15 January 07
Bodega Trip
While my mother moved to Maine last summer, her house has not yet sold, victim of bad timing. I went over there yesterday to check on things and meet with the realtor.
It was the first time I’d been back since she left.
It was cold but sunny and with almost no wind to speak of, an anomaly in this place where there’s almost always an onshore breeze (more like a gale, usually).
I took myself to lunch at the wonderful Seaweed Cafe (baked queso fresco over roast vegetables and amaranth pudding, washed down with an exquisite Ti Kwan Yin). This is a restaurant that takes “local” food seriously, serving, for instance, wine from not just Sonoma County, but WESTERN Sonoma County.
After I walked along the Head, a place I’d walked so many times with my mother, and stopped at the spot where she strew some of my father’s ashes.
Bittersweet. I’m glad she’s moved to a community she can grow to be a part of while she’s still strong and has all her faculties (and can be near the grandchildren). But she’s far away now. This scattering, fruit of choice and opportunity, comes with a certain price…
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I can imagine the range of emotions you felt throughout the day. Glad to have in my memory bank breakfast with you and your mum at the Seaweed Cafe. xo
Pica, i was wondering how your mum was getting along in her new home. My parents are going to have to make a similar decision at some stage also as I am the closest of their children in location and that is almost a two hour drive from them. The way they are talking however, I think we will need to carry them out of their present home. It must have been so hard for your mum to move particularly leaving behind all the memories….. hard for you, too.
Thanks, Chris and Jenny. It was hard, but I think it was the right decision. Jenny, good luck to you getting your parents through the next phase. Ooof. It’s difficult.