Catching up

So, we're sitting in the airport now, waiting to go home on Wednesday, February 19th. I had the BEST intentions of writing something each day, and it just didn't happen. I think we crammed a month's worth of activities into the last eight days...

So, I'll resume the commentary from the morning of Day 2 (Thursday, February 13th), where we woke up in Monterey. 

Rickey at the site of the historic Monterey Pop  Festival in 1967, also known as the Monterey County Fairgrounds.

And then we did a bit of sightseeing and shopping at Cannery Row.
I'd really like to go back and visit the aquarium next time.

Hope you can hear the sea lions in this video from 17 Mile Drive, also referred to as Pebble Beach.

One of my favorite pictures from the trip. 

These deer were on a private residence on Pebble Beach.

This is a shot of the infamous Lone Sycamore tree, with the addition of one Rickey Lee Lamb.

And we think this was the "Ghost Tree," also part of 17 Mile Drive.

You can see the views were just spectacular.

Another one of my favorite shots. I love the way the water is glistening here.

This was Rick's favorite coastal view on the drive. We were headed to Big Sur by this time.

And our view from lunch in Big Sur at Nepenthe. It was absolutely amazing. We could see the ocean,
but were tucked up inside the big redwoods. We both want to go back.

And after our late lunch at Big Sur, we were off to see my childhood BFF Gaby, and her husband Jim. They live in Boulder Creek, Ca, and we stopped at her "office" at Heartmath Institute. It was quite a drive, especially the last half-mile trek to the property. 

Rick and Gaby talking on the back deck.

There is just no way any picture can do justice to this moment. Or the moments just prior to our short walk out back. It took every bit of strength not to break out in an ugly cry when I saw her coming down the steps as we walked away from the car. We last saw each other in 1986, after my Grandpa died. Brandon was just over two years old. The way the sun lit up the side of the mountains behind us made me want to leave everything behind and move to the mountains.

What a familiar face and voice, still the same, just a few decades older. Since my move to Illinois, it's not often that I cross paths with someone that knew me in the sixth grade. We had such a great time catching up!

Can't thank this man enough for making this visit happen. XO

Jim and Rick hit it off very quickly. They share a love of music, and shortly after being introduced, Jim mentioned Neil Young and they were fast friends. Apparently Neil also lives in the woods.

Jim lived down the street from Gaby after both of our families moved from Camarillo, Ca to Newbury Park. We were 13, he was older. Had a fast car and lived down the street. I was at their wedding, some 28 years ago, and it was so wonderful to see them together now. I just love that they gave up the LA lifestyle and found heaven on earth in the mountains. And they do great work as well, with HearthMath Institute. Can't wait to start using my EmWave!

It grew dark, Gaby had a video conference and it was time to go. No way no how will I let another 28 years go by...

We drove back to San Francisco, and after our day spent in some of God's most glorious country, the hub of the city was almost too much...