Driving to John's home is tricky, up a long windy street and then down a steep short driveway. I take my life in my hands as the car tips forward over the top and then down. I am glad to arrive.

All day I have been thinking of what we will be eating. John cooks real food.

Everyone arrives and we spend several hours talking about books, and then it's time to leave. I have the car facing up the hill. Now it is dark.

I remind myself that I am brave. Balancing the brakes with the gas I am able to push the car up the driveway to the county road. mmmm, it gets easier each time.

I woke up rested, hurray!

Took an early morning walk on the waterfront. Cool clear light, sun shinning, few people and cars. I kept hearing some one following me . When I turned around there was no one there.

Finally I realized that my left shoe was squeaking, this old shoe that I have worn daily for years now complained to me. I tried different styles of walking to see if I could shake free from the complaining voice.

Eventually I surrendered to the sound and began looking around .

A young skinning couple, dressed in Garth clothes, tattoos, piercings, were waiting for the light to change. The Man held a rope with a big reddish dog attached. He was rough with this dog and after crossing the street he kicked it. I winced. The dog winced. They walked away from me. Is there something I should have done?

I am so tired that I don't think I will be able to go to sleep. Certainly I can't read. I just watched a DVD documentary called: THE CUTTING EDGE: THE MAGIC OF MOVIE EDITING.

It was perfect. I could lie on the couch and just watch people talking about movies. I didn't even have to look at the movie.

I love going to the movies but I was unable to get off the couch.

Why am I tired? Well I drove to Redwood City and back on Friday for an all day workshop, then had a small group at my home Friday evening and then was up at 5am to prepare for a day sitting at the Cherry Center. I escaped from the sitting at 2 pm and came home to the couch. sigh

Already I am tired and I haven't gone anyplace. Tomorrow I am driving to Redwood City for a day long class and on Saturday we have a day long sitting. I have made myself tired thinking o f them.

Took a walk in the late afternoon. Lots of wind. Many groups of military people in uniform running around. Some of them are carrying full packs.

In between are the high school kids doing their afternoon running. Clusters of women pushing stroller weave through the streets and the runners. The schools have started a physical fitness programs on Thursdays after school to encourage the kids to run. It must be working because here they are.

They all looked sweaty and healthy. I wish we didn't need soldiers, sailors and marines.

I was just wasting time at the library waiting for my street to reopen so I could drive home. I noticed an old bent women watching me. Finally she came over and asked if I would give her a ride to Clay street up the hill. She said she had missed her ride home.

Reluctantly I agreed, after all I was wasting time. She walked slowly, bent over. I tried to figure out what the real story was, Was she confused? Who would have left her at the library? But she was a quick talker and avoided all my questions.

I took her to Cay street and she said; wait, I have to deliver this letter. I watched her hobble up a driveway and then return. And now take me home, back down the hill, a block from the library. I live here she said and got out and hobbled away.

I never did figure out what was happening. She seemed pretty happy as she shuffled away.
When I got home, my street was open for traffic.

My little street is closed for two days while it is being oiled and sludged. Unfortunately the plumber was supposed to start digging up the road to fix my broken sewer pipe. He had to stop and all our blue street marks are being erased so we have to start over again in determining where the leak is.

sigh

It's noon and the trucks haven't moved in yet. There is a warm quiet in the neighborhood since all the cars have been moved out.

I love this wise old elephant.

sigh

In the late morning I walked along the trail at Asilomar park. I wanted to see an oyster catcher on the rocks. I stopped and scanned the beach, the jutting rocks and the shifting oceans.

A weather system hung out over the ocean, a long straight cut of clouds.

I saw lines of pelicans flying low, cormorants silhouetted on the rocks,
gulls digging in smelly sea weed piled on the beach but no oyster catchers.

The line of clouds moved in covering the blue sky. Maybe next week I will see my oyster catcher or maybe next week I will want to see something else.