I don't blame my mom for taking the transfer. She was only two months away from having 10 years with the airlines, at which point she gets lifetime flight benefits (she reached this anniversary last week, on March 9th). My mom is an adventurer, and she tied down by a house or an attachment to "things". This made it easy for her to pick up and go. Unfortunately, she left 3 daughters and five grandsons behind. I must admit, I've taken it a little hard.
So...when Gavin and I boarded a plane for San Francisco this past week, my heart was singing. I was going to have quality time with my mom, visit one of my dearest friends who also lives in San Francisco, and enjoy the luxury of having no guilt whatsoever about not doing the laundry or cooking. Not to mention, not having to run in a million directions getting people to and from school, soccer practice, piano lessons, etc.Here is a glimpse of the wonderful time that Gavin and I had; and I must say - he was a trooper! I will no longer use the term "fussy baby" when describing Gavin. There is no way a baby who is fussy could get dragged all over the place like he did and keep such a sweet disposition the whole time!
This is the view from my friend Kerri's adorable apartment right in downtown San Francisco. She is getting her master's in book illustration and she has the most charming apartment, with the most beautiful view. We were blessed with a rare treat - a sunny 63 degree day in the city with no wind and not a cloud in the sky. The very next day it was cold, rainy and foggy.
This is the view of the main room of Kerri's apartment. This picture doesn't even begin to do justice to its bright, airy, and cheerful feel. The apartment is also filled with a lot of fun artwork. Unfortunately, Kerri does not hang any of her own work, which is amazing. I found myself drooling over some of the pieces she showed me, which she humbly tossed to the side and dismissed as "C work". Oh, to have even a fraction of that talent!
We started our day with a walk through China Town, on our way to North Beach. I persuaded (without much arm-twisting) Mom and Kerri to step into this nice little tea room, where I wanted to inquire about my very favorite tea - Gen Mai Cha (which I've taken to ordering online because it's not easy to find around here). There we were treated to tea served in the Chinese custom.
We tasted many delicious teas, and some that were also quite funky. Our hostess kept up a steady stream of information about each tea, it's medicinal qualities, and the proper way to steep each tea. I learned more about tea in that 30 minutes than I've ever known about it! Of course, I walked out with some tea - though not the one I originally went in to get!
In North Beach, the Italian section of SF, we enjoyed a bottle of California wine and a long lunch on a sunny sidewalk. Gavin was very cooperative, sleeping through all but the last bit of our lunch. It was almost as if he sensed how much we had to catch up on!
On our way to Trader Joe's, we stopped for Gavin's first photo as a tourist...(why, oh why, can't we have a Trader Joe's in Colorado? It's simply not fair!)
Our final stop of the day was the Buena Vista. An adorable bar that my parents used to visit 40 years ago when they dated. It is located right by a cable car turnaround, with a beautiful view of the wharf. It is known for it's big round tables, where customers are encouraged to sit together to fill the tables. I have been there quite a few times, and have never sat next to anybody uninteresting. Most importantly, the Buena Vista is known for having originated Irish coffee (which is a surprisingly American drink). I have four words to describe the Irish coffee at the Buena Vista... Nectar of the Gods. There is an art to this drink, and it has nothing to do with Bailey's! While we enjoyed two of these little lovelies (thankfully, decaf for me!), Gavin tipped back his own bottle...
We ended our day with a long, uphill walk back to Kerri's apartment, stopping at two different bakeries for some delicious pastries. Incidentally, I should mention that Kerri lives on one of the steepest streets in San Francisco. It was no easy task pushing a stroller up the hill, but holding onto it as we descended was even harder!
Our day in The City was the highlight of my trip. Spending such quality time with my mom and one of my best friends (whom I rarely see anymore) was a treat, and the girl talk was never-ending. During the rest of my visit to California, I was able to see my Grandma and Grandpa Kirby - unfortunately, it was a hospital visit, as she is very ill right now. I also saw my great uncle Hulon and my Aunt Lola (my dad's older sister), and my cousin Shelly,who humored my mom and me by coming on a moment's notice, to have dinner and spend the night with us.
It was a wonderful trip, and I'm so thankful for such a sweet little adaptable baby. Of course, perspective is everything. I'm not sure I would have had the nerve to do it my first time around!
1 comment:
That's wonderful! Next time you will HAVE to meet up with my brothers...otherwise they will be extremely hurt and NEVER forgive you! ;) Just kidding, of course. I DO think you would love Phil's fiance, Heidi and Ryan would love to entertain you, too, I'm sure. I am glad Gavin was such a good sport and you got to have a nice visit! Love you...
Post a Comment