How To Drive Through A Drive-Thru

Linda and Tom (San Geraldo's sister and her husband) are on their way back to South Dakota after a few months wandering the globe. Matt and Lindy headed off this morning to continue their vacation. We had a great time and lots of great meals this past month. When we visit them all in South Dakota, we enjoy great times and great meals as well. And some meals, well... not so great.

ON THE GO IN NERJA TWO WEEKS AGO.

During one visit a long while back, six of us loaded into Tom and Linda's mini-van to drive to the Golden Buffalo Casino on the Lower Brule [Lakota Sioux] Indian Reservation an hour south of the capital city of Pierre. With Tom at the wheel and Linda beside him, San Geraldo and I were in the middle row, and sister Leann and mom Alice in the back row.

LUNCH ON THE RUN IN FUENGIROLA?
I LOVE THESE SHRIMP. I HATE TO HAVE TO CLEAN THEM. TOO MUCH LIKE COOKING.

SAN GERADO DOESN'T THINK THE TASTE IS WORTH THE EFFORT...
BUT HE CLEANS THEM FOR ME TO EAT.  WHAT A GUY!

We stopped at the McDonald's drive-thru for drinks and snacks before heading out of Pierre. There's not much but wildlife along the way to Lower Brule. Tom pulled up to the order board and we all began to call out orders.

"Chocolate shake! Medium! Make that two! No, wait! Make mine large! I'll take a small! Vanilla! No, strawberry!!! Medium instead! Two orders of fries! Large! Make it three! Four! Five! I want a coke! Medium! Diet! No! Large! Small coffee! Get two milks and two sugars! Did you get my chocolate shake? Change my vanilla to large! Oh, wait, I changed it to strawberry! I want vanilla! Did I say large? Does anyone want McNuggets?!?"

Tom, growing more and more frazzled, had his neck craned out the window as he repeated everything into the microphone.

In the midst of the chaos, Linda (the one who had to be paid to behave — click for that story) yelled out, "And make it to go!!!"

And Tom repeated, "And make it to go."

Which is when we all burst out laughing.

A red-faced Tom pulled up to the pick-up window. As the teen-aged attendant passed the bags through, he smiled and said, "You're the one that want's it all TO GO. Right?"

Poor Tom.

WITH NEPHEW MATT (RIGHT).  GOOD TO GO IN OUR NEW NIKES.

It Gets Better
Two weeks later, Tom and Linda and their two teen-aged sons, Ryan and Matt, were beginning a 3-1/2-hour drive to Sioux Falls. They stopped at the McDonald's drive-thru. Tom placed the order, calmly this time. When he was done, with no prompting, he said, "And make that to go."

In a panic, Tom turned to Linda, "I WILL BUY YOU A NEW CAR IF YOU DON'T TELL YOUR SISTER!"

Linda didn't get a new car.

Poor Tom.

TOM AND LINDA DINING OUT IN LOS BOLICHES.
BEFORE THEY HAD "TO GO."

The Fur Trapper

Our nephew Matt (the younger of Tom and Linda's two sons)  and his wife Lindy arrived here yesterday from South Dakota. It was a complete surprise for Tom and Linda. San Geraldo and I have known for months and we somehow managed to not let the cat out of the bag. It makes us so unbelievably happy to have them around for a little while.

And speaking of cats... Matt and Lindy are cat lovers. Or perhaps I should say Matt has learned to love cats and Lindy would rescue every single one in the world if she could. So, it was no surprise that they arrived with gifts for their cousins, Dudo and Moose. Fur mice. They haven't had any since Lindy mailed them a multi-pack more than a year ago. (Click here to see what happened to those.)

With the mice and the treats Matt and Lindy are giving the cats, Dudo will love them forever. Moose, too, but there have been just too many people coming and going. He seems to think four should be the limit at any given time. Too many feet to steer clear of.

Dudo has been going nuts playing with the first two fur mice. He hogs them both. Last night, when he finally wore himself out and was sleeping soundly on the sofa, Moose came into the den and played like I've never seen him play before. However, every few minutes he would pause and peek out to the living room to make sure his bossy brother wasn't about to come in. No photos of Moose this time. He gets annoyed and I didn't want to disturb his independent play time, which is so hard to come by.

Thanks to all the fun they've been having, this morning, both cats slept in.

BREAKFAST?

San Geraldo's Pepper and Tom's Ukelele

San Geraldo and I were at Ana's (click here for an introduction) produce store Thursday morning. We got our requisite hugs from Ana. Miguel came out from behind the counter to greet us with hugs, as well. That visit made the entire world seem OK.

Of course, San Geraldo loaded up our reusable shopping bag with delicious fruit and vegetables. But he made Miguel blush just a little when, in the midst of shopping, he proudly displayed his pepper for the world to see.

SAN GERALDO SHOWING OFF HIS PEPPER.

Before Linda and Tom arrived here at the beginning of the month, I was in a card shop and came across an image I thought would be appropriate to welcome them. They had just spent much of a month sailing the South Seas with stops in Tahiti, Mo'orea, and the Pitcairn Islands. In addition to giving them the original card, I also scanned it and emailed an edited version to them.

THE ORIGINAL.

I shared the edited version with Linda and Tom's kids (in their 30s) back in South Dakota to show them how much their parents had changed after experiencing island life. Their son Ryan is still trying to "recover from the visual." And Matt wrote, "Dad, I don't care what anyone says. It's a good sized ukelele."

THE REMAKE:
ALTHOUGH, TOM WAS UNEMBARRASSED BY HIS UKELELE,
LINDA WOULDN'T LET ME SHOW YOU HER MARACAS. 

All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

Jerry's sister Linda and her husband Tom went on a multi-week cruise that set off from the East Coast of the USA and ended up in Sydney, Australia (with stops along the way). Upon leaving Sydney, they spent a few days in Singapore before arriving here to spend a month in Southern Spain. They arrived, of course, bearing gifts.  I mentioned the Godiva chocolate (click here) — two bars for me and two for San Geraldo, which (I'll admit now) became four bars for me (and, no, I didn't ask permission). And, in case you're wondering, Godiva chocolate is the perfect topping for peanut butter on rice crackers.

Linda and Tom also brought us a funny, charming, and heart-warming dish towel from New Zealand. Kiwis (the birds; not the fruit; and not the people of New Zealand who are known as kiwis) displaying their pride in all the colors of the "gay rainbow." I love it. It's so much better than one of those T-shirts that reads, "My sister went to New Zealand and all I got was this lousy T-shirt."

RAINBOW KIWIS.

Speaking of which (lousy T-shirts): More than 30 years ago, San Geraldo and I were traveling somewhere and I decided to buy my mother a souvenir T-shirt. I thought it was very clever. She thought it was worth a polite smile before she tucked it away in a dresser drawer where it has remained ever since.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DOWAGER DUCHESS WON'T WEAR THIS SHIRT.
(WELL, OK, THE LETTERING ISN'T VERY ELEGANT.)

My sister Dale and I usually bought better gifts for the family when we traveled (well, at least Dale usually did). I took pictures of a couple of the items gathering dust back in Brooklyn. We bought them for The Kid Brother and I don't think he was any more excited than the Dowager Duchess was about the [lousy] T-shirt. He left them behind when he moved out in 1987. The ingrate!

PISA, 1974: PURCHASED BY ME FOR THE KID BROTHER.

SEVILLA, 1970: PURCHASED BY SISTER DALE FOR THE KID BROTHER.
(WHERE SAN GERALDO AND I LIVED MORE THAN 40 YEARS LATER.)

By the way, when I met San Geraldo 32+ years ago, I was wearing an old pair of Fiorucci jeans, a green ribbed T-shirt (that cost $1.99 at Macy's), and green suede sneakers. He was wearing Calvin Klein jeans, a maroon(ish) polo shirt, and brown leather casual shoes. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in August. Ah, yes, remember it well.

Kicking The Clouds Away

Some days, I feel like I'm walking around under my own personal cloud. The last few days have been like that. So, it might not have been the best idea to head over today to the National Police in Fuengirola to pick up my new residency card (replacing the one I lost when I lost my wallet... click here for that story).

WISTERIA (AND A COUPLE OF CLOUDS)
OVER PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN.

Although I was supposed to leave my brain at home (and did not), I'm not going to sit here and whine about the unpleasant half hour I spent there. It was only a half hour. OK. Except that I was required to provide a new photo with my paperwork for my replacement card. (It was an improvement over my original photo, which I hated.) However, my new card has the same old photo as before.

JUST FLOWERS, NO CLOUDS... FOR THE MOMENT.

But still, the half-hour at the police station was followed by a half-hour walk home under vividly blue and sunny skies. There was so much beauty, which I tried to appreciate. It didn't work. Well, it worked. But not for long. By the time I arrived home for a late lunch, I had a very dark cloud over my head. I'm just sure the sun was shining on everyone else.

ONE HOVERING CLOUD BEFORE SUNSET.

Whatever I could possibly think of to complain about right now is absurd. Big deal. But, when that cloud hangs over my head, the smallest thing seems impossible to manage. The smallest mistake or accident is a tragic character flaw. Like dropping a spatula on the floor while I was washing dishes. ('You idiot!') Or finding another empty bottle on the counter after I sealed up the recycling. ('Dammit!') But the fact that I'm telling you about this idiocy means I'm coming around. San Geraldo and I had a good talk tonight (which always helps) and, no matter what the weather is like tomorrow, I'm confident the sun will be shining... directly over my head (and I hope over everyone else's).


If I could kick like this, it would all be so much better...

Up In The Air Junior Birdmen

It felt like summer when we went out this morning. Until we turned the corner and were hit in the face by San Geraldo's cyclonic winds.

SEEN FROM THE TERRACE RECENTLY.  MOTORIZED.  NO NEED FOR WIND.
(CLICK TO SEE THE BIG BIRD, MAN.)

In his Spanish class this week, San Geraldo learned the names for the seasons, weather, and winds. Today, we experienced "viento de levante," an easterly wind — on the western Mediterranean Sea (and in Southern France). It's also known as "mountain-gap wind." San Geraldo is enjoying talking about the winds and about "la tormenta" (the storm). A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

This song is a lot cuter when San Geraldo sings it
(but you'll have to take my word for that):



I had never heard this song until I met San Geraldo. According to Wikipedia, Junior Birdmen of America was a club for boys interested in building model airplanes. I didn't understand why San Geraldo would know this song and I wouldn't. But then I read on; the club was founded around 1934, which means that, by the time I was born in New York City in the mid '50s, the club was probably history — and therefore would probably have only recently arrived in South Dakota.

As they used to say:
"Welcome to South Dakota. Set your watches back 10 years."

You Can Lead a Horse to Water

On our way back from Nerja Tuesday, we stopped at Plaza Mayor, a shopping mall about 15 minutes from Fuengirola. The goal: Get San Geraldo a new pair of jeans. Success! He bought two pairs! It was an outlet store with multiple brands. Levi's were reduced from 99€ to 89€; so he bought two pairs of Lee Jeans for the price of one pair of Levis.

AT PLAZA MAYOR.

I can't show you photos of San Geraldo modeling the latest royal fashions. But, I can show you some of his acquisitions. I didn't come home empty handed.... er... footed, either. Papa got a new pair of shoes.

THE BOTTOM PAIR ARE WHAT HE'S BEEN DRAGGING AROUND IN.
(ALL THAT EXTRA DENIM GETS PULLED AROUND BACK AND HIDDEN UNDER HIS BIG SHIRTS.)

FOUR NEW POLOS, TOO.
HE'LL HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO THAT PURPLE ONE.

LINDA AND I WENT SHOPPING IN TOWN SATURDAY AND I BOUGHT HIM SOME T-SHIRTS.
THE OLD BROWN T-SHIRT MAKES A GREAT PAJAMA TOP... OR BLANKET.

MY NEW SHOES: I THOUGHT I'D GET SOMETHING UNDERSTATED...
... TO MATCH THE LIVING ROOM WALLS.

Below is what I sang in my head as we went shopping with San Geraldo.
(I sound exactly like Earl Thomas... in my head.)

Let That Be A Lesson To You

Jerry's sister Linda, to all appearances, is goodness personified.  She's kind. She's sweet. She's generous to a fault. She has never done drugs, has a glass of wine every now and again. She's always there for friends and neighbors... And family. She doesn't swear. Ever. She raised two exceptional sons who are both married to two exceptional women. She has three exceptional grandchildren. She loves them and dotes on them all.

It's heartwarming sometimes to observe Linda's husband Tom as he observes her. After more than 41 years of marriage, it's obvious he still adores her. Understandably.

ONE CHRISTMAS LONG AGO:  LINDA AS THE VIRGIN MARY, OF COURSE.

Linda seems to have the patience of a saint. Unlike her brother, whose nickname "San Geraldo" is simply ironic.

An example of Linda's patience: She taught 2nd grade for 34 years. And she loved it.

However — come on, you had to realize there would be a "however" — all is not as it seems.

I won't tell you how Linda cheats at cards, because she'll just yell at me and say, "I do not!" But I will share a couple of other stories.

LINDA THE GOOD(?) AND SAN GERALDO.
(NOTE THE DOLLAR BILL IN HER HAND. SHE WAS PAID TO BE GOOD THAT DAY.)

Rescue
When Linda and Jerry were young, they were playing Cowboys and Indians with a bunch of friends. (Shamefully, that's what our generation of Caucasian Americans grew up doing.) I don't know whether he was a Cowboy or an Indian on that particular day, but Jerry was captured and tied up in the middle of the neighbor's barn. His ankles were tied together. His hands were tied behind his back. And there was a rope wrapped around his waist and tied to a post.

Linda ran into the barn to rescue her big brother. She untied him and started to run back outside. But Jerry didn't follow. So, she turned around and gave him a shove in the back while yelling, "Come on! Run!!!" 

Linda had only untied the rope around Jerry's waist. His hands were still tied behind his back. His ankles were still tied together. When Linda pushed, Jerry went forward — like a plank — hitting the barn's wooden floor face-first. Well, really nose-first... and it broke (his nose, not the floor).

An accident. Or so Linda says.

"THAT'S SAN GERALDO TO YOU, PARDNER."
(BEFORE THE BROKEN NOSE.)

Recess
Years later, Teacher Linda was leading the kids back into the building after recess. One little boy wasn't moving quickly enough. So, she gave him a gentle nudge in the back. The little boy fell over. Being a very kind and caring teacher (and person), Linda helped the little boy up. But he just stood there staring at the open door. Linda said, "Well, come on," and again gave him a gentle nudge. And again he fell over.

Linda— still patient, kind, and caring — helped the boy back to his feet. But he still just stood staring at the open door. "Well come on. Get going," she said sweetly. She gave him another little shove and he fell over a third time.

At this point, all the other children waiting behind Linda and their classmate, were staring bug-eyed with mouths agape.

As Linda helped the little boy to stand one more time, she noticed that she was standing with her foot firmly planted on his untied shoelace.

Linda moved her foot off the shoelace and nudged the boy through the door. Turning to the remaining group of students, she said, "Let that be a lesson to you all. That's what happens when you don't tie your shoes!"

LINDA (RIGHT) AND A FRIEND ABOUT TO GIVE
LITTLE SISTER LEANN A LESSON IN HULA HOOP.

I'm A Decorator

When Linda and Tom were in Nerja the first time, they fell in love with a shop called Brea. They bought some fine art prints there and had been longing to go back for more. We left San Geraldo with his second cup of coffee and headed off. But Brea wasn't open. There were no hours posted, so I asked a woman putting out tables at a restaurant across the way if she knew whether or not the store would be open.

The woman smiled warmly and said, in Spanish, "Oh, yes. They're open every day. Always at 10... 

... Or 11 or 11:30."

SHOULD I GIVE THE CATS THE BIRD?
(BE BOLD. CLICK ANY IMAGE.)

So, Linda and Tom instead showed me a bit more of the neighborhood before we retrieved San Geraldo for lunch and sight-seeing. Then we all walked back over to the store. It was open and filled with unusual gifts, crafts, and home furnishings. Linda and Tom found three more prints and a beautiful art-glass bowl. San Geraldo and I found too many things but managed to leave with only a large funky platter for our coffee table. The owner was a charming woman named Viki. Her husband restores furniture and mirrors and also creates his own beautiful designs. His works are displayed all over the shop. (Check out his website here.) If you get to Nerja, definitely visit the store called Brea at Hernando de Carabeo (that's the street) #39. Just visiting with Viki for a few minutes will make the day seem brighter.

On a side note: 
I never knew that "brea" in Spanish means "tar" or "pitch." So "The La Brea Tar Pits" in Los Angeles if said completely in English would be, I suppose, "The The Tar Tar Pits."

CHARMING VIKI WRAPPING UP OUR PLATTER.

OUR PLATTER.

THE LOVELY LINDA DISPLAYING THE ART GLASS BEFORE IT WAS BOXED.
(THE PHOTOGRAPHER — YOURS TRULY — DID A TERRIBLE JOB.)

VIKI'S HUSBAND'S LATEST FURNITURE CREATION.

Decorative Dudo
Dudo drove me crazy ("Play with me. I've got string. Play with me!") while I tried to edit these photos and write this post. If it's not all up to my usual standards ("Standards? He has standards?"), blame Dudo. I tried to annoy him as much as he was annoying me. Apparently, that's not possible. (He doesn't care what I do, as long as I pay attention.)

"OOOH.  I THINK IT BRINGS OUT THE GREEN IN MY EYES."

The Road to Nerja: Fasten Your Seatbelts

When Linda and Tom (San Geraldo's sister and her husband) were in Spain some years ago, they spent a month in the town of Nerja, which is about an hour east of us along the coast. It's a charming town of about 22,000 people. Nerja is known for some very special attractions, including: Roman ruins, a donkey sanctuary, an 18th-century aqueduct, and, among other things, caves that were inhabited as early as 25,000 B.C.

San Geraldo doesn't "do" caves, so I might have to go back some time on my own. But we strolled the streets and Nerja's Balcón de Europa (Balcony of Europe), which offers spectacular views, and enjoyed a perfect day.

ONE OF MANY VIEWS FROM BALCÓN DE EUROPA.

According to folklore, King Alfonso XII gave the Balcón de Europa its name when he visited Nerja in 1885. Official archives indicate the name was already being used long before the king dropped by. But, that didn't stop city officials in 2003 from erecting a statue of the king and placing a plaque officially giving him the credit.

FROM FICTION TO FACT?

Since Alfonso I, II, (not III), IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X were all great-grandfathers of San Geraldo, I assumed XII was, as well. So I made San Geraldo pose with Grandpa. Turns out, they weren't related. Still, it's a nice picture.

SAN GERALDO WITH NOT-GREAT-GRANDPA ALFONSO XII.

Balcón de Europa was originally called "La Batería" for the gun battery and fortified tower located there. La Batería was destroyed in 1812 by joint British and Spanish forces against French occupiers. Ironic, given that the fortification was built originally to protect Nerja from British pirates.

WHERE THEY FELL:  SOME OF THE REMAINS OF THE FORTIFIED TOWER.

A FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE/CAVE.

ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE BALCÓN.

PLAZA BALCÓN DE EUROPA.
(WHERE WE HAD COFFEE AND, LATER, ICE CREAM —
I HAD DARK CHOCOLATE AND DULCE DE LECHE.)

CHURCH OF EL SALVADOR (1697).

CAPE HONEYSUCKLE SPANNING A STREET
(OBVIOUSLY PROTECTED FROM THE CYCLONIC WINDS).

PLANT-FILLED BALCONIES.

TOM AND SAN GERALDO, LUNCH ON PLAZA DE CAVANA.

Getting There
San Geraldo and Linda both get motion sickness. So, Tom and I are relegated to the back seat when we go on drives (although Linda always offers to take a motion-sickness pill, so I can ride in front). When we got in the rental car (only a 2-door was available) to start our drive, I automatically belted myself in. Linda got in the front seat and, reaching back for her shoulder strap, asked, "Where's my seatbelt?"

San Geraldo said — as if it were perfectly normal — "Mitchell's using it.

No wonder it was so comfortable. They're usually kind of snug.

"MITCHELL'S USING IT."

LATER: LINDA WOULDN'T SHARE.