Mood: mildly depressed
Before I get to the point of this post, I just thought I would mention that I completed my first game review at GameHippo.com. It should go live in a few hours, at which time I will provide a link to the review.
Yes, Bella and I are back from San Diego. It will go down as my second favorite vacation, right after my NYC vacation with Bella of last year. I am actually a bit depressed to be back and away from Bella. We both thrive on the company of each other, never getting the least bit sick of the other's companionship. She became very sad as our vacation was coming to an end; it didn't really hit me until this morning, when I became depressed. (I'm only mildly depressed now, after having lost myself in the above-mentioned game review.)
Here are some highlights from the trip:
Day 1 - Outside the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park
Sitting outside the restaurant at the
Japanese Friendship Garden drinking
extremely hot tea. I had Blood Orange tea, and Bella had Orange Blossom Oolong. Bella was hoping for a stronger orange flavor in hers, so we ended up swapping. It was such a simple moment, spent enjoying tea and resting after wandering
Balboa Park for a few hours. We never actually made it into the garden. Next time.
Day 2 - Inside the Owens Rain Forest Aviary
Birdwatching in the
Owens Rain Forest Aviary. Bella and I both adore this part of the
San Diego Zoo. We could have spent the entire day in it! Walking from one level to the next, we held hands the entire time. Truly a little piece of Heaven.
Day 3 - A Cliff Overlooking the Pacific Ocean
In our search for Mission Bay Park, we drove up a hill, the street curving away to the left. But gradually revealed to us, as we approached the curve, was the big, beautiful ocean! It was truly awe-inspiring, as cliché as that sounds. We pulled over, looking down from our perch on what turned out to be a cliff overlooking the sea. The water crashed on large boulders that had gathered at the base of the cliff. Bella, her only protection a thin cardigan, held on to me tightly to shield me from the cold wind. Occasionally, as high up as we were, a mist of ocean water would reach us. We licked our lips which tasted of salt water. Seagulls passed in front of us, calling out as if to say, "Isn't it beautiful?" They slowly rode the wind past us, not beating their wings once. Even starlings came to enjoy the wind and the view.
Day 3 - On Embarcadero Marina Park in the San Diego Bay
Lying on the grass at the
Embarcadero Marina Park in the San Diego Bay, Bella rest her head on my belly. We talked, laughed, enjoyed the sun and scenery. Another simple moment that cannot be captured in words.
Day 3 - On Embarcadero Marina Park in the San Diego Bay
Later, we sat at the edge of the Embarcadero, where the water meets the land. Boats sailed by. Planes and helicopters flew overhead. People, standing on boulders, fished. The fact that our vacation was coming to an end became our only topic. Bella was extremely sad. Her sadness made me sad. We wanted time to stop. We wanted our time there to last forever. We didn't want to go home. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I picked up a small stone and rhetorically asked, "What if we could capture a moment in a stone?" That stone sits atop the boulder where I placed it before we left. Maybe someone will pick it up... and remember.
Day 3 - In Upstart Crow in Seaport Village
Playing checkers at a table in the bookstore and coffee shop with the delightful name of
Upstart Crow, which is one of many specialty shops in
Seaport Village. A pigeon entered through an open door, walking around like he belonged there. He walked under our chairs, flew from table to table, sat across from a lady trying to read without the prying eyes of a pigeon. Then he left. Bella and I laughed to ourselves at having shared such a happy moment.
There are many other highlights from all three days. But they are too numerous to recount here. These are moments that really struck me at the time and vibrantly remain in my memory.
I did take some pictures, which will be posted as soon as I get them developed. But for now...
