Out of the Fog

“Pick myself up, dust myself off, start all over again.”

– Written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 movie “Swing Time”

At first, I was inconsolable hearing the news about Golden Gate.

As I wrote in my last blog, Our Golden Gate Adventure (and I thank all of you for your wonderful comments), I was joyful to finally be ready to begin the long-planned remodel of our treasured 93-year-old Spanish Revival home we call Golden Gate.

The Move

Since then, I’ve been waist high in boxes, paper and rolls of tape, packing up our home of twenty years in preparation to move just eight minutes away to the other side of town. As stressful, strenuous and mentally exhausting as moving is, I was ecstatic at the prospect of moving ahead.

The Delay

Unfortunately, my ecstasy came crashing down. Among the many obstructions to normal life the coronavirus has plagued us with delays in the functions of our local building department. Just when we thought we were ready to roll, our project approval ground to a halt, and our hopes of starting the renovation this season evaporated. No building permit, no remodel. Now it is late October with our rainy season about to begin, and what already seems like eternity in the making will be postponed until next spring. It felt like the fog descending outside the windows of our temporary apartment was intended just for me.

Gifts from Adversity

But adversity always brings gifts, and the exercise of downsizing to a smaller space is one I didn’t see coming. I became reacquainted with focus and discipline as I triaged our belongings, giving furniture to friends, donating household goods to charities, and offering a chunk of our collected stuff to The Salvation Army to help others in need. It was a great feeling to lighten up, and I found a lyric from John Lennon’s Imagine playing over and over in my head – and no possessions, too.

The Silver Lining

And believe it or not, due to the pandemic, we were able to negotiate a great deal on our apartment, which we love. It is bright and sunny, and best of all has no mold, one of the factors that ultimately drove us out of Golden Gate.

But what it does have is a long, narrow deck from which to watch the sea-loving world go by in the San Francisco Bay. From sailboats to freighters to fanciful fog, the Bay is busy day and night, and I can’t resist taking pictures, a few of which I’m including here.

Gratitude

This morning as I write at my black uplift desk surrounded by crisp white walls, familiar art and an orange window shade atop sliding glass doors overlooking the Bay, I know how grateful I am for our little 70s-era apartment on a tree-covered hillside at the end of the Tiburon Peninsula. How fortunate I am to have a clean, dry place to live when so many people are struggling. The project will happen when and if it is meant to. I can feel the fog lifting.

Vote with a New Consciousness

I hope all my readers have voted or will vote soon, as our country needs every one of us to unite in support of our cherished American democracy. Voting has never been more important!

Please stay safe and healthy, live in gratitude, and take care of those less fortunate. Perhaps that’s what this challenging time is about – raising our consciousness about caring for the earth, nature and all beings that walk beside us.

Love and gratitude to all of you,