Thanksgiving Weekend

Thursday, regular Thanksgiving day, I tried to not think too much about what day it really was. That helped to handle being away from children and grandchildren. We attended our usual Thursday district meeting and then went to Marissa Reyes's house for a big dinner. Several families from the Filipino ward were there and the food was delicious and the company was good also.

Friday evening the Chinese Branch held a Thanksgiving dinner. We wondered if there would be turkey there or if the members would feast on Chinese food only. Well, there was delicious turkey and tons of excellent Chinese food. Several of our English class students attended and enjoyed themselves. For such slender people, they can eat A LOT!!!

Saturday evening we took Sisters Douglas and Chan and an investigator, Kelvin, to Oakland to the temple grounds. We enjoyed the musical program, "The Magic of Christmas" and the turning on of the Christmas lights. All the staff at the Visitor Center were on duty that night. We were able to see our sisters: Kwon, Lee, Salazar, and Yu all in one shot.

Wish We All Could Be California Girls!!!

I'm thinking that living in California is the place to get the best haircut possible. If there is any place on earth to get a styling hairdo it would be in the San Francisco area. However, that has not been my experience. When we first arrived in Pacifica, I went into a hair salon that was close-by. I showed them how I liked to have my hair cut (Kathy Dunham had given me an extra good cut so that my hair was at it's best) and they assured me that they could handle my request. Well, the stylist cut the top short so it would spike and pulled a long piece down over my left eye and cut it to a sharp point. Thank goodness my hair grows quickly!!! Next I called Sister Blair who I replaced and asked who she had cut her hair. She referred me to Hair Techniques. Christine, the stylist there had just returned from a show in New York and was bubbling over with confidence. Only problem was, she scalped me over my ears so that all you saw was pink flesh!!!!

There had to be a solution to the simple problem of a good haircut here in fashionable San Francisco. You know your hair looks awful when the sweet Filipino sisters even comment on it. One suggested, "You need to go to a Chinese stylist. Americans just cut, cut, cut!" And she was right. Even Tom was concerned about my hair and mentioned it to his barber. She, Amy, said she knew how to cut women's hair that was trimmed over the ears: so I gave her a try. I was nervous, but courageous and it turned out the best so far. I can't believe I go to a barber. It's a no frills experience, but am I ever saving money...$16.00 a cut. It will be good to get back to Kathy and well worth the extra dough.

Preparation Day With the Leavitts

October and so far in November, the weather has been great. Yesterday we invited Elder and Sister Leavitt who cover Golden Gate and Bay Wards to come for a walk on the beach by our apartment and then to go out for dinner. Their apartment is right in the thick of San Francisco and they have commented on how it never quiets down, even in the middle of the night. We thought they'd enjoy Pacifica and I think they did.

ALIGN

Last Thursday, Nov. 10th, Tom and I drove to Oakland to help with the ALIGN conference spearheaded by Elder Thomas Brighton, Visitor Center Director. Elder Brighton had invited all the religious leaders in Oakland to meet at the Inter-Stake  building with the nonprofits in the area to talk about and learn about how they could share resources to help the residents of Oakland. There were over 200 participants and the feedback indicated they felt it was worthwhile and they wanted to have this opportunity on an ongoing basis.

Tom and I were first assigned to the front table with name tags from A-M and then I helped Sister Brighton in the kitchen prepare chicken for 150. At 6:00 pm we attended the dinner, which was actually catered, but the caterer felt he could only handle one entree so we prepared the other.

It was a fun change. The day felt more like my work at the bank...meeting and greeting the business men and women and professionals in the community.
 

Trevor

Trevor turned 4 months old here in Pacifica. He is one happy, big (18 pounds) boy. Not only is he unusually big for our family, he smiles easily and is anxious to interact with everyone. He is delightful.

The Joy Continues....

Tuesday was another great day for weather and for time with Beth and Trevor. We spent the morning at the Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park. Everywhere you turned the view was beautiful and the atmosphere serene.

I suppose it wouldn't be right to not include fish seeing Tom Johnson is involved here.

Beth and Trevor Came Calling!

How wonderful it was to have Beth and Trevor with us from Saturday until Tuesday evening. The weather was sunny and warm on Monday and Tuesday and we made the most of it. We were all anxious to be outside as much as possible.

Beth was fascinated by the outside market near our apartment.

Friday Night English Class

For class last Friday the Chinese students who are studying English wanted a potluck. They brought lots of food and they each gave a brief talk about polite manners in their homeland.

Did you know in China it's impolite to open a gift in front of the giver or that you should not call your brother by his name? You should address him as,'Brother."  If you have more than one brother, then it's "older brother," or "younger brother." You also would call your cousins either "brother" or "sister."