Celebrating and Appreciating!

On March 28, 2023March 30, 2023 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Photography, Photos70 Comments

On March 4th, I shared the adventure in San Francisco my husband and I went on for his birthday in February. If you missed it and would like to check it out, here is the link: https://baydreamerwrites.com/2023/03/04/sun-on-the-city/
I’m sharing our fun and educational experience to give you insight into the fabulous museums in the iconic city and to focus on appreciating fine art. Not so much on our birthdays. I know some people would rather skip their birthdays altogether. But not me. I love to celebrate with family, friends, good wine and food, and once a year, yes, cake!

Life is so full of tragedy these days with yet another school shooting yesterday that we should truly live each day with every ounce of energy and joy because the fragility of tomorrow is no surprise. So, the good news is that we are alive to celebrate another year of life. That doesn’t mean our bodies won’t change as the years pass, but we can still “stop and smell the flowers” even with aches, pains, a few more wrinkles (laugh lines), and gray hairs. Sure beats the alternative, right??? So, here we go!

San Francisco sits “in our backyard” but we tend to venture west or north more often than south. Lately, we have changed our compass to relive some of the adventures from years ago. The de Young Museum was our next destination. Below is a brief description from Wikipedia:

The de Young Museum, formally the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, is a fine arts museum located in San Francisco, California. Located in Golden Gate Park, it is a component of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, along with the Legion of Honor. The de Young is named for early San Francisco newspaperman M. H. de Young.

The de Young showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international contemporary art, textiles, and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific and Africa. The deYoung Museum Collections include: American Art, African Art, Oceanic Art, Arts of the Americas, Costume and Textile Arts, Graphic Arts, Photography and Sculpture. Some of the collection is accessible online on the museum website and Google Arts and Culture.

As I mentioned on the 4th, time won’t allow me to caption each photo. So, I hope you enjoy the slideshow below of only a small amount of the art. My cell battery was beginning to conk out, so I had to give it a rest. Some pieces were awe-inspiring, some very moving, others fascinating. I was in awe of the tiny details in paintings and sculptures and the incredible talent and skill needed to achieve such fantastic artwork. The photos don’t do justice, but I hope you can see what a fabulous collection this museum offers:

Photos I took throughout the day…

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
~ Vincent Van Gogh

The first photo above was taken from inside the museum, the three following were taken from the observatory on the 9th floor. This was another stunning day in the big city, sunny, cold, a bit windy, but with the umbrella of a clear, blue sky. The view from the observatory was spectacular!

The photos below were taken when we walked around the grounds. We wanted to ride the ferris wheel, but the line was a mile long. No patience to wait. The observatory is in the tall brown building on the 9th floor. That’s where you could hear everyone ooh and ahh at the stunning views of San Francisco and the museum surroundings.

The trees in the photo above are mostly London Plane and Scotch Elm, which are heavily cut back to give a very regular and formal appearance to the plaza.

I couldn’t leave out the pretty and unique flowers…

Selfie time and a bit windy. When we left the museum later in the afternoon, we drove to The Presidio in San Francisco and walked on the tunnel tops: The Presidio Tunnel Tops project creates San Francisco’s great escape – a 14-acre oasis at the center of the Presidio featuring views, nature, and play.

This was our first time on these tunnel tops and what an amazing oasis! You’ll see the playground for kids, the view of San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, the highway beneath, and red Adirondack chairs that we parked ourselves on to enjoy the view. It was fun to see sailboats, yachts, wind surfers, and other water sports aficionados on the bay.

It was a “hair in face” day, but beautiful indeed! At the end of the day, who doesn’t like to go out for dinner? But we decided that after being out from morning until early evening and indulging in a great lunch on the cafe patio, staying in sounded nice and cozy. My hubby who is not a baker, made me my most favorite dessert, a homemade carrot cake (albeit with my supervision). And it was (still is) delicious! Although, most went into the freezer yesterday morning. Can’t eat it all week. 😁

I closed my eyes and thought of a wish before blowing out the candles, but honestly, I am so grateful for my life: for my husband, daughter and son, sisters, and friends for making this a special birthday. And for you in this wonderful blogging community!
❤️🙏🏻

Thanks for popping in and I hope you enjoyed the art, nature, and the importance of celebrating life! Keep celebrating!
Live Life!

Lauren 💝💝

Waiting to Exhale

On October 19, 2021 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry, Writing44 Comments

The calendar showed October 4^th, 2012. She and I sat in the sterile office surrounded by semi-gloss light blue walls, our hearts thumping, hands like ice. We waited for the man who wore a white coat to join us, hoping he would provide gentle answers to appease our questions.

The matter was serious, but when I first saw his face, I thought of Santa, stark white hair and fluffy beard, red, rosy cheeks good for pinching. The only thing missing was the apple red hat, and though he would bear dreadful news, his smile was welcoming, as if the three of us were meeting for a stroll in the park on a lovely spring afternoon.

It was amazing how a tiny scope could be guided through the mouth and throat then down the esophagus. CT scans, lab work, MRIs, and a needle too long to discuss occupied her hours for over 1,000 days. Still, we craved clarity. Our world was hazy like thick fog a driver would endure crossing the Golden Gate Bridge during summer in the wee hours of the morning.
And we waited – a necessary evil that all people grapple with too often to count the times on their hands.

Then on that autumn day came words we would have liked to have hurled back to Santa. We had hoped for gentle. Instead…
“All tests point to this auto immune disease, and there is no cause or cure,” he told us with a touch of remorse. The future would necessitate a transplant. It was not cancer, but this finding should not be shunned. She was twenty years old, like a sunflower of friendliness and optimism. He added, “Just live your life.”

I felt her physical pain rip through each atrium and ventricle – my most excruciating moments of being a parent. But her strength embraced and consoled me, her mother, of all things.
Life pulled us through each season.

The calendar now presents the year 2021: She is a lovely, young woman – a wedding band adorns her left ring finger, and geography has changed along with a new insurance card. She meets with another man who wears a similar white coat. X-rays and jabs repeat. “All of your tests are normal,” he affirms. All is normal. Words we had hoped to hear from this new expert.
“I don’t see a reason to keep you in the same box,” he confirms.

This is amazing news! But abdominal stabs and pruritus from the past were as tangible as a twisted knife to the gut. How can we negate that agony? What is the deeper meaning? Should we get the champagne flutes out, give them a quick wash? Has this nightmare finally ended? She chooses to live in the here and now.
Life continues to draw us forward to witness each sunrise and sunset,
although we are still waiting to exhale.

Working on “Finding a Balance”

On January 12, 2015 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion72 Comments

Dear Friends,

I am embarking on a new adventure and this is an introduction. My second poetry book, “Finding a Balance” is almost ready for publication and it’s nice to not be such a novice the second time around. This book isn’t just about sharing more poems I have written. It’s not only about me. It holds a deeper meaning; the new adventure part. The proceeds will be donated to an organization for a purpose close to my heart and my family’s. I’ll begin, though, with a back story…

Part I:
After three years of abdominal pain and ongoing tests, on October 4, 2012, our daughter, Stephanie, was diagnosed with Primary Schlerosing Cholangitis (PSC). She was 21 years old. Her doctor was the head of the Gastroenterology department and was extremely competent. He didn’t beat around the bush. He told us this wasn’t good. Below is a brief description:

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a very rare condition where the bile ducts inside and outside the liver become inflamed, leading to scarring, narrowing and blocked ducts, potentially causing a build-up of bile in the liver, and in some cases cirrhosis. Patients with PSC are at a high risk of developing liver cancer. Symptoms begin gradually with abdominal pain and itchiness and include worsening fatigue and, later, jaundice. Liver transplantation is the only cure for prolonged life. This is usually needed within 10 years of the diagnosis, but each patient’s case is different.

I’ll try to keep the drama at bay, but I’m sure you can imagine our reaction. Our daughter doesn’t drink or do drugs so there is nothing she did to provoke this diagnosis, which is why it’s called an auto immune disease. This was a shock to our entire family. My husband and I had many emotional moments, wishing we could take her place. We were paralyzed of doing anything that didn’t need doing for the rest of that year, except for the necessity of living. We asked God why…why Steph? She has a heart of gold and is simply a nice, caring individual. Many have asked these same questions and there are still blanks waiting to be filled.

Since 2012, she has had symptom flare ups with several ER visits, but otherwise, on the outside, she’s beautiful and looks perfectly healthy. The doctor told her to live life to its fullest. That was his profound advice. She has a stellar attitude. She lives in the HERE AND NOW and there is no other option. She is due to graduate this year with a Bachelor’s Degree and has been busy with school, friends, her boyfriend and of course, family, with no time to sulk. She is human, though. She has broken down at times, but I think, as her parents, our score is higher.

So…I’m telling you this not for sympathy but to bring awareness to this horrible, slow progressing, life threatening disease and most importantly, the need for organ donors.

Part II:

All proceeds from my book will go to The Chris Klug Foundation (www.chrisklugfoundation.org), also found on Facebook.
Chris (born November 18, 1972) is a professional alpine snowboarder. After receiving a liver transplant in 2000 to treat PSC, he went on to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, winning a bronze medal in the Parallel Giant Slalom. This was the first and so far only time a transplantee had competed in the Olympics. He also won a bronze medal and lit the torch at the 2002 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games. In 2004, Chris released a book called To the Edge and Back: My Story from Organ Transplant Survivor to Olympic Snowboarder. (Wonderful book of inspiration and hope)

Below is an overview and mission of his Foundation:

Founded in 2003 by liver transplant recipient and Olympic snowboarder Chris Klug, The Chris Klug Foundation is dedicated to promoting lifesaving donation and improving the quality of life for donors, donor families, organ transplant candidates and recipients.
CKF is passionate about sharing the message of donation, and educating people on the impact one person can have on the lives of so many others. Over one hundred and ten thousand people are currently on waiting lists for solid organ transplants across the U.S.A. CKF is devoted to making a difference to those waiting for a second chance. We are also there to help promote the message of organ donation.
Working with young people across the nation, CKF provides campaign materials and information for “Donor Dudes” chapters in high schools and college campuses. People everywhere are touched by organ donation and transplants, and we want to get the message to everyone.

The publication for my book will be at the end of this month or beginning of February. I’ll do a separate post when it’s available and again, I’m very excited for this new collection to have a greater, deeper purpose.
Our life now is about “Finding a Balance” between PSC and all the good things!

Someday Stephanie will need a liver transplant so becoming an organ donor is an unselfish way of giving another soul a second chance.

Thanks so much for reading and I wish you all Happiness and Good Health!
If you’re so inclined, prayers and positive thoughts
for Stephanie will be greatly appreciated.

Lauren
♥ ♥ ♥

Be

On July 2, 2013 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry44 Comments

Are you ready to smile?
How about a chuckle?
Say bye to the blues
and all your troubles
Forget your laundry
It never ends
So what’s the point
Call up your friends
Leave technology
it won’t forsake you
Its devotion is solid
and so very true
Shed the comfort coat
Give life a try
Reach with your “All”
You may touch the sky
Now dance around
for everyone to see
Don’t be shy
Be You, Be Free
Just
Be