Santa Cruzin'

First of all, happy anniversary to me. And to Jim. Being back in CA sort of erases the 22 years of marriage. We spent yesterday in the town (San Luis Obispo) where we spent our first and second anniversary, and where we welcomed our first child. We visited the two apartments we lived in--not much has changed so I felt almost like my 21-year-old self again while we walked around.

We checked out Pismo Beach and Morro Bay while we were down on the central coast. Not much has changed in either place. The ocean still looks the same, and is just as wet. And it has the same clarifying effect on my brain. I walked down to the beach in Pismo and felt instantly calmed by the white noise of the waves. I rolled up my pant legs and waded in a few feet. The water was chilly, but not as cold as I thought it would have been for a November day. I could see surfers in their wetsuits by the pier and an old man with his metal detector digging in the sand. I wanted to stay there for hours. Maybe even days.

We're staying in Santa Cruz, which is also near the beach and near some lovely scenery. We enjoyed an anniversary breakfast at a tiny little restaurant right on the wharf called Aldo's. I had a to-die-for shrimp and avocado eggs benedict. Jim and I then walked along the wharf to a lighthouse.

Now we are at the Evans' homestead in San Jose. Jim fulfilled his wish of going to a sandwich place called Togo's and eating a pastrami sandwich. He used to eat there a lot when he was a teenager/young adult. We also stopped at See's Candy. I think I gained five pounds just walking into the store. It smelled so good. I love chocolate, almost as much as I love Jim.

Tonight we are going to see Harry Potter with Jim's sister and her family. This has been a good day. I don't know when I'll be on next, so be good while I'm gone.