Gordon, Ann, and the Andersons at “Thanksgiving” in June.
I missed Day 3 of our Class of 1968 reunion at BC. It was a light agenda anyway, but I chose to join the Andersons and visit the Tyras on Martha’s Vineyard. Meredith, Winter, Adeline, and Alice picked me up Sunday morning, June 3, around 9 at BC.
A little bit earlier, I had said goodbye to a classmate whom I came to know at the reunion. Steve Riordan and his wife were heading back down to their home in Maryland. Steve, a big guy, had a career as a Navy aviator and we had bonded somewhat, along with other Navy vets, at the reunion. He was using a cane to assist him in walking, so I was surprised, as I was waiting on the corner for the Andersons, to see him walking toward me from the parking lot. “What are you walking for, Steve?” I asked. He came up to me, slowly, and said, “Couldn’t leave without giving you a hug, man.” That was a very nice way to wrap up reunion.
As we all had not gathered at Thanksgiving time, which had been our practice, for several years, Gordon and Ann were very thoughtful in recreating some of that experience for us. No football, of course, but plenty of turkey and all the trimmings.
The Andersons and I did the traditional nature walk through the nearby Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary. Addy did the “walk” this time on her bicycle, while Winter used a skateboard. Meredith, Alice, and I ambulated. We also visited a new brewery on the island. Mad Martha’s offered some choice brew and Vineyard teeshirts. You can see all in the following video.
A family photo pulled together from a wide geographic spread. The Andersons and me on Plum Island, Mass. Sam and Julia in Athens, Ohio, and Dillon at Potato Chip Rock, San Diego.Julia, just before the wedding, showing off her hairbrooch.
We have a new member of the family! After years of auxiliary membership, Sam Merten is now official. Julia and Sam were married in a civil ceremony on December 1 in Athens, Ohio. (That’s their wedding “selfie” at lower right in the photo above.) It was the 10th anniversary of their first date, as freshmen at St. John’s College, Annapolis, Md. Sam is finishing up his doctorate in computer science at Ohio University. The two of them, as you read this, are either in Paris or Berlin, the twin destinations of their honeymoon.
Starting off, I’m going to break the calendar rule, but it’s okay since it was too late for last year’s note and I didn’t post it on my blog until January. On December 29, I went to sea for the first time in 45 years . . . voluntarily.
I joined fellow Navy League members on a “family and friends cruise” aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). These cruises permit loved ones to spend time with their Navy family members before an extended deployment. While it was exciting to see helos and jets in action, I was particularly struck by how I felt doing what I had done for so many hours at sea . . . watching the wake of the ship and the ocean going by. In somewhat of a trance doing so, I was startled when a young sailor, passing by, asked, “Bring back memories, sir?” Sure did. There’s a great video of the day, if I say so myself, on the blog.
We did something different this year for the annual visit by the Andersons. I met them in San Francisco and we spent a few days in the Bay Area, where we had lived for a dozen years, 1984-96. Meredith was able to show her family many favorite spots in Berkeley, including Mr. Mopps toy store and School of the Madeleine, where she and Dillon attended school. Winter and Adeline joined me at the Lawrence Hall of Science on the Berkeley campus, with one of the great views of the Bay. We visited Muir Woods and enjoyed the obligatory, and wonderful, view of the Golden Gate from the Marin Headlands.
Here’s a gallery of photos from the trip.
We had intended to drive down Rte. 1 along the coast, but the heavy rains that winter had dislodged a bridge and caused a landslide that closed the road for many miles. Back south in San Diego, we went to the beach (duh) and the Zoo.
Out in the desert, the rains had also brought about a superbloom of desert wildflowers. And that brought a super-number of people out in February and March. We organized a BC Alumni San Diego tour a little ahead of the mass turnout. More complete post, with video.
Asilomar scene
In April, I went up north again. I attended a California State Parks conference at a place called Asilomar. I knew very little about it beforehand, but it turned out to become one of my favorite places in California. I mean, location on the western side of the Monterey Peninsula makes it special right away. But Asilomar is a hotel and conference center run by State Parks and is a former YWCA campground built in 1913, with craftsman-style buildings designed by Julia Morgan, a wonderful and too often overlooked architect of the early part of the 20th century. Among other things, she designed La Cuesta Encantada, more popularly known as Hearst Castle. More complete post, with video.
In July, I joined volunteers helping out in the annual sheep count in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Instead of spending 3+ days monitoring sheep, however, I was there for one morning and at one of the easier locations to access. Well, “easier” means different things to different people. The hike out to Palm Canyon is about 1.5 miles. I did fine going out in the early morning. It was relatively cool and I managed getting over the rocks when necessary. Coming back out, midday, when temps were 100+, I hit a wall. I must have looked like someone in Lawrence of Arabia. Just slogging along, trying to put a foot in front of the other. Back at the count headquarters, a Park Ranger said she was going to keep her eye on me, because I looked peaked. I felt it, too. But I got to see almost 20 sheep and some up close, like the ram in photo. More complete post, with video.
My annual trip back East was in October. Joined my favorite BC classmates for the Virginia Tech game, which was a downer. But, after that game, the Eagles won 5 of their last 6!
Golden Eagles and spouses tailgate in style.
This is our Golden Eagle year. In June, we will mark — and celebrate — the 50th anniversary of our graduation from BC. I have a blog up for that as well at ProudRefrain.org.
The year came to a somewhat dramatic close, as I was ordered to evacuate my house because of the Lilac Fire, which started on December 7. Along with Baxter and Boo, I spent that night in a Red Cross shelter in Escondido. Several friends were kind enough to offer me space, but this dog and cat complicate things. 🙂 All in all, I was inconvenienced but unharmed and it was a valuable, though unwelcome, experience.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and that twenty-eighteen is keen.
Sleeping Beauty Castle was cropped out of this year’s family picture in the print version of this Christmas “letter,” but you can see it here in its full glory.
The Andersons and Julia visited end of February, beginning of March. On our local excursions, we saw a leafy seadragon at the Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in La Jolla, and a white peacock at the Leo Carillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad (“Oh Pancho!” “Oh Cisco!”).
The trip to Disneyland, however, was the best. I wasn’t sure about it originally, considering Alice was then just seven months old. But Disney was offering three-day park-hopping passes that, with a military discount, cost only a little more than a single-day, one-park pass. Couldn’t pass that up.
We bounced between Disneyland andCalifornia Adventure. The evening parade and fireworks, special 60th anniversary editions, were extraordinary. You can get a sense of Adeline’s reaction in this screen shot. It’s from a video of the visit you can see below.
With the Disney photo nearly 10 months old, here’s a much more recent picture of the girls. Addy turns 5 in January, Alice 2 in July.
The year started off, literally on January 1, with a visit from cousin Kathy McManamy. Briefer than her visit the previous summer, we still packed in a number of excursions, including San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido and San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, as well as the Hotel del Coronado.
I also later hosted Cathedral High classmate Susan Hartley Mantoni on my “patented” San-Diego-County-in-a-Day tour.
Once again, I volunteered at the Farmers Insurance PGA tournament in late January, this time serving as a hole captain, overseeing marshals. My normal boasting about our wonderful winter weather took a beating when the Sunday round was delayed several times and then suspended, with the courseevacuated, because of a terrific storm. My attire Sunday, as seen in this video, was insufficient.
There was an amazing scene captured on Golf Channel of a player, after complaining about the conditions, putting his ball far past the hole and watching the wind push it back into the cup.
The San Diego BC alumni chapter is chugging along, with a couple of new and different activities. One was an excursion to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and a side trip to Eagle Rock, on the Pacific Crest Trail inWarner Springs, Cal. This natural rock formation looks unnaturally like an eagle. Here’s a video of that trip that includes our amusing encounter with a group of Western cattle.
I traveled to New England in September to join BC classmates at our annual football game get-together, and see friends and family, ofcourse. (More in earlier post.) Meredith and Winter joined us at the BC-UMass game in Gillette Stadium and we enjoyed the amenities of “professional” football, e.g., beer. Stayed with Marcy and Larry Kenah at my home-away-from-home, and visited family and several dear friends. There was the bonus of a Red Soxgame at Fenway Park. Great sights and sounds.
Just because, here’s another picture of the stylish girls.
Going out to the desert is nearly always a pleasure, even with the 140-mile round trip. One reason is seeing what Iconsider beautiful landscapes. Below is a shot of the meadow that surrounds Lake Henshaw, elevation about 2,800 feet, 30 miles east of Fallbrook. Taken shortly after sunrise, with mist above the lake.
It was a notable birthday for me this year, the proverbial three score and 10. Meredith, Winter, and Julia came out to join Dillon in helping me celebrate(?) the occasion, which made it actually fun. With the girls remaining home, it permitted “adult” excursions, whichfocused, happily, on craft beer and brew-pubs. (More in earlier post.) We also had a plaid parade!
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and that twenty-seventeen is way beyond compare.
Dillon, Julia (holding Baxter), Bill, Meredith, and Winter in the plaid parade!
This year, last Friday actually, I attained the status of septuagenarian. To “celebrate” that “achievement,” my daughters, son, and son-in-law joined me in SoCal. (Not so far a trip for Dillon, as he lives in Oceanside.)
(Thanks to sister Annie [Aunty to the rest] for underwriting most of the travel expenses.)
As the two granddaughters remained back in New Hampshire for the short (Wed-Sun) visit, this was an adult excursion. Instead of Disneyland, the Zoo, etc., we concentrated on what makes San Diego famous — craft beer.
Thursday, the beer drinkers (i.e., sans Julia) did a mini-brewpub crawl. We started at Bagby Beer in Oceanside, trying two rounds of four tasters. Here Meredith is savoring one.
We then moved on to Belching Beaver in Vista for the same. We finished up at Mother Earth in Vista, literally a thrown-beer-bottle distance from Belching Beaver.
Belching Beaver was the newest and most advanced, with the most beers — 66 on tap. We tried two rounds of tasters. I really liked Viva la Beaver, a chocolate stout using Mexican chocolate. Then again, while I liked the taste it was not as beer. I can’t imagine drinking a whole pint. Here are a couple of pictures from Belching Beaver.
Amazing the look you can get from water vapor and light.66 taps at Belching Beaver
Friday started with brunch at Beach Break Cafe in Oceanside, our favorite breakfast/brunch spot in North San Diego. Three of the four ordered the great corned beef hash and Julia had banana crunch french toast(!).
Hash, with real corned beef, over hash browns with poached eggs
Beach Break is right on the Pacific Coast Highway, a couple of blocks from the Pacific.
In addition to the beach location, the cafe is essentially decorated with surfboards, many hanging from ceiling, etc. And the mural in the men’s room is pretty cool.
High-and-tight
Hit the Marine Corps Exchange and Commissary at Camp Pendleton on the way home. Winter wanted the special high-and-tight haircut only trained Marine barbers can give and we needed some veggies.
After relaxing just a bit on the deck,
we cooked dinner — ham (also from Annie/Aunty)(spiced with Jack Daniels horseradish mustard), garlic mash, and asparagus, with great beer (Stone IPA in the green can) and Hafner “Next Red” wine.
I attended a meeting of the Anza-Borrego Foundation board via computer Saturday morning, and then we headed to Las Brisas, my favorite taqueria, for lunch — tacos, quesadillas, etc.
At Alpine Brewery
On our way down to San Diego for a BC hockey gamewatch in late afternoon, we headed a bit southeast to Alpine, Calif., home of Alpine Beer Co. I often enjoy Alpine Duet IPA at our gamewatches. I had Alpine Nelson on my only other visit to the brewery a couple of years ago and have been puzzled at how difficult it is to find, even around here. I learned at Alpine that it is only available for growlers and on tap. More reason to take new and returning visitors to Alpine.
We joined Brian and Lissa Tsu, and 5-year-old Margot at the gamewatch. Their company was certainly more enjoyable than the 4-3 BC loss to North Dakota.
It was a short, but very enjoyable visit, at least for me. I guess if I had to turn 70, this was one of the best ways to do it. 🙂
Earlier this month, I traveled to Boston for my annual, usual myriad of visits and experiences. Foremost among them seeing family and friends, but also a BC football game (a victory!) and Red Sox game.
First on the agenda, following a bumpy redeye, was a visit up north. Stopped first to see cousin Kathy Gagne McManamy on Plum Island. She joined me for a visit to Rye, N.H., where I saw Meredith, Winter, and Alice, the younger granddaughter. Adeline, Alice’s older sister, was in preschool. After brunch at Bubbie’s, a new spot in Portsmouth, we picked Adeline up at school. My arrival had apparently been announced beforehand, so I was the object of some attention. Especially because I came “from California”!
Stayed awake long enough to drive down to Acton, Mass., to my home-away-from-home, the residence of Marcy and Larry Kenah. Took a nap and then caught up on the latest with the Kenahs. Spent Thursday and Friday mostly on the BC campus, visiting Susan Callaghan, Mary Ellen Fulton, Maureen Raymond, and Bob Capalbo, and taking pictures of what seems an ever-changing campus. See photos below.
Stokes Hall, at right, blocks view of McElroy and takes up much of what had been the “Dustbowl.”New dorm on former site of More Hall.Edmond’s rubble is stark foreground for Gasson Tower. The old dorm will be replaced by a new Recreation Complex.Brookline, 15 Vernon St., first floor, home of Mike Reavey, Richard Sullivan, John McCarthy, and me, 1967-68.
Friday, I joined old bud Leo DeNatale for lunch and then spent some time driving around the various ‘hoods in which I had lived. Drove by our apartment senior year at BC and it does not look (right) as if it has improved in the 48(!) years since I left it.
Then went to Logan Airport to pick up Cathedral High and BC classmate Mike Reavey. He was in Boston briefly for a family wedding. We shared a couple of beers at The Abbey and The Publick House in Brookline. When I saw Mike in late 2011 in Fort Worth, where he lives, on my drive out to SoCal, it had been 42 since I had seen him before. This time, the gap was less than 5 years. Excellent trajectory.
Lousy photo, but here’s Mike and me.
Me and Mike Reavey at The Publick House, where the Tam used to be.Meredith and Winter at Gillette.
Saturday was game day! Ed Hattauer and Tom Sugrue came up to the Kenahs from Arlington to carpool, while Meredith and Winter joined us from north country. Attendance was so light at the game, we parked in the retail section around Gillette (no ticket check, no charge) and walked the short distance to the stadium.
BC cheerleaders surround Tom Sugrue
Joining us inside were Debbie and Ken Hamberg and Shelia and Dan Downey, who drove up from the Connecticut shore. We had seats in the Putnam Club level, which is the way to see a football game. Access to food, beer, and other liquids throughout, no bleacher seats, and cover when needed. (Also visiting BC cheerleaders.) We came back in during the brief rainfall in the first half, and watched the game on several TV screens. Back in at halftime when it was sunny (no sunscreen) and then out to the stands when we were in the shade. The Gillette experience was more interesting than the game, actually. While the Eagles played relatively well in a 26-7 win, it was against UMass.
Gillette during the game. Sparse attendance on UMass side. Only 25,000 total in a stadium that seats ~68,000.
Sunday meant a trip south, to the Cape. Met up in the afternoon with Susan and Reid Oslin in Falmouth at the Quarterdeck and spent a few minutes with Tierney Oslin and Tommy Leonard. The Oslins and I then joined Karen and Richard Sullivan for dinner at the Old Yarmouth Inn. Got a traditional New England dinner — fried clams.
Dinner with Reid Oslin, Richard Sullivan, Karen Sullivan, and Susan Oslin.
Being the equal opportunity moocher I am, I stayed with the Sullivans in Mashpee and caught the end of the Patriots game (even on Eastern Time!). Looks as if the Oslins and Sullivans are planning to make the Cape their year-round locale. Except, of course, for their frequent trips out to San Diego. 🙂
With friend Margaret Evans on the bank of the Charles at MIT.
Heading back north Monday, I got on the Southeast Expressway and then Memorial Drive to visit friend Margaret Evans, who works at MIT’s Media Lab, for lunch. It felt good to hone my driving-in-Boston-traffic skills. Then back up to Acton to join Larry on a combined auto-MBTA trip to Fenway for the BoSox game. We secured a spot near the ballpark to have a beer or two, to be joined there by Ed and Tom. The game was pretty much a laugher. The Red Sox scored 5 runs in the 1st inning and 1 run in each of the next 5 innings before finishing with 2 in the 8th to beat Baltimore 12-2. Had the spirit, the songs, the Big Papi homerun. Here’s a short video (3:29) from the evening.
Tuesday, day before departure, focused on the Andersons. Just spent time with Meredith and her girls and then Winter joined us for a late lunch at Petey’s Seafood in Rye. Another traditional New England treat for me — lobsta roll!
Here are some pics of me and the girls. Winter was the photog.
Adeline, Meredith, and Alice with the old man. Meredith points out the differences between the girls: in years, 3 1/2; in pounds, 8.With Adeline.Skies at Logan
The trip back started with some ominous skies, and it took quite a while for JetBlue to turn off the seatbelt sign after leaving Logan. Only downside to the trip was that the entertainment in my row was out. 🙁 Got back in San Diego around 8:30 at night (almost midnight on my body clock). I had made a reservation with Green Cab, because I know they know where Marine Corps Recruit Depot is (where I park my car) and they don’t get “lost” on the way. Same driver I had when I left the week before. :0
Credit to the Standells — “Aw, Boston, you’re my home!” . . . away from home.
The typical mix of wonderful, sad, routine at Casa del Aguila in 2015 . . . and one more granddaughter! Alice Anderson joined sister Adeline in the new generation on July 13.
Addy seems to be adjusting well to sharing the time and attention of her parents with Alice, but there is also the special “tension” that can arise between sisters.
The Andersons had visited here again in February, joined by Aunty Julia. New places on the itinerary included the Safari Park, USS Midway Museum, and Temecula Old Town. We even schlepped up to the La Brea Tar Pits and Getty Museum in LA. While she didn’t have the happiest expression on her face at Estrella’s in the photo at the top of the post, she was much happier with the flan.
When Dillon joined us during their visit for breakfast, it was the only time this year we were all together. 🙁 We continue to be geographically challenged. Dillon is nearby, working as night manager at the Hilton Garden Inn, Carlsbad Beach, and just snagged their “employee of the year” award, something he also won in Portsmouth in 2012. Julia is in Athens, Ohio, with beau Sam, who’s in Ohio U’s computer science doctoral program. She is working at the Ohio University Inn on campus. So, with Meredith at the Hilton Garden Inn in Portsmouth, all three kids are in the hotel biz.
L-R: Larry Kenah, Shelia Downey, Dan Downey, Pat Sugrue, me, Tom Sugrue, Debbie Hamberg, Ken Hamberg, Marcy Kenah. Regular Ed Hattauer was unable to join us.
I visited Alice and family in Rye, NH, two weeks after she was born, and also took advantage of an invitation from Pat and Tom Sugrue to join them and my regular BC classmate group for a long weekend at their place in Rehoboth Beach, Del. It was a time of warm friendship and cold beer — can’t beat that! Got the chance to spend some time on an iconic beach on the “other” coast. Great boardwalk! Saw other old and dear friends, and got to drive through Greater Boston in heavy rain and heavy traffic. Brought back such fond memories.
There are other photos in the earlier post “At the beach.”
Just before heading to New England, I had the great pleasure of hosting cousin Kathy McManamy for a few days. She was especially interested in the Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, about 100 miles east of me, and one of the weirdest places you’ll ever see. Too much about it to explain here, but this is one view of Kathy’s visit there.
She got to see much more, of course, including La Jolla, Balboa Park, the Zoo. You can see more in the earlier post “Krazy Kool with Kathy.” She is visiting again to start the new year.
Confirming Woody Allen’s notion that much of success comes from “just showing up,” I became president of the local Navy League council this year. As part of Navy League, I participated in a day of activities at nearby Camp Pendleton intended to let family members and friends know a little bit about what our Marines do. This was our concluding group photo. Oorah!
I’ll be more involved in coming years with the Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF), partners with the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, as vice president. I was at the Park in September, for the first time overnight. Borrego Springs is one of the few official “dark sky” communities in the U.S. and I have looked forward to seeing the stars there in a way I had not seen them since riding the USS Biddle (DLG-34) across the Pacific in 1969. But it was a full moon and that made the nighttime sky more routine. It provided a beautiful moonrise, however, over the badlands.
Also, look for me on TV at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, end of January. I’ll be a marshal at the 17th hole (north course until the weekend, then the south). Boston College had a terrible football season this year, which made our weekly game watches less than thrilling and less than well-attended. But San Diego Eagles also did a couple of service activities, sponsored a hike, got to watch the ponies at Del Mar as a group, and assisted BC admissions.
No major fires around here this year, but we are awaiting something of a different nature from El Niño. I’m not in danger from rising water, but, being on a hillside, perhaps from water, or worse mud, running down the hill from above. Ninety-nine years ago, parts of San Diego County were devastated by flooding and swollen rivers and there has been lesser, but damaging, flooding in more recent El Niños. Most of the time, most of our rivers are dry. Catastrophic flooding is rare here, but it does happen. The photo below is of the nearby San Luis Rey River valley after the flooding of 1916. The river, which I have never seen as it has been dry or nearly so since I’ve been here, was then a mile-and-a-half wide and six-to-nine feet deep. Back then, it was a few farms and the flood pushed everything out to the sea. Much more residential and commercial development now.
We may be on the news again.
I’m expecting another visit from the Andersons in February. Adeline says she loves visiting me because California is so high in the sky. . . . She has to fly to get here, after all. 🙂
Last year, I suggested my plans for the coming year—golf, horses, sailing— might have been just wishful thoughts. Nailed it. The same plans/wishes remain, but I’m okay with that. They still speak of a pleasant future.
And I wish a pleasant future for you, too, and for your families. Be sure to include a visit to me in that near future!
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and that twenty-sixteen is sweet.
Granddaughter Alice was born July 13. She and mom Meredith are fine, father Winter and sister Adeline are happy.
I visited the Andersons in Rye, N.H., two weeks after the birth, combining that with an extended weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Del., with BC classmates (previous post).
The title of this post is part of the lyrics from a Little Feat song, Willin’. I did see my pretty Alice, though she was zonked pretty much in the initial visit.
At the dentist.
Meredith, Adeline, and I enjoyed lobster rolls at Petey’s in Rye and burgers at Rusty Hammer in Portsmouth at lunches during my visit. Alice came along, too, of course, but Winter was working. I also joined them on a visit to the dentist for Adeline’s appointment.
Adeline spent a lot of her time playing with my iPad. I told her my PIN the first day, and she remembered it thereafter(!). Among the things she did was take Photo Booth selfies.
As usual, I put a few hundred miles on rental cars, traveling through a lot of Greater Boston and southern New Hampshire. I stayed at Chez Kenah, and there are no hosts more welcoming than Marcy and Larry. Visited Karen and Richard Sullivan in Mashpee, also wonderful hosts, and saw sister Ann in Woods Hole. She came over from Martha’s Vineyard to join me for lunch. My last night was at Ed Hattauer’s place in Arlington, and Ed was kind enough to drive me to Logan for a 7 a.m. flight, August 6.
On my trip from Rye to Mashpee on August 4, I had a toxic dose of Greater Boston driving. My GPS put me on Rte. 1 in Danvers, heading south, which I hope was for traffic reasons. It may, however, have been an early sign of Garmin dementia. A strong set of thunderstorm cells hit the area, causing a lot of damage and consternation. Take Boston roadways and traffic, add lightning and rain. My GPS lost satellite connection many times and, it seemed, reason because of lightning. It would give me an instruction, lose connection, and then reconnect two instructions back.
I drove through Chelsea, the Ted Williams Tunnel, Southie, residential streets in Quincy, and downtown Quincy on my way to Rte. 3 and the Cape. I knew the way, but had hoped the GPS would save me time in terms of traffic. Some of the time it did, but . . . . Took me four hours.
I had a wonderful 10 days back East. Saw family and friends, though missed many friends I would have liked to have seen. As always, hope to have them join me on this coast sometime soon.
