On February 20 of 1993, we went to the Atlanta Airport to pick up Dad... He had flown solo, without my Mom, from Amsterdam/The Netherlands.
On Sunday, right after Mass, when serving a cup of coffee in our veranda, I sat on Dad's lap...
Handing him a belated Birthday Gift (for January 4th) + Father's Day gift in the form of a ticket to fly with me on February 27, via Detroit to San Francisco, as I had to do some training for Campbell Soup at the Pescadero farm in Santa Cruz.
Dad cried, and that's something; considering that he never has been a person, able to show his emotions!
Only at our final visit he showed TRUE JOY when we walked into the door!
That did both of us so good and with his passing shortly afterward, we had peace of mind.
There are 3 hours in time difference and with our stop-over in Detroit, we had to get up at 5:00 AM for driving to the Atlanta Airport, park the car and then check in for our 9:50 flight to Detroit.
Arriving finally in San Francisco around 14:00.
Here I stopped with my Dollar rental car from the San Francisco Airport, driving to our Holiday Inn, North Point.
Dad was so in awe with this masterpiece of the Golden Gate Bridge!
The weather was pleasant and Dad even needed his sunglasses...
One has to be in awe by the view of those HUMONGOUS cables!
It as so worth it for driving the 101 north and then turning back, so Dad could SEE all this...
Next day, on February 28, I got us a ticket for the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE SAN FRANCISCO BAY CRUISE.
For Dad, I got the German language narration, that made him very happy!
Now we're going under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge by boat...
Looking at the Golden Gate Bridge from below...
Dad loved listening to all the German spoken information!
What a sight that bridge as we leave it behind...
California is a rugged State and has lots of interesting views.
Alcatraz Island is coming in sight... with the famous Alcatraz prison.
Nearing Alcatraz Island
That Alcatraz prison is quite a dreary sight...
The Alcatraz Island is 22 acres or 9 hectare and is 1.5 mile or 2.01 km offshore.
Dad at the San Francisco Wharf, he was so grateful as he hugged my shoulders as he cried again...
Letting me know that this gift was well received!
Once more, Dad had gotten emotional when I told him that this would be as close as he could possibly get to his younger brother in Broken Hill, NSW-Australia... a brother who's Birthday it was that day!
Dad never dared to go visit him, flying from The Netherlands.
Sure, if I had gone with him; he would have!
We walked to Saints Peter and Paul Church and attended 'half' a Mass, in Italian, since we had no time schedule...
Post card photograph above by Willow Schneider and Carl Bondinell
Then we walked through the city of San Francisco to Union Square and Powell Street and back by Cable Car to the Fisherman's Wharf.
That was a special experience for my Dad, to ride the real San Francisco Cable Car...
View from our Holiday Inn over the Fisherman's Wharf with the Marriott hotel across from us...
Stay tuned for next section.
Related link:
Pieter J.C. Vedder was the BEST TEACHER in Bridging the Gap between Research and Grower | Pieter's photo from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge...
From Santa Cruz to San Francisco for the Weekend | previous post by me with cable car picture and about our trip to Alcatraz Island
Your father was a beautiful man ... inside and out. What a precious memory ~~~~
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteThank you and yes, those are very valuable memories for looking back onto!
Hugs,
Mariette
What wonderful memories. Thank you so much, Mariette, for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and all your family. Happiness always.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, they sure are very valuable for taking with us, till we meet again!
Hugs,
Mariette
Goedemorgen Mariette, wat een mooi en speciaal verjaardagscadeau aan je vader. Wat fijn dit samen meegemaakt te hebben. Mooie foto's van jullie bezoek. Fijne zondag!
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, destijds kon je naast een 'vol tarief' ticket, makkelijk een companion ticket bijkopen. Wel met bepaalde restricties, zoals géén rechtstreekse vlucht. Maar zo kreeg Papa eigenlijk nog meer van de U.S.A. te zien!
Liefs,
Mariette
Bellissimi ricordi!Buon San Valentino.
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteSono davvero bei ricordi ora che papà non c'è più...
Un abbraccio e anche voi buon San Valentino!
Mariette
How wonderful to be able to gift your father such an amazing gift. My sister took our Mom (in her wheelchair) on a business trip to San Diego once. Mother had tears coming down her face when viewing the Pacific Ocean. My sister thought sand had blown into her eyes,,,but she was crying because she never dreamt that she would see that ocean.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteWhat a loving and caring thing to do for your Mom! When I was only 14, my Godfather and Grandfather had a massive stroke and passed away. Since then, my Dad's younger brother, who was a teacher at a High school, and thus ample vacation time, took his Mom with him to Austria on vacation. That lifted up her spirits more than anything else. Uncle Lei has been a great role model to me and I've taken Mom & Dad numerous times to Germany, Paris and also on paid for trips to the U.S.A. because of his example...
Hugs,
Mariette
What amazing photos and sweet memories, Mariette. Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteDearest Martha Jane,
DeleteSuch photos are oh so rewarding for having them digitalized and sorted out. They now are all we have left; good memories with Dad!
Hugs,
Mariette
What a wonderful trip, with such beautiful memories of that time with your dad. ❤️
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteYes, that trip created indeed forever lasting beautiful memories and we can only feel grateful for having made them, when still able to!
Hugs,
Mariette
How lovely to have these photographs to remember this special time with your dad Mariette, I do understand his reluctance to fly to Australia, it's such a long flight, even these days.. even further to Western Australia ✨
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteYes, with these photos and diary entrees + letters, this special time has been framed in time!
Both of us know about the 'long' flight to Australia, even from California it was a non-stop 15-hour 'sit' in a Jumbo 747... Never ending it seemed and that was indeed 'only' to Sydney!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, San Francisco is one of the most interesting places to visit. Imagine how much more meaningful that you could share it with your father. When I stayed in San Francisco for a bit before coming to Taiwan, the friend I stayed with's windows overlooked the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge--a very inspiring sight!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes it was very meaningful to share this once with Dad. Pieter and I went there numerous times but this was special.
You got very lucky for staying with your friend and having that spectacular view... Also the symbolic meaning of a bridge; to connect.
Hugs,
Mariette
Lovely memories. Do you miss him? I miss my own parents.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteSure we both miss our own Parents but with the knowledge that we visited them 66 times and spent numerous trips with them together and had them in our home for weeks on end, gives us PEACE! We will meet again...
Hugs,
Buenos recuerdos familiares. No hay mejor compañía que la familia.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteY esos recuerdos familiares nos acompañarán hasta el final; cuando nos volvamos a ver!
Abrazos,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette ,
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a tour and good memories.
I hope that all is well with you and loved ones
I like to read and write but right now am busy. My hubby needs me almost every ten mts.
On day I shall start writing even if I do at midnight.
Pls take care of yourself and stay safe.
Dearest Munir,
DeleteThank you for your visit and comment!
Sounds like you are intensively caring for your husband...
Wishing you strength in doing so and as for blogging; that is for later.
Family FIRST!
We do take care of each other as best as we can and so far do well.
Hugs,
Mariette
So many lovley photos of a good time
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThank you and yes, the best of times to be had and forever fond memories!
Hugs,
Mariette
Mariette, what a sweet and wonderful post about your Dad! I am so happy that you were able to enjoy this together. Forever fond memories, that is what we have about those special times, isn't it? Thank you for sharing yours today. Van een Holland's meisje, xo Lidy
ReplyDeleteDearest Lidy,
DeleteWhat a surprise for finding this comment from another expatriate; that makes understanding things a lot easier and more meaningful!
Hugs,
Mariette