I'm in Pismo Beach California, having left Burbank yesterday and soon to be in San Luis Obispo. I was in Burbank for a work assignment and I'm here visiting old and new friends. I'm also airport phobic (no idea why) so it was no small matter that my flights from Boston through San Francisco to Burbank took 16 hours and included two canceled flights and one skin-of-my-teeth standby. I came a distance for a 10 AM meeting in Burbank that couldn't be rescheduled and at 6:30 pm the night before I have no guarantees (Grrrr United Airlines) I'll be anywhere near Burbank, not even the next morning.
Not to mention my luggage. I've flown in the equivalent of a fancy teeshirt and comfy pants. Not business attire.
The whole time I kept saying, "Wait to worry, wait to worry," but my nerves would have none of it.
I'm writing this two days later and I made my meeting.
I stayed at the funky1960's orange formica decorated Tangerine Hotel near Warner Brothers Studios (no I didn't tour, a small regret) and my junior high school friend Max picked me up there. We stop in Carpenteria and have lunch with my friend Lori: she and I do some welcomed and good reconnecting. Max and I drive along the Pacific Coast to his home in Pismo Beach and last night he and his wife and I went to a bonfire on the beach in celebration of the marriage of a doctor and a nurse, both women. (I knew neither.) There was an ample bowl of Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups and Hersey's chocolate and hot dogs and fixings, all there to be roasted in the fire in the sand. Hot dogs and S'mores. The evening air was cold and it rained but in between the fire performed perfectly, except the heat made our eyes water.
Today Max and I will continue to catch up on forty-plus years of our lives since high school. We both talk non-stop and we both know full well that we are confirming and cementing that we will now stay close friends.
Tomorrow Max will drop me off in San Luis Obispo where I will spend the night with Sharon Lovejoy, my friend from these blogs. We call each other honey and her house and yard and studio and illustrations and articles and books have been featured in plenty of magazines. I will be delighted to have a night and a day with her.
When I return in two days to Ptown, it will be Spring. Crocuses and daffodil stems will have cracked open the soil and I will sit in the side yard or on my couch and wonder if I'm better off having a plan of what-when-why-how to my days ahead or just letting it all unfold. I don't mention this quandary lightly.
I'm not a good traveler. But I travel anyway. I'll wonder about that too.The thing is, a blank canvas doesn't stay blank either way.
love
kj
In 2005 I told myself I would never fly, again. It wasn't the flying that made me crazy. it was the airports. 10 years later I am looking at the possibility that it might happen. ARGH!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the in between airports!
cindy, i tell myself the same thing. this trip put an exclamation point on that self talk, but i'm already pondering traveling to arizona to see a friend who's moving into hospice. BUT i'll do non stop flights and travel lightly. btw, where are you possibly flying to? :^)
Deletelove
kj
I'm looking forward to spring as well. We had a lovely, mild winter but I still want spring. Even the cat has spring fever.
ReplyDeletetis here, deb. i'm excited!
Deletelove
kj
oh my - this all sounds just wonderful to me. Love to Lori - I hope she is well, and love to Pismo beach, know it well. And to SLO town, and to Sharon and - last but not least - to you. (to be honest the airport thing does not sound excellent, but does sound a bit like a Job-trial) Welcome home soon, I hope you are leaving from the tiny lovely SLO airport.
ReplyDeletehi mim, always nice to see lori: we had lunch. and time at sharon's was everything that sharon is: her beautiful gardens, every thoughtful touch from fresh flowers bedside to my own french press and little oranges. .
Deleteyes i left from SLO airport. wow is it cozy small!
love
kj
I just watched "Bridge of Spies" and laughed every time the Tom Hanks character would say to the Russian spy "Aren't you worried?" and the spy would reply "Would it help?"
ReplyDeleteSince I am late in reading this - welcome home.
thanks 8.
Deletethat is so true about worrying. sometimes it propels me forward but most often it's an unnecessary pain!
love
kj
I love the central coast of California and visit a lot with a brother in SLO - have a fabulous time in this beautiful place! Did you visit Mim and Lori?
ReplyDeleteI forgot that Mim has relatives in the central coast area but she doesn't live there - and I re-read that you did see Lori! Hope she is well - she hasn't blogged in a long time...
ReplyDeletehi amanda, lori looked as great as ever. she's on instagram with 13,000 followers!--not that I know exactly how that works :^)
Deletei'm looking at my sidebar and seeing you've been in paris. oooooh; i'm heading your way.
love
kj