Thoughts on Leaving Southern California

We head out today from our base in Desert Edge at the Healing Waters Estates.  We were so glad to have this as a long stopover to refresh, renew, make new friends and take stock.  Thanks to Dale for letting us stay in the O'hana.  I am delighted that my friend Marilyn is recovering from her accident and surgeries following her fall from a bicycle.  She is a trooper and a model for moving ahead with purpose and belief in a fully restored body.  She has always been an inspiration to me and her friendship and example of healthy living is a beacon for me. I look forward to returning again next year when I will be on vacation and not working and she will be much more recovered from her injuries.  We did enjoy several wonderful outings with her.  We went twice to her favorite jazz joint, Woody's Burgers, in Palm Springs.  Two nights ago was a birthday gala for Trish Hatley, a chanteuse who plays with Barney McClure on Mondays. Trish hails from Mukilteo Washington.  Barney spent years in Washington State and served in the WA State Senate.  I remember hearing his tunes on KPLU and reading about the way he enlivened Olympia with music when we lived there.  Trish brought in a whole host of amazing friends to sing and play.  There were some older gentlemen who sang and just rocked the place.  I am so drawn to the beautiful baritone voices.  It is no surprise that in a community where streets are named for Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Sammy Davis Junior, Bob Hope and more that there will be enduring talent.

Trish and Barney on piano.  

Another trip Mike and I took with Marilyn was to Sunnylands, the Annenberg family estate that for years has hosted world leaders.  The house has been totally rebuilt and is open by guided tour.  The Visitors Center and Gardens are open to the public in the weekends.  The three of us went for a visit on Sunday.  The gardens are beautiful and very formally designed, all with desert plants.  The Visitors Center was amazing and will be worth a return visit.  We had a delightful lunch outside the cafe.  Many US presidents have held summits at Sunnylands.  The last two years we have been in town, President Obama has been visiting with world leaders there.  A recent visit with the Chinese President Xi Jinping is remembered with a copy a of the redwood bench that President Obama gave him.  Guests are invited to sit on the bench in honor of that visit.  Mike and I warmly remembered our visit to China in the fall of 2013.

Mike and I on the redwood bench at Sunnylands.

I have been using my work time while I have been here to both reflect and look ahead.  I have been reading Trails of Hope and Terror by Rev. Dr.Miguel de la Torre.  Rev. Dr. de la Torre writes from a theological perspective and uses a great deal of testimonials to illustrate the issues.  A documentary by the same name has also been produced that I plan to watch.  The book is very thoughtful and questions the inaction of some of the Christian right on the issue of justice and humanitarianism for the Latino immigrants.  He calls all of us out for being complacent about the conditions that we as a citizenry condone through inaction or ignorance.  He puts a very human face on the people who are engaged as both helpers and border crossers.  It is a very engaging book and has lessons for anyone whether connected to a community of faith or not.

I have also been planning ahead for visits in Tulare County, the Davis/Sacramento area and even New York City!  I am also working with my team of sister faculty members on digesting and authoring articles about our Fortaleciendo Familias program.  We need the results of the follow up evaluations to submit requests for funds for program revisions.  We completed one article and submitted it to a journal last week!  We will begin work on the next data set within the next month.

My writing time is over for today.  Thanks for reading!