Song - Sounds of Autumn

 

 

"We could learn to stop when the sun goes down 

and when the sun comes up. 

We could learn to listen to the wind; 

we could learn to notice that it’s raining 

or snowing 

or hailing 

or calm. 

We could reconnect with the weather 

that is ourselves, 

and we could realize that it’s sad. 

The sadder it is, 

and the vaster it is, 

the more our heart opens. 

We can stop thinking 

that good practice is 

when it’s smooth and calm, 

and bad practice is 

when it’s rough and dark. 

If we can hold it all in our hearts, 

then we can make a proper cup of tea."

from "Wisdom of No Escape" by Pema Chodron

 

 

Fire Engine Red

Song - If I Had A Boat by Lyle Lovett

When Mr. B told me that we were going on a boat ride

 in the San Francisco Bay

 last Sunday morning

all I could think of was...

FREEZING!

After all it is mid-November!

 Guardian

Mr. B and a friend had bid on a Fire Boat Ride for 10 people at a charity event and won.  Well, the men-folk forgot all about it until now and it expires at the end of the month.  So off we went Sunday morning for brunch and a ride around the bay with family & friends.

"Cupid's Span" by Oldenburg and van Bruggen 

Happily it was a gloriously clear, mild day and just as we were heading out towards Alcatraz Island, the Fire Boat received a distress call and had to go to work. They did a quick turn about and headed towards Hunter's Point explaining that if it turned into a dangerous situation, they would need to drop us off "somewhere" and we would need to find our own transportation home. They are definitely a working crew and boat!

One of  Phoenix's Water Gun's

Just as we neared the destination they received an "all clear" call and we were able to continue chugging along on our adventure.  

They took us into McCovey Cove for a different view point of the home of the SF Giants!

Then we headed around Alcatraz Island and back to the station house.

The Ferry Building

Our friend's daughter, Kayli was "driving" the boat and searching for fish, birds and the Giants with her "binoculars".

San Francisco has two fire boats - The Phoenix and The Guardian both from the 1950's. They are located at Pier 22 1/2, just under the Bay Bridge.

Heading home we talked about what a fun day it had been and how we need to get out and explore more often!!!  Our thanks to Firehouse 35 and the SF Fire Department for a great day and for protecting the beautiful city of San Francisco.

"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."  - Martin Luther King, Jr.