CITY BY THE BAY

Great weekend!  Ben, Chelsea, and Tweety Bird (Emma) came for a visit.  When I introduced her around, one of the other sisters remarked, unprompted by me, that she was just a little Tweety Bird, so I think her title stands.

We ate nutburgers in Old Fair Oaks, which is becoming obligatory for all visitors.  Emma was intrigued with the chickens that roamed wild...until one flapped its wings at her.

We drove to Mill Valley on Saturday and toured Muir Woods.  Prior to coming here, Emma had been camping in the Uintahs and had seen a moose.  So whenever I pointed out big trees to her, she responded with "Nana, moose?"

Early Saturday found us going across the Golden Gate Bridge...in total fog.  We could have been on an overpass on I-80 for all that we saw.  But we made Ben cross it off his Bucket List, anyway--no time for do-overs.

The city was pretty deserted early in the day.  We were able to ride cablecars, walk down crooked Lombard Street (my calves are still sore), and visit Chinatown and Pier 39 by early afternoon, when the mobs descended.  So we left and drove to Stanford University to appease Ben for not taking the boat to Alcatraz.

The beginning of the day was chilly; it was hot and sunny at Stanford; but sitting on the wharf eating clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls at noon was perfect!  One of those moments to tuck away and revisit often.  Emma inserted herself into a Latino family, where she really stood out.

On Monday, Labor Day, after introductions at the Mission Office, we hung around Fair Oaks.  We did a little shopping, swimming (Emma's an intrepid little fish), and sightseeing:  Folsom Prison and, for contrast, the Sacramento Temple.

Even though all the pictures and most of the text feature Emma, I love having all three of them here.  And I'm happy that Emma hasn't forgotten me....she even still likes me.  And I adore her!