Finally! Golden Gate Bridge!

It was Sunday morning, our final day in San Francisco. The white fog was comfy on the hills beyond the condo’s windows. Sutro Tower was nowhere in sight. A sweet redheaded pal lay beside me with patterned breaths.

The various colorful plants on the patio were soaking in the sun that was beginning to perk the fog into its morning routine. I learned, after being in San Francisco for two previous mornings, that the fog was like the people: sweet, calm, easygoing, but slow to move until midmorning. Making myself a cardamom tea from Andrew’s exotic stash, I took in the city’s views and was thankful for one more day with my little brother.

Family is like a good tree. Sometimes the leaves wither in parts. Sometimes holes develop from bugs boring in. But no doubt, when the roots are strong, it grows and becomes something to behold. Alex and I have been like this from the instant I met him. Puking the moment I set foot in the hospital to meet him (carsick they said) it has always been a unique relationship (at least from my perspective, you’ll have to ask him his).

Alex is an extremely talented guy. He sees the bigger picture and the details to get there before most of us can identify what we are even looking at. Trends follow him. He isn’t one to have much opinion towards politics or religion, but he is quick to tell you why ads, fonts, commercials, icons, and colors do or don’t speak to people. Like the San Francisco fog, he isn’t overpowering to be with, but before you know it you are engulfed by him, influenced by his talented ideas, and wanting to learn more.

His hands might be shaking, but it is no indication of his steadfast heart to help and love others. Quick to make an impact on anyone he meets as one of the sweetest, most caring, and easiest people to talk to, Alex is a friend you will take to the grave: Loyal, lovable, kind. But like the fog, he needs space. Space to think. Space to decompress. This is a trait of our family and he is no doubt a huge part of it.

(Picture above taken by Ryder)

The three sleepy boys emerged from their rooms considering the day. We shared bagels at the table and I asked Ryder for a trip report, “Your top five adventures in San Francisco?”

1. Meeting Trixie at the museum
2. Marble works at the museum
3. Video Games with Alex after dinnertime
4. Pinball exhibit at the museum
5. Leaving #5 open for today

“Alright then. Hopefully the Golden Gate will live up to your expectations.”

After tidying up and packing our luggage for our evening flights, we secretly wrote Andrew and Alex a thank you note. Per usual rules, I wrote exactly what was dictated…on a barf bag, courtesy of AirTran Airways.

We also had brought the boys some handmade soap from our good friends at Mohawk Valley Trading Company. Shameless plug entering now:

Mini Mack subscribers might recall Mohawk’s excellent honey from the tasting party last fall, or the soaps, candles and amazing maple syrup from this winter. They sent us three new fresh soap scents: Pine, Rose, and Sage. I put them in my backpack as hospitality gifts for Andrew and Alex, and let me tell you, my clothes smelled fantastic when we arrived. After three smelly airports, two flights, those clean smells wafting from my bag was beyond a pleasant surprise, it was nature saying hello! So here’s your tip: buy the soap. Pack it in the your travel bag. You’re welcome.

After packing our bags and tidying the condo, we left for DRUM ROLL PLEASE! The Golden Gate Bridge! A “must do” on Ryder’s list of things to see, we had the perfect day! Blue skies, fog, a.k.a. Karl (he has a hilarious twitter account) no doubt in a long line for brunch, we got to see the Golden Gate in all its beauty. The Golden Gate, built in the 1930s by a husband and wife team, was a bridge fought with creativity and determination. They were told it couldn’t be done and yet its structure with 746-foot towers, sweeping main cables, so clean, so bright, it almost chuckles at how comfortably it sits between the hills. Its as if it is just stopping for tea with the blue Pacific and San Fran Bay.

We admired its autumn orange shade complementing the blue sky around. You can’t be there without feeling sunshiny happiness. Joining the city to all the north United States has to offer. Fittingly, Alexander Avenue is one of the exits shortly after clearing the bridge. We adventured north through Marin County into Sausalito, a little sea town not far from the bridge.  Picturesque and quaint, it’s a town you usually find in fairy tales. Ryder and I “rock climbed” on the boulders holding the bay from the streets, watching small crabs poke their beady eyes at us between the rocks. We giggled at their swiftness to escape our approach.

Andrew motioned us over, as our table was ready at the burger joint next door. We filled our bellies, explored overpriced shops (“Soxsalito” is Alex’s favorite of the bunch. ‘Cause why wouldn’t someone want a pair of socks with kittens or super capes on them?), and then made our way back to San Francisco.

We were about to head home when we decided a quick gander at the famous Lombard Street was in order. We climbed halfway up to pause at the landscape before us that included the Coit Tower, a memorial from Lillie Hitchcock Coit to the firemen who saved much of the city from fire in its early years. Then stopping at Mission Dolores Park where we played Frisbee, climbed ropes and slid on slides. We were all ready for dinner and a quick nap before the airport.

Our midnight redeye was delayed upon arrival. Ryder told me to wake him when it was time to board. He acted as any seasoned traveler would (because after two flights under his belt, why wouldn’t he be considered “seasoned”?!) and fell right to sleep. I nearly had to roll him down the gate’s ramp to his seat where he continued to sleep like a rock during the four-hour flight across the country.

No doubt part of his success was attributed to Mohawk Valley’s affiliated company, Crooked Brook. Their new buckwheat hull travel pillows. Filled with buckwheat (remember the honey), which proved to be the best filler for a travel pillow with equal firmness for support and no odd crinkling sounds as one usually experiences from an unusual fillings in a travel pillow. Ryder convinced many on the flight it was the travel pillow to have. Mine didn’t fit quite as nicely and I am a terrible night flyer. I kept dreaming of the prospect of their buckwheat-filled pillow for my bed!

We arrived in Atlanta for a quick breakfast to then jump on our next flight home. Ryder was elated at the prospect of seeing Grandma, who was picking us up, and to see Rory again. He was beaming on the last leg home. “I cannot wait to see Rory-girl. She is going to love hearing about my trip.”

We were greeted by Grandma and made our way home with ease. Rory and him soon united and I overheard him chatting away about his trip, Rory half paying attention, until I heard her say,

“Hey Ryder…”
“What?”
“Chicken butt!”

Followed by roaring laughter. He was home. May they always have a strong relationship, even as the leaves wither, as the bugs bore, that the roots stay as strong as they have been from the instant they met. Welcome home.

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Thank you to Mohawk Valley Trading Company for the quality soap and travel pillows. The Goldenrod honey that was thrown-in as a surprise was the ultimate! I had a whole thirty minutes to myself last Sunday, slowly comparing it to another honey from my stash. Stay tuned readers for a full review in May!

Thank you to Matt Maher’s “All the People Said Amen (Live)” album. Ryder and I shared ear buds on the flight and most nights as we drifted to sleep humming “All the People Said Amen” and my absolute cry my heart out, “Lord I Need You”.

Thank you to Chris for putting up with Rory’s early mornings and Cody’s endless energy. A man that can work + kids + get them to church on time = my knight in shining armor. I love you “this much”! Without you Ryder and I couldn’t have had this outstanding Mommy/Ryder birthday weekend.

Thank you to Grandma who gave Ryder the splendidly bright green suitcase, new PJs, and endless support for his upcoming trip. To Oma who funded the adventure to the Exploratorium where Ryder claimed three of five of his top experiences, including the adorable Beatrix “Trixie”. To Great Grandma who sent a birthday card early to also support the trip’s many activities. Next time we will know to pack a few scraps of amazon boxes for the park’s slides.

Our deepest thanks to Andrew for zipping us around San Fran, cooking us dinner, and letting us sleep on the guest bed. For your endless ability to find intriguing “secret passages” in the condo unit, flowers to water, and THE BEST chocolate to share. Your hospitality friend was endless. It did not go unnoticed.

Lastly, to the kindest of uncles a kid could ever have on the west coast. Alex, your willingness to host us for four days even as the work piled in, your forethought to order paper bats and glow in the dark stars, ensuring the batteries were fresh for toy crane machines and buckets of bath toys. No doubt Ryder would still be in his two-hour bath, with an endless extension, if it hadn’t been for his wicked mother forcing him to eat his dinner. You have our full support to go hide in the Bat Cave and recharge your own batteries until your next guests arrive. We love you!