Waving at the Camera

So here we are again in the Sierras, in our Quail Cottage. Tomorrow AM we leave for San Rafael to visit Connor, our grandson, and his parents. It began raining here this afternoon about 12:30 and it’s been steady ever since. We hear it’s snowing at higher altitudes. Here we are at about 3,000 feet. I felt nervous driving in the rain into Oakhurst earlier today to have lunch w/Marie. But it was OK.

We are spending Patrick’s last vacation week of the year. It’s been restful and pleasant. I really don’t miss TV here. In the evenings we play board games, gin rummy, watch videos, or just sit in front of the wood stove and chat. I go to bed here earlier than at home. And sometimes I sit and work on my blog -- like now.

The woodpeckers have created a nest atop a telephone pole across the driveway. They are total pests, and, very beautiful with scarlet breasts. We watch them w/binocs. Patrick has become a “Birder.” Maybe that’ll be his Christmas present – a bird ID book.

Tonight we celebrated our tenth anniversary of meeting each other at Lake Tahoe. Thanksgiving, 1997. Which was also the year that Dana – my “baby" decided to become Clean and Sober, checking herself into rehab. It was truly a year to be thankful. The following year, 1998, Dana was able to join us at the Lake for Thanksgiving – and really celebrate!

It was a beautiful time, and we played the video tapes at home during Thanksgiving this year to remind us of how very lovely it was. It was a time when my Aunt Nance was still decent, somewhat kind, and available. That time is gone now, too bad.

The tapes capture the first time Patrick put his arm around me; when he waved at my camera and told me he loved me (a mere 48 hours after we met). He was smitten.

I believe I said: Oh Shit.