Patt with Two T's

 Nice start to our trip....had a perfect lunch at Barbara's fish trap...only a short wait.  Made it to the parking lot and caught the shuttle right on schedule, and the flight left on time.   So far, so good.    We are flying economy plus on British, which feels like business class, which I was once upgraded to in the 80's when flying home with a school group.   Personalized service, free headsets, mask, sox, etc.  Our printed menu arrived, then hot towels, and drinks.  I'm practicing for Paris, so got red wine.  Once in a while, it's good to surprise your spouse.  Our seats were in the front row of the plus group with lots of leg room and leg rests that extend.   Happy happy. After a very long day, we arrived in Munich.  Fortunately, Matthew studied how to get to the train, which stop to use, and 14 stops later, we were somewhere near our hotel.  We only had one glitch in finding it, which didn't take too much time ...

 Last week we heard an unusual sound--loud, booming thunder and a bright, close-by lightening flash.  I'd been sound asleep and it woke me at 4:30 with one thought:  "Oh, no!  The old/new wood sideboard is in the pick-up truck!  We had purchased it a few days before, covered it with a tarp, and left it in the truck because it's very heavy, we had no place to leave it, and it was heading for our new house in Sonora the following week.  When we left it in front of the house, we knew it was safe because we are in a drought and have had no rain for months and months.  I had a hard time going back to sleep, even after Matthew reminded me there was nothing I could do.  More thunder than I've ever heard on the coast and rain that poured down, though not for long durations.  Miraculously, the piece survived with just a little water on the backside, which dried with the day's sun after it was uncovered and upright.   When people talked about t...

March 24:   I bought two bathing suits this week.  For most of us, that's a horrifying experience and one where you really don't want to have a 3-way mirror.  Or maybe no mirror at all.  I considered trying them on and just feeling to see if they fit rather than looking at myself.  After a few, it becomes the lesser of all the evils, so I found two I could live with...or that fit.   Thinking about the experience, I have decided bathing suit sizing should change.  They should be small, smaller, smallest, and extra small.  Everyone would really know deep down that small is really an extra large, but just the thought of buying something that says small or smaller would make us feel so much better.  And who cares how it looks--we'd be able to say we bought a bathing suit in size small!  Maybe the labels should be sewn on the outside. ...so I wore the two new suits in Puerto Vallarta, even though I think I have lost the removable straps for...

  Yesterday I posted with a picture of Mom at 90, but I think she'd prefer to be remembered with her big smile, red hair and party dress.  She had one hell of a figure--never more than 120 lb. in her life.  Her hair was dyed bright red for years and people actually asked Mar and me if we dyed ours black.  Duh.  Her final suitcase was locked last night around 8 pm, and she departed the station.  She finally got her wish after waiting so long, and I'm glad for her.

Mom's suitcases are packed and she's ready to depart the station.  She doesn't have many;  I helped pack the last one.  It's also ready, but not yet locked.   One suitcase is filled with childhood memories up until she left home to get married at age 23.  She came from good parents who lived their lives with their only child in San Francisco, then Burlingame.  They lived well, but didn't have a lot of money.  They were a core group of three until Dad, then my sister and me.  Her parents died very young--both in their mid 60's--and within 10 days of each other.  One of "natural causes" and one by her own hand.  Very sad time for Mom who then got thyroid cancer and her favorite boxer Rex died all within a few months.  She remained composed through it all and never let her children see her sadness.  The largest one is 50 years old and is all about her marriage to my dad.  Anyone who knows me has heard me say they go...

  Provocative title, yes?   It's the working title for my memoir of life with my sister.  Marianne died 12 years ago from breast cancer and my brother-in-law Brock asked me a few months ago to consider writing about growing up together for his boys.  A few weeks later, I was in Foster City with my cousin and told her about a favorite 4th of July there with Marianne.  Driving home, I realized I'd started the memoir and since my friend Judith was also writing one and starting it at a retreat in Tahoe in Sept, I might consider joining her.  Judith heard about it from a friend of mine who knows Jennifer, the retreat leader.   Her site says she'll pamper us with wine and food and all we have to do is write.  I emailed Jennifer and got myself on her list of 3 people, the max she takes.     I got inspired because that morning, before I left the house, I talked to Brock and mentioned one thing on my list--"Who him name?"   and where that ph...

 What's been keeping me balanced lately--new creativity finally emerging: IDEA FOR NEW LOGO Inspired by Terri Carol's beautiful focal bead Given a challenge to make a versatile necklace that can incorporate the centerpiece.  Now on sale and in the window at Bare Necessities in Burlingame. Kumihimo bracelet The next part of my Saori weaving (free form).  I'm hoping it instills thoughts of the ocean and mountains and sunsets....   Gearing up for open studios art sale, so next, I need a good picture of my work for the brochure.  That's my weekend project--every year I try something new and have never found one that shows all I do that works for me.