While Dan is out of town, I've been treating myself to a "spa weekend" in San Diego. It started out with a visit to Dad and Sally's house where I got to visit with them, get them started on Facebook, play with my grand-nephew, David, and also visit with my brother, Darrell and sister-in-law/new grandmother, Jeanne.
By the time I got to my hotel, Estancia La Jolla, I was more than ready to settle in...have a nice room service meal, do my blog and watch a movie. The first room I checked into, however, overlooked the parking lot. Not what I wanted for my weekend getaway. So I called the front desk and they kindly accomodated me by moving me to another floor with a secluded room that looks out onto a small garden area. Just perfect!
After trying to fire up the internet, I finally gave up on email/blogging for the night and just watched a movie. (Not a good one but I'm not doing a movie review this blog.)
I slept well (all night long...a rare thing for me since November) and got up around 7:00, determined to go for a walk to a local bird preserve. I got to the preserve alright, but the gates were closed and locked with no sign saying when they would open.
Plan B (which I'm getting better and better at these days) ended up being a walk to Black's Beach. I got to the head of the downward trail and questioned seriously my ability to make it back up. Deciding that I had my cell phone and could always call my sister-in-law, Donna, and tell her to go ahead without me on the massage appointment, I trekked down the steep hill.
It was so worth it! I saw surfers, a seaweed love note, dolphins and a nice older lady (who later lapped me on the uphill trek). A time of peace and reflection at the bottom and then I slowly made my way back uphill. I had to rest four times, but had no ill effects from the effort...was even rewarded with an appearance by a Western Blue Jay.
Arriving back at the hotel, I had time for breakfast and journaling before Donna arrived. We chatted and then had THE most amazing day at the spa. Massages and facials for us both, then lounging by the pool where she bought us lunch. We were joined later by my (soon to be a mommy) niece, Deanna. She looks adorable with her baby bump and we spent some time at the room before heading off to PF Changs for dinner.
We had a great meal there with Dean, Donna, Deanna (and soon to be Brooklyn), Matt and Erin. Since my mahi-mahi was late coming out of the kitchen, we even got treated to free dessert. I'm off sugar these days (not good...feeds tumors) so Deanna literally got to eat for two.
All in all, a mountain top day. One of the items on my "I want to do this again" list is hiking. What a blessing to know that I can (and will) again.
And to spend time with family in such fun settings, to know their love and support, to laugh hysterically over our foibles and stories...well, how can it get any better than that?
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