Sandy Claws

Time gave us a wonderful Christmas present this year: three days off in a row together.

We spent the first day downtown sightseeing. The ice skating rinks and glittery lights got us in the mood, but nothing says Christmas like a man snoring loudly in the Macy's furniture department while his wife shops.




Walking through the Ferry Building bookstore we found a book of quotes about San Francisco. My favorites:

"You are fortunate to live here. If I were your President, I would levy a tax on you for living in San Francisco!"
--Mikhail Gorbachev

"San Francisco is a golden handcuff with the key thrown away."
--John Steinbeck

And this from John Lennon and Yoko One: "We're crazy about this city. First time we came here, we walked the streets all day, all over town and nobody hassled us. People smiled, friendly-like, and we knew we could live here. Los Angeles? That's just a big parking lot where you buy a hamburger for the trip to San Francisco."

The next morning we treated ourselves to chicory coffee and beignets at Brenda's French Soul Food then we packed Pico and Elijah into the car and headed south for a stay in a beach-front, pet-friendly hotel in Monterey. Along the way we traded picture-texts with our friends the Daniel Family as they drove from Chicago down to Atlanta for the Holidays.

Seeing the Daniels in the car smiling and laughing and eating donuts reminded us once again of our powerful love for the people back home. And their photos of the slush and snow and miles of dead cornfields as they drove through Indiana reinforced our passion for where we are now.

As soon as we arrived at our hotel we hit the beach.


We toured Cannery Row the next day, Carmel by the Sea, Pebble Beach and Big Sur. We saw the 250 year old "Lone Cyprus," pelicans, sea lions, sea urchins and squirrels living in the rocks beside the sea.



If you enjoy happiness and squirrels and clear blue water and pictures of kitties and doggies and big Christmas smiles, please click on the video below and share our Christmas memories.

In the words of Billy Graham, "The Bay Area is so beautiful, I hesitate to preach about heaven while I'm here."

I lift Patches up in prayer.

Love is a happy criminal, joyously stealing our focus away from our work and the lesser responsibilities of this life.

Our friends remind us that we are more than this world can possibly hold or understand.

Love reminds us, even when it is most difficult, to smile, to be content and to follow the path of peace.

Balmy Casa has lost a brave soldier--a friend to Pico and Eli, a rambunctious challenger to Mouse, a guardian of the compost bin and licker of the grill. We say goodbye now to Patches.

Patches, we barely knew you. And we'll never forget you.

To our neighbors and friends Erik and Kristen, thank you. You are loved for your compassion, humor and gentility. Thank you for escorting the friend you brought into our lives into the ever-after. She clears the way for us now wherever's next, bravely swatting at the departed souls of bigger cats in the next life.

Patches, you were a welcome and endearing member of our little habitat. Wherever you are now, licking the sweet grease from heaven's spatulas, may you dream forever of sunny spots, tomatoes, banana trees and cheese.

If they have belly rubs in the next life, may you finally get your fill.