Merry Christmas 2014 and Happy New Year 2015

 

It was somewhat of a “routine” year at Casa del Aguila. But even routine can be eclectic and hectic, e.g., a visit from a neighbor’s rogue goat.

Major event of the year was the visit in February of the Andersons — Meredith, Winter, and Adeline. Good time to visit. Throughout their time here, as we would be at the beach or just sitting in the sun, I would comment, “It’s February.” No pressure, just friendly reminders. 🙂

Disneyland was on the itinerary, of course. Adeline is big on Mickey Mouse, though I did like her somewhat skeptical look at the ersatz rodent.

We also visited San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Luis Rey Mission, San Onofre and Trestles (iconic locations in surfing), Coronado, La Jolla, the beach towns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn’t get a photo with all of the family this year. When we had the chance in February, we didn’t take it, figuring other opportunities would likely come. But we’ve become geographically challenged. Dillon is still in the area, living and working in Carlsbad, but Julia succumbed to the attractions of southeast Ohio (i.e., Sam) and ran off in late July. The Andersons are in Rye, New Hampshire.

This photo was taken in October on the front porch of sister Ann’s new cottage built close by her and Gordon’s home in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard. I went to New England to attend the reunion of my high school class, “celebrating” our graduation 50 years earlier, and to visit family and friends. The reunion was a blast. It was great to see and catch up with so many classmates, and sad to realize how many had died. It was also a bummer to see what had happened to much of the old hometown of Springfield, Mass. It’s in tough straits with what seems extensive urban decay.

I put just under 600 miles on the rental car in 12 days, traipsing east-west, north-south to visit. Thanks to friends and family for putting up, and putting up with, this vagabond. Joined college classmates for the BC-Clemson football game. More exciting than anticipated and therefore more frustrating as a close loss.

This is a picture of “the rest of the family” — a Dillon “selfie” taken on a trip in July to Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, a day’s drive north.

The writer Wallace Stegner said California is just like the rest of the United States . . . only more so. We do seem to contain some extremes and these parks, adjacent to each other, are good examples. The giant Sequoia are the world’s largest trees. Not the tallest, which is another variation of the sequoia, the coast redwood, but of the greatest volume. Julia is standing in front of the biggest of the bunch — the General Sherman tree, 275 feet tall and 2,300-2,700 years old.

Another example of California “more so” came in May when high temperatures and strong, dry winds created conditions for nine fires hitting San Diego county at the same time. Two of the larger fires were on Camp Pendleton and the Naval Weapons Station, both adjacent to me.

Hundreds of thousands of acres, mostly scrub, were charred. The scene above is looking northwest from my house and shows an early stage of the NWS fire. While that was contained after a couple of days, it reignited and forced evacuation of neighbors across the valley from me. I started packing, but the fire was put down the same day.

I was a marshal again at the PGA and LPGA tournaments that happen here early in the year. You may have seen this view of Tiger and me on the Golf Channel. BC home base has given our local alumni chapter a real boost in support. In addition to rooting on the Eagles in football and hockey by watching the games on TV and quaffing local craft beers, we’ve also had several service activities and twice got out as a group to the horse races at Del Mar.

Not to exclude the others who live in my home, here are Boo (cat) and Baxter caught in synchronous repose.

 

And at left is Baxter anticipating something from Dillon’s patriotic-color dessert on Independence Day.

Adeline turns three next month. She is growing up too fast, though seeing her grow physically and mentally, having the chance to talk with her, is such a pleasure. Here’s hoping the Andersons come back soon!

I continue to have some of the same plans for the coming year — golf, horses, sailing.  At what point do plans not implemented become wishful thoughts? And I continue to plan . . . and wish . . . to see or host you!

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and that twenty-fifteen is just really good.