The Chameleon

Do other people play the,"what would it be like to live in ______." game? It is rather addicting,and I have been playing it for Years!! It becomes even more intense and more frequently played when you are married to a rabid fan of the game. It can become an expensive hobby when you actually start traveling to places to check them out.But it is a Great boredom buster, and I like to think keeps one young and flexible. The thing is, I have come to realize after years of searching for this elusive golden ring, the joy truly is in the journey. It is not like I hate where I live and have to escape. I could tick off a list of things I love about Utah (albeit a short list..) but it is just the "wouldn't it be cool to live in ______" that keeps me wondering! Way back when we got into this we actually Did move to various places..and it was tons of fun, seriously! Our situation is such that we Can do that,and that knowledge alone keeps one looking.Kevin calls me "antsy"" ( among other things )but come on, it is just really addictive. Plus you get to analyze who you are. My tastes change like a chameleon.. and I realize that is ok too.When I am in Oregon I love the craftsman homes. Japanese homes even look uber cool there, and I don't like that style anywhere else ( except Japan of course.) I can picture us living in California in a ranch house surrounded by oak trees or a sleek modern number with an endless view of the ocean. Wouldn't it be neat to live in Austin Texas and wear jean skirts and cowboy boots, and shop at the flagship whole foods-that we biked to !! Oh, I better not begin to "dress" the chameleon ( an entirely separate entry!)..and stick to the homes.Our austin home would sit on a little rolling knoll and also be surrounded by oak trees. But I am not a tree-snob..equally I can see us in a very open,veranda style casa with a bunch of palm trees swaying in the Hawaiian breeze. Then I can start blending areas and languages..not everyone would have a "casa" in Hawaii,but I could.Kevin doesn't believe me but I could even do a barn-like house in Maine (notice the only snow area..perhaps it should be just a summer home.)For lack of space I am not going to explore the international chameleon-it would be HUGE. Lately we have been toying with the Arizona idea.Maybe it is too hot, the water issue bothers me..the desert moi?!!! Then I go down there and fall in love with the designs down there. The crepe myrtle and palo verde trees are darling...and those saguaro cacti..well, they are enough of a reason to move alone!! I adore those exposed beams and free-standing adobe fireplaces and verandas with slow moving fans and a gorgeous pool that is the center of it all. I am ready for a pool of our own. Daddy, I want a pool!! With salt cleaners instead of chlorine. And the ability to GLIDE through water when I want.Wow, it sounds so fickle to the craftsman house in Oregon. But, that is my point..I like it all,perhaps I even want it all..so I continue to play the game..Kevin is playing it too.

balm of Berkeley

Last year Courtney married Joel out in No Cal. This year Megan married Matt. We decided to all go this time. About 20 hours before we were to leave Dallin came home from the MTC. Emotionally pale and shaking, we bundled him up in our family weave and took him along. I questioned the sanity of this idea ( we offered to just stay home with him ) but it turned out to be incredibly healing. Such a Good visit. His color,appetite,and smile all came back. We all exhaled.It felt wonderful to be together, to be in California. For all of the states faults ( San Andreas being #1...oh, that one is for you Bobo!) there is equally a tangible magic. I loved it, we all did. The weather...PERFECT. The scent of drying eucalyptus leaves made me want to cry..good tears. I had a wonderful time showing everyone Woodside, but I also knew that nothing was going to be able to outdo last year's experience of walking through the Laning house. Another blessing,another "moment"..this time across the bay. After a truly great trip and wedding with the extended family Kevin ended the itinerary with a day a Berkeley. He wasn't that into it himself, in fact he was on business calls on his cell phone the whole time we walked around campus. But he knew how Much it would mean to me and that was very sweet of him. As we pulled off the freeway exit,drove past the Claremont hotel and entered the campus I was truly fighting back tears. And again, good tears, for this is a rare place. It started to rain, "and I was all" oh,come on...could it get any more perfect?!!! In the past(nearly) 30 years I have stopped twice,Very briefly..this time was real. Obviously not long enough,but I was there this time. There were some new buildings,but So much was the same.I am going to go way out on a limb here and truly get in touch with my bezerkeley roots..but I LOVED seeing all my old favorite trees-and they were still just the same ( yes, all those word choices were intentional.) And, yes Porter, I did refrain from hugging them. Sproul Hall was deliciously kooky and one group were dancing to "Ji-ho"-which was a lovely tie in between the past and present. We had our farewell meal at Fentons in Oakland. And on such an ideal day as this,those darn little crab sandwhiches tasted just as fabuluos as they always did. The rain continued to pour down..I honestly couldn't have scripted it any better. PS..I am going back ...and I Will have a thousand hours to spend and walk every inch of my memory,shop at their amazing card stores until I drop with exhaustion,and take a million pictures of the campanille. This may be a bit too bohemian...but I think she was happy to see me back as well.

oink..oink..tagged by the dreaded swine flu. honestly, it isn't that bad. famous last words..now I will be felled by a complication and end up, well, you know..dead. eh, it has been a good reason to law around and do nothing ( like I need an excuse!) no,the rest has been great for me. I needed it.