My friend, Edna, age 72, who has MS

[Guest guest]

Edna asked me this morning whether I had told the group about

our latest "jaunt," in Marco Polo, her first since her hip replace

ment (right) on Election Day. Edna tells me that she "elected"

to have her "elective" surgery on "election" day.

Well, I had to admit that I had failed to report on our latest

excusrion in Marco Polo, as the list had not been very ac

tive, and we have been concerned about some of our mem

bers facing some very serious and life-altering challenges:

Kate, Akiba, Jolie, and so many others of us.

So, I just got off the phone from talking to Edna, and she

asked me whether I had posted yet to "our group." Edna

does not use a computer, is somewhat dysgraphic, and

has severe arthritis in all joints, hands included. Soooo,

I agreed to post about our last adventure.

Well, last Sunday, at Edna's request--she was actually

walking to prove to me that she could get to and from

restrooms during our "day away from it all," and was

using her walker and/or cane very well--we departed

for Point Reyes (Kings Point) Peninsula and the Tomales

Point Tule Elk Reserve.

We observed many, many vultures, wild turkeys, ravens,

red-tailed hawks, falcons (many varieties), black-tailed

deer (Hooray!), the usual social and friendly cattle, more

varieties of birds: black-shouldered kites, burrowing owls,

Canada Geese, and, as luck would have it, hundreds of

Tule Elk, adult bulls, cows, juveniles, and even babies.

And tourists. We stopped to look at some of the elk,

and a car filled with, as we learned, tourists from India,

asked for directions to the Tule Elk Reserve. We had

the pleasure of informing them that they had landed in

it and pointed out the Tule Elk! We also saw what are

called "pocket gophers," who just burrow tunnels and

essentially live in them; they are minuscule versions of

the ordinary gophers, and are very assertive--the Elk

and the Deer do steer clear of them.

So, we had a terrific day, which we ended by splurging

to celebrate Edna's return to society by going out to

dinner at Saul's restaurant and deli in Berkeley, where

everyone was very happy to see Edna.

The cattle, the deer and the elk, seemed indifferent

to their adoring admirers:

http://www.sfgate.com/getoutside/1996/aug/elkinfo.html

So, now, when Edna and I talk again, I can assure her that I

have kept you up-to-date on everything.

n

P.S. If I have already posted about this--though I could not find

that I had--just bear in mind that both of us are really "MSed up." M.~