hmmmm, did you say nine? NINE?

 Ruby lives in San Diego now and her mother, Tanya, sent me this birthday photo of her at age nine. She sure looks like her mama and that's a very good thing.

Ruby Tuesday (yes!)

Ruby and Tanya 2012

Ruby in 2017

Our little Ruby darling is now in school in San Diego. Her mama texted
me this photo last week and I was just waiting for a Tuesday so I could
share it with my faithful readers. I miss them both and think of them
everyday when I walk down Precita Avenue to Mission Street.

Ruby and Rosie

Our beloved Linda Davick illustrated this new book and Ruby has her
copy of "We Love You, Rosie!" thanks to Amazon's quick delivery.
It's for ages 3 to 7, if you know a child who needs a new book ~ every
kid does, of course. Rosie is a sausage dog, by the way. Linda is
a major talent, by the way...

those big blue eyes

Ruby Tuesday. I'm a little late here, but Ruby turned five recently
and in the bottom photo she is all dressed to rally and march in
San Diego. Belated Happy Birthday to wonderful, colorful Ruby.

museum people

Carlo, Ruby and Monkey

Have you met Carlo? He is the most talented display manager at the
deYoung and Legion of Honor. Carlo met Tanya, Scott, Ruby and me
downtown and we gently hit the SFMoma after lunch. It was a
delightful visit and the sun came out (!) just as we gathered after a
heavy morning rainstorm. Very telling, I thought.

remember Ruby?

My dear friend Tanya returned to SF last night. I miss her so much.
She and her husband and this live-wire Ruby are staying with Frances
and Donna and I was invited for dinner last night. We had a lovely
time catching-up and observing Ruby dash about in her world of
real and pretend. And I hope to see them again today...

remember Ruby?

Here she is looking quite wonderful. 

I miss Ruby and her parents.

Maybe a trip to San Diego in the near future?

Ruby Tuesday

Here is Ruby in her tiger shirt, enjoying a cup of tea in her mug
adorned with the Golden Gate Bridge. Such a happy girl!

as promised, with memories

Tanya and Ruby in Jan. 2012

In February, 2012

Ruby in 2014

Well, still with those big blue eyes. I so miss Tanya and our rides home from
the deYoung, our walks and coffee in the nabe, and all the long and sometimes
teary talks about life, love, work, people. It's amazing how we connect so
deeply with some people, isn't it? But Tanya, Scott and Ruby are very happy
in San Diego - surrounded by family and experiencing new adventures. And
so I too am delighted for them and appreciate Tanya for staying in touch. I
will see them in 2015 and that's a promise!

talkin' San Diego

Of course you remember Ruby (and today is Tuesday) and Tanya, her
mother and my dear and greatly missed friend. Well, Tanya is now
working here, at the San Diego Public Library. Cool, no? And, even
more exciting, plans are afoot for an April trip down there to see our
Giants! Ginger and I are in the emailing "let's plan" stage and I haven't
even warned Tanya. But let's see if she still reads this blog...

a ruby in the rough

I just received this delightful photo from Tanya! Here is Ruby being a dirt
angel in San Diego. A very nice way to start my day, and yours too, I betcha.

Ruby's a SoCal gal now...

Of course she is adapting beautifully to San Diego. Mother Tanya is having
a bit of trouble with the extreme heat, but it is warmer than usual here too.
And I miss the texts:
.are you off today?
.can you walk? meet at the park? coffee first?
.ooooops, she's napping now, how is an hour?
.leaving now
.I'm walking on the sunny (or shady) side of Precita

walkin' and talkin'

view from Sutro Park (Cliff House in foreground)

goodbye dear Tanya and Ruby

Husbando and I had a delightful Sunday morning walk down by the sea - what
glorious weather we are having. Then I had my official Goodbye Tanya
Time and that was not easy, the tears flowed. Ruby feels the stress of the
move, but she was able to run a lot of it off at the playground in Holly Park
and I admired how quickly she has learned to master the various swings
and things, even climbing ladders. Honestly, she reminded me of when we
had Sidney, the Jewish Irish Setter, who just had to run every day, or else...

our indoor picnic

Sigi, Tanya & family, Frances

Joe and Jane (Tanya in background)

Frances and Ruby

Well, the much-needed rain pounded down during picnic time and we
met at Tanya and Scott's apartment to applaud them for all their hard
work (see moving boxes above) and to let them know how much we
will miss them. They leave for San Diego next week and this will leave
a hole in my heart, but I know that it is the right move for them. But,
still and all...

four women, two girlies

Flora and Lucybelle

Ruby and spotted puppy

Ruby eyes Flora

It's amazing how quickly these lunches up at Progressive have become
such an important part of my life. We do, of course, still talk about
the museums, but so much more is going on in our lives that we don't
dwell on the gossip...too much. I walk to/fro and that is also a delight.

ruby sunday

Who needs hi-tech toys? There was a small puddle of water at Precita Park
on Sunday and Ruby is lucky enough to have a mom who brought a long a
change of clothes and an understanding of buckets and mud pies. A pleasant
time for all and once again the playground was packed. All this constant
news about families leaving SF ~ just hit any city park on a weekend and
you'll see tons of children. Maybe they are bussed in?

one very nice Monday

first to the SPCA

rhen lunch and a movie with the Blogmaid

coffee with Ruby and friends on Valencia Street

Sometimes work is easier than the days off, but not as pleasant, of course.
After the dog feeding, I met Ms. Blogmaid out on West Portal where we
had a quick lunch (chicken wrap) and then this odd Her movie about a man
who falls in love with the voice on his computer. It gave me a lot to think
about and yes, I do recommend it. Then I hopped on over to Valencia
Street to meet Chris, Mark, Tanya, Ruby, Lucybelle and baby Flora.
Ruby is two now and she is a delight! I left the house at 8am and dragged
in about 6pm, but I had a lot to "share" with Husbando.

female friends Sunday

subtle gift-giving from Dancing Jen

Ruby is almost two...

...and her eyes are still as blue as that nearby water bottle. I had such a
nice Sunday ~ first with Dancing Jen with whom I'll be going to Paris
with (yes, in the Fall!) and then with Tanya and Ruby. Coffee, of course,
on busy Cortland and then to the park for some sand play and socializing.
Husbando baked a luscious ham for dinner so I'll have sandwiches for
the work week ahead. All is running smoothly, including Ken (the car).

Ruby Sunday

newish cafe out on Mission near Cortland

Ruby spins

For as long as we have lived here (40 years or so) we keep reading about
"family flight" and how all the young 'uns are going to the burbs, especially
the East Bay where there is sunshine. Then I meet Tanya and Ruby at
Cafe St. Jorge at 8am yesterday. and the place is packed with kids. We
head to the 30th and Sanchez playground and more children of all ages,
races, personalities. It was a really nice morning and I enjoyed getting a
good walk in early and then some fine grown-up talk with Tanya while
Ruby did the run-around thing. She is fearless!

So yesterday the chronny featured yet another article about how families
are fleeing the city. On the way home I pass our nabe Precita Park, again
filled with children and parents. Our own street is probably 50% young
families. I'm sure it's v. difficult to raise children in SF, yet many do it
successfully and at least we have pretty good public transportation and
tons of parks. Husbando suggests people come from the burbs to have
their children play here. Could it be?

halloween in august

Linda is the BEST children's book writer and illustrator in the world
and I wanted Ruby to learn to count before Halloween, so here she
is consuming my friend's book and almost counting to ten (and back).