Friday, September 19, 2014

Friday Mishmash - California Visit Part I

As usual, any visit with my best friend Barbara is crammed full of activities.  I think we hit a personal best this time, though, with my plane landing at 9:15 in the morning - after I picked up my suitcase and we had our reunion, we got in the car and drove straight to the mall, arriving right when the stores opened.  We are professionals when it comes to shopping, I'm telling you!  On the agenda, as with every visit, was ::whispers:: bra shopping.  Having a bra-shopping buddy is awesome!  We hit Nordstrom, and had a fantastic experience with a saleswoman, who measured us and pulled bra after bra - I've never had such good luck with finding bras that fit so well.  We both came home with several, and I even got a couple more sports bras, so I'm all set!

Our whirlwind of activities included a pedicure after my 6 mile run, which made me wonder WHY am I not doing this after every long run??  Oh yeah, money.  But this was a nice treat and another tradition that we do when we get together:
And if you're wondering, yes, I did choose my nail color to go with my flip flops!

We went to the Greek Festival in downtown Santa Cruz for dinner:
Theresa waiting in line for the delicious gyros; T and B digging in (they were so good)!

First Friday was also happening downtown, so we walked around and checked out all kinds of art and shops - I had my eye on this linen dishtowel and also the cute mermaid, but wasn't ready to start spending so soon after the bra extravaganza, so we took a picture and I held off:
Seeing the picture again, I wish we'd gone back for these items!

The next day, we went to Palo Alto, for some shopping and lunch and the mecca of every young girl...the American Girl Doll store!  What I love about Theresa being 12 years old is that she still has one foot in childhood (dolls) and is dipping a couple of toes into teenage interests (makeup, for example).  I had a blast at the store and totally want the 70s doll and all of her accessories:
The doll was standing by the Bug - that wouldn't do!  So Theresa and I had her go for a drive.  BTW, that Bug?  $350.  I played with ordering everything I wanted for my 70s doll (banana seat bike, record set, cute rotary telephone, lots of clothes including clogs) and my total was a little over $1000.  Holy moly.  Wish I'd come up with this idea!

On Monday, Barbara went to work at her new job, which happens to be her alma mater, San Jose State University.  I'm very proud to say that my friend is teaching two  master's-level classes there this semester!  She showed me around campus, and then we went to her office:
Nameplate on the door and everything!

While Barbara was teaching, my old friend Matt came by and picked me up for a quick visit.  He was driving his restored 1963 red convertible Ford Falcon - the weather was perfect for driving with the top down, although I did laugh because when I got in the car, he handed me a tube of sunscreen - we pale people know the drill.  Anyway, it was nice to get to chat with him in person, and I'm sorry that I didn't get a picture of us and the car.  Instead, I give you this:
Hawaiian-style shaved ice - Matt knows all the fun places to get a treat!

The next day we did some shopping, and tried to go to See's Candies to pick up some birthday treats for Barbara's husband.  TRIED.  We got there and could not believe our eyes when we saw this:
 CLOSED.  What the heck???
We were peeved.  Had to document with selfie.  Unbelievable!!!  It's not right to deny a See's chocolate craving.

We managed to move on, though.  We went to visit our former director of volunteers, Dorothy Washam.  You see, Barbara and I met back in September of 1977, during my first week of high school.  I'd wanted to be a Candy Striper for years, but you couldn't be one until you were in HS.  You better believe I was all signed up and ready to go as soon as I could - and that's when I met Mrs. Washam, and she introduced me to her second in command, Barbara.  The rest is history!
Some numbers that are probably only interesting to us, but I'll share:  We've now been friends for 37 years!  And Dorothy was younger than we are now back when she was in charge of the volunteer program - she was only 46 years old.  She made it a lot of fun and even had a special Raggedy Ann and Andy program, where we would dress up and visit the pediatric ward, and go to special events.  Here's some pictures of us from back then:
Reading the caption, I have no memory of giving a presentation.  Barbara must have done all the talking, as Shy Shelley wouldn't have been willing to do that.
That was a fun time in our lives!  Barbara and I are front and center in this shot.

More adventures on Monday - have a great weekend!

15 comments:

  1. Great, great trip! And it's so special you are friends for such a long time!

    I have been reading your blog for at least 5 years now and it's fun to see how Theresa has grown over the years, she's going to be a beauty.

    Look forward to the rest of the trip.

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    1. I agree, Theresa has it going on! Plus, you should see how she pulls her outfits together - I loved seeing what she put together each day.

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  2. So. much. fun.

    Theresa is turning into a beautiful young woman. It has been fun to see her growing up through your blog!

    That American Doll thing is a racket I tell ya. But yeah, I wish I'd thought of it too.

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    1. I forgot how little T was when I first put her picture on the blog - she's grown so much!

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  3. What a fun visit!! There is something very...anchoring? about seeing an old friend who knows you better than anyone else. And now I think I need to go call my old BFF. :)

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    1. Anchoring is an excellent descriptor of a best friend. :)

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  4. What a fun fun trip. How fun that you thought to go and visit your old director--the place where you guys actually met! The Raggedy Ann pictures are priceless--don't you wish you had a color copy?

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    1. You know, I thought I did have a color copy of the group shot, but darned if I could find it. Dorothy was really good about making sure we received pictures of ourselves in action.

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  5. Aww, sounds like a really fun trip. This makes me kind of tear up and want to pack my things and take a road trip to see MY best friend who lives in MD who I never get to see. Maybe I should start planning a trip for real! Sorry I've been scant on posting comments, Shelley, but I still read and love every post! You seem like you'd be so much fun in person! Hope we can meet someday!

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    1. Thanks for the sweet comment, and yes, go see your best friend! You won't regret it. :)

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  6. OMG, love the pictures of you guys when you are young! Love it - my twin sister and I have been best friends with twin sisters for 37 years as well - we met when we were 8 and the rest, as you say, is history!

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  7. What an awesome trip!!! Your good time is coming through your words! And Barbara's daughter is growing up!

    Enjoy every minute!

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  8. How special to visit with your former director and jumpstart all those great memories. What a fun trip you are having! I'm a bit jealous, my BF is in CA too, and it's been way too long since I've seen her.

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  9. I love, love the photos of you candystripers!

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