Friday, Feb 27: Bright, sunny day, in spite of all the rain that had been forecast. Visited 6 wineries in all--which appears be our limit, even though we spit. It's been fun. The barkeeps have generally been quite gracious and informative--only a few snippies. A couple have recommended we visit other tasting rooms where they knew those behind the bar. That has often served to open up a friendly banter and a more information-packed presentation. A short visit in wine country tomorrow, then on to the Oakland airport to drop off Susan, then on to see Charles Nelson (he stood up in our wedding nearly 35 years ago) in Half Moon Bay.

Talked to Dad again today. Twice. Once this afternoon when he was threatening to walk out of the hospital and again, just now, at home reveling in his newfound freedom. Sounds great, happy to be alive and even happier to be out on bail.

Thursday, Feb 26

Visited 6 wineries today (after finding a spare power cord for Susan's lap top in Santa Rosa), all in the Dry Creek area north of Sonoma. Beautiful, sunny day.

More good news on Dad. The ultrasound tests revealed no new damage to his heart. There is some chance he will go home today. Brother Dan is there now, staying with Mom.

San Fran to Wine Country, Feb 25

Cool and cloudy. Said good-bye to Peggy and Henry (to left); headed over to M Ruby's (Michael and Lisa Rubenstein and their children Benny (8) and Lily(6)). Missed Benny and Lisa because they had spent the night in the hospital for diagnostic work on Benny. Visited a bit, got the tour of their new (fantastic) digs and then drove a few miles to a gym in Burlingame for a workout. Finally on the road around noon:30 and into wine country by 3:30. Managed to stop in for tastings at four wineries (Van der Hayden, Darioush, Pegu & Elizabeth Spencer). Stand-outs were the Sauvignon Blanc at Van der Heyden, the Napa Chardonnay at Darioush and the Estate Cab at Elizabeth Spencer.

Dad is on the mend. Lucked out and talked to him briefly because Susan called Al on his cell phone at the time he was in Dad's room. He sounded great; we joked back and forth as we normally do. Such a relief! Made calls to update siblings Dan, Wade and Sandra before hitting the hay early. Dan is flying out to Tucson to see Dad tomorrow, will keep us posted.

San Bernardino to Redwood City: Feb 24

Tuesday started off fine enough. Sunny, if a bit cool. Had a farewell breakfast with Aunt Harriett and Uncle Clare and were on the road by 8 am on our way north. Traffic went nicely in the commuter's lane; arrived in Morrow Bay, the southern start of the middle section of coastal Highway 1, around noon or so.

Then I got the message on my cell phone from Mom: Dad had just had a heart attack on the tennis court and was being taken to the hospital. I called her back and caught her just before she headed there herself. She promised to call me with an update once she had one. Susan and I headed north on U.S. 1, alternately going crazy waiting for a call from Mom and stopping to distract our anxiety with breath-taking views of sheer cliffs, crashing waves and elephant seals (middle photo--they weigh up to 5000 pounds!). When we hadn't gotten a call within 45 minutes, we tried to call her, only to find out that we had no cell signal. That continued for the next 2 hours. At the halfway point of no cell service, we stopped at a pay phone (the only one in that 130 mile stretch with an average speed of about 35 mph!) and reached Mom at the very moment Dad went into cardiac arrest on the Emergency Room gurney. It was another hour before we got enough cell signal to reach Mom again. Dad's heart had been re-started and he was in stable condition. One of the stents from his first heart attack (3 years ago) had become completely plugged up and was now re-opened. More tests were scheduled.

Shaken, but relieved, we made it to Peggy (Niemeyer) and Henry Malstedt's home in Redwood City in time for dinner. Had a very nice visit with them. It had been at least 40 years since I had seen Peggy.

AZ to CA

Monday Feb 23: Susan and I got packed up and on the road around 10:30. Took I-10 to I-8 across the southern part of Arizona to Yuma, then alongside the Salton Sea, well below sea level. Then up to the Palm Springs area and down to San Bernardino. The highway through the Palm Springs area was lined on both sides with hundreds and hundreds of electicity generating windmills.

We arrived at Aunt Harriet and Uncle Clare's home in San Bernardino just before dark. Their daughter and our cousin Joyce and her husband, Leo and their boys Daniel and Joseph joined us for dinner. I had last been in their home in 1965! Great to see them all again. Good conversation and a very nice visit.

Saturday & Sunday, Tucson

Saturday, Feb 21: Another hike with Mom and Dad, this one in the Tucson range west of the city, out near Susan and Al's. Much gentler hike, good views, out in the open sunshine. Back at the ranch, I cooked up my favorite Bolognese sauce and penne pasta for dinner. That's Mom & Dad above; Zoey, Susan's horse to the left.

Sunday, Feb 22: Visited old friends Georgianna and Dennis Holcomb in Tucson. Had a very nice visit and brunch with them. It had been over 10 years since I had seen them. I'll have to have them email me a photo of them--I forgot to take one. Sorry.

Saw Slumdog Millionaire with Mom & Dad in the afternoon, just ahead of the Oscars.

Friday, Tucson

Friday, Feb 20: Played golf for the first time since September. Beautiful weather--probably mid 70's. Hit the ball quite well; better than I scored--which is preferable to the other way around. The scoring will come. Played with Al Bellavia (that's him to the right and the house he built above left). Nice golf course.

Tucson, AZ

End of week 1. Five to go! Took near-border roads across southern Arizona for the scenery. Never saw so many patrol cars in my life! We have to be spending billions of dollars per minute trying to control illegal immigration and drug traffic . . .

Made it to Jeff Bowne's (left photo) Tuesday night. He and his wife, Jeannie, put me up for the night and gave me a tour of the Green Valley area. Made it to mom and dad's midday Wednesday for pickleball and snacks before heading to my sister Susan's house west of Tucson for the night. Thursday, mom and dad (above right) fiendishly took me on a brutal mountain hike. I am beat! However, I think they underestimated the toll it would take on their own bodies. They're whipped, too! You reap what you sew?

Southern Louisiana to Western Texas

Lots of miles. Over 900 in Texas alone--the 80 mph speed limit helped that, though. Best parts were the wooded swamps of Louisiana and the hills of western Texas, though San Antonio was OK, too. Saw the Alamo and walked along the downtown river walk. Headed into the hills of southern New Mexico today, Tuesday; will hook up with Jeff Bowne south of Tucson tonight, then see my parents on Wednesday. The sun is shining!

Day 3: Gulf Shores to Morgan City, Louisiana

Four images of the day:

Oil rigs: The Gulf is full of them; so is Mobile Bay.

Concrete infrastructure: Massive, lengthy bridges over water and wetlands. They go on for miles and miles! I drove over at least 8 bridges or causeways longer than the Mackinaw Bridge in fewer than 300 miles. The one on I-310 southwest of New Orleans was 20 or 30 miles long! Cruising at treetop height . . .

Traffic Jams: Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, LA. The former was a surprise, the later I sort of expected (Marti Gras!).

Mountains of Crawfish: At Susie's Seafood in Morgan City, LA, I made it through the accepted minimum 4 pounds of crawfish per person as a dozen or so others did likewise around me. I got the drill down: twist the tail off, suck the juice out of the thorax, unwrap the forward-most piece of exoskeleton, squeeze the tail section to ease out the tail meat, de-vein, eat. Repeat 150 times. Nurse down with 4 Coronas.

Day 2: Tennessee to Gulf Shores, Alabama

Later start, around 8am on the road. Nice drive down I-65 through both Tennessee and Alabama. Rolling and wooded, not much traffic. Visited a couple Bass Pro Shops. Not quite as nice as Cabela's; best part was the old Chevy truck sitting outside. Was in search of a fly line, but their fly fishing shop is rather basic. Rained from Montgomery to Gulf Shores, torrential at times. Still raining the next morning. Great dinner at Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores--blackened redfish with red beans & rice. Good thing I'm getting in some workouts--eating like a pig at the end of the day!

Day 1: Feb 12: Kalamazoo to Pulaski, TN

On the road at 5:30--37 degrees and very windy. Saw numerous highway signs snapped off (steel "I" beams!) and two semi tractor trailer rigs lying on their sides in northern Indiana. Sunny most of the way down with mid 60's by Tennessee. Visited the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY and, while I lost interest in that car the day the Stingray design arrived, the 50's models were cool to see. Stayed at a Super 8, had dinner across the street at Sarge's Shack (salmon with shrimp & Alfredo on top of dirty rice--yum!). Didn't realize until the next night (400 miles south) that I'd left my jacket and cap at Sarge's. They're going to ship it to Tucson for me.

T minus 12 hours and counting

February 11, 2009: Kalamazoo: Packing clothes for 4 seasons, fishing, golf, tennis, hiking, camping. Car is beginning to look like the original scene from the Beverly Hillbillies. Beverly and the kitties, Franklin and Starling, are helping. The wind is howling, the rain whipping. Packing the car in between showers.