Monday, May 16, 2011

My Sister Beth

My sister of the heart,Beth Guimaraes,was from Brasil. She lived with my family during my  Junior year in high school. Growing up with three brothers,I had often longed for a sister,and Beth was it!We became very close and remained so until the day she died,last year.
Beth and I had many adventures together,even after she went back to Brasil. I visited her there a few times,and became an honorary Brasilian girl.We lounged around her coffee plantation,wore string bikinis on the beaches of Rio,went to Carnavale,and delivered food to the poor.
Beth came up here to Illinois a few more times;once ,to meet her namesake,my dughter Beth.
Our last two rendezvous were in Europe;she had married Christian Dambock,a German,and they made their home in Frankfort. She and I met once in Venice and once in Prague. In Venice we drank too many of Hemingway's famous drink,the Bellini, ate way too  much pasta,walked for miles and miles aroubnd theis wondrous city,and took a hilarious gondola ride with a new gondolier named Marco who not only sang but kept crashing us into buildings... In Prague we marvelled at the gorgeous Art Nouveau buildings, the fabulous work of my favorite artist,Alphonse Mucha,visited castles, attended classic music concerts and took another fun evening boat ride.
These pages were done for the Soul Journal project....it felt good to be able to think of her without crying, for once. I chose vibrant colors because she,and Brasil are so very colorful.
How I miss her.




Sunday, May 15, 2011

Cornell Does San Diego


Had a wonderful trip last week out to San Diego to meet 3 of my Cornell roomies for a mini reunion: From left to right:Munnie,Susan,Linda and me!

These next few piw are from our beautiful condo that we rented on Pacific Beach,called Capri by the Sea.





Pacific Beach boardwak



These succelents were our favorite Cal. landscaping!

We took a fun trip to the Seal Beach...wht a funspot,with beautiful cliffs and flowers as well...




Still gorgeous after all these years!!!



Another FIELD trip to the Carlsbad Flower fields of stunning renunculas!WOWOW!!!










 downtown San Diego art show




















We celebrated  at the the Cinqo de Mayo  festival in Old Town






This stunning news interrupted our cocktail hour one night.What a shocker!!!



Another field trip out to Coronado Island



 

"The Del"

The author of "The Wizard of Oz",Frank L. Baum,lived here while he wrote it!



              The gorgeous San Diego Zoo!

Kuddly Koala!

What he really thought of us!




Fighting flamingos!


Somber moment at Point Lomo



Hiking at Torrey Pines State Park






Til we meet again! Love you guys!