this weekend my little sister graduated college. not only did she graduate, but she did it with honors.

while we baked in the sun for three hours (my grandma had to go lay down back at the house and i'm sporting only the best of farmer's tans), my sister beamed in her black gown and mortarboard. she danced across the stage to pick up her diploma and said she didn't even hear the chorus of cheers and yelps in her honor from a covey of friends and family.

afterwards, we lunched in my parents luscious backyard on mediterranean food, they just back from Turkey, with family and friends, including wild Tibetan children who made us all laugh. i surprised my mom by doing all the dishes, unprompted. such a good son i am.

then back on the road to San Francisco, after an enormous breakfast at Morning Glory, through the blazing hot Central Valley, stuck on 80 in Vacaville for hours. okay, maybe just twenty minutes. rushed home to a quick shower and clean clothes for a dinner with aunt, uncle, cousin, cousin, cousin's fiancee, et al, at the delicious Roy's. discovered that a family friend works only five floors up from me. discussed food and travel with cousin's new girlfriend. devoured delicious pancetta encrusted ono. (mm, very ono) ooh'd and ahh'd at the brilliant and very chocolatey dessert the pastry chef had put together for us. celebrated birthdays, father's day, and the impending wedding.

finally, back home to sleep and a moment's peace.

next week, i do it all over again, only bigger.