Wild Animals

Last week Gavin and Christopher and I went to the Wild Animal Park, which is part of the San Diego Zoo, but is inland a little ways. Last year Sally and I joined the Zoo as members and went to the main zoo with the boys, and we were going to go to the Wild Animal Park, but the weather got too warm so we didn't. Since it is inland it can get into the 90's or even 100's there. We thought we would go this year. Well, when I got back to this area, I realized that our membership was still valid and since the weather has been cool, I decided that the boys and I would go. So we did and had a great time. It was warm (in the 80s) but quite nice. The park has a lot of acres and the animals have a lot of freedom to roam. Of course they keep the lions away from the zebras, but it is pretty natural in other ways. Anyway, we went and spent several hours there. I am posting a picture of three of the wild animals here (above). I am also posting a picture of a very young elephant born there with mom. It's worth seeing and I only wish that we had gone with Sally last year--but she was with us this year, I'm sure. .

Little things

I think I'm doing ok--then some little thing happens that jolts me. Recently I was filling out some forms and there was a check off for Married or Single. What do I do? I guess I'm single, but that seems too weird.

Also when something happens that is interesting or not expected and I want to share it with someone--who do I talk to. I can, of course share with my children and their families, but I think I miss most the ability to sit and talk with Sally. I can talk to her in my mind or occasionally aloud, but does anyone hear--I hope so.

Sun is out

We have had a long string of pretty gloomy days with overcast skies for most of the day and temperatures in the low 70's high 60's. But for the last couple of days, the sun has been up first thing in the morning and the days have been warm. This has helped my mood--can now go to the beach without freezing. I know, I know, most people in this country are suffering with triple digit heat, so I can't really complain.

Recently I was asked if I still feel Sally's presence here. Of course I do--This place is so Sally. For the last couple of days, an Oriole came and sat on our balcony--they are magnificent and I can't help but think that Sally had something to do with it. This is quite unusual for them to come to our railing.

Craig and his family have been great. I have been having dinner with them most every night and have been going to the Padres games with Craig and the boys also. Last weekend we went to see "Avenue Q" downtown San Diego. Very funny, but a little raunchy. It is basically a muppet like puppet show and they warn about "full puppet nudity" as you go in. But I don't think the boys were too traumatized by it.

We're going to try something new and hopefully fun. One day a week, I will join Kathie to make some sort of interesting, different dinner. She bought a Tajine, which is a Moroccan pottery dish for slow cooking meat and spices. We will try a lamb dish this week and see how it goes.

Bucket List

One of the movies that came out in the past couple of years was the Bucket List. Sally did not want to see it since it was a little too close to home. But thinking about her actions in the past two years it is clear that she had her own list of things that she wanted to accomplish. We never really talked about this, but I think she knew that her time was (or might be) limited and there were some important tasks to get done.

The first of these was the Goode family reunion. She felt that there were some members of the large Goode clan that didn't feel accepted by other parts of the clan. She felt that with her healing influence, she could get everyone together and make this all right. She did this. I think that it might have been the first time that all parts of the family had a dinner together and felt all part of the same extended family.

The second thing was to visit family and friends that we hadn't seen in years. On our drive out to California last year we went through Santa Fe to see her cousin Linda, and on our way back (when she was starting to get really ill again) we visited her nephew Brent and his family in Bakersfield and her cousin Rachel in the mountains of Colorado. We also had some quality time with some very long-time friends, the Thomsons, in Carmel. She also was able to go to her 50th high school reunion and reconnect with many of her high school classmates that she hadn't seen forever.

I know these things meant a great deal to Sally, and I'm really glad that she was able to get these things done. We never know when our time is up and we need to live each day with that in mind.

Fourth of July

It is the nation's birthday. I heard on the news that a new poll found that 25% of people under the age of 25 did not know who the U.S. fought to gain independence. Seems like US history is getting short shrift in some of our schools. Anyway, Craig, the boys and I went to a Padres game (against the Houston Astros) on Friday. I rooted for the Padres (when in Rome and all that) and they won! There was a spectacular fireworks show after the game (hence the relevance to the first comment of this entry). Tonight Craig has a gig with his band but Kathie and the boys will come over to the condo to watch fireworks from our balcony. There is usually a very good show at the La Costa Resort about 1/4 mile away.

One of the things I like to do here is walk in the Torrey Pines State Preserve. It is on a bluff overlooking the beach. I usually do the walk earlier than I did this year--the earlier the better for wildflowers. However it is always pretty and peaceful. Here is a picture taken this year on my walk to the beach.

This week I will go up to Redlands to visit with Boyd and Helen. That should be fun.

So, I'm keeping pretty busy, and appreciating this place an all that Sally did to make it beautiful.

Cool California

I keep hearing from friends and family in Houston how hot it is. I'm glad I'm here where the high temperature during the day is lower than the low temperature at night in Houston. But the water is cold in the Pacific--about 67 degrees now. It will warm to 70 or above later in the summer.

We had a nice dinner on June 25 with Craig's family and some mutual friends. It would have been our 49th anniversary. We often forgot our anniversaries but I probably won't now. Each day is maybe a little better but then something happens that reminds me of the past. I guess that will never entirely pass--and I don't want it to.

Tonight I will join Craig and the boys at a Padres game. They are doing very well this year. Hope my going won't jinx them.

Last week I took a walk along the lagoon near our condo. There is a heron rookery there but the "babies" are all grown up and about to leave the nest. It is hard to see them but I tried to get a picture.

I'm now in California

Following our recent "tradition", I drove out to Carlsbad, CA last week. I spent a few days in Tucson with our very good friends, Ray and Julie Woosley. I got out to Carlsbad on Wednesday and have been having dinner with Craig, Kathie, Christopher and Gavin. Father's day was last Sunday and both Lorrie and Craig were generous with thoughtful gifts for the old man. I have been spending my time at the condo trying to get it in shape--a little like Sally would have done but not really. She always got a lot of new plants to make the place look terrific. I do not have her innate ability to decorate--plus I am red/green color blind--so I am trying my best but you know.....

This week would have been our 49th anniversary and Kathie is already planning a party to get me through it. Kathie and Craig, and Lorrie and John have just been the best!!!

Bless all of you for your support and the many donations to various charities--especially Heifer--in Sally's name. I'm sure she is pleased.