Here we were at beautiful Lake Sonoma in Northern California, with the early evening sun setting, and all of us were witnessing two unions - my friend Chris and Brad held their commitment ceremony and Brad's sister Cindy married her longtime sweetheart Mike. The ceremony was coming to a close, I of course had tears in my eyes, and everyone around me was quiet and appeared touched by the vows spoken and the promises made, when a little boy voice piped up right next to me and proclaimed loudly "And this is how the story ends!". Both couples actually hope that this is not the case, and that this was merely the beginning of a beautiful partnership, as they say....
I had flown to Californ-i-a Friday night via the most circuitous route ever - leave MGH via cab to South Station - then board the Bonanza Bus (no kidding, that was its name) to Providence, Rhode Island's Green Airport, catch a flight to Washington Dulles, where I transferred to a flight headed for San Francisco. I arrived at SFO after midnight where Chris, groom extraordinaire, picked me up at this ungodly hour. After a well-deserved night of solid sleep on their very comfortable couch, I bode the two groups farewell in the morning when they left, kids in tow, to get dolled up for the grand ceremony and enjoyed a nice little morning by myself in their home. Chris, Brad and their children Marvon and Tanaya live near the Diamond Heights neighborhood, on the outskirts of the Mission District. In the morning I walked around the hood a bit, smelled the good old California air and then headed straight for the Mexican beauty parlor to get gussied up myself. Lilya's Beauty Shop was quite the place, and despite some language difficulties (there was only one English-speaking employee, so the girls who did my make-over kept running back and forth to her to try to understand what in the world I was talking about), I had a grand old time.
I was picked up in the early afternoon by Maryland friends-of-the-grooms Dawn and Elder, who had decided to give me a ride, and off to Sonoma we went! The ceremony as mentioned earlier took place at Lake Sonoma, located in Northern California, just west of Healdsburg. It has 50 miles of shoreline, more than 2700 acres in surface area (http://www.onfocus.com/cam/2000/skaggs_road/lake_sonoma.JPG) and was the perfect location for the ceremony. The reception took place at the Dutcher Crossing Winery (http://www.dutchercrossingwinery.com/dutcher/index.jsp ) located in the terraced foothills immediately adjacent to the lake. Chris and Brad are founding members of this outfit and introduced us to their wonderful wines. They really make a mean Sauvignon Blanc if I may say so. Having the reception here was a fabulous choice - such a beautiful setting - we sat outside in the garden and watched this special day come to a close; we ate great food and engaged in some pretty vicious dancing as the evening went on. Tanaya proved that she was the meanest break-dancer around and Marvon high-fived everyone!!
Sunday, despite the fact that life seemed to go on a bit slow in my head, turned out to be a busy day. I met up with my beloved friend Pat and we joined our friends Norman and Harvey in Alameda for some scrumptious breakfast at La Pinata - http://www.lapinata.com/ . This was followed by a coffee and cake affair for which my wonderful friend Felicia kindly hosted a gaggle of my friends. The weather was perfect, we all sat in the garden, and at some point a most competitive soccer game ensued, during which Patrick and Ximena emerged as superior talents when it came to handling a soccer ball and scoring goals for the team.
Heading back to the airport Sunday night seemed more complicated than ever expected, and with the help of a very lovely Chinese couple I made it there in somewhat respectable time. Once I ended at the airport BART station however, some meathead who I had asked for help, send me in the wrong direction on the terminal shuttle, so I ended up visiting the rental car building before finally getting to my terminal.
Monday morning 7 AM arrival in Boston was followed by a quick stop at Whole Foods in order to buy fresh rolls for a breakfast with my family who had arrived at my place the day before. My brother Martin, his girlfriend Marion and her sister Andrea are in town for a two-week visit, and as you may imagine, there is a serious program to follow through with.
Here we go: Monday champagne breakfast, followed by visit to Petra's office and the MGH Etherdome (http://www.etherdome.org/ ). Then stroll around Beacon Hill (http://www.beaconhillonline.com/about/) - visit Charles Street, Beacon Hill Chocolates (http://beaconhillchocolates.com/ ), John Kerry's House (http://www.kellersclass.com/images/DSCN1060.jpg) , Acorn Street (http://www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/boston/beaconHillAcornStreet.jpg) . Attend start of the Tufts 10 K for Women (http://www.tuftshealthplan.com/tufts10k/ ) . Walk over to the Cheers Bar (http://www.roamingtimes.com/travel/images/boston-cheers3.jpg) for obligatory photo, walk around the Public Garden (http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&q=Boston+Public+Garden) , then head back to finish line for tufts to see Olympic Gold medalist Deana Kastor smoke the competition with her 32-minute race time. Head over to Parish Café (http://www.parishcafe.com/ ) for delicious sandwiches and iced tea. Walk down Newbury Street (starting at the expensive end....), shop at Newbury Comics (http://www.newburycomics.com/) and stop for a nice cup of coffee at the Trident Café and Bookstore (http://www.tridentbookscafe.com/ ).
Head back to MGH via the Commonwealth Avenue Mall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Avenue,_Boston).
Dinner at the Midwest Grill - Brazilian BBQ near Inman Square. Waiters bring meat on spears. Eat wayyyyyy too much meat. Vow to never eat meat again.
Tuesday - Petra at work, Family walks the Freedom Trail (http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/ ). Evening - dinner with Ken at the Trattoria Toscana in the Fenway area - lovely find (http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid4729.aspx). Great Tuscan cuisine, charming ambience, and decent prices. And down the street from Fenway Park (http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/fenway.htm). My brother is a big baseball fan and is transfixed by the sight of Fenway Park. Ken explains the significance of the CITGO sign to the German visitors (http://www.redsoxconnection.com/citgo.html ). Brief visit to the Panopticon Gallery (http://www.panopt.com/home.php ) in the Hotel Commonwealth to look at world-class photographs (http://www.hotelcommonwealth.com/).
Wednesday - The German contingent gets lost for five hours in the Cambridge Side Galleria (http://www.cambridgesidegalleria.com/ ), shop until you drop, whereas I get lost in tons of work. My afternoon in the lab is cut short by a trip to the urgent care physician - I had experienced serious pain in my left calf since getting off the plane on Monday, doctor demands test and an ultrasound rules out that I do not have a blood clot. I get Tylenol with Codeine for the pain and am sent on my merry way. Dinner at home.
Thursday - today - again, I get buried at work. Biotech company visits and everyone and their brother stops by or resuscitates an ancient project and wants my input. The group of three goes to the Museum of Science to see the CSI Exhibit (http://www.mos.org/), visits Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/), discovers the City Sports outlet on Bromfield Street. Group of four (includes me) has scrumptious Mexican dinner at Fajitas and Ritas (http://www.fajitasandritas.com/), followed by a visit to the Charles Street Theater to experience the Blue Man Group spectacle (http://www.blueman.com/).
Tired from just reading? I hear you.
Tomorrow we are off to New Hampshire. My friend Rick has organized a weekend up in Waterville Valley - time to do some hiking, see some foliage, maybe some mountain biking or just plain old being lazy. Monday we may head for Newport, Rhode Island. Stay tuned!!
Pet:) (Ready to get some zzzs now....)
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