August 10-Contentedly Coming Full Circle
Sipping my English Breakfast tea with steamed milk and savoring my seared wild salmon salad with homemade yogurt dressing at Café Leila in Berkeley after spending several days in the Bay Area, I’m reflecting on how life has come full circle since I was born here 60 years ago while my mother was attending the university my daughter is now getting her PhD from after mom met my dad in the city where my son now lives.
Sitting in the cafe’s garden patio next to the burbling stone fountain, sheltered by the Japanese Privet trees behind me, and admiring the Pink Evening Primrose flowers fluttering in the cool breeze on this sunny afternoon, I’m feeling grateful for the time spent over the last week reconnecting with friends and family. In addition to priceless time with my children, I’ve also been privileged to catch up with others who are dear to me.
While eating dinner on my first night in Mill Valley I received a text message from the parent of one of my virtual tutoring clients, inviting me to come visit them at their home just a few minutes away. Delighted with the spontaneity and opportunity to connect, I headed over where I was warmly greeted and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy their kind hospitality and our animated conversation.
The following night I had the pleasure of spending the evening with my best friend from junior high whom I have kept in touch with over the years since we both attended school in Saratoga. I’ve always felt a special bond with Michelle and admire and appreciate her kindness and insightful comments.
Over dinner at Laos Kitchen in San Rafael where we feasted on moist salmon lettuce wraps, tender chicken in red curry, and a perfectly spiced papaya salad, we brought each other up to speed on many of the important events in our lives. We remarked that shared history meant we knew so much about our early childhoods, making it easier to understand more of the challenges and joys we are now experiencing.
Just a couple days later, I had the privilege of meeting my cousin, Mark, and my aunt, Beth, for lunch at Methi Indian Cuisine in Walnut Creek. I have many fond memories of swinging in a hammock with my cousin on the back porch of my childhood home in Gilroy and spending time there with my aunt and uncle and my other cousins as well. Mark and I have always bonded over our shared love of food, and I make it a point to enjoy a meal with him and my aunt whenever I am in the bay area.
While dipping my deliciously flaky and buttery garlic naan in the rich curry of my Chicken Tiki Masala, I reflected on how much I appreciated spending time with these precious family relatives and learning more about their projects and personal lives.
The last nine days have been so full of beautiful and meaningful moments it seems like it was weeks ago that I left my home to head south by car from West Linn for this “Food, Friends, and Family” loop through Oregon and California. I’m learning that there is plenty of joy and adventure to be had, even on two wheels. What a great day on the road.
