Grandchildren, not mine May 25, 2017

Most folks who make it to retirement age have grandchildren on the brain.  They either have grandchildren and dote on them, or they want grandchildren to dote on.

I have to confess that until recently the idea of a grandchild was not something I spent time pondering.  After all, my own daughter is only 23 and not yet in a position to take on this challenge.  But I am starting to appreciate how powerful this draw can be, and I am letting in a little hope - just a little - that maybe someday such a blessing will come my way too.

My sister Mary has two grandchildren now, Misha, age 4, and Sula, about to turn 1.  Mary lives about 15 minutes away from them, by choice, and is able to see them several times a week.  I see how these little ones have taken hold of her heart and how such joy has enabled her to weather a divorce when it moved her to be closer to them. 

Last weekend the nephew of my first husband visited Point Reyes with his wife and their two-year old son.  How fun to see the little guy pet and feed horses for the first time, to go to the ocean, and to run away from the waves.  And how odd a feeling it was to be there with my first husband, with whom I had no children, waving goodbye to that next generation and the next after that – not ours to claim as our own, but with love and hope for their future.

Time to Travel May 15, 2017

I made a commitment to myself for 2017 that I would travel, no matter what else was going on in my life.  The prior three years had been fallow, but Peru over the winter holiday reacquainted me with my wanderlust.

Over spring break, my artist friend Gail and I journeyed to Mexico for a week.  We began with four days in Mexico City, followed by two days in the Yucatan.  The plan from my point of view was simple:  architecture, architecture, architecture. 

I don’t know why it has taken me 60+ years to get to Mexico City, but it won’t take that long to return!   What an amazing and exciting city this is!  With only a 4-hour flight from San Francisco and a 1-hour time difference, visiting is as easy as going anywhere in the US, yet more exciting because of its different language and culture. 

Gail and I made the pilgrimage to three Luis Barragan structures, including his home and studio and the very impressive Chapel and home of the Capuchin sisters.  We went to the obligatory Frida Kahlo blue home and the amazing anthropology museum.  I dragged Gail to the Unesco World Heritage site of UNAM, the University, with its 60s architecture and glorious murals (not to mention Candela’s Cosmic Ray Pavilion!).  We schlepped out to Teotihuacan on what proved to be the equinox, accompanied by half the population of Mexico City who came too to climb the Pyramid of the Sun on this important day. 

Perhaps the most fun of all, I’m somewhat ashamed to admit, was our inn, the Red Tree House, located in a lovely residential section with good restaurants. Each morning we were greeted by mouth-watering breakfasts and other guests as we discussed our plans for the day, and each evening we returned to a few glasses of wine and conversation.  We made new friends.

From there, we flew to Merida for two days of Mayan ruins –Uxmal and Chichen Itza – and some obligatory last minute, late-night shopping. 

A few weeks after the Mexico junket, my friend Janie and I drove down to LA to meet our buddy Chieko for the weekend.  This trip was art, art, art!  Actually, there was quite a bit of food too, and of course, a lot of talk. 

Now I am gearing up for two big architecture trips, first to Rome (drawing) and then to Japan to study residential architecture.  I’m very excited and very grateful to have these opportunities.