California, reception, reunion

Derek, Irena and me

Took a trip to California this last weekend to celebrate and honor my cousin Derek's marriage at a small reception. I felt so priviledged to be invited; our reunion had been fifteen years coming. He was my childhood best friend, outside of siblings of course, and that connection came rushing back in a few precious instants of conversation and reflective walks. My parents were there, too, along with a number of other family members I hadn't seen in years. San Francisco offered periods of relaxation, more out of inability to do anything else than lack of a to-do list. I took this picture of us just after leaving the chocolate festival at Ghirardelli Square. Cheers.