Most of the Clan

Last night we went to a nearby beach to watch the sunset and eat salsa. Todd has taken to making salsa every day and he makes great salsa. Todd likes to cook and is doing virtually all of it. Last night, though, I made pasta and he cooked some marinated chicken on the bar-b-q to add to the sauce I made.

Saturday was a lazy day spent mostly around home after the morning walk to the desolated beach up north of here.

Frani, Chris and Sahara.

Sahara with candy.

Jess

Todd

More About Saturday

The stunning yellow-winged Starling or Minah-like birds
come every morning.

Todd and I walked a trail to a deserted beach.

Our place; front view.

Beautiful 40-45 cm seed pods on our street.

Saturday in Sayulita

It is wonderful to be here but odd to have come immediately after hearing that Mike, a friend since the dawn of adolescence, had died and while dear friend, Chris, is in very serious decline. Given these realities, it is hard to write about sandy beaches, good food and fun times; my body is here but a lot of my heart is at home.

This house had Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris in its library. I have read things by him in the New Yorker, including one of the stories in this collection, and often been amused but at times he had me laughing out loud. What a gift, to be able to write like that.

Hudson, age nine, and Sahara, age twelve, are constant companions; it took just a couple of days. I find this pattern repeats; at first there is distanced acceptance and then, suddenly, there is a rush of warmth and affection for "Uncle Chris." I love three generations of this family.

I turned 66 ten days ago and now it doesn't hurt to say I failed completely at loving. I never learned how to do it or feel it due to the failure of my (no-fault) adoption. Loving, in fact, became an intolerable experience.

If you made a word cloud out of the comments on my report cards from elementary school, the only big words would be EXTREMELY SENSITIVE PERSON. An emotion can overtake me completely. Emotions cause me to lose control so it is convenient to live life at a distance. No, it is essential to live life at a distance so as not to hurt myself or anyone else. The closest I can get is what I feel with this Humphrey family and other close friends. Three generations of them have opened their hearts and homes to me.

But whereas I cm crap at loving, I can be a good friend (I think and hope). I met Chris, the Humphrey patriarch, in my father's office. Handsome as sunrise, he was out of his element doing fine finicky work (well) for my Dad, so I lured him away to build the theatre I designed for Presentation House in North Vancouver where he lived. Through him I met Frani, his wife and Jessica, his daughter. I took immediately to Frani and not at all to Jess. Then came Jake, and adorable and very loving little boy.

When Jessica became a young woman, I melted. And when she started travelling and writing to me, I fell deeply for her. And when, after years of working and travelling, she came home with Todd, he went straight into the core of my heart. As with my friend Dwight, it was like at fist sight.

Sahara was Todd and Jess' first born. She is severely disabled and she has changed us all for the better. Then came Hudson who is, right now, my favourite human being on the planet. He and I are planning a "show" for the family and he is more excited about that than the beach.

Stunning eh?! And huge!

This Hibiscus was on the side of the road!

Jessica.

Not Frani.

On the night of the 12th there we took in an evening parade and celebration for St. Guadalope who popularized Christianity in Mexico. The music and beer flowed and so did wonderful Mariachi music.

Mr. Guadalope.

Birds, Wednesday Morning

 Above is a bird that sounds like a staccato air raid siren. It creates a loud sound like a peacock and it was in the tree beside our house. Below is, I think, a Mynah that is gorgeous with its bright yellow plumage. It barely stops, so taking a photo is hard to do.

Tuesday @ Sayulita

The long story: beach walk, lunch, swimming, walk to town, shopping for dinner, cooking, eating and to bed.

 One of six iguanas that sunbathe in the tree across from our balcony.

Huge amazing bird.

Dinner

Todd and Chris made dinner and I had brought some Thomas Hass chocolates for desert and champagne for a toast to the Humphrey/Jared clan for including me.

Oh my God… I am up early and the sun has just risen over the hill and I can see the glorious golden sun on the hills across the bay. Our bedrooms face the setting sun. We are in paradise and I couldn't be happier, especially after a great night sleep in a bedroom with wide open French doors that look out over the ocean. Bliss.

Vancouver - Sayulita

What a blast.

Chris and Frani arrived late Sunday afternoon to stay at my place. We went to the fabulous Banana Leaf for dinner and then to bed early. We got up at 3:00 am and were at the airport by four for a painless check-in. The flight went quickly and easily for all seven of us and when we arrived Marin, our driver was waiting.

Eight of us and all our luggage in the van to the grocery megastore to buy $270 worth of groceries and then we got here, to the incredible house we have here.

When you enter, you are on the main floor with the living room, dining room and kitchen. There is no wall on the side of the house facing the ocean. (We are a five minute walk up the hill from the beach.) Upstairs are two fabulous bedrooms, one for me, the other for Chris and Frani. And downstairs is a self-contained 2-bedroom suite.

Then there is the roof deck with bar-b-q and fridge and panorama view. We are in heaven. It could not be better for a 10-day holiday. (Click on images to enlarge.)

My room.

The main floor.

Us on the roof.

The roof.