3-28 January 2011 - California

Impulsively, I decided to go to California to support a friend who was having her first baby, with no family nearby.  I have been feeling like her mother since her mother died.  It was also wonderful to spend time with my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson whom I miss greatly.

When I returned to India, I was able to afford badly needed cataract surgery in both eyes, then had to wait for appropriate glasses which I bought on April 16th.  That's why it has taken me so long to post these last few posts.  I simply could not see my computer well enough to post anything.  And now, so much time has gone by, I'm having trouble remembering some of the things that went on when I was in California.  So, I'm only posting about the things for which I have photos.

On 8 January, my daughter's family took Dexter to the Bladium Sports & Fitness Club in Alameda where he takes his soccer classes.  I think Saturday is kids' day at Bladium.  Bear in mind, that Dexter was four.  Bladium is located on the recently abandoned Alameda Naval Air Station and is housed in one of the fighter jet hangars.  It is HUGE!  This picture is of one of the old naval ships docked nearby.

Bladium Sports & Fitness Club

Front desk

Hockey

Basketball

Dexter's soccer class

After soccer, we went to lunch with one of the other families then went for ice cream where the following sign was posted.  It just struck me so funny since there are so many kids in there.

Suzie and I met my sister-in-law Sharon for lunch (Sharon, Suzie, Carolyn)

Here's the beautiful mama, Manohara, I came to help with her baby.  I wasn't able to give her as much support as she needed unfortunately, but we were able to spend quite a bit of time together, going to doctor appts and to the L&D dept at the hospital.

That's my sister, Joan, in front of the Berkeley Art Museum where we were able to get in free.  We had a magical day.

Manohara (in the front) generously brought me to this restaurant twice (Himalayan Flavours), a great place, in Berkeley.  I was thrilled to see an old friend, Priyanka, and meet a new friend, ________.

Here's tired Manohara not long  before the baby came.

Kalpana, Manohara's husband's niece and an angel, who stayed with Manohara during this difficult time.  I liked her very much.

Todd, Carolyn, Sharon, Dexter, Suzie, Ramon
My brother, Todd, and his wife Sharon met us for Japanese food.  It was really wonderful.

Then, just as Suzie and I were departing for Big Sur, Manohara had her baby, Drishya.  She's a beauty!  (And I wasn't there!!)

The only pictures I got of Suzie and my Big Sur trip was this shot of a sea lion at Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel.

On her birthday, Suzie had lunch with her old friend, Jenny. 

Jenny's baby, Oli (?)  What a cutie, and what a handful.

PS - Manohara took care of Drishya alone until the baby was six weeks old.  Then she bravely flew to Nepal with Drishya to be with Drishya's father.  They made the trip beautifully!  (I was worried.)

Here is Drishya with her grandma in Nepal.  Grandma is giving her an oil bath.  They both look pretty happy.