Sunday, March 23, 2008

i am home.

I wanted my vacation to last a lifetime. But now that it's over. I'm happy and relieved that my life has outlasted my vacation.

Instead of driving down south like last year, my traveling buddy from Dallas and I flew into the Ontario Airport and rented a convertible for -- guess how much for four days?

Thought about it? Have your answer? Ok. It was all in total, after taxes, $86 dollars. CoOOooOOl, huh? Such a lovely bargain.

And we stayed at such a wonderful place, too. I felt sad to leave.

If you've ever been to Palm Springs before, then you're well aware of the Old Las Palmas area where all the older celebrities such as Liberace, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Dinah Shore, Sammy Davis Jr, Zsa Zsa Gabor and all the rest of them have lived. A lot of new celebrities have homes there, too, such as Lillie Tomlin and Cher and a dozen of others.

The retro pink motel we stayed at is hidden behind hedges and gated away at the very entrance to this wonderful mid-century neighborhood overlooking the San Jacinto Mountains. We took a walk around the neighborhood one warm evening and we happened upon Liberace's home up for sale within a block from the motel.



Brenda bought some really cool chairs at the 111 Antique Mall in Palm Springs . . . just up the street where we were staying. I'm sitting on one of them testing them out. And they are so wonderful!!!

She also bought this lovely fountain at the Modern Store in the same shopping center, which she also shipped to her home in Dallas....
I wish I could tell you all the comical situations we got ourselves in. But I would need an audio button to express it better. I need the accents. The voices. The fluxuations.

It was fun. And funny. And warm. And relaxing.

We returned home to spend Easter morning at Matt's mom's house. (His childhood home) which is located next to the author Jack London's estate. (author of Call of the Wild). It's the home he grew up in Glen Ellen. His grandfather is the late Ernie Smith who was a huge talent and celebrity of sorts and also taught author Jack London how to swim the breast stroke! I wandered through London's horse stables which is on Matt's family's estate and imagined how it was way back back when. My nephew Tyler swings on the rope swing in front of Jack London's stables and Chelsea cuddles an abandoned lamb that Matt's mom found rescued on the side of the highway and is raising her by bottle-feedings. Her name is Rosie.
(middle photo is from The Bancroft Library Portrait Collection)


This photo is taken of my family (minus) Caleb who's going to UC Irvine and had to stay back and work. Chelsea is also living there in Irvine but got to get away for this lovely weekend. Sweet, sweet wonderful week.
Happy Easter! (and. we miss you caleb!)


13 comments:

danny said...

Those are great photos Shawn! both from Palm Springs (I only saw Trini Lopez watering his lawn one time) and from Easter Sunday.
The photo of all of you together is fanastic...you are a good lookin' family!

doodlegirl said...

Thanks danny! WOW! Trini Lopez! That was a blast from the past! Suddenly I am taken back to being 9-years-old and listening to my parent's record of Trini Lopez singing "Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the lemon is impossible to eat." ('course come to think of it.. just being in Palm Springs is a bit of a blast from the past).

Rayne said...

This sounds absolutely idyllic and wonderful and incredible and so many other fantastic adjectives, I could just go on and on listing them. I absolutely love the retro pink motel, and I can only imagine living with history. Jack London's stables and what not. Totally cool.
The lemon tree song reminded me of my father from when I was very young. I remember him driving us somewhere on a hot, summer's day, the window's were down,he and my mom were discussing whether were should move to Alaska or Florida and the Lemon Tree song came on and they both started singing it at the same time.

doodlegirl said...

rayne. that is such a sweet tender memory. To have them both break into that song when it came on the radio is adorable to me and squeezed my heart. Did they ever decide Alaska or Florida? I bet on that hot summer's day, they were leanin' toward Alaska. . .

Janet said...

Wow! Sounds like you had a great time....I love the retro pink motel, too!
Wonderful photo of your family!

Doodlestreet said...

Oh wow! Jack London's stables! That's pretty cool! I love that old photo too, to compare to the new one. Isn't it neat to place your feet in the same spot as some of those people from back then? You walked in the very same place...

Rosie is adorable! She reminds me of pup...

I'm tellin' ya, yer families got that 'purty gene'!!!

doodlegirl said...

Thanks janet! I love that retro pink motel, too. I really can't wait to return and stay there again!

doodlestreet... yes! It was kinda neat to be walking along the same paths, looking out and knowing they saw the same trees and buildings as well. It was a spiritual place for sure. Very special.

violetismycolor said...

I've never been to Palm Springs. It looks kind of cool.

doodlegirl said...

oh Diane! Please put this down on your list of places to visit in your lifetime. I hear the summer is just scorching, so plan to go either in the Spring or Fall. You will LOVE it!

Monica said...

Oh Shawn, I miss you so much!! I can't believe I am catching up with your life on your blog, instead of with you. But I am thankful for this! Your trip sounds wonderful - I'm so glad you got some sun (you're looking beautifully tan btw) and relaxed. Let's talk soon!

doodlegirl said...

aww monica! I've been missing you, too, in a huge way! You've been on my mind and heart a lot lately. Wishing you everything wonderful. Let's talk soon!

ValGalArt said...

I love the pix from you holiday! Nice to see that you and Traveling Bud are together causing fun and mayhem wherever you go... I really loved the picture of the stable and the vintage one too. All the women in your family have the same mischevious smile :)

Michele said...

Shawn,

You know how to vacation! I'm going to have to remember the place you stayed at in Palm Springs; it's the type of place I search for.

And those chairs and fountain are killer.

Then on to rolling green hills and your wonderful family - what a vacation!

I will live through you vicariously, OK?