The Final Dance of Summer . . .

. . . should take place on a sandy shore where balmy breezes blow. And so, upon the crest of Lydia's thirteenth birthday, she and I boarded an uneventful flight to San Diego CA, procured a convertible car without incident (push a button -- TOP GONE!), and set out for the Hotel Del on Coronado Island to bathe in the fading days of summer's glory and Lydia's waning childhood.

Our wind-blown hair and sun-kissed shoulders rendered us well-dressed for dining along the seaside, strolling the lavish gardens . . .

. . . overlooking the splendidly groomed beach . . .

. . . and finally traversing the paths to the sand. We drank in the sights, sounds, and delicious aromas of life in view of the Pacific.

All too soon we headed back across the bridge and over to the peninsula of Point Loma.

We checked into our delightful accommodations -- a typical 50s apartment complex lately converted to an inn with all the necessary accoutrements for our all-too-brief stay. The lovely garden setting . . .

. . . sparkling clear pool . . .

. . . and cliff-side setting brought breathtaking views right to our fingertips.

After a brief unpacking and freshening up for dinner, we drove UP the cliffs to meet with Elizabeth and her dorm-roomie Whitney. We walked the gorgeous grounds of campus and ended up at this vista point. Elizabeth says she comes here often to think and read and be alone. God has surely blessed her with a picture-perfect view of His handiwork -- He knew how much she missed the Pacific Ocean when we moved inland to the mountains. What a marvelous daily reminder that God can do GREAT things. We sat contemplatively and listened to the wind rustle the palms until the growling of our stomachs bid us move on.

Onward to O'Bistro for a delicious dinner and a long languid chat about art, history, literature, music, and all the other lovely things that spill out so effortlessly when we take the time to relax and enjoy the moment.

Early classes and weary eyelids drew us back to our respective rooms, but the goodbyes were well-laced with excitement regarding tomorrow's foray to Balboa Park and the splendors awaiting us there. Despite our earlier thoughts of sleep, the pool beckoned and begged to be joined for just a dip.

Likewise we headed out to the rocky cliffs for one final good-night to the Pacific before it rocked us gently to sleep with it's crashing lullaby amongst the bulwark of boulders at shore's end. (Sadly those pics failed to make the grade for this post -- just too dark.)

Eventually we settled into bed for some very light reading followed by heavy slumber . . .

. . . punctuated with sweet dreams of special wonders to be found tomorrow as we enter the Jewel Box of San Diego: Balboa Park.

*[I shall return with more pictures and prose soon . . . do join me as the adventure continues.]*