Who knew there could be so many sporting events on one night?
Saturday night in Napa found me and a high school buddy, who lives in Santa Rosa, in “Lucy,”one of the tonier restaurants at a hotel where my new Oakland neighbor Clint Imboden has a couple of sculptures on exhibit. I invited Judy to accompany me on the trek from her home in Sonoma valley, over the mountain via twisty-turny Trinity Drive, to the quaint town of Yountville in Napa Valley. The views of both valleys from the road were spectacular. Sunset doesn't happen until nearly nine O'Clock this far north.
During our exploratory tootle around the grounds of Hotel Bardessono, we saw neighbor Clint’s out door wood sculpture - a lovely mahogany Jupiter-like structure called “Spheres.” We also toured the orchard, herb, vegetable, and flower gardens, as well as multiple water features surrounding the immaculate, lovely, and private grounds. A trio of mini Stone-Henge-esque arches created a beautiful, though noisy fall of water in one of the inner courtyards. Not sure I’d like to have the room nearest that feature. Nor am I certain how much longer the California drought will allow such extravagant water usage. One of my favorite features was sitting on smooth monolith benches in the cool of the evening. They had absorbed the sun all day. Mmmmm… a sensory feast of smoothness and warmth.
We were lucky to see Clint’s indoor sculpture in the bar area. His “Half Globe with Screw-Drivers" was just under the Bar's TV. We ducked to get a close-up view, trying not to disturb the flat-screen focus of a dozen or so wine-enthusiasts, who were equally glued to their wine goblets as to the two or three different events- one featuring horses, another, Giants and Dodgers, and the third, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Mimicking the televised events was a shi-shi wedding. We saw, in our wanderings, the bride and groom just ducking-in to their bridal suite to freshen up before joining the reception party. Several pair of five-inch stilettos clacked along the cement walk ways on their way to being shed, I'm sure, during the dance part of the dinner. One gallant escort deftly supported his gal's elbow, so as to take some weight off her screaming toes. All were there in celebration of the young couple. Mother of the bride was in full Kimono, Obi and traditional Japanese coiffure. Her foot attire, while it still wouldn't allow her to field a ball, were at least flatter, so more sensible, even though they were equally clacky. What sort of warm-up is required to brutalize one's feet so extremely? Seems sort of like a voluntary mammogram for feetsies! OUCH!
It was clear to see, in the blushing bride’s eyes, that she thought her honey had hit a home run. In his eyes we could see that she had won the race to his heart. Judy and I are hopeful they’ll never resort to pugilism... not even if there’s a hefty purse involved!
Our dinner was delicious - Baby Carrot salad and Sea Bass for Judy; Duck Breast with Baby Turnips and Bok Choy from the garden for me.
Our dining companions at the next table were a couple from Orange County, there for a different wedding the day before. They have a second home in Napa. Whenever there was a roar from the bar, he dashed to see the score. From her, we learned about the joyful nature of their Golden Retriever, Gunner, and the not-so-joyful demeanor of her ex-husband.
I kept thinking how lucky I am to be in love with my beloved these forty three years after we said, "I DO!" Lucky am I, that when he does go to camp event weekends, I can call a buddy and have new and sporting adventures.
Only an hour or so north, Napa and Sonoma are beautiful counties… fit for an American Pharaoh.
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