Happy Friendship Day - August 4, 2013

,

I used to think the world was vast,

With most lands unknown to me,

But, now, a venerable sixty-eight,

I've sailed most every sea.

I've visited foreign countries,

Dined on all sorts of cuisines,

Drunk wines in lands about the globe,

Prevented illness with vaccines.

I saw the shimmer of Northern lights,

 Watched fiery lava flow,

Marveled at Iguazu's thundering falls,

Saw the Swiss Alps blanketed in snow.

The most wonderful gift that I've gotten,

As I've journeyed so far on my way,

Is the cherished and wonderful friendships,

That mean more than words can convey

These friends and those of a lifetime,

Are worth more than their weight in gold,

From the earliest days I remember,

As my hair turns white and I'm old.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright © August 4, 2013 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved.

Wondering If I'll Ever Get to India - October 6, 2011

This past week, I haven't accomplished very much in my quest to pack,
get out of this house and head to India - but I have had a lot of fun.  On
Thursday, my dear friend, forensic toxicologist, Werner Bernhard, arrived
from the Bern, Switzerland area to attend a huge conference at the
Marriott Marquis in San Francisco ( over 1200 of these scientists were
here to discuss their specialty and share information ).  Werner stayed at
my house two nights before going to the Marriott, then came back for
three nights after it was over.

Saturday, he went with me to the wedding of a very dear friend of my
son, Jeremy, ( he was best man ). It was a beautiful event, held at sunset at
the Cliff House in San Francisco.  It was a fun occasion!  The food was
really good ( the Cliff House is a restaurant ) - I had salmon - and the
DJ played a great selection of songs which included many from the
60's and 70's.  Even Werner and I danced!

Sunday, there was a special party that I got to attend with Werner and
my good friend, Joanne Olivieri.  We were there for nine hours...so no
packing that day, just time with dear friends, more great food, much
laughter, good music, lots of food and drink.

Monday was my 67th birthday.  The whole day was nice and we ended
it with dinner at Manivanh Thai, a restaurant owned my my Lao family.
It's over by San Francisco General and I know I've eaten there at least
1000 times over the years ( probably more ).  Two of my three sons were
there and it was really a wonderful evening.

Yesterday, Werner and I went out for Chinese food and, as I've done the
past three times he's visited from Switzerland, I took him out to shop
for underwear!  I guess it costs so much more in Switzerland and, since
he has three sons over 18, he says it tends to disapper from his drawer
all too frequently.  We made a Costco run just before we headed to the
airport.

I really felt sad saying goodbye to him and was really glad we got to have
this visit together.  It was a shame his wife, Fabienne, couldn't have come
along but someone has to stay home to look after the pets, I guess.  I
would love to return to Switzerland again someday.

Now, I'd better make haste while the sun shines!  Whoops, the sun has
deserted us!

The scene on the balcony as the wedding began!

Werner Bernhard and me

Another John Travolta!

At Sunday's event with Joanne Olivieri and Werner Bernhard



What's Happening in My Life - September 25, 2011

There's no doubt, I'm really rattled and preoccupied.  On Thursday, my
dear friend, Werner Zucher, a forensic toxicologist from Switzerland,
arrived to spend a couple of nights with me before heading to the
Marriott Marquis in San Francisco to attend a conference, after which he
will return to spend the weekend at my house.  On our way  home from
te airport, we stopped at Costco to stock up on necessary provision like
beer, wine, Brie and other cheeses and a few other essentials. 

Later, I realized, I no longer had my wallet in my possession.  A frantic
search didn't turn it up so I began the most annoying task of cancelling
credit cards, going to the bank to replace my ATM card and, Monday,
I have to get a new driver's license and senior ID.  I have about ten other
things I must do related to that, as well, all at a time when minutes are at
a premium!

Jo Olivieri, Poetic Shutterbug, and I spent all day yesterday involved in
my "estate sale" - even my wonderful son, Jeremy, came over to over
security and support.  Sadly, there was a very poor turn out and we only
made a hundred dollars.  At least, I had good company.  We went through
my dad's military foot locker which I hadn't opened in about twenty years
and found some of my high school and early nursing school scrapbooks!
What funny things I saved!

Here's a picture taken in 1968 on my way back to New Orleans from my
home in Columbus, Georgia.  My girlfriend and I had stopped to eat at
a rest hour and I was leaning into the car to get the sandwiches!  Oh, how
I wish my gluteus maximus was still this size!

My son, Jeremy, almost took one of Werner's Swiss gifts away from me -

24 four bars of luscious Swiss milk chocolate, one box plain, the other

with hazelnuts.  "Just what you need", he commented.  I told him I

would give him have and eat one little square a day, ONLY. 

We are going to hold the second day of the estate sale today and, hopefully,

the turnout will be better.  My goal was to earn enough for a new laptop

as this one is not going to survive much longer and I need  to be able to

post from India. 

I am so far behind in making the deadline of getting out of this house by Oct

15.  Forgive my slow repsponse to posts and reading and replying to your

blogs.  I love you and will be back to normal once I can.





Watery Wednesday #149 - My Area of Northern California - July 20, 2011

Well, I said farewell to my friend, Meaux, at 5:15AM at San Francisco International
Airport.  It's been a busy two weeks and we had a wonderful time.  We ate at a
variety of Asian restaurants - Thai, Sinaporean, Indian, Japananese and Chinese,
feasted on seafood and I did some cooking as well.

We managed to fit in a three day visit to my son and his wife in West Sacramento and
just spent a lot of time taking in the lovely scenery in my own area - when the summer
fog didn't interfere with visibility!  This is the time of year when fog is heaviest.  I really
don't mind it much - after all, that's San Francisco - except when I'm driving!

I took this picture of the Pacific and the pier in Pacifica on a wonderfully sunny day.
The location is less than five miles from my home and my son fishes from this pier, on
occasion.

About 8AM, my phone rang and I was delighted to hear the voice of my dear friend, 

Werner Bernhard, a forensic toxicologist at the Legal Institute of Medicine in Bern,

Switzerland.  He was calling to tell me he will be attending the meeting of the 

International Association of Forensic Toxicologists in San Francisco the end of 

September here in San Francisco and wanted to know if he could stay a few days with

me afterwards!  How wonderful!  I first met Werner in 1995 at another meeting here,

showed him about the city during his stay after and we have become dear friends.  I've

visited his home in Switzerland twice, his son has spent a month two different summers

here and become a friend of my son, Jeremy, and Jeremy has, subsequently, been a 

guest of the Bernhards in Switzerland twice for two lengthy stays.  It is just amazing how

friendships develop and prosper!

I am participating in that wonderful meme, Watery Wednesday #149 -

check out the site and add your watery post!

Watery Wednesday #132 & Wordless Wednesday, Swiss Waterfall, March 23, 2011

I am participating in Watery Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday.

Check out the sites and join in the fun!