We seized the opportunity to get away at the very end of May and take in the American College of Sport Medicine conference together. Both of our careers have always been in health care but most often on divergent paths. We have accompanied one another to conferences but never attended the same conference in 12 years of marriage. How did this experiment work out?
It was the perfect fix for both of us. For me I was able to get my continuing education credits and learning experiences for each of my three professional designations sport nutrition, kinesiology and dance (this brilliant group has finally acknowledged that performing artists are indeed athletes...hallejuiah). For Patrick it was a bit more of a mindful break from hectic ER norm. He is the most dedicated sports fan and amazing natural athlete. He finally decided to check out the latest that sport medicine has to offer. Both of us found this conference to be thought provoking. Patrick found it particularly motivating. It was also awesome to spend some quality time together without the usual responsibilities that we have at home.
San Francisco was good to us. The weather was unseasonably dry and modestly warm. The San Francisco Giants won the game on Friday night.
The Dance medicine session at the conference lead to an impromptu invite by Nina Pinazzone (love her ballet music CD's) to the San Francisco Ballet Schools year end recital. The dancers were fantastic and the choreography was very progressive (no pictures allowed). (It was so good that Patrick didn't even fall asleep :). The entire conference was akin to movie star spotting though the celebraties were more from the scientific and technical fields that I love... from Nina Pinazzone ballet pianist extrordinaire to Dr. Glen Gasser, Dr. Steven Blair and R.D. Nancy Clarke...seriously I own and have read all of their textbooks.
After 4 filled days on the conference track we only had only one day to sightsee and there was no arguement about where to go.
We rented a car headed north over the Golden Gate Bridge.
First we checked out the Coastal Redwoods in Muir Woods on Mount Tam which lead to a spontaneous and profound hike on the Fern trail. If the day ended here it would have felt complete to me. I definitely relate to the thoughts of John Muir...
I easily made myself at home... literally right inside those enormous trees! I loved the musky smell of the redwoods, the babbling brooks and color contrasts. From the summit you would never guess what a magnificent forest awaited below. God's creation is truly amazing!
Gheez Louise that is one seriously big tree!
Driving along shorline highway up the coast line was surreal.
The day was warm and sunny so we stopped to frolick in the Pacific Ocean at Stinson beach....
The ocean is ......COLD!
The shoreline highway wound on for miles and miles... it gave a new meaning to "bend in the road" and you just couldn't be in a hurry to get anywhere! What looked like a quick drive on the map turned out to be a "long" drive. Our plans just kept evolving as we went along!
It certainly gave us time to enjoy the breathtaking views of the ocean.
The winding road carried us to Jenner and the beautiful Russian River Valley and then inland toward Sonoma Valley and the vineyards in wine country.
Along the way we found a pertified forest.
Only in California would you see this kind of graffiti!
We ended this epic roadtrip in the quiet harbor of Sausilito for sunset walk in the Marina and a quiet dinner. Walking, talking and taking in the sights was a great bonding experience for both of us.
We were truly blessed when my parents and little sister agreed to watch Su Yee for us for an entire week. Su Yee was expertly cared for by Aunty Tracy, Nie Nie Joanne and YeYe Dale. She had had a few "tummy aches" prior to our departure but those magically disappeared once she realized that she could get just about anything she wanted for the next week! She was definitely excited to see us once we got home but needed reassurance that we were not going to go on an airplane and leave her. I think there was some anxiety about us leaving but at least she has now experienced that we do indeed come home to her and that we are definitively a "family".
The one day whirlwind tour left me awestruck. We travelled through ancient forests, felt the power of the ocean tides, the windswept sea cliffs, the tranquil calm of the Russian River and Sonoma Valleys and experienced the calm of the harbor in under 24 hours. This world that we live in is not static. It ebbs and flows; it changes over time and place. Change can be overwhelming. Life marches forward, "
siempre adelante";
whether we are ready or not. How blessed that we have God's promises.
Isaiah 41:10
"Have no fear, for I am with you"; "No temas, que yo soy contigo"
We are feeling very blessed that we could get away together to learn and to relax before life changes once again.
