GYPSY GIRL'S GUIDE

Right here, Ocean Beach, San Francisco, 2006

This weekend has been absolutely beautiful in San Francisco.

Sunny days with crisp off shore winds, which are perfect for surfing and for taking that yummy hoodie for a walk. So I prepped my backpack with a bottle of water, my Nano, a knitted hat, camera, journal, crayons, colorful markers and headed to Ocean beach.

As I strolled along listening to one of my favorite Brazilian tunes - Tribalistas - I felt so happy to be right here. What could be better? Silvery highlights on perfectly shaped waves. The sun on my back keeping me warm. A dad teaching his kid how to fly a kite. A trail of synchronized birds in the sky. A girl spinning poi by the sand dunes. Three little kids wearing their wet suits and making sand castles. A loyal dog sitting by the water with a big red collar that said "I'm not lost, my owner is surfing". Half of a surfboard stuck on the sand as evidence of a story... And a reminder of another... Right here.

I want to take this contentment and all the feelings that go along with it, and stick them where I can easily see and remember them. There are so many other days when I worry about the next best thing for me. I stress about how things need to change and I forget about what is. But today I rest with a new thought: There is so much to be thankful for in this moment of my sweet life. This blog, this new community and you are one of them!

And to complement these thoughts and generate even more ripples of awareness, serendipity brought me the perfect quote in Sabrina's journal:

"Oceans, I have a feeling that my boat has struck down there in the depths, against a great thing. And nothing happens! Nothing... Silence... Waves... Nothing happens? Or has everything happened, and we are standing now, quietly in the new life?"Juan Ramon Jimenez, translated by Robert Bly. Excerpt from The True and the Questions: A Journal

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By the way, while I was on an adventure walk around the Sunset (where I live) yesterday, I decided that I will be sharing and promoting this "sort of" neglected and foggy neighborhood of San Francisco in my blog. You are invited to come along and find out why this area has unique "off the beaten track" charm.

And for you, shoppers: check out my friend Angelica's designs. She has a delicious line of clothes for kids called Grommet. It's the perfect holiday gift for cute surfer boys and girls. My favorites are these and these.

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I'm sending you sunshine to warm you from inside out. Have a good week!