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Get-Together 2004A few days in Santa Barbara
The unauthorized official souvenir booklet
Text by Pat Crawshaw
With photos by Kathryn Drozdik, Pat Crawshaw and “file”.
1
Wednesday, February 18
Inevitably, after four weeks of no rain,
On this morning of the long-awaited arrival of Terri and Kathryn
It’s raining.
We go to the Amtrak station by car
Park in a blue space close to the platform
Bernie starts the crossword, I get out with umbrella
To enquire about the estimated time of arrival
Of Terri’s train from San Diego.
The ticket agent doesn’t know
The baggage agent doesn’t know
The waiting passengers don’t know much -
There is a rumor of delay at Camarillo...
It’s cold and wet and I retire to the warmth of the car.
The train doesn‘t come
But an Amtrak (connecting?) Bus leaves
The car windows steam up
I’m getting warning signs of plunging blood sugar..
The rain stops, I emerge again to look for sustenance.
Find no coffee machine, no snack machine
No nothing - in this million dollar renovation....
A waiting adult with mobile phone
Announces that the train is close to Carpinteria-
His class is on it and he’s phoned them...
The waiting throng cheers up in expectation.
As the sun comes out
The headlight of the train appears well down the track
The crossing bell clangs, the gates descend
And, about an hour late, the train pulls in and grinds to a halt.
Terri staggers down from the upper level after the six hour trip
We pile the bags and us into the car
Depart for lunch at the Mesa Café,
2
Stopping only to get me a sandwich from “home” -
Such is the state of my blood sugar.
After lunch Terri checks in at the Marina Beach
And in no time at all Joan arrives, having worked all morning.
At three o’clock Joan drives us to the Radisson
To meet Kathryn’s bus, not due in till three thirty
We have time to wander a little on the beach
But cross the road back as the bus appears.
Manoevred into the parking lot, the door opens
Passengers descend and the driver dispenses baggage.
We look at each other, start to say “She’s not on it.”
3
But at that moment, Kathryn appears, encumbered by bags.
Joan greets her enthusiastically..
We drive off for the motel- via Montecito, at Joan’s behest
Have tea and cookies provided by Bernie
And set out to eat at Super Rica,
A taco stand favored by Julia Childs.
It being early, we take the long way round
Via the riviera and towards the Mission.
Over the original route of the missionaries
Officially named Alameda Padre Serra, but locally just APS
We speed over the narrow winding undulating road
Clinging to the edge of the hillside.
Kathryn, in the front seat and unaccustomed to the terrain
Hangs on and hopes for the best
While Joan explains everything enthusiastically.
4
Arrived back at SuperRica we find it suspiciously dark.
We stop, and read “Closed on Wednesdays”
As another disappointed customer rattles the door.
We contemplate alternatives
Almost settle on Japanese at Joan’s local restaurant
Then I remember Rudy’s, close to the Marina Beach.
We set out for it by a roundabout route including Anapamu
With its amazing avenue of Italian stone pines
5
At Rudy’s I am clueless about the menu
And settle for cheese quesadilla
The knowledgeable order more exotic combination plates
Including “chili relleno”later to be sampled by all.
It is cold and draughty in this take out/eat in establishment
So we move away from ill fitting windows.
Joan organizes cutlery and condiments for all
Terri enthuses about the green salsa
And we all share the tortilla chips.
6
Back at the Marina Beach
We talk a lot till Joan departs for her favorite TV show.
Terri and Kathryn go to their room to sort things out
And rest for the morrow -
A full day with much sight-seeing planned
As nobody has other commitments lined up.
7
Thursday February 19th
Terry and Kathryn accompany me
On my pre breakfast walk
In hopeful looking weather
Past the machinery resculpting the beach
8
To the end of Stearns Wharf
- and back.
We eat outside on the lawn
9
Usable for the first time after reseeding
By Sam the gardener
Under the instructions of
Nan the manager.
Joan arrives and leads us towards the college,
We cross the park, pass the tennis courts
And start to climb the hill.
Faced by too many stairs, I balk
So Joan reverses her route and we ascend the slope instead
To the wonderful lookout she opened
In her presidential days.
Kathryn takes a photograph over the park towards the town
10
While Joan, gesticulating, explains.
Kathryn takes another photograph
A little further round
This time over the harbor and ocean
Towards the mountains.
11
We continue along the cliff top, skirt the many portables
Cross lawns and admire statues.
Kathryn photographs, Joan explains.
We go by the cafeteria and admire the new bright chairs
But shudder at the music, overpowering the speakers.
We cross the bridge to the West Campus
And are impressed by Joan’s name engraved on a plaque.
12
We pause at a sculpture doubling as fountain
We visit the library
Lose track of buildings
Lose track of each other as Kathryn and I
Consult about cameras
But come together again to visit the nursing lab
In another modern building
13
Down a gleaming corridor
The fascinating place masquerades as a hospital
With many mannequins in bed
Most of them slumped with open mouths and closed eyes.
Apparently far from well,
The star patient Buddy’s potential is impressive
As described by Michael.
He can be beset by all sorts of terrible conditions
Breathe, open his eyes, receive blood and bleed
And react appropriately to nursing procedures
Including complaining where appropriate...
14
But Buddy is comatose too today - for lack of advance warning
His computer switched off,
His problems unprogrammed.
His voice on “mute”as he lies asleep
Surrounded by emergency paraphernalia
Terri is particularly appreciative.
We check out the computer lab
Well supplied with software
Simulating virtual patients and conditions
And with monitors set down into desks at an angle
Thus reducing the risk of neck pain for the students.
Lunchtime calls...
The nurse in charge recommends the café
Run by the culinary arts students
Especially the Chinese salad.
Having early ruled out the cafeteria due to the noise
We accept her recommendation
Though we only just manage to find a table
And have a variety of dishes.
After lunch, Kathryn takes a photograph of the rest of us
15
A maintenance man passing by with his broom
Offers to take one of all four of us and we accept.
On the second attempt he’s successful
16
Then it’s down the hill again to pick up our car
This time I drive - north on 101, left on Storke
Right on Hollister, left on Coronado
To arrive at the Butterfly Preserve.
As we walk in I warn of probable mud after yesterday’s rain
But alas - the usual mud is flowing water
To try to ford it would be foolhardy
We must walk around maybe half a mile.
Along level ground
Then up and back on the edge of the open heath
17
Then round and down till we’re back where we started
But on the other side of the water
Terri finds the messy
eucalypts shedding
their bark weird.
18
While Kathryn photographs a notice:
But as for seeing butterflies....
The weather’s cold, their wings are closed
And it is said they have started to leave...
Kathryn manages a single
closeup on the ground
19
But the light is hopeless for photography in general
Except in silhouette...
We give up and climb back up
Cross the grassy expanse of Ellwood Mesa
Disturbing several unperturbed baby rabbits
And view the ocean from the edge of the cliff.
20
Kathryn takes photographs
While Joan explains
We retrace our steps to the car
Set out for civilization in the shape of big box stores
Elegant Santa Barbara style - though this is Goleta.
21
We arrange to meet by the Cinema then split up:
Terri to Costco, Joan to Linens and Things
Kathryn and I to CompUSA for a printer
Then on to Borders and we too separate.
I find Joan sitting outside with a cappuccino
But I decide on an ice-cream from McConnells.
It’s got ice crystals in it but tastes good anyway,
Kathryn arrives and goes in for ice-cream
Comes out with a photograph...
22
Terri gets ice-cream too
Somehow it seems to be a very large one...
Maybe a language problem?
We sit around and lick and sip
I ask has anybody seen Calendar Girls? No..
It’s left downtown but we track it down in the Independent
To Goleta Twin Cinemas not far from here
But it’s not shown on Thursdays.
We file the idea away for a possible rainy day
And drive “home”.
Nobody’s hungry. Everybody’s tired.
We rest....
What we would
have seen three
weeks ago....
23
Friday, February 20
Today Joan has to work but invites us to dinner
And I have a bookmaking course at nine
So no early walk for me
But we arrange to meet downtown for lunch.
Bernie leads Kathryn and Terri
On an expedition to the Harbor
But fails to persuade them to risk
The hazard of waves
Breaking over the breakwater
An obliging passerby with dog
Exchanges her leash for a camera
And snaps a cheerful portrait.
24
After breakfast Terri and Kathryn set out
To checkout State Street on foot
Maybe do some shopping on the way...
Terri calls in at the English pub as requested
To bring greetings from her neighbor.
25
They check out the Paseo Nuevo
Plunge to the depths of Tuesday Morning-
Terri buys a bargain price water resistant anorak.
They are intrigued in Victoria Court
By a bush with velvety purple flowers and orange leaves
Then it’s time for lunch....
26
They make their way to the meeting place
As do I - but my time and place are different.
The Art Museum café is full and there is nobody to meet me.
I hang around for awhile
Eventually I go in the library looking for Bernie
Meet him on the way out.
We come upon Terri and Kathryn hovering uncertainly
Between the Museum and the Library
Having found nobody near the mentioned Acapulco cafe.
I am feeling fragile and disinclined to eat
A disturbed night with still disturbed digestion is taking its toll
So I retrieve the car and go to bed.
The others decide to eat outside at the Acapulco
They enjoy the food
But Terri is concerned that there are more turtles than rocks...
27
After lunch a look at the outside of the Courthouse
Then a walk back down State Street
Spurning the shuttle I’d recommended
(25¢ up or down but not around)
28
Under the freeway - Highway 101
And back to the motel where I am resurfacing.
In due course we leave for Joan’s
Carrying with us two battered tray tables just in case.
When we arrive, the door is locked - no-one is home
Except of course Jake
Who greets us with invitations to play
29
Soon Joan arrives from her College event
Delayed by having been the recipient of a certificate.
With great speed and sleight of hand
She produces a delectable meal incredibly fast
Served on a new set of tray tables so ours are surplus.
We have chicken masala with authentic spices direct from India
And salad complete with caramelized walnuts.
Dessert follows - Japanese mochi ice cream - and tea.
Kathryn and Terri look at Joan’s India pictures and souvenirs
30
Especially Kali:
She is wild and untamed
Stands on her husband Shiva who protects the world
From her intoxicated dance after she kills the demons.
Kathryn produces a tiny clock for each of us
Mine in the form of a sewing machine
Joan’s a rollaboard suitcase, Terri’s a treasure chest.
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