North Coast San Diego

I’ve always loved the North Coast of San Diego.  As a teenager my brother Chris and I would visit Mom in Mira Mesa.  She would work near the coast and we would hit the beach!  I remember swimming all day body surfing.  The workout was incredible and it was just so fun!

My favorite places were Torrey Pines and Cardiff by the Sea, although Cardiff had some seaweed.  That’ll freak you out a little bit when you are swimming along and some seaweed brushes your leg.

I went to visit my brother this past weekend.  He is living in Oceanside which is even north of San Diego’s north coast.  I got there early enough to make a bee-line to Torrey Pines to watch the sunset and roll some video.  There is nothing like the smell of that salty air, especially when you haven’t been near the ocean in a few years.   Here’s a picture, although it doesn’t quite do the sunset justice:

Chris and I had a great visit!  The highlight was Sunday when he cooked bar-b-que and some of his friends came over.  Quality people and great food.  The Chargers even beat the Eagles.

On Monday morning when I left to come home to Tucson, I had to take the scenic route to the freeway.  I paused at the Pier in Oceanside and again in Carlsbad for these pics.  I can’t wait to visit again.  Just need the money and the time all at the same time.

Favorite Christmas’ – Ultimate Christams Tree

It was our first Christmas as a “blended” family. Dad had married Janet the September before and we were all still getting used to each other. Janet and her two son and one daughter, plus a foster child, had all moved in with Chris, Dad and I. We lived in one of the newer (at the time) housing developments in Canby. This house had vaulted ceilings. Pretty high at the top. Over 20 feet maybe? 18 at least. Also, at the time, there was a Christmas Tree Farm on the edge of our neighborhood. I’m not sure how far. Not more than a half mile, if that.

So, ALL of us walk to the Christmas Tree Farm to find a tree. We agree on a big, fat, tall, ten foot douglas fir. Beautiful!  But we didn’t know how beautiful until later. We cut ‘er down and all of us found a part of the tree to carry, and we carried it the half mile home.!  We got it set up, and decorated. It was AWESOME! To this day, the standard that all other Christmas Trees are measured against.

It was fat, but tall. VERY full. Very fun to decorate!  Not only was it the bestest, beautifullest tree ever, but it was an early bonding experience for a blending family.

Favorite Christmas’ – Charlie Brown Tree

I was maybe sixteen? fifteen? Either way, Chris and I went to San Diego to spend Christmas with Mom. Of course, that meant the added benefit of being with Grandma and Grandpa Pagliaro! Of course, that meant that spaghetti was waiting for us when we arrived :-)

We got there and it was very close to Christmas. Just a day or two maybe three. We needed a tree! Turns out, everyone was pretty much sold out. We ended up getting a Charlie Brown Tree! At least, it was brown!! It was maybe 3 feet tall with just a hint of green. We covered that thing with tinsel and ornaments and made it look like a Christmas Tree.  Best part was, it proved that being with family was way more important than the pomp of Christmas. Besides, we had a LOT of fun with it!

Favorite Christmas’ – Sizzlers!

Not exactly what we got, but close. This is on auction on eBay! How tempting is that?!
I think it was 1971. We had just moved to Oregon and lived in a rental home in the West Hills of Portland. Comus Street. A street with HUGE potholes! The place was way cool! Mostly because of the trees and the creek that ran through, or near, the back yard. We used to play army in the mud. It was AWESOME!Anyway, we moved there in November, I think. So, Christmas was coming. The hottest thing was Sizzlers! Chris and I already had Hot Wheels and had been playing with those for years. Most of my life, probably! After all, I was only 8 :-)

Sizzlers were Hot Wheels that you charged up for a minute and a half and they raced around a “Fat Track” for 5 minutes, or so. Way cool! It was all Chris and I wanted for Christmas.

So, Christmas morning we got up way early (of course).  It was at least 5am, maybe earlier. At 8, who knew it was your Mom and Dad who stayed up late to set up that stuff! So, I remember walking quietly on the hard wood floors. Chris was behind me as we peered around the corner into the living room. There it was. All set up. SIZZLERS FAT TRACK!!! Awesome!

I don’t remember if we got everyone up then or waited. But it wasn’t long before we were charging up our new cars and racing them around the track. Way too cool. Then, our “cousins” came down from Washington and they brought the Fat Track they got for Christmas! We combined ‘em for this elaborate course and raced and raced and raced. Cousin Tony got a great car. His seemed to run an extra two or three minutes after ours would give out. It was probably the best Christmas as far as getting exactly what I wanted. I realize now how much joy that must have given my Dad.

Luke 11:13
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Matthew 7:11
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Tres Amigos

It was a family reunion of sorts. Dad, Chris and I all met in Yuma for a weekend of visiting and hanging out. I’ve gotta tell you, a fun time was had by all! We were at the iHop in Yuma and wondering out loud how long it had been since the three of us had been together. The answer? 15 years! At my sister Martina’s wedding. Amazing that it’s been so long.

Highlights of the weekend include. Hanging out, visiting, and talking about stuff. Also, I brought some of Grandma’s Famous Spaghetti. That was a big hit. Grandma LIVES!

Another very cool thing was talking about the things of God with Chris. He really is rededicating his life to the creator of all life! Chris is so thankful for all that God is doing for him. To say it was neat would be an understatement!

Oh, I forgot something else we did. Group hug! We’ll be doing it again soon.