Fantastic Thanksgiving yesterday.
First a beach walk with Susan and Belle in the misty rain and fog. I have never seen the tide as high. I’m not good with distance in the abstract, but I’d say that 2/3 of the beach had vanished, leaving tons of odd, root beer-like foam on the shore.
Returning home and showering, we left San Francisco to a complete shift in the weather –– gorgeous sunshine and perfectly chill November air.
We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge — chatting with LLS who was holidaying in Barbados — heading to my college roommate Peter’s house in Mill Valley with his lovely wife Courtney and their family. The boys sound suspiciously like a law firm (Atherton, Harley, and Tilman — which are amazingly good names), and they’ve added an awesome girl to the brood, Tess (8).
Harley was utterly transformed since I last saw him (2 years ago as I was driving up to Vancouver). He went from a sort of Justin Beiber-ish high school student to a rangly rock star. Like a young Kurt Cobain, but without all the drugs and malaise.
I love a good double-Aries hostess since everything just runs so smoothly. Dinner was perfect. Then a walk — and really a walk not a hike — on the Tennessee Valley Trail which was spectacularly great. Susan has been on it often, but this way my first time and I loved it.
The beginning is pretty much this:
And for the entire trail there are no wires, or cars, or anything mechanical. [Yes, if you are examining this pic closely you may see the “No Pets” sign, and yes Belle was with me, but of course she is a SERVICE DOG after all — NOT a pet.]
The trail is about 1.75 miles heading directly towards the ocean which apparently has particularly strong currents. In fact, my only concern was that Belle might feel distressed not to be frolicking in the waves for a second time that day, but somehow she knew that those waters were a bit much even for even such a strong swimmer as her.
Here are the waves and the right side of the magical cove.
Susan and I then crossed the Richmond Bridge to swing by Amy Ahler’s house in Oakland for the closing moments of their Thanksgiving.
Very fun to sit and share with them for a bit before heading back to San Francisco on the Bay Bridge, and we will in fact all be reunited in exactly one week at Susan’s TED talk.
I loved everything about this Thanksgiving.
It combined the best of old friends (from Yale College roommate to Amy, who I just met last month), delightful food, incredible scenery and connecting with nature.
My broccoli was well-received (especially by Tess).
My nearest and dearest are all healthy and thriving (and often with great sound-bites).
And of course, even though I’m an Olympian when it comes to moodiness, I absolutely love my new life in San Francisco with Belle, all courtesy of our extraordinary guide and soulmate friend, Susan.
It sounds a little corny and obvious, but truly — there’s a whole lot to be Thankful for.
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