Love Conquers All

The horrors of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, along with Trump’s apparently enduring power, the worsening climate crisis, continuing Covid dangers, and more, weigh heavily. But I have my Em with me, and that’s worth a lot. Now, I’m not saying it’s a picnic all the time. For example, homework is a trial for her and thus for me as well. But though she finds me maddening when I have to set limits on stuff like bedtime, we love each other tons. It is wonderful to have her here and she is thriving.

A couple weeks ago she had a week’s vacation from school and got to see her Chico family, which was fabulous, and then she and I got away to Humboldt County for a couple days of patting horses’ noses at a goofy, Alice in Wonderland-themed AirBnB. Then this past weekend was our long-awaited trip with Molly, whom Ember hadn’t seen since well before the start of Covid. We didn’t know until the morning of our departure whether or not it would happen, depending on the results of Em’s classroom PCR tests as well as our rapid tests. But all were negative, so off we went, braving horrific Friday afternoon traffic and arriving at our country retreat outside of Ahwahnee, CA just before dark, four hours later. The dusk made it hard to negotiate that final half-mile of bumpy, wet dirt road down to the cabin and I managed to scrape my car’s low-slung underbelly a time or two.

The weather forecast hadn’t prepared us for the view from our porch when we awoke at 6:30 the next morning.

A couple hours later:

Our lodging sits just above the Fresno River, where we had total privacy for easily a mile up- and downstream. The place was rustic but perfect for us, with a wood stove and comfortable beds. Molly slept out on a screened porch—brrrr—under an electric blanket, where she was lulled by the sound of rushing rapids.

It was cold and rainy most of Saturday, and lovely. Here are oodles of pics of our explorations. You can click on any one to see it bigger.

We even got hailed on for a while after we walked up a steep road to visit a chicken coop.

On the way back down the hill, Ember and Molly flew.

Against my better judgment, looking doubtful, I tried too. I lived to tell the tale.

Later, some local residents paid us a visit.

After our final walk of the day, Emmy and Molly made some improvements to a fort that previous occupants had constructed.

Settled in for the evening, we assembled a 500-piece puzzle in record time.

And right before bed, we tried our respective hands at drawing.

All too soon, sunny Sunday was upon us and we had to bid adieu to this beautiful spot.

A little over three hours later, Ember and I were reluctant to say farewell to Molly, whom Ember simply adores. (As do I, of course.) All that evening, Em’s refrain was, “I want to see Auntie Lulu. Right now.” We hope to make a plan for another escape sometime in the next couple months.

A good time was had by all. It’s hard to return to reality after such fun, but today after school, Ember has something to look forward to: ear-piercing!