Big Love, California Style

 

“The End Times”

 

 

The spooky sun burns through the smoke

Ever since we landed, we’ve experienced smoky skies, the moon an angry copper crescent, the sun barely visible. We all wondered whether this might be “it” as California burned all around us. But we’re back to the bright blue skies, toasty temperatures, and, on the good days, the delta breezes that typify a Sacramento summer. However, the forest and grass fires will probably be a constant threat through October, especially if the dry lightning storms continue.

I should mention that “the end times” is a reference to the HBO show Big Love, the 2^nd season of which Gilly, Octavio, Paul and I are watching. The show’s “accuracy” is in some question, but its characters and situations produce some interesting conversations around female jealousy, family structure, and the practice of polygamy and the state’s role in regulating religious belief and practice. (Assuming all parties are willing adults.) Anyway, in one of the episodes the Feds are besieging the polygamist compound, and Alby, the Prophet’s son, asks, in the manner of the true believer, “Papa, is this the end times?”

One more hard-to-believe weather note: for a whole week in July my igoogle weather watch reported hotter temperatures in Sacramento than in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia!

Hard Times

From abroad the economic situation doesn’t appear very solid here. The crime statistics are up, wages continue to go down, retail theft is increasing, unemployment is up, inflation is steadily rising (a world-wide phenomenon, especially food prices.) Teachers are being laid off, in California and other states.

Another sign of the times: the increased number of shoppers at discount food outlets and the decreased number of mall shoppers.

The bright spot is for buyers of California property, of whom we are one. We sold our Grass Valley home in 2004 to the current renters for a fair profit, considering what we paid for it in 1992 and what we put into it. It appears that we might be in a good position economically, for once in our lives. (I’m not complaining; it’s just that Paul and I have been hard workers, but not adept at accumulating wealth!) We’ve been checking out the REO’s and “short sales” in the papers and on-line. Most seem to be in neighborhoods in Sacramento that would be a problem for absentee home-owners like us. But prices continue to soften, so we’ll just keep searching for that bargain property.

Good news

Early in the morning of April 24^th of this year, Gillian and Octavio brought Oliverio Severn Valdez into this world in the bedroom of their house in Sacramento, ably aided by Tosey the midwife. My sister Merrill was on hand, as well as Sofia, who helped to cut the umbilical cord. I listened in from Yanbu to the midwife’s examination of Oliverio and could hear Sofia’s excitement as she exclaimed, “I’ve seen babies before, but I’ve never seen one like this!” and “Now I have my own baby to play with!” and “Now I’m just going to lay down myself!” And just in case the midwife missed it, “And there’s his little penis!”

Oliverio is a beautiful healthy baby who, except for the black hair, looks a lot like Sofia did as an infant. He’s got a crooked smile, massive mitts, and big brown eyes with long eyelashes that he bats at Gilly, Octavio, Sofia (and even me!) in obvious appreciation of being a part of this family.

Sofia wants a dog

But she’ll settle for stuffed puppies for the time being.  She saw the DVD “My Dog Skip” and many of her pooches are so named.

 Always drawing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swimming lessons: experiencing the exciting sensation of her face submerged in water and a successful dog paddle.

 

Ballet lessons (music video included in following blog post!)

 

Sofia stretching for ballet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning to cook. 

 

 

And fun on the merry go round, where she demonstrates her no-hands technique by gripping her horse, er… cat, with her knees in true cowgirl fashion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost next door

Here’s the little house we were able to rent for the summer, almost next door to the Valdez/Gillette’s, in Sacramento. We’re close enough to borrow internet access with proper positioning of our laptops. And it’s a big thrill for me when Sofia knocks on the front door and yells, “GRANDMA! I’m here!” Too bad we can’t find a house permanently on this street…

Back in Nevada City

 

We brought a load of our stuff up to our storage in Grass Valley and hung out with our good and long-time friend Peggy Cone. We had an amazing lunch in Nevada City at a New Orleans-styled funky place called Ike’s French Quarter. I enjoyed a unique and yummy fried oyster salad, and if we lived in the neighborhood I’d like to work my way through their eclectic menu. (And then go hiking to work off the calories!) Highly recommended if you’re visiting the Gold Country                                                     ~!

Peg’s younger daughter, Amber, played Gilly’s younger sister in local production of Brighton Beach Memoirs 20 years ago. Now Amber is leading a wonderfully free-form life married to a Scottish fiddler and living in a bus on the San Juan Ridge. (I lived on “The Ridge” with Monte, my first husband, and Gilly and stepson, Barry, in a tent on ten acres in 1977.) Amber just couldn’t pass up the offer of a genuine English double-decker bus. Naturally, it’s parked at mom’s awaiting renovation and a tow to her land in the mountains north of Grass Valley.

 

 

Visit to Bakersfield

 

 

A five hour drive in our rented red car and we were in the welcoming home of Paul’s mom and dad. Betty had some serious health crises this winter, including a broken hip and strokes. But she’s still got that irrepressible sense of humor and she’s working on getting mobile. Eddie is indefatigable, the husband we all hope will be there for us when we need it. And on top of that he kept preparing amazing and scrumptious meals! Beatrice, sweet and competent, comes a few times a week to help. We’re saying prayers for the Betty’s quick recovery.

Off to her Syrian adventure

Meanwhile, my plucky sister, Merrill, prepares for teaching 3^rd grade at the Damascus Community School in August. Which involves a superhuman effort in overcoming inertia, including clearing out a house and selling some stuff, giving away some stuff, storing some stuff, and sending the rest half way round the world and then selling her house. Paul and I will be visiting her in September during our Ramadan break, hopefully driving from Yanbu through Jordan, but if we can’t get the permits for the border crossings, we have our tickets to fly.

The Golden Rolling Hills of California

The original hippy sings about California

 

Big Love

The summers are all about spending as much time as possible with family, even if it’s just hanging out at the park or pilates on the floor!

My dad, Paul, Merrill, Gilly, and Octavio in the background

 

 

Leslie, Gillian and Sofia working their abs

 

 

 

 

 

 

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