The House of Chandeliers

A couple months ago my sister called me and said she wanted to take a trip up the coast of California. Her wish was to take the trip when the winter weather of Kansas had outlived her patience.  A trip up the coast of California with beautiful sunshine and gentle lapping beaches would be just the thing she needed.   She told me I was welcome to join her for some, all or none of it.  I immediately voted for all.  I love traveling with my sister, Gayle.  

We spent the last two months planning.  Both Gayle and I love to plan trips.  We got that gene from our mother.  We decided to begin our journey in San Diego so we can see our brother and his family and one of our cousins.  Gayle said she wanted to spend one of our weekends in the LA area and the next weekend in the Bay Area so she could enjoy the cultural things that she can't do in Potwin, Kansas.  

I got up this morning filled with excitement about picking up my sister at the San Diego Airport.  California is currently experiencing  a record breaking amount of precipitation.  It even snowed at my home in Claremont this past Sunday.  I texted my sister and said, "Are you glad you are escaping your weather and coming to California where it is always sunny?"  She wrote back, "I really just want to see my sister."  Do you see why I love her and love traveling with her?

She sent me a text to let me know she had boarded her plane in Wichita and everything looked like it would be on time.  Shortly after that she sent me a text that TSA was concerned that there was a security concern about a possible knife on their plane.  They removed the last 10 people to board and sent them back to be rescreened. A few minutes later they announced that everyone was going to need to deboard and be rescreened.  She missed her connecting flight in Denver and arrived 3 hours later than originally scheduled.  

I knew I wanted to travel to San Diego in the sweet spot of traffic.  So I went ahead and left when I had planned.  I stopped for lunch at Tuetano Taqueria in Old Town.  I had read about it online and wanted to try it.  It was amazing.

I decided to spend the time I was waiting for Gayle on nostalgia.  I went to middle school and high school in San Diego.  First I drove by my high school -- Herbert Hoover High.  

It didn't look at all like it did when I attended there.  When we first moved back to California in 2002, we drove down to San Diego and I showed my children where I went to high school.  One of my sons said, "I didn't know you went to an inner city high school."  I remember scratching my head and thinking, "Did I go to an inner city high school?"  At the time it was the only racially mixed high school without bussing in San Diego.  

I drove past Wilson Middle School.  I wouldn't have found it without Google Maps.  It was unrecognizable to me.

Then I drove to the San Diego Church of the Brethren where my dad served as pastor and I was married.  It is an impressive community that shares its space as it works for justice.  There are several worshiping groups that meet on the property, as well as social justice organizations.  Plus you can charge your electric vehicle.

I drove past our former family home.  

By then it was time to head to the airport.  Gayle brought her wheelchair with her and it took some time to get it to the baggage claim area.  Instead of sitting in the cell phone lot I headed to Harbor Island.  I sat on a bench and soaked up the beauty of San Diego.  I really do believe that San Diego is America's finest city.  

Once Gayle had her wheelchair I headed over to pick her up.  We are staying at an AirBnB in North Park. The listing said there was ample street parking.  Really?  Hmmm.  I dropped Gayle off and then lugged in our stuff from the parking space I found down the block and around the corner.  I was grateful for her wheelchair.  I loaded it down with stuff and headed to our place.  I think several people mistook me for someone unsheltered.

 I call our AirBnB the House of Chandeliers.  We each have our own bedrooms.  I told Gayle she should take first pick. She went with her favorite chandelier.  Which chandelier do you think she chose?

We walked to a sushi restaurant for dinner.  We got there just in time.  After we were seated a line started forming outside.  The food was only so-so.  Gayle said, "I wouldn't stand outside and wait for this food."

We came back to our place to unpack and call our cousin.  We hope to see her tomorrow if the weather allows us to sit outside.