With Dad to Santa Cruz, Redwood State Parks, Pebble Beach, Monterey Sea Aquarium + Dinner at Shadowbrook Restaurant

On Monday, March 1 in 1993,  husband Pieter was in Chicago giving a Seminar for Campbell Soup and I would go for one day to their Pescadero Mushroom Farm in Santa Cruz.

Thus, I checked out with Dad, from our San Francisco hotel and started driving South via Highway 101 onto Highway 1 along the coast via the Scenic Half Moon Bay drive.

This is Highway 1, along the coast... Near Half Moon Bay you view the eroded cliff sides.

Pieter and I have also been there at times that the road was covered with eroded rocks and sand and traffic blocked.

As I had to work next day for the Campbell Soup plant in Pescadero, we first went there.

Then I did take Dad back up to the north for driving the scenic Skyline Boulevard, Route 35 to show Dad the natural wonders of this region.

There was no GPS back then, all I had was some magazine info with the most scenic routes...

BUT after a stop and guidance from a guy on a tractor, we ended up in the Big Basin Redwood State Park.

We managed to see the burned out Chimney Tree but could not find the Auto Tree, one of the oldest and where a car can drive through. 

Dad was in awe, and he had me run back to the car, for fetching the camera and capturing at least some images with him!

Dad was eager for consulting his book at home, back in The Netherlands, and checking out the pictures and information...

Now it was on to our final destination for the day, the Holiday Inn at Santa Cruz.

We both did walk briskly towards the Fisherman's Wharf, before dark – showing Dad the seals and where they would jump onto the wooden beams at the board walk for sleeping...

See my previous post about my First Trip to California, Santa Cruz – below this one.

~

Next day I started around 7:00 with my consulting job at the Campbell Soup's Pescadero mushroom farm and worked all day.

In return, the manager had one of his staff members, Carmen, tour with us the entire following day for sight seeing the coming day.

Carmen, started out by taking us to another Redwood area, the Pescadero Memorial Park.

Memorial Park (2nd Hike) click link for seeing this exact tree with info as Carmen missed part of it...

It obviously is a kind of cut off tree on the side that is not visible from the top in our photo.

Dad tried to capture me against another redwood or Sequoia sempervirens...

Next, Carmen took my Dad and me to Pebble Beach click for more info.

Dad and Carmen at Pebble Beach...

Sand–polished Gems, you can read more from the above mentioned link.

Giving you a view from Pebble Beach, over the Pacific Ocean

More of the Pacific Ocean with a rather strong surf and lots of shore birds

A better view from Pebble Beach and its many shore birds

Center photo you can see the silhouette of Pescadero's famous Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz along the rugged San Mateo coast line...

It is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast!

See better photo in my previous post below: My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz

Dad in Monterey, after our very scenic drive down Highway 1; belonging to the most scenic of the world.

Carmen and me on the rocks in Monterey at the Wharf

Dad in Monterey at the Wharf

It sure was a perfect day, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Monterey Sea Aquarium where we found the Sea Otters the most funny! One was allowed to touch the smaller sea creatures; so educative and fun and Dad was very happy.

Near the Sea Aquarium with a happy Dad!

We got treated royally that March 3, with a dinner at the famous Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, where Dad got to ride the Cable Car; one of the most unique restaurants in the West.

Pieter dined here with the Campbell staff on January 27...

Next day, I drove back in our Dollar rental car, my blue Plymouth, to return it at the San Francisco Airport.

Crazy 'triple' photo but you clearly can see the yellow Tidy tips, California's spring wildflower!

Called the Ramada Inn with the courtesy phone, and with their shuttle we arrived for checking in for one night stay at the San Francisco Airport.

On Friday, March 5, we checked out from our hotel at 5:15 and with shuttle to the airport for our early flight from 6:40 to Minneapolis/St.Paul–the first leg of our journey back to the East, to Atlanta, Georgia.

We arrived home by 18:30 due to the 3 hours time difference!

Did sleep in on Saturday, March 6, for nursing my Bronchitis and Sciatica...

Pieter got home at 14:30 from his Campbell Soup Seminar in Chicago and he took Dad for singing practice by 16:00 together with the organist at the First Baptist Church. 

Dad's solos were the Negro Spirituals: Thank You Lord and Steal Away, which he also repeated on the 14th of March at yet another Church in town.

Both the organist and my Dad sounded perfect, and it got rounded off with a standing reception and refreshments in their social hall.

Dad flew back home on March 20, together with his Presidential gift from Uncle Bo Whaley; a specially handmade Irish shillelagh cane.

Skillfully crafted by our local Easter Seal workers. The day before, the Georgia Governor got presented with one by our local officials during the annual St. Patrick's Joint Civic Luncheon, organized by Pieter's Rotary Club.

Even President Carter received one in August of 1980...

~

So much for one week in California and three weeks in Georgia, all the way from The Netherlands...

Related links:

Dad with me in San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise | previous post

My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz | previous post by me with Shadowbrook Restaurant where Dad now dined with me...

NO WAY!!!

Just have to vent this...

Sometimes it takes a good fall to know where you stand. A perfect quote!

On May 2, 2017, while at rehearsal on the risers in our local theatre with our Knight Owl choir, I fell off the 2nd to top riser... 

Husband Pieter who was in the theatre, did videotape my tumble down! It scared him tremendously.

Now to explain, we were on very narrow risers, not meant for doing the choreography we had to do!

There was absolutely no guard rail - nothing.

Some 20 years earlier, those got purchased for having little girls stand on them and sing.

These risers are 36" (91 cm) and have guard rails!

The ones we had to do our choreography on, were ONLY 24" (61 cm) and NO GUARD RAILS

Our choreographer Lisa, in a video, teaching us the steps... which we learned and I flipped off right away, since there was NO WAY to make her size of steps on such a limited space!

The front row singers had the floor... no problem.

There never was a linear line up. 

Taller singers were right in front of you, which made seeing Kelly very difficult.

When I fell down, Suella, a tall front row singer, blurted out: 'Let her get up on her own!' 

How nice... 

When I was trained, paid and responsible for any first aid incidents at the practical training college in The Netherlands, I dealt with all the legal issues, such as calling the police, ambulance and above all - calming the person down!

But I toughed it out and performed, even with my severely bruised wrist/thumb and foot.

Ending on crutches afterward... 

Not being able to do some much needed weeding in our garden and not even able for guiding tours on May 20, when we did have people come for a Garden Tour, a fund raiser for Carol, one of my Knight Owl Choir members, for her Garden Club.

In 2018, after another fall (at home) I ended up on crutches for 3 months, due to a double, but closed pelvic bone fracture.

BUT after having been granted a 'safer' status afterwards, on March 27 of 2019, I got again ordered to stand on the top riser.

NO WAY!!! Was my very firm reaction!

HISTOPATHOLOGIC FEATURES INDICATIVE OF PERSISTENT (MICRO) TRAUMA.

PAS REACTION AND GMS STAINS FAIL TO DEMONSTRATE FUNGAL ELEMENTS.

A FONTANA-MASSON STAIN FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE MELANINE PIGMENT SEE COMMENT

Kelly, on May 2nd 2017, I tumbled down the top riser and though nothing broken, I still suffer from persistent (micro) trauma. It will take another year I got told by Dr. Tammy Gephart in Marietta on Wednesday last week, before it is all gone! Cannot polish my nails, nothing... And last year on March 27, when I had those killer cramps and jumped out of bed, falling on my left hip, which caused the double closed pelvic bone fracture makes me vulnerable. Lowering that risk is a MUST!

This was on Dec. 3, it is better now but still takes ONE YEAR according to Dr. Gephart.

Embarrassing but this is one of my 'secrets'... Haha! But please don't put me on the top riser — I'M SCARED!

Letter from Dr. Gephart where she explained:

After careful review of Pathology results it is determined that patients toenails is and was damaged due to her falling off the bleachers (risers) on May 2, 2017. Pathological results do indicate trauma to the nail plates bilateral. If there are any questions or concerns about the information provided above please feel free to contact our offices and select option 3.

Tammy Gephart DPM

For years I've traveled the 250 km (155 miles) one-way to see Dr. Gephart! 

On May 19, 2019 this is what I put on the choir's GroupMe

Sad about not having this greatest show on YouTube, like in 2017

That was a great day yesterday with lots of energy! Jennifer, you did bring me back to my younger years when I was in Fashion School as your dress so much looked like the Pop Art Fashion of the 60s that we had to design! Your writing here is also excellent - nothing what I can add to that. Only sad that our daughters, Goddaughters, family and friends can NOT see any of the 'American system' DVD. We were lucky in 2017 with the YouTube version that could be shared over all continents... And it looks that since my fall in 2017, I'm still kind of 'trailing' on the program as my name was not correct (Mariete) and for some reason out of the alphabetical listing.

Kelly tried to silence me and not in a nice way. 

She managed to get rid of me by exclusion bullying.

Two days after the Revue, Pieter and I flew to the Netherlands, for visiting Dad one final time...

On the day of his cremation, Pieter found Kelly's message on the iPad, that she had removed me and that I was not welcome back in August!

Still I did go to their 1st rehearsal, to confront her in person and also to thank the choir members for all the love received during Dad's passing (got ONE sympathy card!)...

I asked Kelly what she'd written in the GroupMe to all other choir members, about me, after first removing me. 

No reply of course she was too cowardly! 

Actions speak louder than words...

Witnesses may be drawn in as 'secondary abusers'.

Got it all taped (carried Pieter's iPhone for that purpose inside my mesh Vogue backpack).

When I got back from confronting Kelly...

Got enough material for a lawyer, including her copyright infringements (that's how the lady providing her with such, got her spot on the floor in the 1st row). 

But her FINAL JUDGE will be taking care of all this...

Now at least you know why I'm no longer singing.

After a 22 year career for Kelly with her four different age groups, Covid took care of it all...

We practiced inside the First Baptist choir room, except for final rehearsal a the theatre.

Each of us paid her a one time fee (for the music sheets) of $ 25.00 and ten times $ 25.00 per month.

We also had to dress in a certain way, so there was more involved.

For performance at the University of Georgia for singing the National Anthem, we had to drive a good 3 hours one way. Another Fair we had to drive to in about 2 hours, one way.

We did it all with pleasure.

Related link:

Pieter J.C. Vedder captured me—falling off the risers at the Dublin, Georgia theater | short video

From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia | Seeing Dad on our 67th trip to The Netherlands...

{What Type of Feet do YOU have?} | previous post with my once perfect Egyptian toes...

My Angel Sister who Died TWICE

 

BLUE BAND MARGARINE

Cute decorative grocers nostalgia

These two boxes date from the first years just after World War II when the margarine was delivered to the grocery store in large blocks in a box. At the customer's request, the desired quantity was cut off and packed in a greaseproof paper or bag.

Parts of the production stamps are still present.

The lidded boards are missing, but the boxes themselves are in good condition.

Dimensions: 34 x 24.5 x 9.5 cm or 13.4 x 9.6 x 3.7 inches

Production stamps still present

On Wednesday January 11, 1950 my Angel Sister Mariet was born...

At least, she struggled hard for making it into this world!

She was the very FIRST GRANDCHILD on Dad's side of the family...

Here in the house (photo courtesy of brother Jan Van den Munckhof) where seven of us are being born, except the youngest who was born in the hospital...

Mom had to manage doing this with the assistance of a midwife, which was normal for that time.

My Angel sister had been too active and twisted around, so she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and arrived looking BLUE

None of them acted rapidly for giving AR (artificial respiration) to the baby, for saving it.

WORSE, it got taken away from Mom, she NEVER got to see her own daughter... 

It would be better for forgetting and getting over it FAST, they reasoned.

How CRUEL. The baby clothes also got taken away.

Thirteen months later, I got born and again, I had the umbilical cord around my neck but the midwife came timely.

But now back to those Blue Band boxes...

Dad put the tiny body of my Angel sister inside such a wooden Blue Band box and put her under the fast-binder at the back of his bike.

My Angel sister Mariet was not allowed to be buried on blessed ground of the real Catholic Church's graveyard but instead on a small parcel of ground next to it.

When I was a toddler and a bit older, often Mom would take me there for a visit.

She told me about my older sister that had my name... I could feel her unprocessed grief. 

I've for that reason, always felt so very close to her and in a way tried to live for her as well.

Maybe that's why I got two crowns on my head, a funny way for trying to part my hair when making two tails.

Later on that parcel of ground, an iron shop got constructed, also selling household goods.

~

My Angel sister has been always very close and I often can sense her presence. 

She has been watching over me.

When I talked to Mom over the phone after she got hospitalized, it was on my Angel Sister's Birthday, January 11, 2015. 

Mom had been weeping all night, so scared and feeling so lonely.

Then around 7:00 AM Dutch time (1:00 AM our time), I called and a gracious nurse lend her the phone for half an hour.

I started by saying to her: Congrats with the Birthday of your first born today!

Oh, she said, is it?... I had not realized that and her voice changed.

I then went on that SOON she would finally be able to hold and hug her and SEE her for the first time.

She did so on January 27, 2015.

It felt so good for sharing these thoughts with her, her innermost thoughts and even for me myself, they'd been pent up feelings for so many years.

When Dad himself, was still active as the family patriarch, Mom's obituary came to be like above:

My Angel sister is listed at the very top, strange though with her baptismal name, one of three and she never got baptized...

Guess they found it odd for listing twice 'Mariet'...

Dad had arranged a solemn requiem Mass at our local Catholic Church, where also the choir sang, in which Mom was a member for over 25 years and lately, together with Dad.

Organ music and all.

Again, this got done by Dad, the patriarch!

The patriarch had died himself so now my sister Diny took the lead, and she omitted our Angel sister!

So that is WHY she Died TWICE!

She did however add her significant other to whom she was not married...

Worse, there was NO requiem Mass, nothing, not even a chance for condoleances.

And that for Dad, who got his Royal Certificate for being a Choir Member for exactly 81 years to the date of his death. He got a Certificate for 70 and 80 years; unique in The Netherlands!

Over the weekend we heard that our honorary member has died

Piet Van den Munckhof

Piet has until this day been a member of the Horster Men's Choir; he joined in July of 1938 and was by far the oldest member of our association.

Although he has not been actively singing in our choir for many years, in May we were able to enjoy his singing qualities when singing the old Horster Anthem. As an accomplished performer, he recited this song at the St. Lambert Church.

"Horst can boast of scholars, shine because of their great talent", he sang then.

Piet was our teacher for many years as a 1st tenor and we are grateful to him for his contribution and commitment.

Board and members

Horster Men's Choir

Horster Mannenkoor

In the guest book of the (Horster Men's Choir)—Horster Mannenkoor—I replied to the above:

Deemed board of directors and members,

From Dublin, Georgia we would like to bring the following to your attention.

We had a certain premonition and therefore we were during Papa's last days in Horst and thus have been able to say goodbye.

We cannot take the thought out of us, how wonderful it would have been if his very beloved Horster Mannenkoor would have graced his Requiem Mass.

We do not doubt that the singers would have liked to have done so.

Unfortunately, my younger brothers and sisters have denied you this opportunity because they decided not to have a Requiem Mass...!

We congratulate the board of directors and members of the Horster Men's Choir for the well-chosen words in the newspaper report of Hallo Horst aan de Maas.

With respect and warm greetings from the U.S.A.,

Mariet(te) Van den Munckhof-Vedder

Pieter Vedder

PS The American law first uses the maiden name, then that of the spouse.

Related links:

From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia | previous post by me

{January 11 Angel Sister had 1st Birthday in Heaven together with Mom...} | previous post by me

{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} | previous post by me

Uncle Jan A Role Model

 

Picture from 1947 with Dad on the left, Uncle Louis, Aunt Nelly and Uncle Jan helping with harvesting potatoes.

Grandpa Van den Munckhof had purchased the land in1943 in Dad's name and Dad started to work on it after Easter 1945 for making a living. 

From Easter 1945, Dad no longer went into servitude, working for a big farmer, as he did since age 15.

He had moved back in with his Parents...  

That's also why his siblings, still living with their Parents, got involved helping out.

July 1950 Dad & Mom between the Fava Beans.

Those plants grow 1 meter tall and need to be planted together as they tend to fall.

Loved the velvety inside of those long beans when opening them up for gathering those broad beans.

We ate them a lot!

By the way, Mom was pregnant with me in this photo!

Uncle Jan made lots of photos, and he frequently helped Dad out before he started his own work as a house painter.

It was also Uncle Jan that made all of my baby pictures!

Very grateful to him for having done so!

Being also a first tenor, like Dad, and singing in the same choir, they spent more time together.

~

My 19 months younger sister Diny has always been very resentful because of my baby pictures...

Because my Angel Sister was 13 months older than I am, she would have been the FIRST grandchild in the Van den Munckhof family. 

So Uncle Jan did capture me frequently, also as he came to help Dad out in the field.

Sometimes, goodness is misunderstood...

The kind photographer, Uncle Jan on April 4, 1959 on his wedding day...

In 1984 we got invited for their 25th wedding anniversary in The Netherlands but could not be there.

Traveling from the U.S.A. was not always feasible for such events...

Uncle Jan is the Godfather of my youngest brother Jan, who got born before Uncle Jan's marriage.

Stay tuned...

Related posts;

{Papa is 90 today!} | Showing some of my baby pictures taken by Uncle Jan

{60 Years Ago} | Showing some baby pictures taken by Uncle Jan

Skyline Drive & Shenandoah River in Virginia

So after staying 'home' for the day of the tornado on October 31, we woke up on November 1, to SUNSHINE!

It was good foresight from me to book us 4 nights here at the Hyatt Place in Charlottesville, VA...

So off we went to our Skyline Drive in Virginia.

Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive and the other way driving south, you enter the Blue Ridge Parkway what we did for two days.

This was in Waynesboro, Virginia around 10:00 in the morning and look at the blue sky!

After a visit at the Visitor Center to pick up some brochures and maps, I had to capture our U.S.A. flag waving against the blue sky here at Lyndhurst, Virginia.

Oh, the gentleman at the Visitor Center told us that the ENTIRE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY was CLOSED! This due to lots of fallen trees because of the tornado...

How lucky we both have been for having had two sunny days when we rode it on October 28 and 29!

So here we enter SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK on the SKYLINE DRIVE...

At the entrance I showed our National Park Pass and that was all fine but the lady told us that we had to turn back around the building as there was a fallen tree on the narrow road and it could not be removed in time.

About one hour later, we entered, after using a regular road, at Swift Run Gap Entrance Station and turned north on the Skyline Drive to start our new adventure...

That way we missed about ⅓ of the entire Skyline Drive but it was not as bad as tourists that had come down from New Hampshire to enter the Blue Ridge Parkway and had to go back! Sad for those people who came in vain.

Shenandoah National Park, Elkton, Virginia

Oh, the golden colors of Autumn agains the blue sky!

Shenandoah National Park, Stanardsville, Virginia

Yep, at Stanardsville, Virginia the time and temperature 36ºF or 2.2ºC tells you that at that height it was cold! 
It even had been as low as 32ºF or 0ºC before...

Shenandoah National Park, Elkton, Virginia, so we are circling back and forth into certain sections.

Mighty views over quite a distance!

Shenandoah National Park, Stanley, Virginia giving you a better impression by this overview. 
Don't listen to my Limburgs... I just say: 'yesterday tornado and today beautiful clear weather. First section was closed but here we are!'

In 1968 the eastern hemlock tree was present in the Appalachian and they were over 300 years old. 
Sadly Ninety-five percent of Shenandoah's hemlocks are gone, killed by an invasive pest called the hemlock woolly adelgid. 
This was at Sperryville, Virginia.

Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville, Virginia
The gray, broken tree trunks of Hemlock Springs remind us of the hundreds of thousands already lost and the ecosystems forever changed.

Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park, Bentonville, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park, Bentonville, Virginia with our Nissan Murano against the rocks to the left.

Shenandoah National Park, Washington, Virginia with some more dead Eastern Hemlock Trees...

Shenandoah National Park, Washington, Virginia - Yep, this was very close to Washington, D.C. the nation's capitol.

Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal, Virginia with Pieter standing against a gorgeous background where you even see Shenandoah River to the left and Shenandoah Valley...

Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal, Virginia
For seeing all The Overlooks of Skyline Drive click here
When exiting the Skyline Drive we were in awe of the sight of the Virginian Stack Train (yep, TWO layers of containers!!!) passing by!

What a sight at Riverton junction, VA just click through... Got more of this majestic Virginian on my Pinterest under FAVORITE PLACES I've Visited...

Shenandoah, Virginia and the Shenandoah River

Being more precise, South Fork Shenandoah River...

With my brother Jan at our home:

Did sent from Shenandoah River in Shenandoah, this short video via WhatsApp to my youngest brother Jan Van den Munckhof... This is us on July 27, 1999 singing along with John Denver - Take me Home, Country Roads click on link
Sweet memories of their 1st visit to the USA and Jan with wife Wilma intended to drive to Shenandoah, Virginia but got discouraged by the way too vast distance and never went all the way.
So I wrote to Jan: In my thoughts I took you along... and then sent him the location.

South Fork Shenandoah River as seen from the bridge in Shenandoah, Virginia

The other side of South Fork Shenandoah River in Shenandoah, Virginia
From there I drove back to our Whole Foods Market near the hotel, also to Trader Joe's and Costco to do some shopping and to gas up for next day when we would be heading to our next destination.

Both of us felt very happy and blessed with such great weather for all our outings.
Despite not being able to do any hiking, this was a great adventure!

The total km 353.1 km or 219.4 miles and the 9h 7m is total time, including our breaks for food and shopping etc.

Skyline Drive - Shenandoah National Park click it

Stay tuned for next part!

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related links:
Monticello Gardens of President Thomas Jefferson and Mulberry Row | previous post by me
Mabry Mill Restaurant and Blue Ridge Parkway | previous post by me

Finally Taking my NONAGENARIAN up the Blue Ridge Parkway | previous post by me
Our 2nd Cabin Stay at The Hill on Cherokee Lake | previous post by me

SO Proud of my NONAGENARIAN | previous post by me