tilerite
10-13-2009, 08:10 PM
This past weekend was quite an experience for me and my wife. We traveled to San Francisco to attend my good friend Alan's third wedding. What made this event so extraordinary was; this was the first time I have seen Alan in roughly 8 years. Alan and I met in 8th grade and we instantly became best friends and remained best friends throughout our school years and beyond.
In 1994, both Alan and his wife and me and my wife, decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona. Coincidentally, neither family initially knew about the others plans. After many years in the desert, Alan, a master chef, and his family moved to California to take a job at Wolfgang Pucks restaurant. Just after that, my family moved back east to N. Carolina.
Alan and I had a bit of a falling out and for reasons I won't go into, we did not speak to each other after we moved apart. Last year I found his wife's website and sent her an e-mail. She told us that they had gotten divorced and she forwarded me his e-mail address. I sent him a message and he left me the most exciting message on my answering machine.
Talking to him again felt like old times. I also came to find out that he had fallen in love again and was planning a wedding. One year later, my wife and I found ourselves sharing in his special day and reconnecting with him and his kids who I was also very close with. Of course, no trip to San Francisco would be complete without some sightseeing so we spent our first two days at Fishermans Wharf which is an amazing place filled with people, seals, restaurants, activities and enough eye candy to fill a camera.
After our stay at the Wharf, we rented a car drove to Pleasanton, about an hour east, to get ready for the wedding. The night before the wedding, we finally met up with Alan, his kids, his fiance and their friends and families. He had us over at a local Chevy's restaurant for drinks (he is the executive director of research and development for Chevy's).
The next day, we were picked up at the hotel by a limo-shuttle and taken to Murietta's Well, a famous winery in Livermore, in the middle of California's wine country. The wedding was spectacular, as was the food and drinks. After the wedding we partied at the hotel bar and the next morning, we were treated to brunch by the bride's family.
After the brunch, we loaded up the car and headed north through Oakland, past San Fran and into Muir Woods, home to one of the last remaining stands of coastal redwoods. I've been waiting all my life to see these amazing trees, the tallest living things on God's green earth. It was worth the wait.
We finally headed back to San Fran to prepare for our 10:45PM flight home. After crossing the Golden Gate, we found ourselves caught in the middle of gridlock. It was "fleet week" (featuring the Blue Angels) and the city was overrun by people. The "Presidents Cup" golf tourney and a 49ers game, made the situation even worse. It was a frustrating end to a great trip. Some pictures;
In 1994, both Alan and his wife and me and my wife, decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona. Coincidentally, neither family initially knew about the others plans. After many years in the desert, Alan, a master chef, and his family moved to California to take a job at Wolfgang Pucks restaurant. Just after that, my family moved back east to N. Carolina.
Alan and I had a bit of a falling out and for reasons I won't go into, we did not speak to each other after we moved apart. Last year I found his wife's website and sent her an e-mail. She told us that they had gotten divorced and she forwarded me his e-mail address. I sent him a message and he left me the most exciting message on my answering machine.
Talking to him again felt like old times. I also came to find out that he had fallen in love again and was planning a wedding. One year later, my wife and I found ourselves sharing in his special day and reconnecting with him and his kids who I was also very close with. Of course, no trip to San Francisco would be complete without some sightseeing so we spent our first two days at Fishermans Wharf which is an amazing place filled with people, seals, restaurants, activities and enough eye candy to fill a camera.
After our stay at the Wharf, we rented a car drove to Pleasanton, about an hour east, to get ready for the wedding. The night before the wedding, we finally met up with Alan, his kids, his fiance and their friends and families. He had us over at a local Chevy's restaurant for drinks (he is the executive director of research and development for Chevy's).
The next day, we were picked up at the hotel by a limo-shuttle and taken to Murietta's Well, a famous winery in Livermore, in the middle of California's wine country. The wedding was spectacular, as was the food and drinks. After the wedding we partied at the hotel bar and the next morning, we were treated to brunch by the bride's family.
After the brunch, we loaded up the car and headed north through Oakland, past San Fran and into Muir Woods, home to one of the last remaining stands of coastal redwoods. I've been waiting all my life to see these amazing trees, the tallest living things on God's green earth. It was worth the wait.
We finally headed back to San Fran to prepare for our 10:45PM flight home. After crossing the Golden Gate, we found ourselves caught in the middle of gridlock. It was "fleet week" (featuring the Blue Angels) and the city was overrun by people. The "Presidents Cup" golf tourney and a 49ers game, made the situation even worse. It was a frustrating end to a great trip. Some pictures;