I did it!
I didn’t see any of the monarch butterflies that make Pacific Grove famous, although there were three deer ignoring me when I parked in front of them near Asilomar. And several old trees that were tall trunks only now with woodpeckers installing new windows in them, remodeling the places.
So much to say.
I drove down there to see dear friends on their last day of vacation before they flew home to Maryland. They brought the regards of a mutual high school teacher; they’d seen him the day before.
There was only one way for me to get to see them, so I swapped my gas hog for the husband’s Prius for the day and went.
And I would tell you more about how wonderful it was, but anyone who’s seen people they hold dear after a long time away already knows all about that sort of thing.
I got in that Prius to drive home, wishing I somehow didn’t have to yet, and turned on (I thought) the lights. Spraying the windshield instead. As always on that car, always.
And laughed.
One other thought: at the end, they surprised me by offering to drive me home while following in theirs to make sure I got home safely. Folks, we are talking very nearly two hours each way and then they’d have to go back to that hotel room. I didn’t take them up on the offer, but the caring, the generosity, the thoughtfulness behind it, and my deep gratitude at knowing such good people and having them in my life, I tell you, it carried me all the way home. Energized! Just by making that offer… they did exactly that.
All I can say is, thank you. Safe travels to you too tomorrow.