Farewell, New Mexico & US

The end of a vacation is upon me, and since it's much easier to post while in the US with full access to the blog, I figure I'll drop some pictures and thoughts on here before I fly home (yes, Beijing is home as long as my work is there) tomrrow morning. I write from Roswell where we celebrated Aaron's graduation from High School, and just as when I left last the US last year, there is much gratitude I want to express to the many people who've made this vacation special...so with apologies to those whom this bores (you've likely already skipped to the photos, right?), here's goes, from beginning to end:

--Steve, Jill and Chuck schemed a great celebration trip to Cumberland for Mom. Judy and Bill joined us there, and a better way to begin my vacation would have been hard to find. Thanks to you all, and good luck to Bill and Judy with the big move. Sorry I won't see the old house again while you live there!

--The Keipers, Cremones and Schmitthenners asked wonderful questions about China and showed remarkable ability with Chinese characters, and Mutti as always was a wonderful and tremendous cook. Thanks!

--Carrie: was kann ich nur sagen? Endlich mal eine Stunde mit dir und dem Mann verbringen zu koennen ist ja schon toll gewesen, aber mehr waere eben nur noch besser. Naechstes Jahr, in Zuerich, bestimmt, OK?

--The students of Ridgewood High and Oberlin: you guys are great audiences! You could turn me into a public speaker after all. Thanks for listening. Stay interested.

--As always, Oberlin Shansi and my committee mates for making me feel welcome and appreciated. What a delight to work with you all.

--Steve: you do the "American secretary" thing with grace and skill, and I remain eternally grateful. Also for taking the wheel all the time. :-)

--All my wonderful friends and hosts, who welcomed me to your homes, met me at and dropped me off at airports, and made me feel welcome wherever I went: Peter; Neal & Elizabeth; Steve & Sharon; Christian & Laura; Amy, Nancy & Kip; Howard & Gene; Steve & Joezen; Gary & Rick...you guys are great.

--And all the other friends who enlivened the trip and made me feel welcome, many of whom I'm sure I'll forget to mention -- Tim, Maude, Michele, Laura G, Ron, Jason, Kenya (great curried garbanzos!), Lisa/Rick/Kiki/Jack, Don, Maryasha (for meeting me at Greens!), Steve K, George and so forth.

Thanks again to you all. Drop comments on the blog, drop me an e-mail when your time permits, and let me know what you're up to. You know how I'll miss you once I'm half a world away again!

A Family Reunion in Roswell

The end of my long vacation is signaled by my nephew Aaron's graduation from high school, as the beginning was a celebration of my Mom's birthday. Here are some shots of Aaron with his sister, Heather and his father and stepmother.

LA Skyline

From Griffith Park and a great hike with Gary. Heavy rain in May in LA: will wonders never cease! As I flew out the next day, there were still bits of snow on the tops of even the lower mountains in the San Gabriels!

Golden Gate from Fort Mason

Another image of my spiritual, if not physical home to remind me while back in Beijing of what I'm missing, even as I'm having fun there.

Mendocino Coastal Range

Strangely, I didn't take any shots of the gorgeous Sonoma and Mendocino county coastlines as we drove past that...all I have are these two shots looking inland from our picnic spot by the coast. Taken mainly to show my friends in Beijing what northern California is like, but they'll also help me remember what a great weekend I had up there. :-)

Coastal Redwood Forest

Thanks to Howard and Gene, my time in SF included a trip along the coast to Orr Hot Springs in Mendocino County and a lovely hike in one of the coastal redwood state parks (Montgomery Park, to be specific). Thanks, H&G!

Vacation Update: Cumberland Island

Hello, my peeps. :-) As many/most of you know, I've been on vacation outside China for the past several weeks (since second week in April, to be precise), and have been mostly visiting friends and family in the US, with a lovely side trip to family and friends in Germany and London, and coffee at the Zurich airport with Carrie! (So great to see you again, and to meet the hubbie finally, Carrie!)

I've already seen most or many of the folks I know read this journal regularly, so I thought those of you who shared our lovely family reunion for Mom's 70th birthday down on Cumberland Island, Georgia would particularly enjoy some of these shots. Those who didn't join us should know this is one of the most lovely and relaxing places I've ever been. The inn we stayed at, while far from inexpensive, is deeply relaxing and gracious, and the national seashore (most of the island) is wild, beautiful, and endlessly peaceful.

I've not taken shots of the other places I've been on my trip, and rather doubt I'll be taking or posting many/any more before my return to China in a few more weeks. We'll see what comes up -- there may be a few from coastal California, where I'll be for about two weeks; or possibly from the Denver area and the Rockies, where I am at the moment enjoying the gracious hospitality of good friends Christian and Laura and looking forward to seeing Lisa and her family shortly. Hope you enjoy these shots, everyone.

Cumberland Island, Georgia

Wildlife @ Cumberland Island

Look hard and you'll see an eastern diamondback rattlesnake in a defensive position, and you can even make out the head ready to strike if necessary, in the shot with the mottled leaves on the ground. Look to the right of the sea turtle (still covered with seaweed brought up with her when she came on land) and you'll see the little pit she dug and into which she just laid some eggs.

Cumberland Island, Georgia

Cumberland Island, Georgia

And a few shots of Savannah

As long as I'm putting up a few vacation photos, I'll also post these of Savannah, which is indeed a really fun city, probably about as fun as Georgia gets. :-) The founder of the girl scouts was born there, hence the pic of Mom with the plaque next to the house where she was born.