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Wedding & Road Trip11/19/2018 Road trip 2018! But not with my car because it wouldn’t make the trip. We were headed to Muir Beach for my stepson’s wedding. After too many years of minimal contact he returned to our lives last year. We were ecstatic. We met his fiancé and and enjoyed ourselves while also having a heart to heart. We were invited to be part of the wedding processional and we were thrilled. The date had arrived and we were going on a road trip. On the morning of departure we were on a tight schedule because we needed to pick up my mother-in-law at the airport, a mere 6 hours away with no stops. Of course stops were planned but we needed to get there on time as she’s 94, a fabulous fit 94 but still 94.
That first morning we drove to the Enterprise rental agency and they were closed. This absolutely never happens. We waited and learned that the manager had tremendous difficulties getting to work that morning. Eventually she arrived, we were a tiny bit behind schedule. The customers in line before us were kind and compassionate. When it was our turn at the counter we also expressed our understanding and compassion to the agent and the manager. We put our details in order and something made the agent offer us an upgrade on our car. I wasn’t sure which car to rent but when looking at the cars it was clear that the larger upgrade would be a better fit. We were happy and appreciative. We noticed that the car we had previously requested, which was large but too small for us, was rented by someone that was ecstatic to have that car. It was beautiful to be part of a wide circle of kindness and compassion. After picking up the rental car we drove to drop off my car at the service center. There were many problems there and we were delayed over 30 minutes. The customers here weren’t as patient but we were. Being harsh helps nothing. The agent there was appreciative of our patience and demeanor that he offered us a loaner car for the second half of the work, after our return. We were rewarded for just being ourselves. That’s fantastic. We finally returned home loaded up the car, picked up our daughter (stopped for coffee and treats) and were on our way. Two of our three sightseeing locations had to be removed from the list because of our newer tighter schedule. That’s usual in traveling, yes it’s a little disappointing but the company is the thing. At around 2:15 we made it into the parking lot for The Madonna Inn in San Louis Obispo, CA. It would be a very late lunch but it was great. There wasn’t a crowd at that time of day. The servers, hostesses and hosts were helpful, attentive, and on it. The food was delicious, and they had good allergen free choices. The Madonna Inn is a classic road trip bucket list item . The first travelers stayed there in 1958, and my first time was in the 1970’s. We didn’t have time to stay the night or much longer, we finished up and kept on driving. We sang and talked until we reached the San Francisco International Airport. I bought a tea there and the baristas were lovely and helpful. My mother-in-law flew southwest, they were helpful and took her to our car in a wheelchair which was greatly appreciated after a day of flying. The four of us continued on to Mill Valley’s Mill Valley Inn, an exquisite place to stay with kind and attentive personnel. The breakfast buffet is beautifully presented and one may sit inside or outside. The central location allowed us to walk everywhere within minutes. The next day we drove to Muir Beach at the site of the Pelican Inn for the wedding rehearsal. Built in 1978 The Pelican Inn is famous for its enchanting 16th century English Cottage style. The wedding was everything the couple had wanted, and more. It was meaningful to be part of it. We had been able to get tickets for later in the day to Muir Woods and visited on our last day. It did make for a long day of driving home but it was definitely worth it. Nature is our great healer, walking through the coastal redwoods I felt I could stretch out to my full height, open my heart to and give and receive love. Thank you, was my prayer. Grateful for cherished time with my family, it’s all so fleeting.
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