I had the most amazing day! I was able to go to the de young Museum in San Francisco to see the Impressionistic and Post-Impressionistic art exhibit! Which included Van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, Rousseau, and so many others! It was beautiful. I spent hours soaking everything in, and took way too long trying to figure out what I wanted at the gift store. We (Nathan, and Caitlin and her family) also stopped beforehand at the Bay Street Mall and had some delicious, healthy, cheap food at ASkew, a dining choice I highly recommend. I had a chicken-lime skewer over baby greens plus a cup of butternut squash soup. Afterward we stopped at a teacake shop and got some sweet treats (I chose the lemon-buttermilk cupcake) as well as, of course, coffee. It was such a wonderful day.

Experiences, I am learning, are everything. There is so much I want to do, so much I want to see. This was only my second time going to a museum, and my first time going to an art museum. I can't believe I was able to see original paintings from all these Impressionist artists! Paintings that are worth unimaginable amounts and paintings that have traveled the world! I couldn't get enough of all of it. The atmosphere added to the whole experience as well. It was really busy today, and thus many people were packed into the showrooms; but it was a silent kind of busy, or at least relatively silent. Everyone just sort of shifts along together, almost like a dance. Some people are discussing the art, others are listening to the history of it through the audio-tours, and others are doing both. These experiences are exactly what I love. The history, the masterpieces, the people, the appreciation. I love day trips like today, especially unexpected ones. I realized today that the last 3 times I've been to the city have been on whimsical, spur of the moment occasions, and all within the last couple months. First, seeing the opera Madama Butterfly, then going to the Brooke Fraser show, and now visiting the de young Museum.

I honestly cannot WAIT for my trip to Seattle. (It'll be another 'first,' and I'm going for New Years!!) Another realm of experiences is going to be opened up, and I just hope it is the small start of many to come. (Flying on a plane for the first time in 4 years, and having the flight be over one hour is an experience in itself...especially in 'snow' weather...especially when I am not friends with flying...) This is obviously something I will have to overcome since I am attempting to see the world in my lifetime.

Goodnight everyone! Hope your Christmases were blessed.