Howard Hughes III, here. It works…am never sick…knock on cherrywood.

Joan, All of us love to travel…and love nature. The first trip my son and I took alone together was when he was 7 which made me 24. We flew into San Francisco, rented a car and drove up to Mendocino and Noyo Bay for a few days, and then down to Carmel. He was a great little navigator. I gave him the maps, and he told me where to go. I rarely buy things on trips, but in Carmel bought a polychromed wood carved blue jay…I love blue jays. So I told you I decided to come here on ‘accident’ when was in Shell Beach and just googled a hotel that had separate cottages. Brought the basics….a few things always take. A gold framed painting my son did for me for his college graduation, framed family photos, and that blue jay from our first trip together. After we left Carmel we were driving down the coast in Big Sur and was close to sunset…I pulled over. The water was turning orange and pink…the wind and birds in all the pine trees. I said, “This is the meaning of life.” “What to you mean, Mom?” “All of this…sea, forest, beauty, you and me.” We used to have property in Lake Arrowhead by the water and later built a house there…. I bought a white VW pop-top camping van…because I thought to have a son means taking. We had a lot of fun in that crazy contraption. Here’s a funny short trip with a friend and our kids camping. Would never camp again just did for my son, and skiing etc all the rest..we were always doing something fun. http://ezinearticles.com/?Mom-Style-Camping—-Hells-Angels-And-Bubonic-P…

“He seemed quite nonplussed, then said they had nothing to do with him … that he was merely “keeping them for a friend.” Mmm, humm. Like the hubby in the marital bed with a girl when his wife arrives home. The girl dresses and the wife demands explanations. The husband calmly dresses too. “What girl?” AKA: ‘Who do you believe, me or your lying eyes?’ The little dears can be lots of fun.

I learned to dance standing on my Dad’s feet in the living room to Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, etc. That and with my brothers at my wedding are favorite dancing memories. The last time was in October at a friend’s son’s wedding in Santa Barbara—lots of fun. The best dancer ever was my husband. We were totally in sync on the dance floor, something that delighted us both. A favorite time was on the moonlit terrace at the Mauna Kea resort. There was a small group playing, I had a beautiful dress with fitted sheer black lace sleeves and bodice for the occasion. The sound of the waves, the fragrance of fragapani blossoms. We were with his cousin who was the hotel’s golf-pro. My husband kept saying to our table,”Excuse us, I’d like to dance with my wife.” He couldn’t sit down with good music playing. Even on the kichen floors he was like floating. Doubt I’ll ever meet someone who can dance like that again. And that’s a wonderful photo of the Obamas…they are a couple like the Bidens who are MFEO. Very nice to see.

I love Penelope Cruz. Beautiful, classy, charming, intelligent….she is a fabulous person and actress and she dresses beautifully and gives a great interview on Letterman etc. Dignified, funny, feminine….she has it all. And love Woody Allen films..can’t wait to see it. Thanks for this great interview.

What are aristocratic credentials in a meritocracy? Acquired? ie Wallis Simpson, Pauline de Rothschild, Princess Grace? We have been a country run into the ground in the last 8 years by Bush Inc which crassness personifie and worshipped nothing but the almighty dollar; which they so devalued. Today, at the Davos World Economic Conference the presidents of Russia and China blamed America for the global economic crisis. Thank you Bush Inc. That should do wonders for our Pew Research Rating of global opinions of the US, which have been in the tank for the last 8 year, but assume are improving under President Obama. Someone who is a bonafide member of Jackie Kennedy’s ‘Natural aristocracy.’

Phyllis….oops…I thought your quote would be ok as in itallics but I guess need to do * for some letters. c’est la vie.

Joan, You’d love my son. He started traveling in 8th grade and has never stopped…and has lived in many great places, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Boston, Italy, Paris, Aix-in-Provence, Amsterdam, etc. That’s so great you made that a priority. He doesn’t just go to glammy places either…he’s seen it all.

DeB, “The thought of what might have been, sends a cold shiver up my spine, sort of like just missing being hit by a fast train!” You betcha!

DeB, I thought that, too. They are so darling together. After losing his first wife and baby daughter so tragically, am sure he relishes every moment with someone he so obviously adores and admires, and it is a blessing for his two boys, too. Two educated people with great values one heart beat away instead of the running soap-opera….saved.

Elizabeth, When I was 34 and my son 17 we arrived back in Boston from the Cape and missed our late flight, went to a huge hotel near the airport, and had a long, circuitous walk to the room…then got there and they gave us one bed instead of two….all the way back for another room, repeat process it was after 1AM and we had an early flight. My son was in bed asleep and I’d just gotten out of the shower when alarms start blaring, lights flashing and the phone rang. “This is an emergency, not a drill. Exit your room calmly, take the stairs out. Take your room key. Do not use the elevators.” Click. I heard fire truck sirens coming and went to the window to look down 5 stories on people walking to the lawn. “Get up Rob.” He’d been in Europe all summer with his school trip and was exhausted and wouldn’t get up. I looksed down and saw there was a fairly substanial ledge beneath the window that led a few feet left abutted to a four story roof. “Well, there’s a ledge and if we had to, we can walk over and jump down a floor to another roof.” “We’re fine.” The fire looked confined to a building wing away…I could faintly smell smoke so put a wet towel under the door and opened the window. Could still hear people rushing down the hall. But I was exhausted too so just watched to see if it got worse. And then from that incident started wearing white yoga togs to bed in hotels…then always presentable if have to get out. My son is always calm, but remembering this can’t believe I thought, oh well we we can walk a ledge 5 stories up if need be, rather than walk down as directed. Youth. We thought we could half-fly.

Joan, “I would say that entrepreneurial behavior is definitely in the genes!” Saint Joan of Arc is the best argument for genes that ever existed.

Ms Dee, Wonderful post. And love morning glories…..we had a house at the top of a hill with wooden winding stairs going up through pine trees all laced with morning glories….it was like an enchanted forest…they are so cheerful, gemlike and hardy.

Sandy, We didn’t sit around the TV either…how great that both of your girls went to Berkeley.I agree that our Founders gave us a terrific blueprint of values.

Very funny image. I love those little white pique robes and the white slides and green accented white coffee cup…makes it a real ensemble. With the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence running around in SF….you were practically dressy….and could pull it off with style.