Visitors = Summer Fun!

 This week we had a convergence of five visitors, all friends of mine going back to the 70's.  Gabriel came up from Vallejo, coming over from Salem with Bob and Mary. Coming up the coast in their very well restored VW camper were Lon and Linda from Glen Ellen.  Linda and I were co-group leaders in the adolescent program at Napa State Hospital in 1973.  I met Gabriel earlier that year in Atascadero when he was visiting my neighbors there.  Mary was a rehab therapist on my ward, and Bob worked in the program as a psych tech like me.  Lon and Linda had been living in Bali, but when coming back last year to check on their house, became stranded by COVID restrictions and are still awaiting to return to their home in Bali.

From left to right: Mary, Lon, Gail with Daisy, Linda, Bob, and Gabriel

We were having a heat wave during the 3 day visit, so a trip to our favorite beach, Ocean Beach, was in order.  The temperature on the coast was about 30 degrees cooler than at our house 8 miles inland.

                       Bob, Linda, and Mary enjoying the refreshing air and coastal discoveries.

                                     Our turnaround point was this rock outcropping.

Cooling off in the river.  Bob D. got accolades for doing a full immersion in the deepest part of our swimming hole.

                                                                  

                                                                Happy hour, yeah!

The first night, we had a BBQ.  Gail was the hostess with the mostest, as she had prepared all the side dishes, planned the presentation, and a whole lot more.  I did my man job of watching the chicken grill on the BBQ.

                              Linda making friends with Daisy by offering her the new squirrel.

The second night, we grilled fresh wild caught salmon that Bob and Mary had brought.  After dinner, Gail prepared her famous flaming B-52 nightcaps.

                                                                        B-52's coming to life.

After the B-52's we turned out all the lights and had great viewing of the Perseid meteor shower.  We saw numerous meteors, some being extra bright and leaving trails.

Friday morning, and it was time to say goodbye.  Lon and Linda headed off towards the Olympic Peninsula, and Bob, Mary, and Gabriel headed back over to Salem.  

This past week has been a highlight of the summer along with Andria, the kids, and Nick visiting in June. It felt wonderful to be around old friends, share stories, and know they are doing well.