Beth

I drove to Berkeley this morning and met my friend Beth for lunch. We met when our sons, now in their forties with children in kindergarten, were themselves in kindergarten. She and her husband have given us a key to their house and an open invitation to stay there whenever we like. Beth is well read, we'll versed in the Arts, and a wonderful companion. Among other memorable trips, we traveled from Edinburgh through the Highlands, Orkney and Mull together and discovered that they are people we can definitely travel with.

Tonight, I will be staying with my friend Marcia who, along with her husband Steve, have also opened their home to me, especially on Book Group nights. I must confess I haven't read the book, In the Shadow of the Banyan Tree, but I have other reasons for wanting to go tonight.

We have been meeting for eighteen years, and some of us are getting on. Emily, vibrant woman in her 80's, is in a dancing group and a theatre group, which puts on excellent productions for senior centers and others. On a recent visit to her daughter in Maine, Emily had a fall and broke two bones in her neck. She came through emergency surgery well, but will be on very restricted movement for 12 weeks. We are going to discuss what we can do for her in the coming months.

I am grateful to my Berkeley friends who so graciously allow me to keep coming back to the old hometown. I always enjoy a taste of my old life thoroughly, and am happy to return to my new one...