Springtime on my doorstep

I've got daffodils blooming - both potted and in the ground. I rescued a patch of long-stemmed and long-lived daffodils from the painters a few years back. They're still going strong.



I also have a large pot of freezias by my front door. They're just beginning to bud up. They'll still be going strong when I leave.



My dining room window is aflood with flowering plumb blooms. Several female Oregon Junco's are bouncing among the branches nibbling on the blooms.

Trivia of my past ...

What does one do with these? I'm a bit embarrassed to admit to several shoebox fulls of cassette tapes of old astrology and psychic "readings" (Antonio Lamb, Judith Kanger, Manfred, Spencer John) not to mention taped therapy sessions. Egad!

I didn't want these to end up on "This American Life" so I pulled out a yard or so and clipped the tape.

My last day at work before my replacement arrives

I nearly cried when I sat down at my desk first thing in the morning. I love my work. There is so much -- and such a variety -- of things to do.

Computer "work stations" have always reminded me of a pilot's cockpit -- everything is within arm's reach. Perhaps I could be the poster child for 3M's post-it notes.



So much care and effort goes into organizing projects, records and supplies. Even these things are a part of who we are. This too, is letting go.



I'm not a great office decorator, but the silk flowers and my photographs made a big difference. (I always have several art calendars.)

Last drive to Ojai

I made probably my last drive from San Francisco to Ojai. I love those 380 miles along Hwy 101. I know the route by heart -- Salinas, King City, Paso Robles, SLO, Pismo Beach, Los Olivos and the San Marcos pass. Lovely.



I brought down a large chair - one that's more suited to my brother's large home than either my small apartment or new home.



Here I am out hiking with my Leki trekking poles. I was so thrilled that my hip pain disappeared entirely and immediately when using them.



Here Vickie and Tom, my brother, take in the view. There's a tiny wedge of Lake Casitas visible just beyond the ridge on the right.



I grew up in L.A. at the foot of a hill. I've been looking up at or down from coastal mountains all my life. They're in my blood. I will always return to Ojai.

Springtime in Golden Gate Park

After the weeks of freezing rain, we finally had a sunny, balmy break. My neighbor Judy and I went to the Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park to catch the blooms.



The magnolias were coming on strong! There were crowds of photographers under many trees.



My favorite flower is the protea. There are half a dozen varieties in the arboretum.



This feather-tipped bloom is quite striking.



And of course I cannot leave out the cacti. Don't know if cactus grow in Washington. I will miss them!

It's not just about boxes ...

Finally! Someone's talking about what this FEELS like! After countless fruitless searches, I found the moving lady and discovered Amazon.com had a wealth of books that address this experience more holistically.



Yes, I confess to being rather wedded to the web. But trying to search on the "emotional experience of moving" wasn't yielding any meaningful results. I've ordered both books and a third one on packing.

This may not quell the emotional cost of leaving the life I have created in San Francisco, but just reading the table of contents of these books was comforting.

My First Pension Check

It's official. I received my first pension check. It was deposited directly into my bank on January 31. It was a happy surprise.

For three months I'll be a paid employee AND getting my pension. After that ... my cash inflow will take a steep drop. Still it's a steady guaranteed inflow that covers the fundamentals.