In the latest of my on-going on-line scrivenings to share with those of you interested, what follows is a rambling photo-diary of my last three months, June-August, 2017.
Cambridge/Boston, Massachusetts June 4-11
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| The Longfellow Bridge from the Cambridge, Mass. side of the Charles River |
In early June it was time to travel back to the US for the usual mix of education, friends, family, and "business". After a one day stopover in NorCal, we carried on to Cambridge, Mass for a week-long "boot camp" in General Internal Medicine put on by Harvard U. It was excellent but brutal, an intensive 7am-7pm review of nearly every topic imaginable. The talks were universally top-drawer, but I knew immediately they were going to exceed my brain's capacity to input data and I would have to strategically choose to omit some sessions and hope that the syllabus would fill me in. It didn't help that my internal clock was seriously deranged from travel through time and space or that there was a false-alarm evacuation alert at 5 am in the hotel on Day 1.
It was not an ideal work/play ratio, and my retired spouse had more time out and about the city, but we did work in visits with her sister Mary and brother-in-law Fred from Albany, NY, our young friend Kate from NZ visiting her aunt and sister, and old and dear friends Tom and Melinda B. We made a pilgrimage to
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage on Harvard Square, a local institution where Fayne worked in the 60's.
Tom wanted to take in a Red Sox game at Fenway, so he got some last minute tickets through StubHub. Unfortunately, there was a mix-up and we were told the seats were taken and we were not allowed in, but we had a nice stroll around the park and had pizza in a place tucked under the Green Monster but outside the park.
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| Ted & the Kid |
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| Tom & Melinda enjoying a Fenway-adjacent meal |
A highlight was a Saturday afternoon drive to Concord to visit
Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau lived simply for two years and wrote
Walden: or, Life in the Woods. Times change of course, and visiting the pond on a warm summer day with frolicking bathers evoked less a mood of solitude and contemplation, and more that of the prelude of a summer camp slasher flick. Nevertheless, it is worth taking the trail aound to the site of Thoreau's cabin.
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| Walden Pond |
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| Googling "The meaning of life" with HDT |
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Jim Dine's Two Big Black Hearts
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Friday, June 16 in Dixon, CA
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| Athena, Cheryl, Pam, me, Margaret, Kathleen, & Chantel |
Last posting I wrote about my brother Charles' death. His wife Pam was kind enough to delay his internment until I could be back in Dixon, CA, where they met and lived most of their lives and where I went to high school. It was a typically warm June day in the Central Valley. Maybe enough time had elapsed so that the grief was less acute, creating a more quiet atmosphere for reflection. Even in sad situations, it is comforting to be with family and old friends, and I am very glad I got a chance to say goodbye to my only brother.
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| Traditional photo with David, me, and Fayne's shoes |
Phoenix, AZ June 20-26
After a too brief weekend in Fort Bragg it was off to Phoenix in time for Sofia's birthday and Kimarra's big dance recital. She performed over four days in several different numbers. I got a close-up look at my daughter as Dance Mom, and it brought back many memories. BTW, we happened to fly into Phoenix on the day it made
international news by being too hot for some flights to take off (Over 120 'F/49'C)
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| A proud mom and beaming dancer |
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| Celebrating with Grandma |
Meanwhile, back in SF, we just missed a visit from the peripatetic Dr. Florry O'Connell, but my sisters et al filled in admirably for us.
West Virginia & Kentucky June 29-July3
After Phoenix, it was back to the SF bay Area for a pit stop, then Fayne headed back home to Fort Bragg for R&R while I flew East. A few months ago, my dear Aunt Alex decided it was time for the first and possibly only Wallace Family Reunion over the July 4th weekend. There is not a more cherished relative than
Thea Alexandrina, the widow of my father's only brother, the equally beloved though departed Uncle Bobo. The Wallace boys grew up in Lexington, KY, and Bo and Alex spent most of their lives there until moving to West Palm Beach a few years ago, and so the reunion was planned for Kentucky. Since we were going all the way back there, my sisters and I decided we wanted to stop by Huntington, West Virginia, to pay our respects to our mother and her side of the family.
I was last in WV for Mother's internment (I guess this is a theme) in 2012. She is buried as was her wish next to her Daddy under the shade of a spreading tree. I think she was glad we stopped by.
Visiting family usually encompasses a fair amount of eating, and we did not go hungry. Everyone could not have been more generous and hospitable. Mother's first cousin Caroline Jane invited us over for a home-cooked lunch.
That night, my first cousin Harriet invited us out to her place in the country for even more gracious West Virginia hospitality. I apologize for no photos, but at times I get so distracted by food that it is all gone by the time it occurs to me to photograph it. Even better than the food was the chance to spend time with her extended family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many of whom I had never met. (This is a theme that will be repeated in Kentucky.) They all could have not been more welcoming. Relations may have been a bit strained when first Harriet's mother (my Aunt Virginia) and then my mother (her Aunt Billie) passed away, but I have always felt a strong kinship with my first cousins on both sides, even though we spent very limited time together through the years, especially lately.
The next morning we met up again with Caroline Jane and her son Randy for a Cracker Barrel brunch before heading west to Lexington, just to be sure no caloric opportunities were wasted.
On to the big event in Lexington we went. My father and his wife Ruth even flew from San Diego (He just turned 92! Happy Birthday Dad!!). Cousin Clay (the namesake and spitting image of his father) and in particular his wife Michelle did a tremendous job of planning and coordinating the whole thing despite living in Wisconsin.
Even more than Huntington, I met so many new relatives and long-time friends of their family. The common bond was an appreciation and celebration of having Alex in our lives. Cousin Sofia and her husband live next to Alex in W Palm Beach and drove her up north. The travel and festivities proved a bit exhausting for some......
....But it was worth it all for the fellowship and food.
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| That's Aunt Alex peeking out behind me. |
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| 3 Athenas: Cousin, Alex's Sister, and my Sister |
I was so glad I got to go with Alex and Athena to the new Greek Church in town on Sunday. My grandparents were a major part of the community of Greeks that built the original church in the early 1950's. It was where I was baptized, along with three of my sibs, and Alex and Bobo were the first couple married there. This new handsome edifice replaced the old church recently, and it was a very emotional visit for Alex as so many of the parishioners were old friends and delighted to see her.
The state of Kentucky is famous for three vices: horse racing, tobacco, and Bourbon whiskey. In keeping with that fine tradition, they had the most extensive Liquor Barn I have ever seen. The selection of spirits and beers was stupefying, and there was a full deli to provide a bit of sustenance to go with the booze. They even stocked a full line of North Coast Brewery products, all the way from Fort Bragg, CA.
I departed early Monday morning but the festivities carried on through the 4th. I was sorry to have missed them, but really wanted to make it to Mendocino County for Independence Day.
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| The party continues despite my absence |
Mendocino County and NorCal, July 3-17
Finally I got to spend some prolonged time in Fort Bragg in the comfort of my house, spending some quality time with friends and neighbors. I love a parade and the Mendocino 4th of July version is one of my favorites. The theme was the 50th anniversary of 1967, Tthe Summer of Love. Many veterans of those times are still around. I got to view the festivities curbside with Linnea.
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| Faith S. marching with Parents For Peace |
We also were there for the annual Albion-Little River Fire Department Barbecue at the airport, more good friends and good food.
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| Kristen B., JTW2, & Linnea M. |
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| BBQ Tri-tip, Chicken, & Friends |
Although I am lacking a bit in photographic evidence, we tried to catch up with as many old friends as possible, at the hospital, retired office manager Judy V., Christine S. (with Doug N., Haley, Nathan, Anne), Buz G. (with Pam, Jason K., & John and Sabre G.). Thanks to all of them taking time to catch up, and host us in their homes, entertain us, and break bread. Friends with whom you have shared so many years cannot be replaced and are truly appreciated.
When we returned for a few days in the Bay Area before the flight home, we were blessed with Sofia, Kimarra, and Isaiah taking a break from the Arizona heat to visit.
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| Kimarra appreciating live dinner music at the Hotel Mac in Point Richmond |
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| Checking in with my two favorite nonagenarians, Emma and Rick N. in Watsonville |
South Island, NZ July 15 to August
After traveling about 11,000 air miles (17,700 km for my Kiwi readers) just in the USA, you can understand why I say that I have to return to work in Timaru to get some rest. We were looking forward to showing off some of our nearby sights to our niece Xania and her friend Kimber when they visited in August. They were only able to spend a few days with us, so we tried to make the most of it. We were able to show off some of Timaru and Lake Tekapo.
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| Lake Tekapo |
We drove by Lake Pukaki with Mt. Cook in the background,
and made time for a walk at Mt. Cook to overlook Lake Tasman and Tasman Glacier en route to dropping them off in Queenstown.
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| Lake Tasman and Tasman Glacier |
Being the sucker I am for hokey roadside attractions, I had to visit the recently refurbished Cromwell Giant Fruit and enjoy a local delicacy, the
Cromnut.
Being back at work did remind me why I have chosen to be here, despite being so far away from home:
I love my job! I especially enjoy working with younger doctors and students, and feeling I have some knowledge and experience to share, like mentoring them through the mysteries of ECG interpretation. My most recent star pupil even baked and decorated an electrocardiogram-themed cake at the end of her run, in keeping with the food-theme of this blog entry. I felt honored.
Bob Danielson (1950-2017)- RIP
One final word, during my trip home: I heard that one of my college dorm-mates passed away, Bob Danielson. Bob is pictured below, third from the left, bottom row. He was one of those people who made an indelible impression. Even though we only shared time and space for less than two years, it was pivotal phase of my life, my first years in college at Berkeley. I can't think of Bob without smiling as he was always smiling, upbeat, and ready for fun, with a great record collection and a large bottle of cheap wine.
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| The Late Great Bobby D, bottom row third from the left |
As with all but a few of those pictured above, I had no contact with
Bob for decades, until I saw him September, 2013 at a Mitchell-Peixotto
dormitory reunion.
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| September 2013 M-P Reunion, Bob (2nd from right) |
Like all of us, he was older and a bit worse for the wear, but the gentle friendly spirit shone through. I was fortunate to see him a couple of times after that, then I heard he was gravely ill and quickly passed away. I am sure he had many ups and downs and hard times over the decades, and I can't claim to have known the adult Bob more than very superficially, but I am lucky to have crossed paths with him and in my heart and mind he will always live on as the mustachioed 1968 Bob. Long may his freak flag fly.
You can link to his obituary
here in the Marin Independent Journal.
