Dear Friends,
Capitol Mall is usually vacant on Saturday morning — unless there’s an event (and there are a lot of them — a run, a march, a fair). There hasn’t been much happening since the weather turned cold, so on our morning walk today Zing and I were kind of surprised to see Santa on the otherwise empty mall. Yes, Santa was walking down to the Capitol. No sleigh. No reindeer. In the distance he looked rather lonely. Then another Santa appeared a couple of blocks behind the first one, and on the other side of the mall we saw a two more Santas holding hands, then two young women in red skirts and white boots came skipping by — all heading to the Capitol. The first Santa could have been a dream, but as more and more appeared I began to wonder if there even is a North Pole. The crowd of Santas shook my notions of Christmas. Finally, close to home again, I asked a couple of Santas waiting for the light to turn green what could possibly be happening ...
“It’s the Santa Fun Run!” said one, whose beard looked rather fake now that I was up close.
Zing and I had to get our coffee and kibble quick or we would have followed up on this. But then, we weren’t dressed in red and neither of us has a beard … we were completely out of place in this crowded North Pole, California style.
After that Zing went to the gym, and when Sandra brought him back she stayed to talk a while. It’s good to be getting to know people out here. Then Zing and I did a few Christmas errands, and toward late afternoon we drove southeast — no, southwest — I get east and west confused because the ocean is in a different direction out here. Anyway, we drove a little past Davis to this farm store Mary Kaye told me about. She indicated that the almonds at Pedrick’s might rival Blue Diamond, so I had to find out. But when I got there I was mesmerized by the fat bags of cashews. I'd never considered what a cashew tree might look like. I still have no idea, but I want to find out. I bought two big bags of cashews, some lemon candy, and a tiny bag of pistachios already shelled. Mary Kay says the pistachio tree is most beautiful. I’ll let you know.
Love,
k
Santas in sneakers
Countryside across from Pedrick's
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