A Different Kind of Christmas Present!

So my visit home to Ohio for the holiday was wonderful.

I got a pedicure with my mom, I saw my friend's new baby boy, I got a massage from my sister, toured Cincinnati stuff with yet another sister, met up with best friends and other friends, saw practically my entire family on Christmas, sung with them, ate lots of crap, and even made it to a yoga class with my favorite yoga teacher.

Now back to that "friend's new baby boy." His name is Zephyr, and he has wide blue eyes and dark hair just like his dad. He's pretty big and hearty for a 5 month old, and sooo mellow. But he was having issues when I visited. Apparently, when mommy started him on solids (baby food) his little system couldn't handle them, and the poor thing hadn't "moved" in a week. She'd tried everything possible to make it happen, but no go.

"Hand him over," I told her. "I'll give him an abdominal massage."

And so, with a bottle of Burts Bees oil, I massaged his little belly just as they'd taught us in massage school, to therapeutically aid the digestive system. Then we snapped up his onesies (he was wearing two since it was winter) and went on with our best friend talk.

In another half hour, Zephie started grunting and grimacing. My friend looked down with round eyes. "Did you hear that? I think he's pooping!"

Sure enough, the kid pooped. Ohmigod did he poop! I've never seen a mother so overjoyed that her baby pooped out the diaper and down the legs (I know, I know...TMI! But I'll bet you moms can appreciate the importance of this feat). She held him up and cried, "Yaaaaay! I owe you big time, girl!"

"Hey," I shrugged. "Merry Christmas."

LOL

That was such a hilarious highpoint of my Christmas visit, and made for a good story wherever I went. I helped a baby poop!


But seriously....remember how I was worried that I'd miss my family and wouldn't want to come back?

Well, once I got home and was heading up the 101...I was surprised to find that it felt more like home here than it did back in Ohio. And boy was I ever happy to get back to the green, temperate climate.

I guess I've finally settled!

I've had other introspective thoughts, but I'll put them in another entry on another day. Gotta go back to work tomorrow...I hope my hands/wrists/arms hold out!

Waves!

Now THIS is the ocean I've been waiting patiently for, for the past six monthes!!!

Huge swells rolled into the Santa Barbara coastline today, and the surfers were out in force. Rod tells me tomorrow will bring the biggest. "Double overhead" is what they are called.

After work, I nearly ran down to the shore...and things had changed. Big time. For one thing, I smelled the ocean a lot stronger--and when I got to the bottom of The Thousand Steps (which are really about 100), there was a HUGE drop-off to the....rocks? Wait a minute. Had I lost my mind? Was I in a true alternate Universe? Didn't there used to be SAND at the bottom of these steps, only one foot down?

Luckily, a man was coming down the steps with his dog. I asked him about it and he told me, "Oh yeah, it's winter. We've lost about 3 feet of sand. You'll find lots of rocks and fossils in the winter."

Wow. I had no idea the depth of the beach would change! I am still such a "beginner" when it comes to living by the sea.

As I walked along the beach, the energy & sound of the bigger and stronger surf was raw...almost sexual. I felt invigorated in the same way. I watched the black silhouettes of surfers in wetsuits floating on the water...they waited during the peaceful lulls, then suddenly waves would arise out of nowhere--stark and silver against the periwinkle horizon. Then a surfer would appear on the crest...some rode long, long stretches before coming to a graceful close--others toppled over into the white foam as their wave crashed.

I wished I had both the means and the guts to learn this awesome sport....to be one with that ocean...but something tells me I'd be very guarded. Especially of my hands, which are now my livelihood. On second thought, I could be perfectly happy watching them from the shore!

The timing of the ocean's rambunctiousness couldn't have been more perfect. I've been thinking about my visit home...wondering if, once back among my clan and the people I grew up with, I wouldn't want to come back. But after this evening, I remembered the other lover I came out here to be close to...the Pacific.

I think about how cold and hollow last winter was--cringing against the bitter winds and having no one to go home to and cozy in with--and I know that I will be very content returning to spend winter in a warm, beautiful land.

A Wealth of Sunsets

I feel rich!

Just about every day I come home to a glorious sunset--every day it's a different design, with different blends of colors and cloud formations. But it's always peaceful and lovely.

It's times like that when I just quiet the part of my mind that constantly worries about scarcity, and rent that is too high, and finding a more affordable place.

For now, everything is as it's supposed to be and all is well.