This is where I was this Friday morning. Standing on the beach in Capitola, CA (north end of Monterey Bay) staring at the Venetian Hotel, the way I have many many times over the years. By turns gaudy and grand, this hotel has been a landmark in this small town since 1924.
Housekeeping staff was busy with their morning rounds, and here are a couple of their kids playing in the sand just outside the hotel. They must think their parents work in the coolest place on earth. Up and over the dune they went, over and over again, not a shovel or a bucket between them, but having the time of their lives.
The whole scene made me feel peaceful and grateful. I could have planted myself in that sand all morning, but a small dog in my car made me move it along. I took her for a walk after that, further south, where there was grass and trees and plenty of space to run and relieve herself.
I was visiting my daughter's family, to help out while my son-in-law was out of town on business. The weather was purrrrrrr-fect. 75 degrees and crystal clear. I sighed remembering how I used to live in this paradise. When I lived here, I hardly ever made it to the beach. Now it takes a 2.5 hour drive to let me appreciate what has been there all along. The whole coast here is a summer escape for the folks in Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno and the whole hot stinkin' Great Central Valley. Salad Bowl of the United States. Unbearably hot in the summer, those who can, make their way to Monterey Bay, book a place to stay and say thanks for the relief the cool fog offers.
I enjoy it more now that I don't see it every day. Since I don't have to deal with life in a tourist town every day. Since I have the grand good pleasure of playing with my grandson when I am there. By the way, he bit me on the thigh this visit. Just feeling vicious in the morning. First he was poking the dog in the eye and I told him to stop. That's when he bit me. Guess I learned my lesson. That'll teach me, all right.
As for him, his mom gave him a time out. Ha-ha.
That is so beautiful -- the hotel, not the bite! I certainly don't miss the days of my children biting.
ReplyDeleteThe Venetian Courts always look magical to me. I love the colors. Tourist towns are not fun, but they are almost always beautiful. No fun about that bite. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteI actually have two front teeth marks in a bruise on my thigh!
DeleteI'm so glad I never had a biter. One habit that really sets me off. Lovely place to visit and reflect.
ReplyDeleteLooks interesting. Good on the time out for biting. They do have to learn. I was at the beach too but we had good weather until a storm front moved in. We get that fog though in the summer when the valley is hot.
ReplyDeleteLove Capitola! Joining the "good work" nods about time out for biting. The coolest, most wonderful K-1 teacher -- I remember only one time she kinda lost it and called for reinforcements, when one of the students bit another one. There was of course an immediate time out as well.
ReplyDelete