The Real Lisa Bain

The Wandering Widow

Travel

Reclaiming All the Colors: Project WE to ME continues in Hawai’i

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Thank you to everyone who reached out to make sure I was okay. I took a few weeks off to go on a much needed holiday. XO, L

A Grief Recovery Project Post

If you’re a regular reader, you’ve heard me describe the grief recovery process as peeling back layers from an onion, an ugly grey onion. Those onion’y tears sting. They also steal the colors of life from our eyes, pushing us into a grey limbo bordered by before and after.

Onion vs. Spiral

Nature loves spirals, like the ones you see in this tree fern at Keahua Arboretum on Kauai.

As more time passes, I’ve started to think the grief process is actually a spiral. The grief path circles further and wider but always brings us back to the point of origin. Each time we circle back around we experience that loss differently, with new eyes and a stronger heart, both of which see the colors we lost when our husbands died. This time my spiral has brought me back to my point of origin. Literally.

Gone Girl

I’m currently in Hawai’i, the land where I was born. It was here I learned how to be a human. Hawai’i is where Dan asked me to marry him. It’s also the place I gleefully left as soon as I graduated from college. I spread my wings and never looked back. Despite my family and friends here, if it weren’t for my baby cousin’s wedding, I can’t say that I’d have returned. And that would have been a colossal mistake. While every memory I have here includes the people I’ve lost, I’d have missed out on the opportunity to make new ones that were just mine.

Home

BirdOfParadise_Kaneohe_Hawaii
I love all flowers, but the ones from my home state will always be my favorites.

As a military wife, HOME was wherever our orders sent us. In the last two years of my traveling nomad life, HOME was wherever my suitcase was. And while I’ve recently established a home base back in Boise, I haven’t been tied to any one place in a long time; not since I left Hawai’i all those years ago. So imagine my surprise as I stepped off the plane and had every cell in my body screaming at me that I was home. HOME!

It’s difficult to explain if you’ve never left your hometown. I’ll do my best. First, my skin and hair started smiling at the humidity. Even my lungs were breathing easier. Was that the humidity or the sweetness in the air? The melodic singsong voices made my ears happy. And I can’t wax poetic enough on how good it felt to enjoy island food again. (PRO-TIP: Never get between an island girl and her food.) But the best part was the peace and joy I felt in my bones. HOME.

Project WE to ME

Sunset_Lahaina_Maui_Hawaii
I try to watch the sunrise and sunset every day. This one was postcard perfect.

Hawai’i is so vibrant it makes the rest of the world look washed out. Everywhere you look, life is set to vivid. The ocean is extra blue, the mountains extra green and the daily rainbows are just extra. Everything exudes a “no filter” kinda beautiful. I love that and was determined to treat my home state like any other place I visit, diving into the nooks and crannies of Hawai’i life. I desperately needed to remember both this place and who I was when I was a girl.

After traveling solo for the better part of two years, it was a special gift to have a dear friend join me for part of this visit. Showing her “my Hawai’i” let me see it through her eyes. I heard my long-buried accent resurface as I described growing up in this multi-cultural paradise, and enjoyed explaining the meanings of words and traditions, just like my Daddy used to when mainlanders or Japanese family would visit. I wasn’t sure if I still qualified as a kama’aina (local) or not, but it sure felt like it.

Prodigal Daughter Returns

Rainbow_HanaleiBay_Kauai_Hawaii
Ever touch a rainbow? This one at Hanalei Bay on Kauai was the lowest I’ve ever seen.

The Hawai’ian word for family is ohana and, to quote Lilo, “Ohana means family, and family means no one is left behind or forgotten.” The absolute best part of this visit has been my friends and family, who welcomed me back with open arms as if I’d never left. To them, I’m the same, even though I’ve changed. They love me no matter what. And that love is the best color in life.

Yeah, I’m home and in full color. I think I’ll stay awhile.

XOXO,
The Wandering Widow
Live Now. Dream Big. Love Fierce.

 

Post Soundtrack

Where I’m From, Eels

Three Ghosts and I, sitting on the couch last night
Catching up on all the time
It’s been a while since we got together and
You know that it’s often on my mind

So long ago, I left it in the dust, well I was so young and dumb
Ran far away, but I have to admit, sometimes I miss where I’m from

Let’s have a drink, to everything that we went through
It wasn’t always so bad
We can’t forget, each other’s company
And all of the good times we had

So long ago, I left it in the dust, well I was so young and dumb
Ran far away, but I have to admit
Sometimes I miss where I’m from

Three ghosts and I, sitting on the couch last night
Catching up on all the time
It’s been a while since we got together and
You know that it’s often on my mind

So long ago, I left it in the dust, well I was so young and dumb
Ran far away, but I have to admit
Sometimes I miss where I’m from

Songwriters: EVERETT MARK O / SAWITZKE MICHAEL DAVID

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Limitless (A Grief Recovery Project Birthday Post)

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When no possessions keep us,
when no countries contain us,
and no time detains us,
man becomes a heroic wanderer,
and woman, a wanderess.
Roman Payne

A Grief Recovery Project Post

Reflecting on the last year. Looking ahead to the new journey. p/c Clodagh FitzGerald (North Channel between Ireland and Scotland)

As I sit in yet another airport, staring down the barrel of another birthday on this spaceship we call Earth, I’m taking time to reflect on the last year. After my short hiatus back home this summer, I’m finally wrapping up my Eat-Pray-Love year in Europe. Now I begin the transition into a new phase of this journey, and I’m grateful for the sense of closure and peace these last few months have brought me. 

I guess it’s appropriate that I’m returning home just in time for my birthday. I don’t dread birthdays anymore. These days I celebrate them. I know too many people who would have given anything to have had another one, including Dan, Dave, Bill, Jeff, Brian, Tom, John, and so many more we’ve lost along the way.

Sometimes people get confused. Because I blog about grief and bereavement issues they assume I’m sad and depressed. Not so! I’m truly happy. I love my life; it’s a f*ng amazing life, and I’m grateful for every minute of it. So here’s my year in review. Happy Birthday. XO, L

You’ll never hit the ball if you don’t swing the bat.

When I was in sales and sales coaching, this was one of my favorite quotes. And at the time, I believed I always swung the bat. That’s funny now. Hilarious, even. I had no idea that I’d set so many boundaries on myself, most starting with the words, I can’t, I shouldn’t, or I won’t. I’d never have dreamed that this quote would play such a big role in my life AD (After Dan).

When the pain of grief overwhelms your ability to breathe, it’s only too easy to curl up into a ball and hide from life. I vaguely remember the days and weeks I couldn’t get out of bed, or off the couch, and spent months not leaving the safety of my house. I can’t accompanied each breath I took. Without realizing it, I’d created my own prison and placed myself under house arrest. I’d set so many boundaries, I was barely existing. Living life wasn’t even on my radar anymore. So much for Live Now, huh?

When I finally broke myself out, I set out on my biggest Grief Recovery Project yet: long-term solo travel around the globe. I was both running away, and running towards, something I couldn’t yet identify. But I swung the bat and hit a home run. I learned a lot while I was away, probably more than I could ever hope to write about, but here’s my short version.

What I’ve Learned

No boundaries, no expectations. p/c: Kristin Caldwell (Toledo, Spain)

I’ve learned a lot about the world. No matter where we are, or what our histories and cultures may be, at the end of the day we are all the same. We are human beings with the same needs, concerns, and desires. We all want to be valued, to contribute, to be free, and to be loved. I’ve learned what a large place our planet is, and how incredibly tiny we are as individuals. But even as small individuals we can still make a huge difference to the good or the bad. It’s all up to us, and I choose the good.

In the last year, I’ve learned how to be by myself. I’ve learned how to take risks and how to take care of myself when things don’t go as planned. I’ve faced my fears and come out on top, even if I reached the summit with a few bruises and a fractured maxilla to show for it.

And I’ve learned about this new Lisa: the strong, fun-loving adventurer who loves being around people as much as she enjoys solitude. This Lisa loves music and dancing,  and doesn’t care who may be watching. And surprise, she turns out to be a nature girl (somewhere Dan is laughing his a$$ off at that) who loves to wander and enjoys getting lost (the rest of my inner circle can stop laughing at that one). This Lisa learned to be less guarded and trust her heart, taking 100% of the shots, even if sometimes she strikes out. (Or gets hit in the face with a fastball. Tomayto-Tomahto.)

The One Thing

But if I had to identify the most important lesson I’ve learned on this journey, it would be to stop applying limitations and boundaries on myself. No boundaries-No expectations has become my daily mantra. I’ve done things I NEVER thought I could, should, or would do. I’ve seen things I NEVER knew existed. And I’ve conquered the fears I NEVER thought possible to overcome. I’ve learned I like this person I’ve grown into that I NEVER thought could, should, or would exist. And I’ve found love, happiness, and peace, things I feared would NEVER be in my life again.

It took a long time to get here. And it hurt like a @#$%^&*! But cutting those boundaries loose freed me to live without limits. And lemme tell you, as scary as it is, it’s worth it. So get out there and live your Limitless life. I dare you. No boundaries, no expectations, just living life in the moment. This moment. Limitless.

XOXO,
The Wandering Widow
Live Now. Dream Big. Love Fierce.

POST SOUNDTRACK

The Road Less Traveled, Lauren Alaina

Why do you keep on staring?
That mirror, mirror, it ain’t fair at all
Dress sizes can’t define, don’t let the world decide what’s beautiful
You won’t make yourself a name if you follow the rules
History gets made when you’re acting a fool
So don’t hold it back and just run it
Show what you got and just own it
No, they can’t tear you apart

If you trust your rebel heart, ride it into battle
Don’t be afraid, take the road less traveled
Wear out your boots and kick up the gravel
Don’t be afraid, take the road less traveled on

Don’t follow anyone
March to the rhythm of a different drum
Why do we analyze, break out, and criticize the crazy ones?
You won’t make yourself a name if you follow the rules
History gets made when you’re acting a fool
So don’t hold it back and just run it
Show what you got and just own it
No, they can’t tear you apart, no

If you trust your rebel heart, ride it into battle
Don’t be afraid, take the road less traveled
Wear out your boots and kick up the gravel
Don’t be afraid, take the road less traveled on

Take the road less traveled on
Put your hands up, show me that you’re one of a kind
Put your hands up, let me hear your voice tonight

If you trust your rebel heart, ride it into battle
Don’t be afraid, take the road less traveled
Wear out your boots and kick up the gravel
Don’t be afraid, take the road less traveled on

Songwriters: Lauren Alaina / Jesse Frasure / Meghan Trainor
Road Less Traveled lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

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We to Me: Reclaiming My Favorite Places (A Week on the Oregon Coast)

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I want to reclaim who I am.
~Elizabeth Edwards

A Wandering Widow Post

When Dan first died, my hospice chaplain gave me some advice that took awhile for me to understand. He told me that avoiding the places that were important to WE, made Dan disappear. Jay gently suggested that it would be important for ME to reclaim them as my own. Being me, I did the exact opposite. I sold our dream home, moved to a part of town Dan hated, quit watching our favorite football team (Sorry Boise State Broncos), and avoided our favorite restaurants and activities. It was as if anything familiar made the oppressive weight of his loss that much more painful.

Fast forward two years, and I finally get what Chaplain Jay was talking about. By avoiding anything that was WE, I was also shutting down anything that was ME. Hey, I’m a slow learner sometimes, but I do pay attention.

Reclaiming

Sunset over Depoe Bay

So there I sat, with a cup of coffee, watching whales crest outside my balcony in Depoe Bay, reclaiming one of my favorite places: the Oregon Coast. I was lucky enough to be with two of my favorite people, who made the trip with us every time, even after WE became ME.

The only times I’d ever been on the Oregon Coast were with Dan, and they were after the word CANCER had entered our lives. We were on a time crunch to make as many memories as we could. Since he spent summers there as a kid it was important to him that he share it with me. Last year was the last time we came together. Only that time what was left of him was stashed in a Maker’s Mark bottle and we scattered him at a waterfall.

This time it was different. Just like reclaiming Boise for my own, this week on the coast was about rediscovering the beauty and happiness of this national treasure. No more Dan shaped voids, just the occasional pangs of memories and lots of laughs channeling his funny sayings and sometimes surly behavior.

Cheers to all my W Sisters taking the often painful steps of reclaiming the joys in life.

XOXO,
The Wandering Widow
Live Now. Dream Big. Love Fierce.

Click here for my Oregon Coast Road Trip photos.

THE WAY THERE

It’s an almost nine-hour drive to Depoe Bay from Boise. When we visited before, we broke that up into multiple days since Dan was too ill to be in the car that long. I’d forgotten how much I hate long car drives, but we did manage to stop at every scenic view lookout along the way (my sister-in-law is a saint). And since you have to pass through Hood River (Dan’s childhood summer haunt), we made sure to stop at Mike’s Ice Cream for their famous huckleberry shakes. This is one of our family favorites, and when we stay in Hood River it’s a daily stop. (Cash only for those of you who like to plan ahead).

DEPOE BAY

Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

We chose to make Depoe Bay our home base for the week of Independence Day. This is the whale watching capital of Oregon and a quiet coastal town. We stayed at an Airbnb condo with an ocean view, and a short five-minute walk to food, shops, and whale watching off the cliffs. Our first night we were treated to one of the most amazing sunsets I’ve ever witnessed and the sight of whales breaking the surface of the ocean. I could have stayed on that cliffside forever.

Dinner at Horn Public House got us out of the wind, without sacrificing our sunset and whale watching views. We ate here several times and were impressed with the service and the food, although the last hour of the evening they go to a very limited menu. Definitely try their house brewed beers before you leave. My favorite was the Little Whale Cream Ale, but I recommend trying them all.

There isn’t a lot of great beach access in Depoe Bay, although Fogarty Creek Park is pretty enough and has some decent agate hunting (even in the summer). I’d continue to Lincoln or Newport if you really want to play in the sand. I love the ocean in all it’s many varieties, so liked Fogarty Creek, although the rest of the family wasn’t too impressed. Instead of a wide stretch of white sand, it was pebbly and the ridge of trees went straight out to the water, a beautiful blending of forest and ocean.

There are no fireworks in Depoe Bay due to the sensitivity of the seabirds that nest here, but both Lincoln and Newport are a short drive away so you don’t have to worry about missing out.

ACTIVITIES

Whale Watching

Whale Watching off the cliffs of Depoe Bay.

Depoe Bay is the self-proclaimed whale watching capital of Oregon, and with about 10 species of whales that hang out off the coast, I’d agree. I could see them from my balcony, or just off the street.

In addition to the hours we spent on a bench or rock wall just watching these majestic creatures do their thing, we took a whale watching boat tour with Dockside Charters. The crew was knowledgeable and friendly, although we saw more whales from the bridge than we did out at sea. I love boats and being on the water, so I didn’t care. (Pretty sure I was the only one hollering “woohoo” when we hit big waves and got soaked since I was sitting as far front as possible.)

PRO TIP: If you’re used to boats on fresh water, the wide open sea is rougher than it looks. Dramamine up if you’re not sure how you’ll do, or stay in the rear of the boat.

The Clam Chowder Taste-Off of 2018

Okay, nobody, and I mean nobody, will ever come close to beating my Grandma’s homemade clam chowder. But, that doesn’t stop me from trying to find someone who comes close. On this trip I sampled clam chowder up and down the coast (thanks to everyone who sent me recommendations). I sampled more than 12, but narrowed it down to my Top 3, which I’m sharing with you. All three were perfectly seasoned and very different. (If I have to add salt or pepper it doesn’t make the list since it violates my “always trust the chef” rule.)

#3. The Horn Public House, Depoe Bay, Oregon

Overall good flavor, creative use of herbs, and enhanced by the incredible views.

#2. Gracie’s Sea Hag, Depoe Bay, Oregon

Their clam chowder was meaty (nothing worse than chowder that is potato heavy) and had good flavor. It had the added benefit of being walking distance from our condo.

#1. Clearwater Restaurant, Newport, Oregon

Their clam chowder was my favorite, and not just because I enjoyed it deckside on a sunny day. They add baby pink shrimp to their chowder, which makes it extra amazing. Purists can order it without the shrimp. This may be the closest to my Grandma’s I’ve ever found.

LINCOLN CITY

Lunch at Kyllos is a must. The seaside views are amazing, and the seafood is delicious. If you have an under-21 in your group you won’t be able to dine on the patio, but the views from inside are just fine. And there are plenty of non-seafood options for those that don’t eat it.

After lunch stroll down to the beach to walk off whatever deliciousness you just ate (crab-stuffed halibut in my case). The day we were there we collected sea glass and cool rocks, went treasure hunting in tidepools to see the anemone, and dodged the jellyfish and squid eggs that lined the beach (cool unless you step on them in your bare feet. Gag.)

Between October and May local glass artists hide their glass floats near the tide line for visitors to find.

And while I abhor shopping, the Lincoln Outlet Mall has a Northface outlet, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get some new gear for my fall trips.

NEWPORT

Newport Harbor on Independence Day.

This harbor town is full of shops and restaurants, and normally where our family has stayed when we’ve come to the coast. While I can live without the cheesy Bigfoot at Ripleys and the wax museum, I’m happy as a mermaid just hanging out, so while my SIL and nephew went touristing, I parked myself on the deck at Clearwater Restaurant for some pier side people watching.

PRO TIP: Dress for success! Much like my beloved Ireland and Scotland, the weather here changes from minute to minute. If you’re heading out for a whole day of fun, plan on walking shoes and beach shoes, layers to accommodate both the chilly morning and evening temperatures and the toasty afternoons. Don’t worry about your hair, it’s windy and salty and misty. (Beach hair, don’t care!) And don’t forget the sunscreen. Even on a cool cloudy day, you can get burned if you’re out long enough.

The Independence Day fireworks display lived up to the hype. In addition to the display, people take their boats out and shoot off their flare guns. I know, my European friends are shaking their heads and saying, “Americans and their guns,” right now. I’m just laughing and trying to make new friends with boats.

Newport does it right.

TILLAMOOK

The Creamery rebuilt their visitor’s center a while back, so if you have kiddos you may want to stop here for the self-tour and some fresh ice cream. Just be advised, on the weekend it’s more crowded than a WalMart with a Back-to-School sale.

Oceanside was my favorite part of the trip to Tillamook. Oceanside beach offers a long stretch of white sand, tidepools to explore, agate hunting, and just playing in the water. A few miles away you’ll find the Cape Meares Lighthouse. While you’re there, go check out the Octopus Tree. Oh, just don’t try to hug it. Hugging the Octopus Tree will get you on the naughty list. Whomp whomp.

POST SOUNDTRACK

The Lonesome Boatman (instrumental) The Fureys

I love this tune. My friends, Mark and Gary of For Folk Sake, play my favorite version. They introduced me to it one Friday night at McHugh’s Bar in Belfast.  Favorite tune by my favorite musicians in my favorite pub in my favorite city? Yes, please! (The countdown is on for my return to Ireland, and I can’t wait.)

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4 Days in San Diego (Home Sweet Old Home)

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A Wandering Widow Post

“Coming back is the thing that enables you to see how all the dots in your life are connected, how one decision leads you to another, how one twist of fate, good or bad, brings you to a door that later takes you to another door, which aided by several detours–long hallways and unforeseen stairwells–eventually puts you in the place you are now.”
Ann Patchett, What Now

A few days after I visited San Francisco, I decided to head out for some long overdue girl time. Hello, sunny San Diego!  I lived in this beautiful seaside city for eight years, and it felt a bit like coming home. You know being a tourist is never high on my list, but compromising with the bestie, who had never been to San Diego, made for some interesting outings. And it’s true, you can never really go home again. So much had changed since I lived there 14 years ago, that I was seeing most of my old stomping grounds for the first time. It’s amazing how much you can see and do in four short days.

XOXO,
The Wandering Widow
Live Now. Dream Big. Love Fierce.

Click here for my San Diego photo album.

Day 1

Life looks better from the deck of a boat.

One of the things I love about San Diego is the ability to get a direct flight from Boise. We checked into the Hard Rock Hotel, right in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter as soon as we landed. If you’re going to stay in the city, this is a perfect location. The rooms are fantastic, as are the service, wifi, and amenities. Where else can you check out a Fender guitar or an old school record player for your room? Drinks poolside at Float was the perfect way to start our rock star trip, with an amazing view, generous drinks, and a pool party.

Walking the Gaslamp Quarter is the best way to scope out the many dining options available. We had brunch at Rustic Root, home of the best Crab and Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict on the planet. Be sure to sit upstairs on the patio to enjoy the view of the farmer’s market below if you’re there on a weekend.

The big loop will take you to PETCO Park, the Convention Center, the harbor, and Sea Port Village. Need a break? Stop in at Roy’s for drinks on the patio and a view of the yachts.

While you’re there, be sure to make dinner reservations at Nobu, located on the ground floor of the Hard Rock Hotel. Nobu is famous for his Iron Chef role, but he is a mad genius when it comes to Asian Fusion cuisine. I had the best meal of my life there and, since I’m an international foodie, that is saying something. Everything I sampled was better than what I’d just got done declaring as the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth. The combination of flavors was beautiful, and I fell in love. I would have married this meal and had its babies, it was THAT good. (My mouth is watering just thinking about it.)

Day 2

Coronado Island

Beach Day! We took the ferry to Coronado Island for less than $5, something locals never do. But what a view of the skyline from the water! After a 20 minute walk into town we reached the Hotel del Coronado. We spent the day at The Del, dining, drinking, and lounging on the beach. For those of you who like old movies, The Del is where they filmed Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe.

Pacific Beach

Sunset from the end of Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.

That evening we continued our beach theme with a trek out to Pacific Beach (or PB for locals) to have dinner at Waterbar.  (PB is a short $20 Uber ride from the Gaslamp Quarter.) After our ocean front meal, we strolled to the end of Crystal Pier to watch the sun set over the pacific. It was a bit chilly, so bring a sweater if you decide to do this. (Do it!) We didn’t see the famous green flash, but I never saw it when I lived here either, and am convinced it’s something the weathermen made up to get us to pay attention to them.

After Ubering back to the Gaslamp Quarter we had a nightcap at Lou and Mickey’s, a beautiful old bar that’s been in the Gaslamp since the 40s. The white coated waiters and the dark hardwood bar transport you back in time, when life was a little more elegant. Definitely worth a stop for drinks, if not one of their famous steak dinners.

Day 3

Balboa Park

We started our morning with a stroll through Balboa Park to look at the historic buildings from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Unlike San Francisco who tore most of theirs down, San Diego’s World’s Fair buildings anchor the heart of Balboa Park.

If you’re already at the park, be sure to have lunch at the Prado, where you can dine al fresco next to bubbling fountains. A perfect break after climbing 152 stairs to the top of the tower at the Museum of Man (worth it for the panoramic views of the city).

Memories in Marble at Miramar National Cemetery

When I take time to think about it, my grief journey started years before I heard the word cancer, I just didn’t know it. We didn’t talk about those things back then. Before anything else, San Diego is a military town. The last time I was here I was married to a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. After 9/11 I saw lots of names scroll through the evening news casualty updates of kids that he’d trained. I saw names of friends, and saw my friends become widows. I became obsessed with that list. It wasn’t until I moved to Idaho, where that roster only mattered if the names were Idaho kids, that I was able to finally distance myself from it.

That Marine Corps DI and I stayed in touch over the years, eventually rebuilding the friendship our relationship was based upon. I was heartbroken to learn that he, too, became a casualty of his military service. The year before Dad and Dan died, Russ became a PTSD suicide victim. (Yeah, I lost the three men I loved most in the world all in a two-year time span. Don’t ever tell me I need to think positive. I do a pretty damned good job of staying positive, if I do say so myself.) And while I typically avoid cemeteries and graveyards, this was one I had to visit while I was in town.

When I lived in San Diego, this cemetery didn’t exist. It wasn’t dedicated until 2010. It was surreal to be sitting at his grave, hearing the fighter jets buzz overhead from the air station next door, our last duty station. Despite being new, there were already rows and rows of marble headstones. I wasn’t prepared for how emotional it would be. That afternoon I learned how soft and smooth marble is to the touch, and how sharp the names are when they are of someone you loved, and how loud your voice is when it echoes off marble rows.

Padres Game at Petco Park

As long as I’d lived in San Diego, I never saw the Padres play live. I kick myself for that now. I can only imagine what it would have been like to see the great Tony Gwynn running across home plate. But, there’s no time like the present. Petco Park had just finished construction when I moved away so it was fun to tour this amazing baseball stadium. Just like the song says, nights are better under neon or stadium lights.

Day 4

Old Town

With a late afternoon flight, we had time to take in a few more sights on our last day. From the Gaslamp, we took the green line on the red trolley to Old Town for $2.50. After touring San Diego’s version of Williamsburg, we enjoyed lunch and the best margaritas in San Diego. If you like ghosts, check out the Whaley house museum. Take photos of the dining room to see if you can see the dog under the dining table. (And then send me a photo since I couldn’t see it.)

Little Italy

On your way back to the Gaslamp, make a stop in Little Italy for a walk about before your ticket expires. Little Italy is home to fun cafes, restaurants and shops. Back when I lived in SD, the Trolley only had one line, so it was cool to see how much it’s grown. It’s clean, cheap, and easy to use.

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I Left My Heart in San Francisco

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A Wandering Widow Post

“Never stop wandering into wonder.”
Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

After a six week break in Idaho, I was antsy to get back on the road. A short hop over to San Francisco for a few days was just what the travel doctor ordered! The weather was absolutely perfect; sunny and warm, and unusual for this time of year.

This was my first visit to San Francisco without Dan, and thanks to family and friends I had a blast rediscovering one of my favorite cities from a new angle. What’s your favorite backyard trip?

XOXO,
The Wandering Widow
Live Now. Dream Big. Love Fierce.

Click here for my San Francisco photo album.

NOB HILL PRINCESS

My friend called it a guest room. I called it a princess suite in a 5-star resort. Either way, I was living the pampered life in Nob Hill, with rooftop views to die for. You can easily find Airbnbs for rent in the area if you don’t want to deal with San Francisco’s current hotel bed bug problem. From Nob Hill, I had easy access to The Presidio, Crissy’s Field, Union Square, and the SF Jazz Center. And while you need to be with a member, fancy hats, champagne cocktails, and a group of incredible women made lunch at the Metropolitan Club a highlight of my visit.

CRISSY’S FIELD

This beautiful section of the San Francisco Bay Walk Trail is easy to get to and has nice even paths to walk along the water’s edge. Oh, and did I mention the view? That bridge, cloaked in fog, is stunning in any weather but glorious in the full sun. Park near the yacht club and walk toward The Warming Hut at the base of the bridge for delicious coffee, pastries, and artsy San Francisco souvenirs.

SF JAZZ FESTIVAL

Since the Jazz Festival was going on while I was there, I managed to get a ticket to see Brian Blade & The Fellowship at Miner Auditorium. SF Jazz is a cool place, and the first building in the United States constructed specifically for jazz performances. Every seat makes you feel like you are up close and personal with the musicians.

I love music of any kind, but jazz always reminds me of my friend Steve, who introduced me to it fifteen years ago when we were both working in Japan. As many concerts and music clubs as I’ve visited in my travels, this was my first jazz concert outside of New Orleans, an embarrassingly long time ago. I won’t ever wait that long again.

BEACH BLANKET BABYLON

My friends suggested Beach Blanket Babylon, and I’m so glad they did! This 90-minute musical theater + New Yorker cartoon mashup had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt. (I haven’t laughed that hard since I was in Amstelveen!) The vocal talent, costumes, satire, and hilarity made it one of my favorite stage performances to date. It’s updated regularly, so worth seeing again.

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