ok, OKAY - sooo this time last year ... or even this time last month.. the area was completely blanketed with snow. BUT there was very limited evidence til we got to Truckee, BUT - all that really meant was my nose wasn't glued to the train window! The first leg - from San uis to Oakland was trouble free & relaxed. S-L-O-W, I admit, but who's in a hurry? (ok, maybe some people were ... but not us)
Our overnite stay (10 hours worth) on the bay brought us RESTED, to the Emeryville station for a 9:30am departure on Friday morning ... inching us ever-so-closer to "picture-ville" that afternoon. I can't honestly say that an arrival in Reno normally has any element of excitement for me. I do not feel the pull of the roulette table, or hear the bells of a winning slot in my dreams. But fortunately,
IT was not our intended destination ...
Coming over the last of the California mountains as we officially entered Nevada, my breath caught midway past the space that used to host my tonsils... with the first spot along the way where the snow was untouched and glistening. A slight shiver traveled down my spine as I thought about the chilly temps now surrounding us. Uh oh .... did I bring my long johns?? my mittens, my UGGS ??? burrrrrr
(niece) Dionna was ready & waiting at the station to snatch us up & load us into her curbside parking space (what service) and the drive to their home in Carson City would have been brief, were it not for the stop at RENO HARLEY DAVIDSON. A T-shirt and poker chip later ... we were on our way. As we neared... there were signs of a serious December storm having dropped a significant amount of powder, and the cool temperatures that have kept it on the ground for nearly a month. ONLY recently the weather has been more temperate enough (by area standards) to melt it down to patches instead.
Part of our entertainment package included introduction to Miss Payton, AKA Tyler's "baby" girl. As an added bonus having booked our trip early, we were witness to her recent date with boyfriend Sherman .... please note I am speaking here of Payton, NOT Tyler. That clarified.... it was determined that Sherman was markedly more excited to see his girlfriend than he was accurate in what was hoped he would leave behind- so a subsequent meeting of the behinds has been set up for the two of them. With nature & a little luck, we will get news of little chocolate kisses arriving a couple of months from now. We've officially been invited to the "showing" when the time comes... but my fear of having an episode of
cute aggression, could inhibit that visit! Time will tell of course ....
While nephew, Eric may assume he is the man of the house ... it is quite obvious to me that it is Sir Cinnamon that holds that position hereabouts. The house clearly belongs to him when he so chooses ... up to but sometimes including
his puppy Payton. They are loving companions in this family dynamic. Cinnamon, being the typical keen feline, knew immediately that the Captain was a mark that could not be missed when it came to a stroke, a massage or a piece of jerkey bacon. He appears to be a marginal football fan .... but will put up with it for a soft lap to nap on. He's a beautiful puddy tat with eyes as gold as his coate and a personality just as radiant.
Our visit has proven to be overly strenuous for the guys at times ... leading to male bonding while packed into the mini recliners in the tv room. We've found that only cooking aromas wafting into their space seems to revives them. (just kidding ... this one was posed)
Lastly (for now) - was a great outing to historic Virginia City yesterday (pictures to follow at a later date) Gunslingers, bar maids, suicide table, ghost sightings, gold mining .... you name it, they got it!! AND a trinket to remember this wonderful trip by (gee, I thought a photo or two would do that?!)
AS Wednesday's child... my guardian angel is Raphael and I now have a beautiful medallion to remind of it any time I choose.
In this last 24 hours of our visit, I have also spent time with my oldest sister, which was long overdue and quite enjoyable too. Tomorrow, we will once again board the train for our journey homeward.... with little doubt that we will have more pictures to show
for our time, more conversation between the Captain and I
about our time, and the hopes and wishes that we will have
a lot more time .... for visits like this one!!
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