Dear Jasper and Kestrel,

Even though my birthday isn’t until Monday, we did the celebration on Saturday. Uncle David and I went to Asilomar and had a long walk in the wind and sun, which was just what I needed! It was bright and cold and absolutely perfect. The clouds over the bay gave us a pretty good picture of what was happening elsewhere… rain over there, clear over there.

The clouds kept changing! It was wonderful. We saw some rock stacks, and I managed to add two rocks to one, getting a picture before it fell down.

One thing I love about the ocean is that it puts things in perspective. “How long have you been working on that?” It asks. Then it chuckles. “Don’t worry…I’ve been eroding this cliff for a thousand years, and it’s still not done.” It lets me breathe to know there is so much tangible power that isn’t my responsibility.
The birds kept us company. A flock of sandpipers scurried over the rocks and sand, seeming to disappear when I pulled out my camera. Seagulls soared and crows bickered.

David and I climbed over some rocks and up a small cliff face, and found the boardwalk that lead back to the road, then walked up the hill to The Fishwife. It is a bright, friendly restaurant that is fancy enough to have good food and wine and be pretty, but comfortable enough to chat with the waiters and come in with a little sand on your shoes.

David and I only waited a few minutes until Auntie Olga and Liza joined us, and we ordered lunch! Calamari appetizers, Pasta Primavera, barramundi, and grilled salmon were our choices, with Liza having the chicken tenders. We drank a light Angeline Pinot Noir which went well with all the delicious food.

We ate and drank, then Olga and Liza went to Dennis the Menace Park and I, being lazy, had Uncle David take me home. The wind and sun and good company had worn me out.
Love,
Grandma Judy