Monterrey California
January 22, 1996
Wish you were all here (to coin a phrase). Just watched the sun set over Monterey Bay. Here at the Seacliff State Beach Park, our motorhome is parked just above high tide but we have complete hookups (water, electricity, and sewage). It may be the best RV State beach park in California. Because Santa Cruz juts out into the bay, it provides some protection to Sea cliff beaches from the storms. The surf here is relatively mild compared to many coastal areas. We can hear a constant roar of the surf but we are not covered with salt spray. From our window we can see across the bay to Monterey and in the near foreground lies a sunken cement ship now occupied by harbor seals and assorted seagulls and cormorants. Just offshore, the surf scooters (birds) appear to be trying to commit suicide in the surf. They are very distinctive - generally black but with a round white spot in the back of their heads. They appear to be frolicking in the surf, diving before each wave breaks over them, then appearing on the other side of the wave.
We spent the last couple of weeks in the San Francisco Bay area. Our son Brian was visiting from Hawaii so we had a good visit. He is such a nice and interesting guy that we really enjoy our visits. He enjoys living and working in Hawaii but it certainly complicates the interactions with business colleagues in Mountain View. The highlight of our activities in the San Francisco area was a trip to Point Reyes National Seashore. From the lighthouse on the furthest point, we saw several California Grey whales and many spouts of whales. Several large elephant seals could also be seen sunning on the beach. We also spent considerable time watching the shorebirds and ducks in the bay area. The bay area has some very nice local parks with trails for hiking, biking, watching wildlife and running.
We spent Christmas at our son Jimmy's. The grandkids are growing up so fast. Our kids got us tickets for "Les Miserables" and we enjoyed the show. However, after reading Victor Hugo's masterpiece, I was somewhat disappointed by the show. The book moved me much more than the show. While reading the book, I thought that Hugo told the story in greater detail than was necessary. However, in retrospect, the detail does a good job of preparing for the points he makes and the stage production cannot cover the detail. However, I can easily recommend either version.
I can also recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I'm sure that many of you have visited the Aquarium, but this was our first visit. We spent over 6 hours watching sea otters both in the aquarium and outside in the bay. The different habitat presentations including the kelp beds, deep sea, shore, estuary, etc. and their flora and fauna were all fascinating.
Today we biked the 17-mile loop on the Monterey Peninsula, loafed in Carmel, and toured the Big Sur. Saw lots of harbor seals and sea lions. We dined tonight on fresh, steamed artichoke that we picked up at a local roadside vegetable stand. Ummm, delicious. Pat admitted that though she had always thought that Californians were a little crazy to live in this land of earthquakes, it might not be too bad to live here when we can no longer drive motorhomes. I think it is far too soon to make such decisions. There are plenty of beautiful places in this world left to see and my feet itch.
Guess many of you have heard that I have sludge in my veins. My doc found a whole bunch of platelets that make my blood thick and increase the risk of stroke or internal bleeding. My hematologist recommended that I start chemotherapy to reduce the number of platelets. He wanted to start treatments with hydroxyurea. Rather than start treatments, I decided to research the problem. Some of the latest hematology books and recent research papers suggest that hydroxyurea might do more harm than good. This chemical is mutagenic and has been implicated in causing leukemia after years of use. Likely, initiating therapy will mean that I would continue treatments the remainder of my life to maintain platelet levels at an acceptable level. Recent research indicates that patients with high platelet counts live just as long as a control group with normal platelets unless there have been previous symptoms of stroke or bleeding. Because I have had no symptoms of stroke or bleeding, I have decided to do nothing for now. This decision made my hematologist mad as hell, but that is his problem. If I have some symptoms in the future that do not kill me outright, I will start treatments. Otherwise, I continue to run, hike, bike, lift weights and maintain an active lifestyle. I will continue to monitor my platelet count - it has gone down somewhat in the recent tests so I am cautiously optimistic that my system will cure itself. Sorry for all the detail, but thought many of you would like to know. Other than having the flu this winter and assorted minor pains, I feel good but no longer think that my goal of living to be 110 is realistic - maybe 98???
Dorothy, sorry to hear about your asthma. Hope you enjoy Spain. Bruce, I hope that selling the cows was not too traumatic. Fanny, I hope that all that back and heart stuff has been fixed by now. Ruth - will call to set up a visit. Will return to Texas sometime between February and April. John & Fanny, we will visit the Valley sometime in the next couple of months - will holler. Peggy, if you are still in the Valley we will visit. Scott, good luck with selling the house. Crank up your motorhome and meet us in Nova Scotia in July. We can meet in the town of Pictou (I could find no town named Sterling in Nova Scotia). Bring along any of your kids who want to be married. Anybody else want to come? John, do you need someone to help you eat all those fish you catch? Bring them to Pictou and Scott will grill them and any other vegetables to perfection. Pete, I thought of you today when we saw several beautiful golf courses, including Pebble Beach, near Monterey. It was a bit windy for golf but I'm sure you would enjoy the challenge. Peggy, I hope your foot is healed by now so you and Sonny can also meet us in Pictou.
Retirement is wonderful.
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