August 2021

Move in day

“Welcome to your Bobcat home.” Photo op at UC Merced

Yesterday we dropped off our daughter Olivia for her first day as a freshman at UC Merced. I cried when we drove up to the campus and I saw the University of California sign. Olivia is a person who has had to work very hard every single day of her academic life. And here she is at UC Merced, her top school choice.

When my oldest sister Patrice left for college, my mother said it was as though 5 people had moved out: Patrice’s presence loomed that large. I feel that way today. As I sit at the dining room table writing this, the house feels empty and quiet. But I draw comfort from knowing Olivia has only entered her next phase. She’s off on a new adventure, eager and ready to create her own future. xoxo

Move in day.
All UC campuses require students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated. A negative Covid test was required before Olivia was given her room key.
The 3 loves of my life.
Sister and brother say good-bye.

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Pompeii in San Francisco

Mosaic with octopus and fish

It’s a joy to visit a museum with Olivia because she loves art and is always up for an adventure. On Wednesday, we saw “Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave” at San Francisco’s Legion of Art Museum–a focused, beautiful show of frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and objects. We’d toured Pompeii during our 2019 trip to Italy, so the SF exhibition was especially fun. Masks are required and tickets are timed; “Last Supper in Pompeii” closes on Sunday, August 29.

Mosaic with skeleton

(And may I just add: So grateful my family is fully vaccinated! Thank you scientists, medical personnel, front-line workers, volunteers.)

Mosaic with birds
Large fresco
Outside the museum
Pompeii from our trip in 2019
Sculpture overlooking the valley

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Qwirkle

My oldest sister Patrice moved in with us soon after Covid hit and, along with her new Chihuahua Clementine, is still here. Patrice and I have developed a serious and competitive after-dinner board game Qwirkle habit—reminding me of our childhood marathons of Monopoly, which were also serious and competitive, in which Patrice always was the “banker” and which Patrice always, always won.

Some things never change.

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Back in the USA

We’re back in the US and I’m posting a few final pictures from our Summer 2021 trip. Here’s why I love Antigua, love Guatemala, love traveling with my kids and other families, love everything about this place. The Square in Antigua during a rare moment of quiet with a bicycle; a church statue; one of several Quineanera’s we saw being photographed; a bus on the calle; more scenes of the Square; doggies in the window; and us eating, walking, drinking, outside doing one of the above.

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