nature, wine and memories

Friday. the 13th. we had three missions today.

Mission number one: be one with Nature.  It was another early morning (and late to bed).  two cups of coffee and I still wasn't reving to go.  We stopped by Peet's coffee (caramel cappacino and a strawberry scone. yes please) and a Farmer's Market (too many choices for bread and cheese) and off we went on a 45 min drive to Muir Woods.  I don't like windy roads. Not one big.  i get car sick too easily.  Luckily i was too focused on downing my coffee to notice.

we passed by a troop of what seemed to be camp counselors and their kids. precious. i could imagine their conversations.

"what kind of tree is that?"

" are there wolves here? "

"does edward cullen live up in this forest?"

wait. maybe that last question was from us. 

as we passed under the Muir Woods sign it was as if we were entering into a new world.  the trees were massive as they loomed over us.  birds chirped.  you could see faint streams of sun light.  it was breath taking.  we even went off path for a few picture opportunities.  we went up mountains and down trails, over bridges and past small babbling brooks.  it was as if we were no longer in a "city" but in a different world, being one with nature.  no cell phones. no cars. no hustle and bustle of the city.  

as we headed back to our car, sonoma county awaited us. and wine.

mission number two: find the best tasting wine.

we approached Bedziger and immediately you could tell that this was a one of a kind winery.  hills upon hills of places where grapes could be picked, tons of trees, and the sonoma mountain and valley.  we climbed to some picnic benches and proceeded to have two different kinds of wine, three different kinds of cheese and multiple slices of bread. uhm yes please. we toasted to a great day, and a great day indeed it was.  there was a small blue jay hopping around along side of us. so bright in color. how great would it be to be a bird? to be able to just fly anywhere and have an amazing view of a place like this?

we journeyed down to where our chariot awaited us. and by chariot i mean a huge tractor pulling a bed full of seats. nice. our guide was very dry in humor. and i loved every minute of it.  

Apparently Sonoma valley used to be a volcano. which amazes me.  he took us up and down the landscape and the day was almost picturesque.  He showed us where they store all the barrels of the wine. It never gets above 65 degrees in that cellar.  And there are HUNDREDS of barrels. it's a family business too apparently.

the last stop of the tour we were given two different samples of wine. we were also called out by the tour guide as being loud. that was a fun moment.  i'm not big on red wine but white wine i love.  we then went inside a gift shop where we were greeted by a gentleman who proceeded to pour about 5 more different kinds of wines for us. All white for me. One was a dessert wine. I fell in love with it.  I'm not a big alcohol drinker but i do like the occassional amazing glass of wine.  Especially if it tastes like candy, which this most certainly did.

next stop: Imagery Winery, the sister wine place.  We were greeted immediately by Joe. He was a jovial fellow determined to let us taste as much wine as we wanted.  And we did. each glass was accompanied by either a small bread stick, a piece of chocolate, or a blueberry candy if we were lucky.  and i was lucky very many times.  Blueberry candy is the best.  i actually stopped drinking wine so i could enjoy more chocolate.  Walter and I began discussing a certain guy from my past.  mixed emotions came back.  first lighthearted. then angry. then reminscent. then numb.  then questions. lots and lots of questions. sometimes memories are good. other times they aren't. and then the rest they are in between.  i had quite a few of those moments. and this guy from my past would soon be making an appearance in my present.

we left Imagery and headed to Sonoma Square. Amongst an Irish Pub and rioters i got a phone call. and four years of emotions and memories came flooding back.  we only talked for a brief moment but it was interesting how time changes so much. And how it can heal parts of your soul but left others there to linger. we talked alot about our relationship with God and how its grown and how certain stuff in our past can't be changed.  I kind of smirked and chuckled to myself.   so much has changed. some for good. some for bad.  what's funny is that my present came to check upon me and my past.  wally and jeanne consistently came to make sure i was okay. they are such amazing friends.

less than an hour passes and its time for the past to become the past again.  mixed emotions once more. jeanne even asked if I wanted to prolong the inevitable.  torn feelings ensued. As much as I wanted to catch up more, i knew for now, and for my heart, time needed to continue on in the present.  

it was weird on the car ride home too. still many thoughts are racing forward.  but to counteract them, a dance party came into play in the back seat. Oh yes indeed. JT, MJ, MIA. some of my faves.

we get back and after some misfortunes decide to go and try out a local seafood joint. Nettie's Crab Shack. horrible clam chowder i must say but their selection of cookies and milk was excellent.  we went out with Susie's son Johnathan who has an interesting perspective on life and religion.

and then the question of the night was posed.

What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

this spawned a big debate. what is prayer. can you pray without ceasing. can you continually be in prayer or a mind of prayer.  still our debates are being tossed back and forth.

we continued on to home and spend our last night in San Fran. many wonderful memories. many more to be had.