Normally I 'm not fond of surprises but when the phone rang at 9am on Monday and the voice of my ex-husband, Larry, said, "This is your 30 minute warning before I arrive at your door," I decided to treat it as a good thing rather than something akin to dread.
It did turn out to be not only a good thing but a mini-vacation as well. He sat with Stacy at the dialysis clinic during her 3 hour treatment giving them time to visit. I was able to run some errands and even tracked down Nevr-Dull a new "must have " product to try.
Ater we checked him into a hotel we went out to dinner at Stacy's favorite place, El Torrito's, and had the best table in the restuarant, a corner window one with a view of the Monterey Bay.
The next morning he arrived at our house earlier than we usually climb out of bed but with the promise of breakfast at Katy's Place Stacy and I hurriedly dressed. The morning was exceptional, weather-wise, and after a fattening breakfast we drove down to the ocean and saw first-hand what I'd been hearing on the news. The lagoon at Carmel State Beach where the river ends was overflowing and digging away the bank right near the road. A few treasured Monterey Cypress trees were threatened by the erosion and I couldn't help but wonder when the six agencies would get together and decide to open the sandbar between the river and ocean. It was an endangered steel-head trout vs. road and tree situation.
I did capture the photograh, above, where a tree stump shot directly into the sun appears to be a man directing an orchestra! I had seen the decayed tree many times over the years but the lighting had never been right. In this case I thought he looked like he was directing the perilous scene in front of him.
The morning turned out to be perfect for photographing and Larry stopped the car whenever I said, "Oh, I've got to get that!" U-turns were often made when I spotted a sign I had to add to my growing sign collection. Who could pass up one that showed "Pigs Crossing?" I had read in the newspaper that two signs were now located on Hwy. 1 in a area where wild boar cross the highway. I don't think that the signs have prevented the occasional collision of boars with vehicles, but the signs are certainly an attraction.
It was a good visit for the three of us and I'm happy that all of the garbage of our youth is behind us and we can enjoy each other's company.
