Time has been swallowed in huge gulps since we last spoke nearly two months ago.  Let’s see what I can sculpt by way of patterns, trajectories, and discoveries from that time.  Please sit back and enjoy the view as we fly over this landscape.  I know you have a choice of carriers and appreciate that you’ve chosen to fly with me.

During a morning walk to work recently my mind was playing the game of figuring.  I love the walks to work for that reason alone.  Past the lake and its many moods; distracted or driven passers-by who don’t make eye contact; the California Bank & Trust that digitally rotates the temp in Celsius, Fahrenheit and the time; and several of my favorite coffee spots en route from home to the office.  Lots of moving pieces, blocks of time, appointments to keep, schedules to coordinate, birthdays and moving on ceremonies to honor; the requirements and responsibilities to maintain memberships and licenses with a variety of organizations while also attempting to achieve some kind of balance between the dailiness of life’s demands and my commitment to a healthier lifestyle, which takes time.  It feels a bit like turning the dial on a combination lock and waiting to hear that satisfying ‘click’ signaling that you’ve been permitted entrance.

There’s been plenty to plan between a 10-day trip back east to visit with family in June and the short span of time that followed that trip before my nephews Ben and Alex visited for nine days.  They just left this past Monday and their absence is still a palpable presence in my very quiet home.  When the kids come to visit in the summers I look forward to it like nothing else, and my life turns upside down in the best way imaginable.  Its always a wild ride to the finish between planned activities, unforeseen opportunities, downtime, and the juicy goodness of getting to know each other better.  Ben, Alex and I had an unscripted and bittersweet opportunity to solidify our experiences together too, but more about that later.

Plans didn’t gel for their trip until very close to the actual arrival on the morning of July 2.  This made me really uneasy.  Locking a few activities into place, finally, got the monkey off my back so that I could breath a little easier.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to make these trips as memorable as possible.  Having lived in the Bay Area for nearly fifteen years (cumulatively, over two tours) the list of places, people, and activities that I’ve grown to cherish is dizzying.  My brother attempted to tell me that the boys would have been just as happy to simply hang out with me, and I know that’s true.  But, that’s just not in my nature.

When we were panning for gold on the Yuba River a week ago yesterday by the little town of Washington, it was obvious that we could have just set up a tent in that very spot for the week and that would have been its own kind of fulfilling.  It was a magical, gorgeous spot. The river was swollen, and cold, with this year’s run-off from an ample snow pack.  Light played on the surface of the water and the constant roar of the river’s passing was the dominant sound.  Our voices only carried to one another if we were within feet of each other.  Ben stayed focused on panning the sand within the same 5 foot stretch of the river’s bank for about 3 hours while Alex explored a stretch of river just on the other side of a crop of boulders, and out of sight.  He carefully chose rocks to build a moat, intermittently measuring the depth of the water that collected with a stick that he’d found.  I toggled back and forth between them, pausing for sun-dappled visits with Doris.  Our location happened to also be a haven for lady bugs.

prospecting

Fortunately Ben and Alex got to meet many of the community of people I am happy to call friends.  Sundaes at the San Francisco Creamery on their first day with Cathy, Andy, Jacob and Ben.  Joyce taught them to fly a kite in Alameda and gave them a surfing lesson in Pacifica.  Jack took us out on his boat for a day on Lake Sonoma.  The boys had the time of their lives being pulled on a tube.

Ethan took us sailing at sunset and treated Ben and Alex like deck hands.

deck hands

We went to a pool party chez Peter, Charles and Betty, and the boys said it was the best pool party they’d ever been to.  We hiked through Muir Woods, got away from the pack and discussed which super powers we’d choose if given the choice.

powering up with the wild trees

hanging loose

They experienced the bounty of a farmers market during summer in California and tasted stone fruits bursting with flavor.  We had grilled buffalo burgers, grilled corn and broccoli one night and homemade calzone another.  We ate a delicious meal at the Old 5 Mile House, compliments of the proprietors, Robert and Doris Smith.  We found a groove together and I trust we built something together that will last the rest of our lives.

I have missed the routine of writing and it feels good to be back.  The pattern and trajectory of this post seems to have taken the shape of a capsule containing some of the more salient memories made recently.  The bittersweet story foreshadowed earlier in this post will be saved for next time.