A Tribute to the Big Guy On His 7th Birthday

Happy Birthday, Scannon! Here is swimming at Point Isabel last winter. Scannon's life has changed dramatically since Bea came along. Not only has he become a city dog, he's no longer our baby and he knows it. He's putting up with this amazingly well. He's so patient with Bea and her interest in him, accepting her kisses and awkward ministrations with a comb like the gentle giant he is. Its not easy living in a small apartment with a toddler and a 144 lb sleepy ball of fur and I can't imagine its any easier being that ball of fur. He waits so patiently for his walks putting up with all the last minute delays (better grab a sippy cup, where are Bea's shoes?, where's my phone?) that must drive him nuts when he just wants to pee for heaven's sake. He's gallant about my daily vacuuming habit (hey, there's a lot of fur around here), never complaining when I prod him to move into another room and then another and another. 

We've been worried about him at points this year. At times he's seemed a little defeated, a little hopeless. Now that the weather has turned cooler, there's a new spring in his step and he's showing some of his old playfulness. How much of his new demeanor can be attributed to changes in his pack, his new urban environment, the weather, his age? We can't be sure. I am sure that he's an integral part of our family and I hope that he stays with us for many, many years even if, as I sometimes think, he'd like to pack his cookie bones and hit the road in search of a family that shows him more consideration. 

Grandma Sue Visits

Grandma Sue came from Texas to be with us for Thanksgiving. She and Bea were fast friends, all shyness having dissipated on the ride home from the airport. Grandma came along on our usual routes and routines catching a glimpse of our new life in California.

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving we drove over the Bay Bridge to the starting point of San Francisco's 49 mile Scenic Drive near Jason's building in Civic Center. We followed the route through some of our favorite parts of the city: the Peace Pagoda in Japantown, the Chinatown gate, Fisherman's Wharf, and new spots we hadn't seen yet like the Presidio where we hopped onto the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time. Jason was a terrific driver coping expertly with crazy traffic, incredibly steep hills, cable cars, and muni lines, pedestrians. It was a foggy day and views weren't great, but Grandma caught a glimpse of Alcatraz.

We drove over the Golden Gate into Marin County stopping at the Bayside Cafe in Sausalito for lunch. After checking out the houseboats in the harbor we headed north to Muir Woods. We saw not only majestic redwoods, but also lush green moss and lichen (my favorite), wild mushrooms, even tiny finger size salmon swimming upstream. It was really magical and peaceful even with all the other visitors. Unfortunately, Bea seemed most interested in making prank calls on any cell phone she could get her hands on. Thankfully, we can return again and again with the annual pass Grandma treated us to.

Another highlight of Grandma Sue's visit (for me) was a nice morning spent browsing in shops on Fourth Street in Berkeley where we visited our favorite toy store The Ark. Bea slept in her front pack while Grandma picked out her Christmas gift for Bea: a half dozen wooden eggs (in their own carton!) and a carton of wooden milk bottles (with removable caps!). These will be added to our growing collection of play foods to fill Bea's new wooden shopping cart on Christmas morning. After visiting a few more shops, Grandma treated us to an impromptu lunch in the Ikea cafeteria. We enjoyed tasty Swedish meatballs and lingonberries while taking in the view of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges. Bea ate her mac and cheese very neatly and carefully with a grown up fork. We were impressed.

The visit was over way too soon. My best memories will be of Grandma and Bea cuddled up on the couch reading together. Grandma was endlessly patient with Bea's endless stream of book requests, actually taking an interest in the stories and taking the job seriously. I know they will always share this love of books.