Today we will be flying off to England for the briefest visit I have undertaken since I moved to California, less than a week all told. The forecast there has turned wetter, when for a while it looked like we might avoid the rain completely, though that would have been a surprise at this time of year.
There has been plenty of time to prepare, though we had a distraction over the weekend: I had been contacted to officiate a wedding down in Carmel. It was further than I would usually go – as was the one past San Jose a few weeks ago – but the personal request made it more compelling. After I had spoken with the couple, I was very happy to do it, as they were perhaps the most engaging people I have officiated for in a while, with great stories about their relationship, told with a very natural balance in the dynamic between them.
Looking at the logistics, I realised I would not want to drive all the way back at the end of the afternoon, so we decided to make a weekend of it, and booked a dog-friendly hotel in Pacific Grove for Saturday night.
The forecast initially showed rain for the afternoon, but in the end it was a nice day in San Francisco, and an even nicer one when we arrived at the venue around three. The ceremony was on a deck overlooking an endless ocean, with barely a cloud in the sky.
This was a more or less formal Buddhist ceremony, as they had asked for, so I was in my full robes, and had an altar table – something I have all the elements for, ready to go, but which I have not needed for a while now. Everything was very smooth, and delightful. The sun was setting as the photographs were being taken, and it could not have been more picturesque.
Ruth had spent a couple of hours happily shopping, and picked me up so we could check in to our hotel and then walk into central Pacific Grove for dinner (I had not counted on the lack of streetlights and sidewalks). There were of course many folks in costumes (as was Georgie), so it was a nice outing, and pleasantly warm.
We slept well, with the rain making a short sharp appearance overnight, waking early since the clocks had gone back, to find the skies clearing – though a couple of rainbows were visible early on, in front of clouds over the ocean.
Having spent a certain amount of time in Pacific Grove in my early years in the States, I just wanted to have a nice breakfast, and spend some time on the familiar waterfront. We managed to completely surpass my expectations, eating at an decidedly lovely place with good coffee and food – and a view of the ocean – followed by sitting on a bench at one rocky section of the shore, close to a number of people with binoculars and cameras, which we realised weren’t just for the sea otters (which we could just make out), but whales spouting and breaching a little further offshore.
After such a peaceful stay, it was nice to head home and turn our attention to the next trip.
Monday started a ittle chaotically, as we pulled out our valuables box and realised Ruth’s passport was not in it – because she has been taking it around for all her change of name dealings – and it took a little time to find that. Otherwise I kept working on all my loose ends, and felt on top of things by the end of the day.
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