by Amy Chayefsky

A little something else

It’s a beautiful autumn afternoon in LaJolla, as Chris and I wait for our youthful guide to teach us the high art of ocean kayaking – in 5 minutes or less.

Chris & Me, braving the elements

Four foot swells don’t sound so big till you are balancing in a kayak, for the every first time!

Wibbelty Wobbelty Woo

Our guide got pooped on!

Pelicans, Seagulls, Cormorants and kelp forest abound in this wildlife preserve. Dozens and dozens of pelicans circled 20 feet over our heads – a veritable cloud of flying dinosaurs!

Sea Lion was here, waiting for a big set of waves, then dove in off the cliff that briefly was not too high above the water line

Due to the heavy sea, we were unable to kayak into the sea caves. Here was a gateway to a little oasis dug out of the cliffs, cliffs that are topped with $20+ million dollar homes

I know, I know. This doesn’t look like a personal stretch, right?

Was this a fun and fabulous experience? Absolutely!

I was planning to be in San Diego that weekend with my nephew Chris and Jim & Anita Allardice to see Harvey Feirstein’s musical rendition of Uncle Paddy’s ‘The Catered Affair’.

When Chris called with this idea of going sea cave kayaking I said yes because it was so clear that he wanted to, but my wee chicken-heart was a thumpin’. Then I realized, what a great something else, a personal stretch, something I would not have thought of if left to me.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat – and I will – and I will take many with me.

Six Degrees – Jim’s dad was pal’s with Uncle Paddy during the golden age of television, he himself being a renowned writer of TV and film. Jim jr. related to me how just recently he was reading his dad’s journal and he was talking about my Uncle Paddy. Jim jr. and I had never met before, he got us the tickets to the Globe Theatre and I met him at dinner, before the show.

My nephew Chris is indeed my ‘Tipping Point’ social connector!Why ‘Something Else’? Part of my graduate work at Prescott College.

S u r v i v

o r s !