Dreams, Moments, Travels
My uncle and I visited Elings Park off Los Pasito’s in Santa Barbara this morning. It was his first time returning in a month. There were more than a few happy dogs and a nearly equal amount of happy humans seeing Woody return. Later in the day, my uncle was taken off oxygen and given permission to return to normal activity, such as driving!
Just another sunrise here in Santa Barbara, California. My uncle is almost ready to resume his former routine and I’m getting antsy to get going back to Phoenix and Caroline – I miss her so very much.
For 38 years, I’ve looked at this view from my uncle’s front yard. Years ago, there was no golf course, and I would walk across the street to pick walnuts. My sister Shari once threw a rock at me standing right here and opened a gash on my eyebrow. Back then, there were no plants in the front yard, there wasn’t even a driveway then.
Update April 2021: This was at 288 Placer Drive in Goleta, California. Some years ago, around 2009, my Uncle Woody Burns and Aunt Ann Burns sold this place and moved back to Buffalo, New York. A few years after that, my uncle passed away on December 16, 2012, at the age of 88. Just recently, I called my aunt after finding a phone number for her and learned that she’s still alive. Contact between all of us became difficult due to a situation that wasn’t able to be resolved (old people getting strangely stubborn). It was great hearing her voice, and I wish that Caroline and I could pay her a visit and offer her a hug.
Twice a day in the morning and then in the afternoon I bring either Sophie or my uncle and Sophie to the park so she can get a workout chasing tennis balls. Today we are joined by Chester. A month ago I featured the puppy Tula; well, Chester here is Gail and Tony’s other dog. Sophie and Chester seem to enjoy one another’s company running together until Sophie takes a pause in the shade next to a small tree and Chester heads for the water bowl.
Update: I went to update the photo I had of Chester and inexplicably it is missing. Sadly, we don’t know why some of the photos I chose years ago went missing, or how they got deleted and vanished. So it goes, in its place I offer a new photo with Chester not looking at the camera but there’s my great aunt and uncle so that’s a win.
Looking up the street on Hope Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. While taking care of my uncle, I sometimes go shopping or take the dog for a walk. It is during these times that I can slow down to appreciate the place I am staying for this extended time away from Caroline.
This is the view across the street from Sambo’s Restaurant at the Santa Barbara Harbor during sunrise. Wow.