Seeing California

 Surfers...

 colors....the smell of the sea

 beauty on street corners..

 vibrant color in the sun..

 which way catches it best?

 the shapes, the green, the tips of red, just captivating...

 great kids...what a charmer

 My baby and her friend. They are just friends. If he was my just friend I think I would like him more than that. He is very cute with those eyes. They are always goofing around. They have been friends for YEARS.

 The window in this funky little breakfast joint. Signature Santa Cruz.

 I love this type of sage,

 it not only looks like velvet it feels like velvet...spectacular

 right in the middle of some funky trailer park...

 this scene...it's great isn't it?

 and this,

 so beautiful Nasturtium's and this palm tree, growing together

 arranging themselves so attractively without human hands...

 the breakfast choice- Paula's

Good deal!

 Windblown happy.

 We are hungry and happy

 he is contemplating the food while he waits,

 breakfast of champions forget cold cereal,

 Roses everywhere and they were in their big flush. Even by an IHOP there was a big rose garden.
When I lived in California I had a lot of roses. They don't do so well out here. My 36 bushes have dwindled to 10.

.

 If I could pick a house this one is it, walking distance to the beach and beach cottage style

 fabulous yard, love the windows the paint everything..

 Isn't this inviting? I might not have noticed it but I was walking. I wanted to knock on the door and go inside.

 A sense of humor at this shop.

 This is where I was walking too. It was COLD and grey and still beautiful.

 The things you can appreciate when they aren't your everyday experience anymore.

 A common pigeon looks so colorful, so pretty as it walks, singing it's little pigeon coo song...

 Last night I dreamed I was playing volleyball, it was more of a nightmare. I was lousy.

 Cute huh? A place to rinse the sand off your feet in universal language, done in artistic style of course. I want those tiles for my bathroom.

 It was very windy and cold. This seagull was trying to stay put and stay warm and this was how he did it,  interesting.

These birds have no fear here of humans so I got to shoot some close ups.

What used to be a pesty bird to me is now so interesting. Everything was beautiful to me. I savored the time. Attempting to capture blissful moments to share. My time here was so brief there is so much more to enjoy, but the main reason to be there was for my Aunt and Uncle. I spent most of my time with them.
I hope they come down to the beach soon. A trip would help them with their grief. 
Time, we always need time. It's just that when grief is fresh and pain is raw it seems the clock stops, and that you will never quit hurting. When your breath exhales in deep sighs and that heavy cloud of sadness hangs and hovers over everything... how do parents ever recover from the death of their child no matter the age?

 I think it is the hardest test.

We can handle our own illnesses our own losses. We can manage the loss of our parents and grandparents because it's the normal course of things. They are older than us and it is supposed to happen like that.
Having your 45 year old son collapse and die suddenly? Or finding your son gone in his bed?
Or having your 4 month old grandson die of SIDS? This list is endless, how sad. I'm sure you can add something of your own.

These trials are especially hard to navigate threw. If not for God's mercy we would perish.
I just stayed with them. Sometimes we talked and sometimes we were just quiet together.
I didn't feel like I did anything but both my Aunt and my Uncle said I was a great comfort to them.
 I am glad. That is what I wanted to do.

The sudden death also gave me the vision to see that everywhere we go there is something to treasure, something to praise God for. It is so important to slow down enough to appreciate life. With all the "hurry" we can lose this very precious life we are living and not see anything at all.