It was the final day of our trip.  We had ridden up in a little cable car on a crazy steep hill and had gone down the famed Lombard Street with its eight hairpin turns.  It has been claimed to be “the most crooked street in the world” and I believe it.  But still no sign of my beloved St. Francis.  And then I did a little research.  It turns out the Mission San Francisco de Asis was founded in 1776 and is both the oldest intact Mission in California and also the oldest building in San Francisco!  It was incredible going into a building that had survived earthquakes and was as old as the founding of our country.  Then I discovered the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi.  I had wanted to visit Assisi and Gubbio while we were in Italy on our honeymoon but we just couldn’t swing it.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered exquisite Italian murals portraying the life of St. Francis and radiant stained glass throughout the length of the church.  Finally I had discovered him in these two holy places.  Since it was our last night, we decided to take a romantic dinner boat cruise around the bay at sunset.  When we came up to the dock this guy took one look at Burk and said, “Way to go player!” which we both took as a funny compliment.  I was wearing my beautiful red cape and we were happy and relaxed.  American photographer Imogen Cunningham once said, “I think San Francisco is the best place in the whole world for an easy life.”  After dessert we headed up for dancing to a great live band.  For as long as I live I will never forget passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, all lit up, with the lights of San Francisco twinkling off in the distance.  And of course the last song they sang was “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”  I sure did.

On this day we booked a tour of Muir Woods followed by some Napa wineries.  A giant bus picked us up at our hotel and we were off.  Muir Woods is a national monument for a reason.  Only twelve miles north of San Francisco, it protects 240 acres of old growth coast redwood forest (Sequoias) and is one of the few small areas remaining in the San Francisco Bay area.  These precious trees can only be found in a narrow, cool coastal belt from California in the south to Oregon in the north.  Before logging hit, there were an estimated two million acres of old growth forest containing redwoods growing along this narrow strip along the coast.  It is sickening really.  In 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt declared the land a National Monument.  Named after the famed naturalist John Muir, his environmental campaigns helped establish the National Park system.  I have no words to adequately convey the silent majesty of this small forest.  Pine needles lent silence to our steps as we approached one area aptly named “The Cathedral.”  They even posted a sign requesting no talking in acknowledgement of its tranquility.  It was literally like worshipping God in church and I had no doubt it was sacred; possibly even more so than edifices built by man.  In a huge semi-circle these majestic giants encircled us, and it was both humbling and awe-inspiring.  I had been through Sequoias as a child and they had always stayed with me.  This brought it all back and made me feel as if I’d never left.  Muir once said:

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

Burk and I both hated to leave this sacred spot of peace that is but a remnant of what once was.  But next it was on to wine tasting and I noticed our bus became a little louder with each increasing stop.  The Germans (whom we did not know were German) started to unwind and practice their English.  People began chatting with each other more freely and let down their guards.  By the time we broke for lunch folks were pretty well “loosened up.”  My husband likes sweet, white wines and I prefer heavy reds so we kept switching in mild embarrassment after we were given a glass to sample.  Everyone ambled out in the sunshine to feed the turtles in one of the vineyard’s ponds and I remember thinking it was awfully quiet on the way back.  We had a great day, full of beauty and discovery; learning and adventure.  I’d say we painted the town red.

It was day four of our trip and we decided to head out to Chinatown.  I had seen Chinatowns in Vancouver, New York, and even Montreal but San Francisco boasted the oldest in North America as well as the largest Chinese community outside Asia.  I was worried about seeing dead animals hanging from windows and I am GREATLY relieved to report I never saw any, thank the Lord.  We passed under the famous green Dragon Gate flanked by massive Foo Dogs; Imperial guardian lions.  Tourists were milling up and down the steep street in and out of shops jammed with all kinds of goods made in China.  Colored parasols blocked ceilings, tiny goldfish resided in delicate blue and white porcelain bowls, and “Fortune Cat” figurines were everywhere.  I have read the calico is considered to be the luckiest.  The white represents happiness, purity, and positive things to come.  Black is supposed to ward off evil spirits.  Gold is for wealth and prosperity.  Green is for good health and red means success in love and relationships.  I had also wondered about the significance of why some of their paws were raised — I saw right, left, and even both in the air.  Every time I’d ask all I could get in reply was “Lucky Money Cat” and I guess they figured that’s all I needed to know.  We saw jade, silk, and long, winding red paper dragons alongside delicate hanging lanterns in every color.  Outside I gave cash (SO GLAD I remembered to bring some again!) to an elderly man playing my favorite, the Chinese violin.  In addition, he was effortlessly coaxing one of my most beloved classical pieces from its strings; French composer Camille Saint-Saens’ “The Swan.”  He played passionately and with an expert gentleness that suggested either years of practice or great innate talent.  Regardless, I felt my little acquisition of a “lucky cat” had already benefitted me, even though it did not bring me any money.  Some things are priceless … like coming out on a sunny day and listening to the painfully beautiful strains of an exquisite piece of music being carried on the wind.  The American playwright Tennessee Williams once said, “Luck is believing you’re lucky.”  I agree.  And with my handsome husband by my side I was lucky indeed.

The third day we headed out to the Japanese Tea Garden.  Part of Golden Gate Park, it was originally built during the World’s Fair in 1894.  It is the oldest Japanese garden in the United States with a complex of paths, ponds, and a teahouse featuring plants and trees pruned and arranged in the Japanese style.  Its three acres contain statuary and structures influenced by Buddhist and Shinto beliefs as well as many elements of water and rocks to create a calming landscape.  All this was ours to enjoy on this morning and with no entry fees.  Dallas could learn something from them.  This wooden moon bridge was placed with a high arch so its reflection in the still water forms a circle, symbolizing the moon.  And from the moon to the tides, we wound up with a stunning view of the ocean for lunch.  Seated behind floor-to-ceiling glass, we saw blue sky, rolling white waves, and several giant Seal Rocks rising up out of the sea.  The historic restaurant was literally as far as one can go on the West Coast — Land’s End — and the views of the Pacific were magnificent.  It was made all the more lovely because this day was our anniversary.  I always search for some place special or unusual in some way to celebrate and for dinner we ate at Forbes Island.  Built in 1975 by a millionaire houseboat designer, it was a private home opened to public dining in 1980.  As we are both children of the ’70’s, it had all the swank of our early childhood (oh yeah) and we LOVED it!  A sharp dressed captain in a little boat took us out and we were warmly greeted as soon as we set foot on board.  We actually dined below deck and could see fish swimming outside of the portholes.  The bar was fabulous, as was the service and the food.  Walking around was an absolute blast.  Above board it had sand, a waterfall, and actual palm trees growing!  Plus we got to go all the way up the winding spiral staircase to the top of the 40 foot working lighthouse!  It is the only privately built lighthouse in the United States and is equipped with a lens made in France dating back to 1820.  This place was probably the best we have ever chosen to spend our anniversary dinner in the now nine years we have been married.

“In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures, life may perfect be.” ~ 17th century English playwright Ben Jonson

It was the perfect end to a perfect day and we were both over the moon bridge.