Jennyarn

There are comic book conventions a couple times a year. That’s what I gather; I’m
no expert. In fact, I’m not even much interested. I went to a comic book convention
anyway, despite the heat, despite a preference for some other activity. It was my
Dad who wanted to go, and I did not wish for him to go alone. I think it made his day.

On entering the giant hall I joked that we were not likely to see any Blythe
dolls there. He joked too, asking if there was a Blythe-from-outer-space doll.
And so we had our father/daughter outing, he examining the classics and me
trolling for ice cream.

I got to feeling glad that I’d agreed to go. My Dad’s health is very bad and his
life is not such that he is able to enjoy much leisure. This meant a lot to him.

We started heading in the direction of the doors to exit. I guess I stopped in
my tracks. My Dad wondered what on earth I found so enthralling, amidst
Darth Vadar figurines and such. He couldn’t imagine I’d be that mesmerized
by something there. And yet I was! Guess what I saw? Two Blythe dolls, in
their Blythe boxes, were perched amongst the miscellaneous gizmos. No way!

One was a tall box and that held an Ashton Drake Blythe. I was too dazed
to remember which one; I think it was Pinafore Purple. She looked enormous
compared with the other doll. Was the other doll a mini Blythe? I surmised
that it was. It didn’t seem right, although I had never put my Medieval Mood
and Hello Harvest boxes side by side. I am still new to the enchanting world
of Blythe dolls. But wait, a Natasha Moore mini-Blythe? Wait a minute…

The young fellow manning the booth explained that both Blythes were of similar
size, but that the boxes were quite different. (He also abashedly mentioned that
he knew more about Blythes than he ever dreamed he would). So that was Natasha
Moore! Without her overcoat and glasses she looked so different! And she looked so
petite next to Pinafore Purple, in their boxes anyway.

I had never seen Blythe dolls for sale in person. I never dreamed Natasha Moore
was so lovely! Her colorings were much more refined and subtle than the photos
I’d seen had captured.

My Dad said, “let’s get her!” I had to protest, but my protesting got me nowhere.
I suppose from a position of being spoiled rotten, they got me somewhere. My Dad
insisted, making light of my reasons against getting her, and he bought her for me.
I am still gasted with flabber. I mean, I am still flabbergasted! What a nice doll. What
an extremely nice Dad. He most certainly made my day. I’m calling her Giselle.

Santa Cruz is the place I like to be.

But even my favorite place has traffic. I was stuck at a juncture where Highway 1, Highway 9 and Highway 17 converge. This is not a hassle, I reasoned. It is a photo opportunity.

Seen only from a highway, are there many places that look appealing? In some places, like San Francisco, one is forced to drive through parts of the city to continue on one’s merry way north. Or south. Is it good for commerce? I don’t know. I attest that I’ve never been remotely tempted to stop and buy something. Is it ridiculous for traffic? I won’t bother with a speculation on that! It’s not as though it’s some scenic drive either.

Highway 1 goes right through Santa Cruz, complete with traffic lights, and is there called Mission Street. I can’t say it makes for a good impression.

Train travel gives a unique if not constricted cross-section of a city. The few times I’ve traveled by train through familiar cities, I wasn’t rightly sure I’d know from the track-side views where exactly I was.

Speaking of which, here is a secret. You know what signs I find fascinating? You Are Here signs. Chances are, if you have a fascination for them, it’s not such a good sign, for you! I ought not to say this, but I am deeply affected by those signs! Why are they so disturbing? It’s not because they make graffiti superfluous. Here is a secret: I love those signs. Let’s think of them as assuring and move on to Mission Street.

Sure, having a highway cut through town is not ideal but Mission Street is not merely a means to an end. There are some notably cool places to go right on that busy street. One is Emily’s. I went there.

You can forget the highway! Emily’s has a little patio with beautiful trees alongside a stream - the San Lorenzo River. Go there. Have a muffin. All other muffins - relatively terrible. Their muffins - delightful.