Respite

respite |ˈrespət; riˈspīt|
noun
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant

(sigh!) My computer is on our dinette in the rv, which means there isn't any dining going on at the dinette. It also means that I can look out a nice big window and see what there is to see. Tonight, I have the pleasure and blessing of watching sunset over Mission Bay. Tall and elegant palm trees make jet black silhouettes against brilliant pink and orange and coral swaths in a dove blue sky. ahhhh... My feet are are wearing the perfect amount of salt and sand, applied as Don and I sat in our beach chairs with our feets in the water of De Anza Cove in San Diego's Mission Bay. Respite. Respite from the desert.

As you recall from our last episode, we had returned to Hemet, CA for our free week in the trailer park. It actually wasn't that bad...much. But we had lovely triple digit weather to keep us toasty and ants to keep us company. We also had a fun side trip up to Idyllwild, a little town about 60 minutes away from, 5,000 feet higher than, and 20 degrees cooler than Hemet. There isn't a whole ton to do there, but it was a nice break - except for the cliff-hugging road that is about 6 inches wide and 5 miles up. Okay. Maybe I exaggerate...but not much. But we got there alive, and once Don coaxed me up from the floor of the car, we wandered around this cute mountain town. We opted to have lunch up in Idyllwild, said lunch being three of the most delicious chocolate truffles - each big enough for Don and I to have a hearty bite. Well....maybe I took two on the peanutbutter filled...but I did let Don have a quarter of it. Or was it a tenth?? At any rate, we got finished with our (ahem!) lunch, when Don got a call on his listing that has been in escrow since Larry King was a boy. Having left his computer behind, it meant that we had to go BACK down the cliff-hugging, 6 inch wide, 5 mile high road back to Hemet. I learned a couple of things during this trip: one, chocolate truffles make a very good lunch, and two, being in a flat desert has its benefits.

Before we moved to Hemet, we listed Don's car on Craig's list in two regions and on Auto Trader. We had a couple of interesting calls that went kafoof once they found out that one should not reasonably expect to buy a nice car for $12.06. After a week or so we got a call that was the real deal, and we made arrangements to meet this woman and her 81-year-old mom (who was the actual buyer) at the Downtown Disney parking lot - they live in Anaheim and Don and I were looking for another side trip. I figured this would also be a little less harrowing then careening around hairpin turns with two tires hanging off the side of the road. I was wrong. Anybody who has traveled on any one of the 8,104,932 freeways in Southern California knows that these roads are filled mile after mile and side to side with angry drivers who are apparently late for something and you are just in their way. Or, they are wannabe stock car drivers who chase perpetual checkered flags. At any rate, we were driving Don's pretty car, all shiny and clean, to meet her potential new mom.

I must confess that since being over on the mainland, knowing we were selling the car, we have been pretty much paranoia on wheels - and this day was no different. We prayed that no one would decide that this was the day to play bumper cars on the 91. We never thought about praying for protection from random little rocks being flung up from anonymous tires. Yup. Somewhere in Yorba Linda a little stone found its way to our windshield and left a dandy little nick, which promptly shot out little spider veins to the size of a quarter. Are ya kidding me!?!?!? Praise God for our modern electronics and the brainiacs who invented them. I got on the phone to a repair company who connected me to our insurance who found out that the first company couldn't do it immediately so he found me another one who would meet us in the parking lot of Downtown Disney, Anaheim, California. Whew!! We arrived in the parking lot, sweating each and every pot hole and speed bump. Shortly after, the potential buyers arrived, and took the car for a very tight spin in the lot, and then the repair guy showed up. Quick as a bunny, he had the windshield repaired, and he was gone. The potential buyers had left with the promise of calling the next day after they thought a little more. And Don and I were on our own. From the moment the rock went CRACK to the excitement being over was about one hour. Things here really are a very different pace than in Maui. Unfortunately, the very, very nice lady called me the next morning to tell me she decided to buy a new car instead of our lovely but used (and recently injured) car.

So, that brings us to here and now. Don thought we should head for San Diego for a week or so, to catch up on some business appointments and friends and family and all things San Diego. We had no reservations anywhere, but my sweet hubby was confident that we would find lodging. I don't like that. I like reservations. I like clear destinations. But after a couple of hours chilling in a parking lot on Mission Bay, we investigated a couple of places around the bay. A couple were less than appealing and practically sat between the 3 and 4 lanes of the I-5. Don remembered one hidden behind the mobile homes on a thumbprint of land on this lovely bay. Tah-dah!! The park itself is rather like a giant parking lot, but with uber big spots, and clean as a whistle. When the numbers are down, we have a gorgeous bay view, and every night, we take a walk around this thumbprint. Except for the high cotton, it might as well be the Summertime that George Gershwin wrote about in his song of that name - the living is easy and fish are certainly jumpin'! The bay is generally glassy at night, unless there is a faint ripple caused by breezes from the west. The quiet is broken by fish leaping up to the tiny bug buffet God has set out for them. After they grab a particularly yummy critter, they belly flop back into the water with a loud splash, leaving more ripples in concentric circles.

The mobile home that are on the other side of the walk are only mobile homes in the technical sense. Most of them have breathtaking views of the shimmering water and the lights from the city that are reflected. They all have these huge picture windows and large decks. Many have big gardens and one has a big topiary zoo in the front yard. We have passed by many folks as they sit on their decks, or innocently catch glimpses of them through their picture windows as they live this blessed life.

Before we came down here, we got another inquiry on Don's car. This guy seemed very legit, as he was asking questions that were pointed and knowledgeable. After a few more texts and phone conversations, he came with his wife to see the car, meeting us at the dealership where said vehicle was getting her 60,000 mile checkup. The guy talked to the mechanic, checked the records, already had the car fax, test drove it....and BOUGHT IT!! Yup! Finally!! This car which seemed to be more leper than Lexus found a new home. We are without a car for a few days until we rent one until we go home (very soon!), but there is a cool beach here, so why should we go anywhere!?!? Our Lexie II has a new mom and dad in Yuma, Arizona! HOT!! And, ironically, the 81-year-old lady's daughter called right after we made the deal. Seems that Mom changed her mind. Ah, well...

So, now we begin the mad dash to get ready to return to our island home. I'm not saying that we think the trial and challenges are over. Not even close. We know that we have a lot of hard work still ahead. We also know that the lack of such trials means that we are likely not of any significance to the enemy. This is not a good thing for a Christian. In the meantime, Don and I will revel in this respite.

I am finishing this at noon the day after I started it. No, it doesn't take me that long to write, I just wanted to eat and sleep and do other stuff. But now, it's bright and sunny and salt water and sand are calling to me (sigh!)