Kids here have a midwinter break from school in February. Sometimes it happens to snow, but otherwise there’s not a whole lot to do on the island during that week off unless you enjoy family walks in drizzle or rain each day.
We planned a trip back “home” to Santa Barbara, California, to show our kids where they grew up, visit the college where my husband taught accounting for 22 years, and get together with relatives and friends that we haven’t seen for way too long.
It was amazing to feel the sun shining on us for a week straight; to feel the ocean breeze blow into our hotel room as we sat eating Trader Joe’s snacks in shorts; to walk all day on sunny beaches and State Street without ever needing a sweatshirt; to drive our convertible Mustang with the top down along the coast thanks to a free last-minute upgrade; to see oranges and lemons growing by the hundreds on backyard trees. The sunshine and warmth felt so wonderfully indulgent.
We all went through some mourning, missing the climate that allows us to be outside and active all day long, all year long. Our boys were quick to note that they quadrupled the amount of steps they normally do here on the island.
Here’s a vicarious walking photo tour for you, if you’ve never been to Santa Barbara before…
The man with the cap on playing guitar used to be my landlord. He’s Russ Doherty, the leader of Dannsair, an Irish band that plays in downtown Santa Barbara every week at Dargan’s Irish Pub. Before meeting my husband, I rented one of the rooms in Russ and Kathy’s house that had its own entrance and was locked off from the rest of the house. They would invite musical friends over to play music together and I’d call my mom and put the phone down by the crack under my door so she could hear the phenomenal Irish music that was coming from their living room. I so wanted to be in there with them. I loved hearing them and at the same time it reminded me of how alone I was. Soon after, I met my husband, and about a year later, Dannsair played at our wedding. Our boys grew up watching Dannsair at Dargan’s. No more listening through the crack under the door! How fun to go see them again, now in their 21st year playing there.
To see some of the best photos taken on our trip, go to our son’s Instagram page here. I no longer lug around my big Canon camera, and my little iPod’s photos can’t hold a candle to the beauties he takes on his iPhone and the videos he takes on his Osmo.
Two lighter-blue photos of birds by Evan Kulper
Awesome amazing and beautiful photos and write up! So glad you popped in to say Hi. Love you!
Thank you Mary! You guys look great!!! I was so glad to see you!!