Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

"Have a Good Time and Drive Defensively."

Those were the Prospectors last words a week ago, as I drove off to see my family."Did you take the phone, your camera charger, your medicine and your toothbrush?"
"Yes." I answered. I had enough "stuff" to stay for a month. He was still waving as I drove down the dusty road.
I drove to South Sacramento first and got four Cortizone shots, at the hospital, in my feet. My poor feet were aching , tingling and overdue for my twice a year injections for multiple Neuromas... the awful afflection that numbs and cause pain at the same time. The doctor says that an operation is coming, in the near future, to remove the thick nerve tissue that has developed in both feet. Bummer!! It from all those years of working for a living.
 I headed down the highway and through the Delta, stopping for some fruit and vegetables at the Delta Farmers Market on Highway 12, just before the Rio Vista bridge.
You can read about all of the good things that The Delta Foundation is doing for the Delta if you're interested. It's a good non profit organization that has membership with benefits.
The California Delta is a beautiful resource that is worthy of being taken care of. It's one of California's geographic wonders. Take a look at the links.
I turned south and drove along the  Sacramento River on highway 160 and, of course, got stuck waiting for the bridge linking Brannan Island and Sherman Island because it is just what happens out there.
 The traffic stops for all the boats going under the bridges. You wait, get out, stretch. TAKE PICTURES and relax because there's nothing you can do about it. It's a water world out there and bridges are the only way to get from one place to another. If a bridge is up, then you wait. It's a time honored Delta tradition.
The bridge went back down and I continued on.  I drove over the San Joaquin River and into Antioch, through Pittsburg, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek... and finally got to my sister's in Lafayette.
My lovely upstairs "room with a view" was ready... with flowers.
My sis always does some little "extra", like flowers and... see the black clock? She found two little Corgi statues and put them they to remind me of Carl and Cutter while I was away from them. That was very sweet.
I needed a nap. She left me to veg for a few hours and later she fed me. This is my home away from home when I come down here. I'm so lucky.

The next morning I sat with Sis and the dogs, drank some really good coffee, and planned the day.
 Later I went to visit my grandkids and their Mom. She needed to get some work done so I took them to the park.

Oh, the wonderful Pleasant Hill Park and pool...
This is where I learned to swim and hang out with friends... and yes, if we're being honest, met boys every summer. This little brick building was the first building here. Now they are building another one to the right that will be a swimming and teen center.
The park is beautiful.

 The Beans love to play here. There are lots of ways to swing, climb, slide and tumble. They always move at the speed of light.
Climbing high and yelling, "Hey Noni, WATCH ME." and I do... like a hawk, following them, worrying, telling them to stay in my line of sight. Telling them to smile for me, as I take pictures of them.
They know that Noni "Takes pictures of their LIFE." and they are so good about it... most of the time.
Angry Bird, sittin' in the tunnel, is five and trying, very hard, to keep the tongue in the mouth. It's always getting out.

They really like to climb. It must be a throwback to our "monkey" connection. Darwin would be proud.
Here is the "hanging monkey" move.

And this is the half hanging monkey.

And my most favorite,
The "Oh, my gosh. What do I do now." move.
You just have to love that flexibility and form.
Later they  found a small shovel that someone left in the sand. But there was no pail for them to put the sand in. So, being the amazing and creative Bambinos that they are, they improvised.

Laughing themselves silly about having "fat" stomachs and looking like they were "going to have a baby".


What goofiness!

Before we left they climbed into a big old tree and I took... "More pictures, Noni?"
"Yes dears, just one more...please."
 and they let me indulge my passion...one more time.
 And... once more.
There's that tongue again. It's uncontrollable!
Tomorrow would be the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for them. Angry Bird would be starting Kindergarten and my California Bean would start second grade. Wow! Growing at the speed of light.

9 comments:

  1. Oh, don't I wish I could still climb up the monkey bars like that ;)
    The boys have Lots of energy....or they like to show off for their Grandmother!

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  2. haha they will keep you young wont they....smiles....looks like you had a great trip....ouch on the feet....

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  3. oh such great shots grandma
    and you are correct about that flexibility...where did ours go?!
    They are very handsome lads...but angry bird...huh ha...there's mischief in dem der eyes...hee hee
    I wish I had a sister ...and one like yours...so thoughtful and caring...those dogs are precious..
    4 shots...at one time? I thought you could only get 3 in one year...
    My girlfriend had the surgery...worked for quite a while...years actually...
    Rest and enjoy your time with them all....i will look up the foundation..sounds intersting

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  4. Looks like you are enjoying your visit, bet the weather is cooler, we are back to 101 again here.

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  5. Well this brought back a few memories! Remember when we swam at this pool when it first opened in 1956? We were 11 and weren’t yet hanging out to meet boys — we were there to swim! I can remember thinking how dumb those other girls were who sat around on their beach towels and never went in the pool because they might get their hair wet. Remember it being mandatory for girls to wear swimming caps? They didn’t do much for keeping your “do” and ooh, the headaches. You HAD to get out of the pool occasionally just so you could get that thing off your head for awhile. I googled the P.H. pool and found that it now costs $4 per session to swim. Ye gawds and little fishes! Our first summer there you could buy a season pass for $5!
    The monkey bars, I remember them well. Recess at Diablo Vista elementary, hanging by our knees while trying to hold our dresses in a manner to preserve at least a little of our modesty. I remember once, hanging by my knees and my dress falling over my head (don’t remember why that happened) and having to spend the rest of the day hearing, “I saw London, I saw France, I saw Dawn’s underpants”. Oh my, the mortification! I was telling my neighbor girls about that recently and they asked why didn’t I wear jeans to school if I was going to play on the monkey bars? They found it almost impossible to believe that dresses were required. “Well then”, they asked, “why didn’t you just wear shorts under them?” I couldn’t quite come up with an answer to that. Why didn’t I?
    Now here’s a plan . . . if I come to visit, are you game to go to the playground at Strandwood and show the beans how their Noni and her old friend can still hang by their knees? Do you think we still can???? ~Dawn

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  6. I believe I have the exact same dresser as in your guest room! What fun these adventures are and they add to your plethora of memories with your kin...they'll all remember such happy days!
    Safe Journey.

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  7. Sounds like you had a wonderful time at your sisters and with your grandsons. They grow up so fast. Great photos. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  8. OMG how those two have grown! Not little ones any more but fine big boys!

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  9. I see 'a look' they give when you take photos...a look between you and them...a look that is distinctively yours Farmlady :) a look that moms and grandmothers give to show we have life and fun left!

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