memorial day

san francisco has been on the chilly side this weekend so i threw on several layers to keep warm. since it’s memorial day weekend i thought i would keep the color scheme patriotic with red, white, and blue. but it doesn’t hurt to throw on a pair of cheetah flats and belt to pump up the volume. oscar and i are headed to the groomer so i hope you don’t mind if i share a few of our favorite spots along the way.

our  local market is whole foods and is only a few short blocks from our home. we made a quick pit stop to stock up on a few of our favorites (french bread, hummus, and olives from the olive bar). plus a cannoli for my husband.

parking is tight in the city so we couldn’t pass up a photo-op with one person’s solution. not certain how safe it is outside of the local streets. but it can’t be beat for a tight parking space, and outsmarting the meter maids who are always on the prowl.

oscar knows several blocks beforehand that green pawz is fast approaching, and is notorious for pulling on his leash until we arrive. it’s a veritable paradise for canines with treats, and toys galore. oscar loves the ‘bully stick’ which he proudly carries in his mouth all the way back home. although once, he dropped it in favor of a nasty old ball sitting in the gutter….

oscar was scheduled for the full groom today so we took the opportunity to head to a nearby cafe for a cold beer. (a cup of hot tea might have been the wiser choice).

every once in a while my photographer relinquishes his camera, and i step behind the lens. i didn’t do too badly, but then i have a good subject. my husband recently celebrated his 63rd birthday. (i think he still looks pretty darn good!).

but then the camera quickly switches hands, and it’s back to me. i have a collection of pins i’ve bought through the years that i like to wear on my jean jacket. usually, i sport my gecko pin that my husband bought years ago in hawaii. we lived on an island for five years, and shared our home with a multitude of geckos so this pin holds a special place in my heart. years ago, i accidentally drove over one when pulling into our driveway. my then seven year old was witness to the crime as he was the designated gate-opener to our wrought iron gates that secured the entrance to our home. he claimed i was a murderer, then proceeded to pitch a major fit. it didn’t last long as his two older brothers thunked him on the head on their way inside the house. afterward, he had something entirely different to wail about. oh, the joys of motherhood.

this is one of our go-to neighborhood stops if we don’t stop in at ben and jerry’s first. we both have a weakness for ice cream no matter what the temperature.

this just happens to be one of many spectacular street scenes along our daily route. i think you can see why so many people have left their hearts in san francisco.

for those of you living in the states, happy memorial day. and, a big thank you to all of the veterans young and old that have diligently kept watch over our country. my father was a marine, serving his country during the korean war. if he were still alive he’d regale a tale or two about his three year stint with the armed service. i think i might have to curl up and watch a john wayne movie in his honor. miss you pops!

how was your memorial day weekend? drop me a note, i love to hear from you!

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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