Tall Tales from Kansas

With some trepidation (that was carefully stuffed into my left shoe before leaving for the airport), I set out on a recent visit to sister. Short visits are always better for me, but that means more regular visits, and I hadn’t been there since June. Plus, Iris and Otto need to see me more often if they are to understand how I fit into the family, and that it is imperative for them to start to “cozy up” to me.

Can I just say that Southwest was really great? Yes, I was shocked by such excellent communication about the status of my flight several days before the trip out and back. Reassurance that my flights were not being affected by the whole government hullabaloo, was most appreciated. I am not sure what it says about the airline industry that I was so overwhelmed by being treated with common courtesy and respect… but there you have it, and a big thanks to Southwest as well as the really nice TSA folks I encountered.

The gardens at the Huntington were all spiffed up and looking their best. What a luxury to visit a place so beautiful. Next year I will visit in early December instead of mid-November and maybe the ginkgo’s will be at their peak then. No matter though, I love them when they are not peaking too. There are benches under them where one can lay on your back with your knees drawn up and stare at the blue sky and feel your entire body relax. If you are so inclined… and why wouldn’t you be?

Below is a Feijoia – Sharron had them in her farmers market box on the front porch and invited us to try them at the ranch. Get a load of the cute little spoons you use to scoop out the inside then pop in your mouth. Google says they are also known as a pineapple guava. I don’t think I am going to find them anytime soon at a store near me in Kansas.

Sister took me on some of her favorite walks, we went to the beach, had a moon bowl at the Lucky Llama, sampled the tacos at Homestead, went for tea at the Huntington’s Rose Garden Tea Room, and did some cat petting. By the way, the class at the Rose Bowl Aquatic center was FANTASTIC! How wonderful to be in a pool that is not too cold, moving your body around in ways that feel good, while trying not to bump into the other participants. Did I mention it was in the deep water, and that we got in the hot tub afterwards.? Pure bliss.

Before you know it I was back in the air and headed home to Kansas.

P.S. I NEVER tire of staring out of the window on a plane. One day they may invent a window that will tell you exactly what you are looking at when you touch it. On second thought, never mind, sometimes it’s best to ponder the unknown.