I was 29

Today is my daughter's birthday. I was 29. I walked to City Hall and enjoyed dancing to a blues quartet band in Alioto Plaza. I asked about five newly married couples to come over and dance but all declined. I had a view of the waning moon to the left of the rotunda and looked over and there it was. Peter Pan's ship sitting right on top of Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. I've never noticed that before. Weather was lovely. It was way too hot to dance last night in Concord but today at noon, perfect. In fact two women complimented me on my dancing, that it was smooth and I had rhythm. One told me I needed a partner. Good times in the city.

Grandmother Olive's birthday today

Because Olive's birthday was celebrated on Independence Day there's even a mistake on her headstone that she's born on the 4th of July. My Independence Day was great. I started the day with breakfast of English muffins and made a smoothie to enjoy with the neighbors while we watched the 5K go by on our street. What fun. Then I walked downtown to watch the parade at 10:00 and walked back with the neighbors and their friends. In hindsight I should have gone for my swim when I got home. Instead I wasted 45 minutes waiting for my friend of some 44 years, Kathy, at Rockridge, so we could pack up her car and head to Mt. Tam for exploring and picnicking. We made guacamole at the picnic table and when we finished our late lunch/dinner hiked over to the edge of the world to see the blanket of fog far below. It was peaceful and serene and we sat on a blanket and talked some more. It was a lovely day together. We saw fireworks in every community including when I arrived in Concord and I arrived home just in time for A Capitol Fourth. Yay! I had missed Paul's call by 35 minutes. I really appreciate that he called me. Kathy took some selfies of us. Thanks for a fine day celebrating Independence Day.

 Our street!

Neighbors and me in red and blue second from right. Missing neighbors Mike, Mary and Laura were in the 5K! The neighbors played Rocky and patriotic songs.

A picnic after all

For two years our once thriving annual family reunion and picnic in June has evaporated. The key families just cannot or will not come anymore. However, yesterday I gathered up all the games and prizes and once more had a picnic at Holbrook Heights, this time to celebrate the second birthday of my twin grandsons, here with their parents for the life celebration of departed great-grandmother Cleo, 94. The Ballins, Bells, and Lloyds came for fun, games, food and swimming in two pools hosted by the twins' mother. At last the games were in use again: metal darts, bowling, clothes pin drop, pool table, beanbag toss, dominos, painting and stenciling, sidewalk chalk, football catch in the baby pool and on the grass. I tried to get the three tiny boys to float. The boys spotted the Goodyear blimp in the distance! My friend Kelley and her granddaughters came to swim and were invited to eat with us. It lasted about five hours and the twins and us were the last to leave. Yay for picnics and birthdays. The food was outstanding and wow what a sweet watermelon. Then on Thursday, Stephanie brought her mother and the twins to Todos Santos for dancing to Kingsborough and loads of fun on a very hot evening, followed by me swimming to cool off.

J and M on their second birthday, in Utah.

E is on the move

April visit

Library

Park

Backyard D and E

Borges Ranch R and D

Baldwin Park

Little Nite Girl

Nite turns 15 on June 3, 2016. She's recently lost weight and fur and had a bump on her neck but is still kicking. Paul found and brought her home soon after our move to Concord in 2000.

Driver's license please!

 MM in the green car.

 JD in the orange car.

 The grandsons and Gramma Olive.

JD and MM in the Bell patio.

Spending time with my twin grandsons is a joy. They are so good-natured and happy. When I put on dance music I noticed JD trying to snap his fingers. MM's shoulder starts moving to the music as he gets warmed up. They run, laugh, and play. At one point they started running from the kitchen to the family room to my open arms taking turns. They were humming and singing on our long walk around the block after visiting friends and would point to birds on a wire. They know some ASL and use it, especially please. They are beautiful. They reach for me and come to me easily.