Since last I bent your darling ears, the holiday season has come and gone. My gifts were more than I could have ever wished for. A sold-out, chairs-in-the-orchestra closing night. A family celebration that included snuggles with Tucker & baby Katie Grace. Some Mommy time. And a Christmas day visit from Klaus (the hip & handsome version of Santa) with a sleigh full of goodies.
There was one gift that was bittersweet. Dr. Beverly Sanders isn't suffering anymore. And he never had to miss one of his famous New Year's Eve parties. At his funeral, one of his dearest friends read this passage:
“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”
This passage, also read at Princess Diana's funeral, reminded me that we've been blessed with another year. I began to think of how different time can be for each of us, of all the things that I want to accomplish in the New Year. And I started to get a little overwhelmed. Then I remembered something important . . .
I spent a few days, once, at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. The poolside roses were as big as hats. The margaritas at the sidewalk Cantina were pucker-up perfection. The history and architecture took my breath away. And waking up from a beautiful little nap on a rooftop chaise, I could have sworn that the church bells surrounding me were chattering amongst themselves. “Who could ever want to leave this place” . . . I’m sure you’re thinking.
However, on the third day I made my post-eggs-benedict way down to the lobby to peruse the racks of brochures and set my mind to tour the vineyards in nearby Temecula.
How to get there? Hmmm. Rental Car . . . impractical. Hellooo! I want to drink the wine. Limo . . . don’t think so. Taxicab . . . surprisingly expensive. At some point in this process my naïve little old self settled on Going Greyhound.
What followed was a morning-long voyage, 20 or so stops and the most “interesting” cast of characters. When we arrived in the next town over, I scribbled a note to myself that one should more carefully examine this type plan in the future. But, despite the less than ideal travel arrangements, I had a grand time and discovered a wonderful almond champagne. As I stood at the corral-inspired bus stop with my case of “souvenirs”(on the telephone with Milton Heard of all people) and an older man pulled up to offer me a ride “anywhere I wanted to go” . . . all I could do was laugh from my toes to my bows . . . thinking “I’ve sure got some material for the next dinner party.”
When I recounted the tale to my friends, explaining to them that I really did have a wonderful time and made it home safe and sound – I expected the laughs and humored eye rollings that I got. But it was Beth’s expression that caught my eye. She was looking at me with such admiration that my heart swelled with pride. And the words that came out of her mouth are an etched-in-stone memory that have done the same ever since.
“You just don’t let anything stop you” she said. It is, to this day, a compliment that is most precious to me. And the other day, as I spackled a hole in the wall all by myself . . . I remembered that.
My list of resolutions, a wish-list of home and self improvements for 2009, is beginning to look more like a bucket list. But the bottle or three of almond champagne that I’ve enjoyed since that trip reminds me of something that I wanted to pass along. Wherever it is you want to go, you can get there! The trip could be less than luxurious, it could be stop and go, and it may even get a bit dangerous.
Oh but how much fun you’ll have telling the girls all about it next December!
aS
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New Years Eve:
September Haze with opening act Mile Train. Cox Capitol Theatre 8pm, $10
New Year's Eve Big Dance
New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball
First Friday!
Traditional African legends and folk takes about the sky hit the ceiling of the Mark Smith Planetarium
Dinner & A Movie: Sunset Boulevard
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