally got into his bathingsuit and has been having fun ever since, even learning new ways of being in the water. It is wonderful to watch. Rachael and Noah, the 7 and 4 year olds are like fish in the water, swimming, going underwater, and diving. They have now learned to flip into the water. What a joy to play with them.

We drove here from Atlanta and were going to go through the mountains however everyone was eager to see us so we thought we'd go to Concord first and when we leave head to the mountains for a few days and then onward.

We did stop in Atlanta for the weekend and stayed with my childhood friend Phyllis and her husband Ted whom I have known for many years. They have lived in Atlanta for many years except for a sojourn in Israel for 3 years. We met with their daughter Susan and her son AJ and enjoyed seeing her house. We spent a good weekend with them, catching up on old times, and went to the Civil War Cyclorama - a very interesting painting and diarama of the Battle of Atlanta. The painting was done by 3 German men who came over for the purpose of painting this 360 degree canvas which took a number of years to complete. On Sunday we were going to go to the science center however traffic was so backed up that it was not possible to go downtown, even on streets. Whether an accident or road construction, we never found out. We decide to go to an air conditioned mall to walk a bit, which we did. We haven't been walking much or exercising due to the weather, so it was nice to move around in the mall as well as cool off.

Amazing how much time is taken with weather!

We will be here probably through the week and then hit the road again. I hope the mountains brings some relief.

July 21, 2005

2005-07-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Friend Joan from Albuquerque noticed that I had written Roselyn New Mexico instead of Roswell which I actually meant. Roselyn is in Washington State where Northern Exposure was filmed. We visited there a few years ago and there is a 4 story building mural of young Marlin Brando on his motorcycle from the film The Wild Ones (?). The Roswell in New Mexico is the center of the UFO afficienados who have experienced believing, seeing, or being picked up by, extra terrestial beings. On another trip I hope to get there.

We went to the Houston NASA Space Center which is set up with many exhibits, film, video hands on, etc. We took a tram with tour to see some of the outlying buildings. The center employs over 14,000 people and the traffic reflects it. Tim landed a space shuttle on the first try. Such is the outcome of being a video expert. He also worked a virtual plane landing. It was fun for all of us and we definitely learned more about the shuttles and their workings. The current one is grounded due to a broken fuel guage. Won't take off until next week if it is all ok. If not, won't be until September for the next go round.

Weather continues to change from high 90's to mid 70's today, although still humid. We have had lightening and thunder with rain today as we traveled on the Natches Trace from Natches to Jackson when we left on Highway 20 to Meridian to spend the night.

First a word about Natches. This city is the oldest in the area, even older than New Orleans. The city of about 19,ooo has a wonderful collection of anti-bellum homes with a rich history. We took a one hour tour that barely touched on the legacy of this city and area, architechturally, historically and socially. We did buy a book with some of the homes pictured and represented with their owner/builder history. Some of these homes date from the late 1700's into the early 1800's as date of building. The tour guide said it usually took up to five years for construction as everything was made and built on site. We could see the Mississippi from the visitor center and enjoyed remembering some of it's history. No chance to take a boat on the river - perhaps on another trip to the South.

The changes in the south are quite extensive. Not that I've spent much time here - its more what I have seen in documentary or film, or read, or TV. Today as we travel through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina, it is sometimes hard to know where we are. The motels, chain restaurants, gas stations are the same in every city. One would have to spend more time to get the local flavor, customs, etc to understand the differences. What we have seen is surface, however it does make things change. For example, eating dinner at Applebee's we had salad and vegetables that we would have at home. This changes eating habits everywhere. No more gloopy vegetables. Yeah! However I did ask if there was a restaurant in town that had good southern cooking - I was told there was a restaurant downtown, however it was expensive. I was referred to Cracker Barrel for southern cooking. If you have ever eaten at a Cracker Barrel, you know the level of cooking they have. Sort of like the Denny's of the South. I have eaten there, and my experiences have not been good - to say the least.

We drove on the Natchez Trace for a number of miles - speed limit 50. This is a two lane highway, along which there are markers that signify history along this road that was used by travelers prior to any other roads built. Now it is run and cared for by the National Parks System and has rangers in several places. There are over 400 miles to this road. It is groomed with meadows, forests, some fields planted with corn or cotton, and just one of the lovliest roads upon which to travel. Soothing! One can take walks along pathways, picnic, and camp. There are a few inns and no place that we found for eating. One has to drive to one of the small towns or cities on the adjacent highway - 61.

Tomorrow we head to Atlanta.

July 19, 2005

2005-07-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

We traveled from San Antonio to Houston and the Space Center and along the way we stopped at the Natural Bridges Wildlife Center to see some of the antelopes, cattle, etc, that one can feed from the car. We drove through very slowly and stopped to photograph the many animals including zebra (one of which stuck his head in the car on my lap while I was driving,) long horn cattle, many variety of antelope, goats, sheep, sicilian donkeys, among others. They are very habituated and as soon as cars come in through the driveway area, they slowly approach. Since they are all vegetarian, except for those pesty birds the ostrich, we could actually put the feed in their lips so they took it and ate, even the young ones. The ostrich which to me is one of the dumbest of the birds, kept hitting the window to get food. We kept the windows closed while they were about.
After, we moved on to Houston and environs. I want you to know that traffic here is by far worse than in our Bay Area. Horrible. I say our Bay Area as when you get to the space center environs, it is close to Galveston which is on the Gulf and here the are is also called the Bay Area. We went to the boardwalk and amusement center area, Kemar (?) and looked around a bit and decided to have dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. Yes, it is a chain and in conversation with one of the clerks at the merchandise counter, I learned that the whole area is owned by Lantrey(SP), plus restaurants all over the world. He is a very wealthy individual who occassionally visits this restaurant and the others in the vicinity by helicopter. This particular counter can do up to $2000 per night in business at the height of the tourist influx. This is probably more than you wanted to know. And no, he wasn't a California transplant.
We had dinner on the deck overlooking some of the waterways near the Gulf of Mexico and watched the boats coming back from open water. The hurricane Emily continues to threaten although our latest info is that she will strike further to the southwest along the Texan - Mexican border. We have had rain today mixed with thundershowers which may be the outer limits of the hurricane. Oh yes, back to dinner. While we were sitting on the deck with music blaring from the loudspeaker very nearby, children were feeding the Laughing Gulls, laughing and having a very good time, couldn't read the sign that indicated the birds should not be fed.
suddenly I start to itch - horribly and I found that I had suffered at least 10 mosquito bites without even knowing it. I was writhing in itch. I got up and left the table which is when I went inside and had the conversation with the salesclerk. Antihistamine later, I finally stopped itching with Tim insisting that I not scratch as that would make it even worse. And so it goes.

Today we went to the Space Center. More about that tomorrow or later.

July 16, 2005

2005-07-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

I am already one day behind on this blog. We have arrived in San Antonio, however haven't reported on our previous experience. Wherever we go we seem to run into a Californian or two. We certainly spread ourselves around.
Yesterday we were in Carlsbad and went to Carlsbad Caverns and wne on the self guided tour in the Big Room. These caverns are of particular interest not only because of the size, and there are more that haven't even been discovered or opened to the general public, but because the origin of these caverns were unusual. The usual develpment comes from rivers running through. These come from oil deposits below, with the seeping of hydrogen sulfide into the rocks causing erosion. The shapes and forms include: popcorn, soda straw, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and I am probably forgetting some. Fantastic experience wandering on trails throughout this cavern. Mac and Tim went on Kings Castle Tour which was more strenuous than I was prepared to do and found it fascinating. Photography is very difficult, although we tried and Mac even toted his tripod around.
I had conversations with a volunteer (from Oregon and California) who with her husband volunteers at the national park during the summers. They don't have a motor home which is usually the case with official volunteers so they were given a one bedroom house built adobe style but our of stones. The other conversation was with the salesclerk at the bookstore run by a nonprofit where all the profit goes to support the caverns. He and his wife have been there for several years, originally from southern California in the LA area. This national park is a rich resource for information and done so well that I would recommend it at a place to visit.

The evening held a special treat for us and many other travelers. It was the time for the bats to emerge from the cave. These are Mexican Free Tail bats of which there are half a million who come to the caves to birth their young - only one apiece as the pup is 1/4 the size of the mother who then nurses them as bats are mammals. they migrate from Mexico and return in the fall.
When the bats emerge they swarm in circles gaining enough lift so they then fly out over the amphitheater where everyone is sitting and waiting and fly off to feed on insects. Of impressive information, the bats here feed every night on about 3 tons of insects within a 25 mile radius. I couldn't even grasp the number of insects they must consume in order to accomplish this feat of nature. In one of the lectures on the bats, the ranger showed a picture of two vws as the equivalent weight of the foraging. there was more information about bats dispelling the myths that abound including the fact that bats are not blind and that they see well. Hows that for a surprise? Also that they have hands equivalent to ours with the thumb that sticks up straight and that the webbing used for flying also enables them to catch the insects they eat in the web as if they were using a baseball glove.

We went to sleep late and happy with the events of the day. More later about our beginning sojourn in San Antonio. The weather has changed and is now hot and humid and the dry heat of the desert has ended.

July 14, 2005

2005-07-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we spent the day in Albuquerque and Mac and Tim visited the Atomic Museum and had a good time. Tim is interested in WWII and the museum had lots for him to learn about. His interest stems from having several granduncles who served in the war.
Joan and I went shopping in old town and I caught up on a few more gifts for the family.
In the evening we went to dinner and my cousin Florence met us after going to a different restaurant. Didn't know who made the error, however she caught up with us. I hadn't seen her for over thirty years. My how time flys. We caught up a bit and said our goodbyes.

Our travels today were very interesting, going from Albuquerque to Carlsbad. We travelled through lots of high desert again and intermittant grasses and no cactus until later in the day. Our route was on 25 to smaller roads that took us into the mountains. We by passed Roselyn as we had to make a choice between ufo's and mtns, and mtns won the day. What made this so interesting is that we were driving through the same terrain and climbing through outcroppings of granite mixed with clay(reddish) and the beige hills and came to a tunnel. The tunnel end was visible from the beginning and obviously not a long one. When we emerged from the tunnel it was like we had gone into another world. I was reminded of spirited away when the little girl and her family park the car and wander through the tunnel to emerge into a world of fantasy. Our emergence was into a world of heavily forested mountains that we hadn't seen in many days. The weather cooled and the trees looked fabulous. The elevation went from about 4500 to 8000. All of New Mexico is above about 2500 feet and from place to place the changes can be dramatic. This change was indeed dramatic. We drove to the old Lodge in Cloudcroft which is a winter resort and also open for summer activities and wandered around a bit before heading on.
On the other side we headed down the mountain and through some small towns and stopped in Hope, a town of 200 about and went into a small grocery, gift store and lo and behold, another transplanted Californian. This older man had moved from Eureka after his step daughter had moved to Hope to develop her horse business. His wife and step daughter were close and she had difficulty in the 2 and a half year separation. So they up and moved, sold their house and put a double motor home of 2200 feet plus garage on the daughter's land of 20 acres. The cost was under 100,000. Now he runs this little store, sells wood, and lives on his social security and pension and money from the sale of their California house. What a change! His wife was flying into Oakland to visit a relative in Antioch. Another example of this small world.
On we went and have arrived in Carlsbad and are looking forward to visiting some of the caverns tomorrow.
We had dinner at a Chinese restaurant at Tim's request, and when he walked in he was surprised that the waitstaff weren't Chinese. He is learning about places where the population changes and things he is used to just aren't the same. He did notice that some people there were Chinese. He is clued in to these things as he is half of Chinese descent.
I've probably forgotten some things, but I think I gave highlights of a long days drive.

July 13, 2005 cont'd

2005-07-13T21:12:00.000-07:00

We stopped along the way at the Painted Desert and Petrified Wood Forest. The last time I stopped at this site was in 1960 when I moved to Van Nuys in Southern California. Self guided tours in several spots along the way. Then we drove to the Ice Caves further down the road towards Albuquerque and made it in time for dinner with my friend Joan who became our excellent tour guide in this city. I met Joan in 1991 at the Association for Women in Psychology and we have gotten to know each other over the years at conferences and went together to the Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, touring after. But I digress to another country and another time. We have been stopping for lunch and picnicing along the way. The weather has been hot, hotter and hottest. From 113 daytime to 98 nighttime, we finally got some relief in Albuquerque where it went into the 90's daytime and we even woke up to 85 in the morning, a cold wave. We have been dealing rather well with the dry heat, air conditioning in the rooms and car. Unwilling to camp in this weather, we may not until we get to colder territory which won't be the next few days when we go through southern New Mexico and Texas and the hot, humid south.

July 13, 2005

2005-07-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally or should I say, Mac, finally got us on through wifi and I can catch up on our adventures. I left off at Luchias in Wickiup and then we spent the time in Phoenix with my cousin Marian and her honey, Joe. Their hospitality was so welcoming and we had a good time together. When we left we moved on to Winslow, on Route 66, where we spent the night. The high desert has become more of the low grass and chaparral type with miles in either direction, and the mesas in the near and far distance of the southwest. Calming terrain that I like driving through although I recognize not everyone would like this. In Winslow we had dinner at Bojos, which I recommend and met a waitress who had moved there four years ago from Anaheim - yes, another California transplant. Her husband had gotten a chef position at the refurbished La Posada Hotel and she moved with him. Population in the four years since she arrived grew from 8,000 to 14,000. Remarkable growth going on in Arizona. AT the restaurant we were able to order sopapilla - yes if you haven't had this with honey you are missing a great treat. We had several and left stuffed and happy. Even Tim.
The following morning we went into town to do some photography of wall murals, the statue of the man with a guitar, and other things we came upon before leaving. Some of you may remember the song Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, or something like that. The waitresses in our breakfast place had t-shirts reading standing on the corner, the motto of Winslow on Route 66.
Our waitress here and I discussed tattoos as she had one and I showed her mine.

Sunday July 10, 2005

2005-07-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

I forgot to tell you about Luchia's on highway 93 going towards Phoenix, in a tiny town of 400 people in Wickiup. While the highway is being expanded to four lanes along this route, this town seems to have come and gone, and perhaps will return with the new expansion. Luchia's is one of those gems in the middle of nowhere. Cafe, Native American and Mexican jewelry and other items, outdoor Koi fish pond, grassy lawn in back, and peacocks and two peahens running about. The food is good and the prices quite reasonable. A lovely stop on a long road trip, recommended by my cousin.
In Phoenix we went to the Heard Museum, a truly excellent exhibit of Native American items including jewelry, clothing, baskets, history and culture. We took an hour's tour with a young Navajo man who told his story from his and the Native American perspective. It was quite different from Eurocentric perspectives and we were glad to hear this and for Tim to hear it also. A great Kachina Doll collection, some of the older dolls were donated by Barry Goldwater, who also had a photography exhibit there, which we didn't get to see. One of the exhibit halls is named for Sandra Day O'Connor. Timely. We did get to watch some Hopi children dancing while their teacher drummed and sang. Good way to have culture shared. Amongst the children was a 3 year old who was holding her own with the older children while she was learning to dance and be in front of an audience. The kids did wonderfully well.
At the cafe which was understaffed, and one of the staff present was a man from England, we had a good lunch, albeit very long waiting for which the meal was comped. We were certainly surprised and left a big tip.
Life is slowing down, although I feel pressure to be at certain destinations, having made arrangements in advance. I keep wondering about living the retired life, although this doesn't quite yet feel that way.

Saturday, July 9, 2005

2005-07-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

While visiting Lake Mead and taking a boat trip, we saw Hoover Dam. This is quite impressive. After 9/11 tours were cancelled for awhile, however tours are again scheduled to see some of the workings of this dam. Unfortunately we weren't able to take one as we were on our way east to visit my cousin Marian in Phoenix. We did get to the Las Vegas strip to the Bellagio to see the fountains which are always beautiful in their dancing mode played to the tune of Chicago. Bellagio offers one of the best buffets which we had. Tim was interested in their pepperoni pizza and did have some Kobe beef and lamb also. We indulged in a variety of offerings. After I think Tim had the best time at the Arcade. For a 12 year old, that is the best place. He is completely adept at these games in which you shoot the enemy. Driving in the Arizona desert was a joy. A variety of terrain and flora abounds. The distant mountains were multi hued with sandy color mixed with reds and browns in different shades, with valleys mixed in dried grasses, sage, and cactus. From Joshua Trees to stovepipe forests, to prickly pear, ocatillo and barrel to name the ones more plentiful, we enjoyed the abundance that the desert offers.

July 8, 2005

2005-07-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

After driving across 120 to one of our favorite places or roads, I should say, we drove on Tioga Road across Yosemite stopping along the way at Olmstead Point and looked across at Cloud's Rest and of course, Half Dome. Always a special place for us to stop, we got out of the car and walked up the granite hill to the two beautiful trees growing practically out of granite. We introduced Tim to the area and spoke of its meaning to us, as in August 1986 Dick and I drove there, and he proposed. Accepting, we watched as the Perseus Meteor shower lit up the sky. We expected to find more snow on Tioga Pass, however there was very little remaining, in spite of the fact that the pass had just opened a week ago Friday. A beautiful drive into Lee Vining, we spotted Mono Lake on our way down the hill. As ever,in spite of the abundant rains this winter, the lake was below capacity. We did go to the lake and walked the south tufa area. The sky was a rich blue, the water also and complementary with the tufas and birds in abundance. Later that morning we drove to an obsidian crater and walked up and somewhat into the crater. Sage was in yellow bloom. Driving through the Nevada desert takes patience and as we proceeded towards Las Vegas, we sat back enjoying the scenery of the high desert, while Tim enjoyed his game boy looking up from time to time as we pointed out some of the things we were looking at. More Later.

2005-07-04T11:37:00.001-07:00

Happy July 4th, 2005

Today is our last day home. We are finishing the mundane efforts of putting one's house in order, doing laundry, cleaning up, changing bedding for our guests while gone, and feeding the birds so they have some food while we are away.
Food is being packed, camping gear put in containers to go into the roof container. Packing the car comes later and in the morning. Then we start by picking up our grandson in Sacramento and off we go on Highway 5 to 120 and across Yosemite to Tioga Pass and into Lee Vining where we spend our first night.

Thanks to all who wished us a bon voyage!

July 4, 2005

2005-07-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Setting Out On A Big Adventure

2005-07-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

On July 5, Mac and I and our 12 year old grandson will embark on a cross country road trip. Tim will join us for the first part and then Mac and I will continue on for the second part of this adventure. I will post as often as possible. If you are interested in hearing about our experiences, log on regularly!

New York, New York, What a Wonderful Town........

2005-05-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

"Stupid bitch." He called out turning the corner in his truck as I crossed the street. I saw him go by. Was he cursing at me? Possibly, as I was not racing across the street and he was obviously in a hurry. This is "the city" New York City, the borough of Manhattan. The home of my birth was Brooklyn, East Flatbush to be exact, not the place I have called home for many years. And "the city " was where we went to hang out, for entertainment and sometimes for shopping. Since there was also "downtown" which was downtown Brooklyn where my father had his furniture store for many years, near the Fox Theater, Fox Furniture, Inc., we often went there for the same reasons. And of course to visit my father and have him take me out for lunch consisting of a hamburger at Juniors. No mayo, lettuce, tomato – strictly a bun and giant, juicy hamburger.

Arriving Friday evening after a long flight from Oakland, CA on Jet Blue, the airline with leather seats, individual screens in the back of the seat in front, sucking you in to the tv shows being broadcast, or movies offered it was already late and the sun was going down. Food consisted of drinks offered at the beginning and towards the end of the flight and a choice of blue potato chips, chocolate chip biscotti (one), chocolate chip cookies, almonds, and animal crackers. The second offering was a small rectangle of a plastic covered plastic rectangular box with a cheeze whiz type cheese, two crackers, one cherry sucking candy, two oreo cookies. The recommendation outside the gates at the terminal at JFK was to buy a meal to bring on board. And wonder of wonders, a full service food stand was directly across from the gate my plane was scheduled to leave from. On the flight going for this long weekend, there were no movies. On the flight returning, I swiped the credit card and got the movie I had wanted, however there was such static noise it was not viewable. The flight attendent after changing the headset, said they would take care of it after the airplane landed and the $5 would be sent to me.. Oh well! Another flight attendant didn’t take my money when after I ordered a cocktail. In lieu of the movie, he said. Nice attitude – only it cost me $1 more than everyone else for the alcohol.

I had booked a room at the Murray Hill Inn on 30th and Lexington, weeks in advance, after deciding I would be travelling to Manhattan. Low cost, recommended. Arriving about 9PM the clerk hands me a key and says the room is on the fifth floor, non smoking. Great, I said, where’s the elevator? There is none, she responded. There is none, I reiterated, in shock. I can’t walk up and down five flights I said, having recently been diagnosed with a torn medial miniscus. Well, we haven’t any other rooms available, she responded. I can’t carry up the suitcase, I told her. Oh, no problem, I’ll do it for you, she said. Are you sure there isn’t any other possibility, I queried. Oh no, the inn is full. How about tomorrow night? Oh yes, she could book me on the third floor tomorrow night. Frothing quietly, I slowly climbed the stairs to the fifth floor to find a small room with no chair, a nicely refurbished bathroom with lovely tile on the floor, and a large shower with glass doors. In the wardrobe was space for hanging up my clothes that I needed for the following day to attend and speak at a memorial service for one of my oldest friends. No hangers. I called down to the desk and the clerk said she would look for some for me and have when I came down. Five flights down and no hangers. She had looked in the basement in the laundry room and no hangers. She said she didn’t know how to help me as I continued to insist on having hangers. Well, she said, we can buy some tomorrow and give them to you then. No, I said, I need them tonight to hang up my clothes that I need to look fresh for the service I was attending. I can give you an iron and ironing board, she told me, and I said, no I just need a hanger. Finally she looked at the back of the door of the office and handed me one hanger. Back up the five flights.

The hallways in the building are narrow – obviously not wheelchair accessible. One overhead sprinkler in the small room, not in the bathroom, but over the bed which was pushed in a corner against two walls to make space to walk around on two sides. A window not four feet from the adjoining brick building with a half opened window across from mine, greeted me when I opened the blinds and then quickly shut them. Fire, I thought. Should there be a fire, we were all doomed.

Not all of this short trip to NYC was cast with this sense of misadventure, however more than already written.

The morning after spending the night at the Murray Hill Inn, I went walking and found on the corner of 30th and Lexington, the Ramada Inn.. Taking a chance that there might be a room available, I walked in and was greeted warmly by the hotel clerk at reception. Yes, he said there is a room available and giving me the best rate, so he said, I decided to move immediately and asked him to hold the room. Is there an elevator, I asked, Yes, of course, he responded with a smile. I promptly went back to the Murray Hill Inn and retrieved my belongings, checked out and carrying my clothes on their one hanger, plus my suitcase, purse and backpack, which is the usual way in which I travel, whether for a few days or weeks, I hightailed it back to the Ramada and signed in. I acquired a room with a view of the city, not hemmed in, on the eighth floor and luxuriously rode up in the elevator. Aha, I said to myself – I now have a decent abode for the next two nights. While the bathroom was not as large, and the commode was so close to the wall that when I sat upon the throne, one of my sides touched the wall, the room was larger and had a new tv, desk, chair and wonder of wonders, ample hangers to actually hang up all the clothing I had bundle packed in the suitcase. I felt I had scored big time and luxuriated in the achievement. No walk ups for me.

The next day, the boiler broke and there was no water.

Since I was out all day, and had been assured as I left for the day that the boiler would be fixed, I didn’t give it much thought.. Indeed when I returned in the evening, the boiler had been repaired and the water, both hot and cold, ran quite well.

The Memorial service for my childhood friend, L went very well. Many friends attended and filled the Adler Study at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. But before I go further into those details, I must digress a moment.

I left the hotel and decided to walk as there was time to do so and while the weather wasn’t great, the day had that coolness that makes walking more pleasurable and brisk. I had the invitation in hand and thought that if I couldn’t make it all the way I could always take a taxi, which indeed I ended up doing. Not however until I made it all the way to 2 East 64th Street from 30th and Lexington to find that the building did not exist . The invitation had this address written and Central Park West. When I arrived at the nearest building to that number I asked the doorman who was puzzled and said that if I walked around the corner to the next building that the doorman who had been there for many years would be able to help me. Doing so, I found a young man who knew less than the first doorman and asked if I could come in out of the wind and cold to call about the address. After a few moments of reluctance, he agreed. I called M on our cell phones and found out that there had been an error on the invitation, and that someone had had the assignment of calling all the people who had rsvp’d. I had responded soon after receiving the invitation indicating I would be attending, and in fact was one of the speakers. No- one, however had called me and my knowledge of the city after all the years I had been away was not sharp. The address was 2 West 64th Street on the other side of the park. I could walk or take a taxi. Is the route within walking distance, I asked. Oh yes, it’s just to 59th street and then three avenue blocks.

Not bad, I thought until after walking again found that I was tired, and didn’t want to get to the service in such condition. There was enough anxiety attached to giving a talk at a Memorial Service without knowing most of the people in attendance. However, I couldn’t get a taxi. Many passed by and they were all filled. Continuing to walk I walked to 59th street. This was where many of the horse and buggies were parked, waiting for passengers willing to take the ride in the park. Could you take me to 64th and Central Park West, I asked one of the drivers? No, sorry, we can only go on the park route. Further on, drooping, I finally found a cab that took me the remainder of the way to the correct location. I need to add that with my right knee in distress, my left achilles tendon bothering me, and hips that are no longer assertive, I was surprised I could walk as far as I did. So not being able to get a taxi as needed, walking up and down five flights of stairs, are not for the feint of heart. Getting older, well, you know, all those aches and pains.

Taking a taxi in New York is not as easy as it seems, in spite of the fact that there are so many on the streets. Hailing a cab takes a certain amount of aggressive behavior. To wit, while visiting New York the previous spring to see L who was very ill, to whose Memorial Service I was now attending, I flew in to Newark Airport. I took the bus to the Port Authority. After coming upstairs, I went to the street to hail a taxi. Approaching the first one I was informed that he wasn’t available and that I had to wait on line. Looking around, I didn’t see a line, but did see two people, unrelated, attempting to hail taxis. Both were having the same difficulty I was. I walked over to where one person was standing and we both waited and waited and watched as the cabbies that had been standing where I had been originally standing were hailed and accepting riders. Wait a second, I said to myself. I’ve been in California too long. I went internally to retrieve my aggressive New York self and with what felt like a cloak pulled over me, walked over to a taxi and got in. He took me where I wanted to go.

The memorial service for my friend whom I had known since kindergarten went without a hitch. People started gathering about 2 pm. Refreshments were served catered by Dean and Delucca. All the food was of the highest quality, in fact, I was surprised at the lusciousness of the fruit including pineapple with extremely low acidity and high sugar content. Of course, I didn’t eat before I spoke. A and J had put together a digital slide show of my friend L that was playing. I had sent them a few photos I had found in my collection, some of which were usable. I felt remarkably connected, and had memories flooding while watching the screen. At one point B my friend’s husband was standing in the way of the projector and I wished I had brought my camera as the photos were projected on to the back of his jacket. I wanted to capture the moment.

I didn’t know when I was supposed to give my eulogy, and J, my friend L’s son who was master of ceremony and whom I met that day, came over to inform me that his uncle, L’s brother M who was scheduled to speak first had, on Thursday dropped out and was not attending. That left me as the first speaker. Now I’m not a terribly anxious person to start with, and have had a great deal of experience with public speaking through teaching and other venues in which I was either the primary speaker or in charge, introducer, panel discussant, etc, etc. For this occasion, I was pretty nervous even with my words in writing. Why, I’m not sure. Perhaps because I was in a different element, however I don’t even think that was the reason, as I’ve lectured in China and Japan. More I think it was the goodbye to an old friend, before people I didn’t know. I know L's husband B, and her daughter M.. I didn’t know any of the other people there. None of our old friends from elementary school, high school or college came, which was a disappointment. And as is the usual situation, once I started, all went well. Here is my eulogy:

"When L and I were the closest of friends from high school through our time in college and as newlyweds and each with one child, she wasn’t ill, and my head didn’t tremor, nor did I have a torn miniscus. While I may have pain acquired in the aging process, L doesn’t have that opportunity. And for that I mourn her passing with the greatest sadness. Because I would have wanted her to be there for me, and I for her, talking on the phone across the country complaining to each other about our aches and pains and occasionally seeing each other in trips while we still could. And that was not to be.

L and I met when we were in kindergarten and we went to all the same schools from PS 232 to Tilden High School to Brooklyn College. She went on to Columbia for her Masters Degree in social work and was an important influence in my decision to enter the same field and get my degree a number of years later.

When L and I entered Brooklyn College with ten other women who had known each other either in junior high or high school, together we started Glass House which went on to be a successful house plan. That was in the days when sororities and fraternities had been outlawed by the school and house plans were the substitutes. Of course they were similar.

We planned and plotted and in our second year put on a show for the annual Country Fair at Brooklyn College for which we won first prize. Glass House, with a men’s house plan – whose name I can’t recall, put up a tent, had tables and chairs, and served food, while putting on a show based on Moulin Rouge with singing and dancing the can can. We also held a Thanksgiving Dinner with the turkey and all the trimmings for our mothers, among the activities we engaged in. And L was an integral part of these events. Ah, such energy we had in those days. This successful program planning and implementation gave us practice needed for the years ahead.

L was always special to me –and I think I was special to her. Even when we went for long periods without communicating, each time we saw or spoke with each other, it was as if no time had elapsed in between. Just picked up as if we had seen one another the previous day.

Time passes quickly as we know and more quickly as we get older. And when L told me how ill she was, I came last year in April to help her celebrate her birthday and to see her, perhaps for the last time, which it turned out to be.

When I flew to NY, I had no idea what to expect. I knew she was so ill. Well, she walked my feet off all over NY. I couldn’t believe it. Ill, with chemotherapy behind her and yet to come, she had the energy to walk this city and although I too, am a walker, I could barely keep up with her energy and pace.

I spoke to her a few days before she died and thinking of me – wished me a good life ahead. L had that kind of energy and gave of herself– in friendships, in work, in her personal life. . Friends thought of her as a kind and giving person with a smile on her face. She took care of what she needed to even when the going got tough.

L was and continues to be an inspiration to me. I think of her often and miss her and know that I will continue to miss her for the rest of my days.

I’d like to read this anonymously written poem on her behalf:

Do not stand by my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am a diamond glint of snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star shine at night.
Do not stand by my grave and cry.
I am not there… I did not die. "

A colleague of L’s spoke next and had good solid things to say about her as a person and as his colleague, and then M spoke. M is bright, funny, and delightful to be with. She had come to visit me for Passover Seder and everyone felt at home with her – as if she had always been a part of the family. And she felt at home with everyone also. She represents a connection to my dear and wonderful friend. And I represent the same for her, I believe.

What she had to say was poignant, honest, filled with compassion and while she was taking tissues out of the box for her tears while speaking, she engendered the same for many of us who listened. I felt honored and emotionally connected to this family to have been asked to participate and be a witness to the proceedings.

The service concluded with B, M and J saying the Kadish with call and response, which was so moving. We shed tears for this dear woman, friend of long standing and for those others we had grieved for or were in the process of grieving amongst our friends and family.

Several people engaged with me in talk after about L, California, New York, etc. I wondered what my life would have been like had I not left New York. With the turns and twists of fate – I most likely would have shared some of the people in her life, as we seemed so compatible, and felt the warmth that would have been between us.

The rest of the weekend was spent together We had an excellent dinner at Mosconi’s the evening of the Memorial Service, They served authentic zabaglione for dessert for which I have fond memories of my travels in Italy on several visits. The next day I walked to J’s where we met and ate leftovers from the catered food from the day before. We then walked through more streets than I can remember except for stopping at Mariebelle’s chocolate shop. For those who might be chocolate afficionados, I recommend this brand. A bought a box for his mother for Mother’s Day, and I bought one for my husband who is a serious chocoholic. Since he is allergic to tree nuts of any kind, I exchanged one of the chocolates from the box, which I was given to eat, or should I say, savor – marzipan – my favorite. The sales clerk also gave each of us a very small cup of dark chocolate mousse like pudding that reminded me of the chocolate in Madrid. There hot chocolate is thick, and an undressed churro is dipped into the cup of chocolate and then eaten. My granddaughter Liberty, on a year abroad to study Spanish at the University of Madrid was our tour guide there and had introduced us to this style of hot chocolate.

We continued walking to Battery Park City where B lives. There we met him at the nearby theater as well as A’s mom P, and went to see the film Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which we all enjoyed. . The theater is in a shopping complex not far from the World Trade Center disaster. Now a concrete barrier rimmed empty space that could be seen from the entrance of the complex. Hard to look and not get swept up in the images that repeatedly played on television.

Dinner and walking B to his apartment gave us an opportunity to see where he lives. When L became ill she planned for his future and after her death, B moved to this very beautiful senior residence with congregate meals in an upscale building, not like any I have seen on the West Coast. Resident’s art and sculpting were displayed in the various lobbies and spacious activity rooms. B told us he was known as "the Kid" there as he was among the younger residents. The setting near the Hudson River was spectacular as the city had built a promenade with gardens along the water for various forms of exercise and leisure – biking, roller skating, walking. Very impressive! I wondered if I could be happy living there should the need to make that transition happen. So many memories, wonderings, images, come when I visit this city.

We left B and proceeded to taxi’s that were taking us to our respective dwellings. I said my good byes with both a glad and heavy heart. To B as I didn’t know when I would see him again, to A and his mom P, and to J and M, whom I invited to come visit and spend time with us.. These are people I accepted gladly to be a part of my family, and to welcome them openly. I thought about the years L and I had spent together and away and felt grateful that we had been part of each other’s lives. And now I honor her legacy through ongoing friendship with her widowed husband and beautiful adult children.

May Travel Story: New York, New York, What a Wonderful Town....

2005-05-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

I am working on a story that will provide a description of my recent weekend trip to NYC. When it is completed, I will post to this site.