I think this may be my favourite road anywhere. Although I didn't come to Valley along this one, it has taken just to so many wonderful places that it has assumed a magical quality. I love it because there's hardly any traffic, the scenery is stunning from beginning to end and the end of the journey is always an adventure, the Oregon Coast, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, San Francisco, I5, San Luis Ubispo, the
AIRPORT! to New Orleans, St George, Flagstaff, Sedona.......see? Magical.
Can't believe I've been here for almost fourteen years. Actually, just a quick look in the mirror and I can, believe it. Not funny.
Having Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year, then a ride down this very road with an evening in Reno. To see Tommy Castro. Jislaaik! Never seen the man before, on an medium, but his music is very good and we should have a night to remember.
Today, Russ decided to clean the chimney, which leads to cleaning the stoves, which leads to my getting to polish the old cookstove up and give her a little makeover for the Festive Season. Its very satisfying. I also cleared up the dishes and glasses cupboard and got to throw out a bunch of stuff - as ruthlessly as possible. Next on the list, the pantry.
Perhaps this will be the winter where I actually get to play in my studio. Paint and make and flap around happily, with depletion of supplies and addition to Shop stock as an end result. Hope so........ been thwarted by something or other every year so far.
Our child and grandchild life is as bleak as ever. Its so hurtful and confusing. I send cards and letters and gifts and never get an acknowledgement that they've arrived. Or fit. Or were liked/hated. LaNaya is the only one that actually makes an effort. She with the least time. Go figure.
Enough of that.
Mitchell graduated from Bristol University this year, and also qualified as a Professional Diver in Oslo, Norway. How fabulous is that ? I'm so proud of him. Of his perseverence, dedication, discipline and stubborn stick to itness. Really proud. It would be ten kinds of wonderful if he finds his way to California. I don't like the thought of him being anywhere near Europe right now, but he will do what he does.
Geoffrey, well. Geoffrey. No words. ache and miss and worry and fume and speculate and worry some more. Until its enough. Then I stop. For a while.
I feel like an invisible woman. Becoming less and less visible as I grow older. Connections to South Africa grow thinner by the day, letters and cards have gone the way of all communications that don't involve an electronic device, phone calls non existent (I lie, Allister Webster called when he was in Tulsa and we chatted for quite a while), and unless I make contact and social arrangements with friends, it doesn't happen. Weird. Dunno if its me, the country, the community or just the era we're in. Whatever it is, its lonely and sad.
I had no special goal when I resolved to write here today, just thought it would be a good idea to write something and get into the swing of it.
Isis and refugees and bombs and murder and mayhem all over the world right now. What's wrong with us, I wonder? Surely its easier to live in peace and quiet and get on with ? I can't see the point.
When I go down THAT particular road I conclude that all that real is nature. The universe and its wonders. We humans are hopefully just a temporary aberration. One that will end in our total wipeout or a handful of us left to watch the miracle of reconstruction without us. Without our greed and destruction. That'll be the day. Truly.
Going to watch Ellen now. Nice talking to you.
