Travels With Papouey

Continuing our trans-Pacific life, we recently were back home in California for about six busy weeks. For the first time ever, Fayne and I were left in charge of our two grandchildren, Kimarra (age 9) and Isaiah (age 6) for 8 days while their parents attended to various tasks. I was cautiously optimistic about the prospect, worried that I would not have the energy to keep them entertained and engaged for over one week. In my final assessment, it could not have gone better.
On our first day we took a ferry ride to San Francisco, exciting in itself.

From the Ferry Building we strolled along the Embarcadero where we ran into friendly bike-riding SFPD officers who promptly deputized two Junior Cadets.

Our goal was the Exploratorium, a San Francisco treasure for 50 years. It is dedicated to science and curiosity and is a marvelous place to visit for "kids of all ages".

Outside the Exploratorium in giant "barnacles"

Almost touching the moon

Both of the kids (and their two adult companions) were rapt by station after station of hands-on physics and biology experiments. If you haven't been or its been a long time, I highly recommend the experience, even without the cover of bringing children.

Isaiah creating a cyclone

Through the years, the children have spent quite a bit of time in the Bay Area, but have had only brief visits to Fort Bragg, CA, where we still officially reside and where their mother grew up. We were all wanting to spend some time quality time there, especially over the 4th of July week.

On Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA

Legendary for the giant coastal redwoods, now seriously diminished, we explored the remnants of that past life. The old mill site is being converted to open space including a new coastal trail along the headlands.

Formerly owned and operated by the mill, the Skunk Train is being revitalized by new owners as a new and improved tourist experience.

An old mill shed behind the depot now houses a model train museum. Isaiah is holding Oscar the Skunk

There was plenty of time to go for ice cream at Cowlick's and take in Toy Story 4 at the local Coast Cinema, but is was a special treat to be able to enjoy our grand old house and yard. There was plenty of room for everyone. Several of Sofia's friends have children the same age as hers, so a play-date with Keilah's daughter Chenoa was a high priority.

I also introduced our guests to the newest addition to the neighborhood, Haley and Nathan's daughter Bijou. She was a BIG hit (how could she not be?).

I has always enjoyed the unique and idiosyncratic event that is the Mendocino Independence Day parade. This may have been the grandkids first parade, but certainly was the first one riding on a float in the procession. Thanks to friend Faith, they were invited to ride on the Mothers For Peace flatbed truck. Kimarra in particular was enthusiastic and insisted we go to Target to find the appropriate red, white, and blue attire.

With Faith

Captured in action as they pass my traditional seat with the Matthews Family on Main St.

[For a video montage capturing the essence of the 2019 Parade, I will link to old friend Buz Graham's video (Warning: Some X-rated lyrics included!).]

What better way to honor America than dinner at "America's Diner", Denny's. I believe it was the children's first visit to this institution, and a memorable one. We were intrigued by the Kid's menu, which detailed the story of an apparently terrified pancake and his friends (bacon, a starfish, and either a sausage or a pickle) for some reason trapped under the sea!

Denny's: As its former slogan boasted "A good place to sit and eat"

 Never a dull moment, we had fun at the neighborhood Wiggly Giggly Playground.

We attended a performance of the local Flynn Creek Circus in Mendocino, featuring daring aerialists and the high-jinks of the incongruously named Porkchop the Rabbit-Clown.

Climbing the trees...

..outside the Friendship Park venue.

Saturday is the Jewish sabbath shabbat and as Sofia and her family are practicing Jews we promised to do our best to observe it appropriately, from avoidance of "work" and electronic devices to kosher chicken to challah to grape juice, candle-lighting and prayers. I won't claim it was perfectly accomplished, but the good-faith effort was there.

Stock internet photo

It is traditional that on the Saturday closest to July 4th Fort Bragg hosts the World's Largest Salmon BBQ sponsored by the Salmon Restoration Association. We didn't attend this year but Saturday evening is when the local fireworks happen. After years of wandering around in the cold to find the best observation spot, last year we stumbled upon the ideal solution. At the Round Table Pizza on Main Street you can enjoy hot pizza inside with an ideal view of the show. I am not sure the kids had ever seen a proper fireworks display, and on the ride home Isaiah quietly declared "It was perfect". I concur.

Sunday morning it was time to pack up and head back to the Bay Area, but I know we will always have found memories of our time on the Coast. Who knows, maybe it will become a tradition?

We had one night and morning in Richmond before Mommy came up to reunite with her offspring, enough time for a walk along the shore  to collect shells and sticks and feathers and other assorted taonga (the Maori word for treasures).

OTHER ODDS & ENDS 

As usual, we tried to make the most of the rest of our six-week sojourn home: friends, family, and other activities. I will not bore you with all that, but I will mention a few notable things. 

1. The long-awaited opening of Haley & Nathan's Mendocino restaurant Fog Eater Cafe:

   

   Red pickled deviled eggs

   Delayed by nearly a year , it was worth the wait. The dream of H&N and friend Erica, this unique bistro serves vegetarian Cajun fare. Give it a try when you are there.
2. Other California dining experiences like The Taste of Tea in Healdsburg: We met Terry K. for lunch there. We had a great but too brief visit with her, which would have been a bit longer if we did not receive the mandatory in-service about the art of brewing tea: the proper leaves, specially designed strainers and receptacles, the precise temperature, etc. I respect the dedication, but really just wanted a warm beverage with lunch, not a master class.  TMI!
3. Traveling by ferry and trolley to UCSF Internal Medicine Review: This was my first chance to experience the Richmond to SF ferry as a daily commuter. The connection to the N Judah Muni to the Parnassus campus worked efficiently.

   

   Coming in to the ferry terminal

   What a pleasant and relaxing way to travel, and it sure beats rush-hour (i.e.: 5AM-10PM or so) driving. 
4. Connie Winton's 69th birthday, which I mistakenly took for her 70th (oops, my bad!).
   
   It provided a good excuse to visit the Nestler clan in Watsonville (with Athena and David N.) for lunch and to catch up en route to SoCal, as well as the opportunity to bake an Almond Flour Chocolate cake and a Ginger-Pear upside-down cake.
5. Going south to visit my father in Coronado/San Diego:

   

   Sand castle at Coronado Beach honoring new HS grads

   At 93, this year has been especially tough on him, but I found him in better shape than expected. My sisters have been doing a good job keeping tabs on him and trying to help in many ways. I was able to buy him a much-needed new pair of sneakers, and "let" him win a few games of gin rummy (he still has card-playing skills!).
6. LA/Redondo Beach visit in June: This predated our time with the grandchildren later on. They were still in school so we got to visit the Heards in their home environment. It also overlapped with niece Xania's UCLA graduation,

   

   Xania & proud papa

   and the Wallace-Bytofs treated us all to a celebratory dinner.
7. Finally, lastly and perhaps leastly, a pro-impeachment rally at the West LA Federal Building: Like many (but not all) of my friends and family, I have been deeply worried and distressed about the world and the USA since 2016. Being mostly in New Zealand lately, I check the newsfeed multiple times daily to see what crazy s*** has happened. I wondered from afar where was the energy in the early days of Trump's presidency to fight back? I promised myself that if I saw an opportunity to participate in an event urging impeachment proceedings I would. Saturday June 15th I saw on the internet there was to be nation-wide protests so I went to the nearest one. I found a small but spirited group of about 150 for and 25 against demonstrators. Here is a fairly accurate news report of the event.

   

   Woman dressed in the Mueller Report

    

I was glad I went but it was somewhat disheartening. Even in the small gathering there was a wide spectrum of opinions, from American Communists making the case that the whole system is corrupt and needs replacing to others urging patience and sympathy for Nancy Pelosi trying to follow the desires of her caucus. 

I am afraid that although a majority of Americans oppose Trump and Trumpism, there is a growing sense of distraction, over-stimulation, and fatigue leading to a feeling of hopelessness. The constant lying, outrageous and previously unthinkable actions, and  the complicity of the Republican Party have worn us down. Where should we concentrate our energy: the environment, bigotry, income inequality, misogyny, the abuse of power, the attempts at obstruction of justice? We still have to carry on with our lives, and sadly this has become the new normal. When I have too many very ill patients at the same time, my mind can freeze up as I try to decide which critical issue to address first. 
Sometimes in the hospital there can be conflicting and confusing forces at work. A patient is sick but the hospital or insurance rules push for outpatient treatment, not ordering a test or medication, or early discharge.I have found what works best is to figure what the right thing to do is, then do it. Ultimately that will be your best defense if criticism arises later.  
It is clear to me that impeachment is the right thing to do. A solid and persuasive case can be made to the Senate and more importantly to the American people and even if not convicted by the Republican majority, those enablers will also have to defend their complicity. I believe impeachment will enhance, not diminish, the chances of defeating Trump and his cronies in 2020. 
I hope I am wrong but impeachment looks increasingly unlikely.

Taffies as a small palate cleanser