Aug 29, 2016

Rolling through the hills at night

Written last night:

I took today easy. It’s 10 p.m. and I just finished the breakfast dishes! 

Mostly I relaxed with family — thanks for the delicious dinner, Maria! — and checked out St. Francis church here — the one with the gluten-free communion line (just FYI! I'm, thankfully, not on that diet.)

Got a couple of contradictory appliance installation calls, but that’s normal. 

Fires are threatening  in the hills — hope they go away quick! 

At the end of the day  Rosa and I drove home from Maria’s in the dark. Doesn’t sound like much, but wow! I don’t think I’ve driven at night since Clark died, at least not in unfamiliar terrain. I’ve been on hold. So what should be everyday, for me was an unexpected challenge.

And it was stunning! Maria lives in El Dorado Hills, 30-45 minutes west (?) of Sacramento: Emphasis on the HILLS. I entered I-50 on a hilltop near her house at sunset. There was an indigo sky and the horizon down below in front of me was glowing red, orange and pink  -- kind of bleeding all over some hills. I think my mouth dropped open, it was such a stunner. Since by then I had no choice, I proceeded along the highway normally,  holding the steering wheel a little tight. The road dipped and curved through the night. Sometimes headlights of oncoming cars seemed to be heading directly at me, and they were, except that this road wasn’t straight, like the ones in Florida, where you can go for 40 miles without a curve. Here roads bend right and then left and then up and then down, so you think headlights are coming straight toward you -- but you won’t collide because the road curves. I got used to it, but for a moment it was a fun ride as I gripped the wheel under a simmering sky. That’s what a night ride in California hills is like through straight-arrow Florida eyes. 




4 comments:

livelymonkey said...

It would have been white knuckles for me! Good job tho!
Mona

Unknown said...

Wow, I feel like I'm right with you on your ride! Beautiful!

Kathleen said...

Glad you rode along with me, Mona & Lori!

Cindy said...

So beautiful - your willingness to share as you navigate the new curves and bends in the road. ❤️

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