A Woman in Search Of...

The following Saturday Wendy and Elliott arrived in San Diego around eleven. A beautiful day greeted them with clear blue skies. They checked into a motel on the Motel Circle. After eating lunch nearby, they headed for Sea World. They explored the grounds and stopped at most of the exhibits. They watched the dolphins as they flipped in and out of the water and they looked at the fish tanks with many colorful fish and very large crabs. Wendy loved the beautiful white jellyfish, in their own small aquarium. They were so dainty in their slow upward and downward movements…spectacular to watch.

“All these sea creatures are exceptional, don’t you think?”

“They truly are.” Elliott turned around and looked at a display. “This is the first time I’ve seen such large crabs. They look gross.”

“Maybe it’s why I don’t like shellfish,” Wendy laughed.

Elliott laughed with her.

At the gift shop Elliott bought Wendy a black tee shirt with a dolphin on it. She loved it. They stopped to buy ice cream cones and brought them to a bench near the starfish pool where they watched children touching them, followed by squeals of excitement.

They dined at an elegant restaurant with the booths separated by gold and silver cloth. They sat next to each other instead of across. They cozied together as they talked about their day and their immediate plans. As soon as dinner ended, they were back in their room, the evening ending with Wendy’s unrelenting passion.

On Sunday they went to the San Diego Zoo. The animals were so close. Wendy and Elliott laughed at the antics of the monkeys and strolled to the elephants. Wendy hadn’t laughed this much in a very long time. She stared at the elephants and for the first time realized how big they were and was impressed at how regal they looked. Baby elephants stood next to their mothers who flopped their ears back and forth.

Another wonderful day sped by and before they knew it, they headed home. During the long drive, they talked incessantly about their time together and how similar their interests were. Their shared need for creativity locked them together. In addition, he was nurturing and supportive of what she believed in. After a discussion about women’s rights Wendy added, “I’m so happy you’re good with equal rights for women. In the late sixties it was Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan who first made me aware of the importance of women and equal rights. These women led the women’s liberation movement, or women’s lib, as it’s known. The overwhelming support helped push the Supreme Court to approve Roe vs Wade which allowed for abortion.”

“I knew about some of the action, but never looked into the movement. It amazed me how gutsy and supportive activities increased over time. I remember the marches and women standing outside the Supreme Court with signs. Women finally standing up for their rights, it must have been invigorating.”

“It was…a whole new world opening up for women.” They stopped in San Juan Capistrano for lunch. As they continued their trip north, Wendy realized how much she truly liked everything about Elliott. He always asked about her businesses and was supported of both. Once at Wendy’s, Elliott walked her into the house, but he couldn’t stay. They were both exhausted and he needed to stop by his office.

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