Thanks For The Memories

Tucked in the little town of Ojai CA is one of our very favorite golf courses. 

It is there at Soule Park that we have met some of the most interesting characters that we, now looking back, wish we had gotten a few phone numbers to enjoy their company once again. There was Dong and Quan, Tom and Marius, Karyl Lynn and Jim and a number of others. It was there we cemented our love for each other, where the Boy Scout taught me to be a better sport and it was there we met some other very special individuals.

Bordering the golf course are parks, hillsides and ranch land. Along hole #5 we got to know and love these guys.

Big Knee and Whitey

Whitey and Big Knee were not alone. There was Stubby and Brownie #1,2,3,4. These guys were shy at first but the Boy Scout, not to be dissuaded, would run to the market to buy carrots and apples each time we went golfing. Whitey was pretty aggressive at first, chasing the others off but he stopped that behavior pretty quick; there was enough for everyone. Three of them would come up and eat out of our hands but the rest remained on the outskirts and we obliged their shyness by tossing apples and carrots to them too. It was gratifying to approach the tee box and hear the Boy Scouts piercing whistle and have the lot of them come-a-running. 

They were a motley group, not too good of shape. I am sorry to say that they have disappeared and we are fairly certain that they have been destroyed. They were old and had health issues....we cannot come up with any other scenario. I like the thought that maybe they were relocated to another pasture but it doesn't look likely.

Bummed at their disappearance, we take solace that we may have added some comfort and pleasure in their days with us. Hole 5 will never be the same.

Thanks for the horse love guys....Big Knee, I hope your knee it working perfectly now. Whitey, be nice to your buddies.

Let's Fall A Little

Signs of fall fill the air even in sunny California. The mornings are darker and have a bit of a chill to them. The bedroom window remains open but maybe not quite as open as before. The children of Ventura are back to their routines and the soccer fields are full. Our late afternoon golf is being pressed into ever tightening spans and I am looking forward to the twilight rates starting a little earlier in the day. 

We play a lot up in a tiny town called Ojai. It has its appeal. The Ojai stereotype wears Birkenstocks and drives a Volvo. It's considered a bastion for liberals with strong connections to Hollywood. A good proximity to studios, theaters and clubs but out of the way from the hustle and bustle and starstruck fans. There are two courses up there; the Ojai Valley Inn, which is beautiful and expensive, and our little course called Soule Park. I love it up there, nestled in the mountains with oak trees and pines vying for their space in the sun. 

The Boy Scout and I have played, fought, kissed, talked, strategized, sang and dreamed (and did I mention fought) up on this golf course. If we lost each other today it would always hold a very special place in my heart. Last time we were there, I talked to him about what a good teacher he has been to me. So patient and encouraging, no matter how bad the shot he would have something nice to say. I think it might have been on hole 8 where he turned to me and said something like, "If you've been taught by me, you've been taught by my dad."  So very sweet. I wish I could have met the Boy Scout's parents....I might understand him a little better if I had.

Anyway, one lovely thing about Ojai is that when the beach is socked in with fog (which can be anytime but especially May, June, September), a drive up the mountain reveals a warm sunny spot to shop or play. It can get pretty toasty in the summer; often times reaching into the 90's but the fog can weigh heavy on my heart so the sunny heat can be a nice reprieve. 

If you ever visit Los Angeles, a short trip north to Ventura, Ojai and Santa Barbara is well worth the time, especially in the fall. But don't expect New England here......we don't have seasons. We have loads of warm and sunny days and the days in between warm and sunny are usually very bearable. Our trees, except for a few, are not aware that they are suppose to change colors. 

The fall has come and it is more than welcome.