resplendent/sublime/lovely



ten days of fantastic weather around the bay -
wednesday:
long walk with the stroller in charming, sunny burlingame
sauntered through the ebullient botanical gardens with the kids i babysit
slanty light of golden hour

thursday:
drove over the golden gate bridge feeling euphoric
vermillion against blue blue sky
basked on the hot black sand at muir beach lulled by waves and teeny pebbles
slumber party with my brother and his family at my house!

friday:
rode a zebra on the carousel in golden gate park with my niece on my shoulders
thoroughly enjoyed it all at crowded baker beach with jo, aja and the kids

saturday:
general conference
spirited and scrumptious brunch in the mission
warmth in the corner bay window booth
general conference
walked from the ferry building to baker beach with dear friends
(9 miles along the edge of san fran and the bay)
the thrive and alive of our city
gauzy, dreamy views toward the golden gate bridge
wild calla lilies, free sourdough samples, stunning/unreal backdrops
on top of the cliffs and somehow between heaven and earth

sunday:
general conference
tons of rice-a-roni (the san francisco treat!) and friends
sunshine streaming thru the kitchen windows
general conference
walked to mt. davidson and sat in the long grass gazing at the rosy city
on that hilltop with good music and good conversation

monday:
ran past outrageously pretty houses and lush views in pacific heights
sat on a bench at buena vista park listening to "latika's theme"
feet dangling and eyes sipping in the view of hills of bathed buildings

tuesday:
laid on the grass of a cliff over the ocean
then relaxed on the deliciously warm sand at rodeo beach
then sat on a blanket at the most scenic scenic viewpoint (pictured above)
drove over the bridge and around the headlands with such good music
a to-die-for perfect effulgent windy morning with kelsey

wednesday:
walked down haight street in the evening sun with my two kids in tow
ran at kezar stadium in the breeze, which blew petals off the trees into my hair

thursday:
swooped on the park swing with one darling little girl on my lap
giggling in the sunshine, wispy hair glowing

friday: danced from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet
in a big, bright, sunny studio in the heart of my city
incapable of going underground to the train on such a glorious afternoon,
meandered up market street, people watching
took in the perfectly clear view from the visitor's center on temple hill
drove home across the bay bridge at orange/pink sunset

(general conference is on this list of resplendent/sublime/lovely things 4 times because there were 4 sessions and also because it's worth writing 4 times on any kind of positive list. every six months i get a vibrant surge of reassurance of my faith with general conference. it reminds me how real and big and wonderful the church is. i hear living prophets and apostles speak and the authenticity of my beliefs is carved deeper in me. i love love love the traditions of general conference, and i have so many good memories associated with it through the years.)

IMG_7951 IMG_7962IMG_7989
IMG_0334 IMG_0341IMG_0340

i am trying to live this:

"be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. and the point is, to live everything. live the questions now. perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. perhaps you do carry within yourself the possibility of shaping and forming as a particularly happy and pure way of living; train yourself to it -- but take whatever comes with great trust, and if only it comes out of your own will, out of some need of your inmost being, take it upon yourself and hate nothing."

-rainer maria rilke

Comments

  1. Your prose is like poetry, it is so beautiful to read. And thank you for sharing the Rilke quote; that really resonates with me. I love discovering new quotes that articulate a feeling I didn't even know I had.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have been reading "Letters to a Young Poet"!!! Brilliant isn't it? That is one of my favorite quotes ever. And this past week has been one of my favorites ever. EVER.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love reading your blog, Charity. you are so genuine and inspirational.
    also, if you are ever looking for an adventure buddy, let's try it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your life seems like a daydream; and judging by the way you write I'd say you know it. That's a rare thing. I love the way you write, it helps me see that there are genuinely happy, cheerful, and adventurous people out there! Keep on being you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. we r a little jealous that we didn't get to hang out with Jonah and Aja and the fam, too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such GREAT picture and thoughts. Love that quote and LOVED seeing that great Jonah and Aja fam with you! Didn't realize they stopped there. Youa re certainly sucking life to the last sip every day!

    Can't wait to see you soon!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Um...I'm glad I was a part of the fun GC weekend...but you and Kelsey were not supposed to have that much fun without me, especially not have Kelsey's favorite weeks ever! :(

    Does Kelsey LOVE SF yet at least?!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Charity, I read that you love blog comments, so I thought I'd leave you one. You did a fabulous job with the Retreat, and I can't wait to see you again next month!

    xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment