You spent the day driving from Petaluma north on Route 29 through Napa Valley to Ukiah where you are spending the night at its Quality Inn after having a ‘senior’ dinner and shared dessert at the nearby Garden Cafe. You stopped at the Winery Tasting Rooms in the Napa Valley Corporate Park then the Rubicon Estate, which was the historic Inglenook property now owned by Francis Coppola, then Beringer and Castello de Amorosa.
Beautiful drive. Each wanted too much money for the wine tasting so we took in the environs for free. I am not allowed alcohol anymore because of daily medicines so it didn’t bother me so much. We had a good time along with the unexpected wonderful drive and whimsical stops along the way. The Rubicon was the most stylish. Besides, Coppola’s daughter, Sofia, was the director of one of my favorite films, Lost in Translation. One of my secret loves in those days was Scarlett Johansson. It was a wonderfully realistic love story between Bill Murray as Bob Harris and Scarlett as Charlotte.
You saw parallels between those two in the film and your continued love story between Sir Geoffrey and Lady Allowyn in the “Grandma’s Story” selections in book three, Merlyn’s Mind:
“Sir Geoffrey’s strongest desire at the moment was to suggest Lady Allowyn take an immediate early morning walk with him, but he could not bring himself to ask. All he could think about was the memory of private moments a month ago while the last two nights they stayed over on his best friend Robert’s estate. He put the forefinger of his left hand to his lips and slipped into a secret patch of unsealed wonderment that did not conclude even unto his dying day.
The knuckles of Geoffrey’s left hand lightly bumped and touched Allowyn’s right hand from time to time as they sat quietly waiting for the sunrise. Both rested in their separate chairs at peace with themselves no matter how many shadows the daylight might eventually bring. Life has its own way with the events of ever loving couples. No one knows the future, and these two quite close friends were no exception.
If coyness could talk, what whispers would prevail?
Modest minds may smile freshly or simply smirk,
With the who, when, where and the what detail;
A man and woman in silence are two minds at work.
It is interesting to discover the elements not there,
It doesn’t take much to wonder this story on through;
When a man and a woman sit close yet into distance stare,
Imaginary mind developments promoting tensions ensue.
What do you say, what do you do,
When the question pops up and no one knows;
Is it an honest reckoning, or a comedic snafu,
To wonder on playful sheets and a scatter of pillows.”
From: Chapter One: “Grandma’s Story”, Merlyn’s Mind
[I cannot get the four lines corrected in the second stanza of Grandma's Story. No bold. Sorry. - rho]
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The romance began in book two, Running Through. Through an interesting twist both Geoffrey and Allowyn are directly related (ancestors) to both sets of twins in “The Brothers” selections. Ah, such is love between two close friends. All for tonight, orndorff. Post. – Amorella.
Tomorrow, up to the Humboldt Redwoods then back on Route 1 to Fort Bragg for the night.
Looking forward to another great day in Northern California.
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