During the first two weeks in March, Lesley came to visit our family. I was so happy to see my sister and to spend time together. Sophie’s and Eliza’s friend, Libby, remarked “I looked out the window and I thought that I saw TWO of you walking!” (She was not referring to the usual twin phenomena.) Martha told me at one point that she heard Rick and me talking in the living room about photography; however, when she came in the room she was surprised to discover that it was Lesley. She couldn’t believe how similar we sound. When we were growing up, many people, including some family members, couldn’t tell us apart on the phone. Our Young Women president mixed us up in person until I moved out of the house for college.Truth is, I wish I were more like Les, so this is all a great compliment.
We had some amazing adventures in only 2 weeks time—too many to include in this post. Some highlights include the remote beaches on Sandfly Bay and Porpoise Bay, rainforests and waterfalls in the Catlins, hiking to the Rob Roy glacier, and seeing rare birds on the Otago Peninsula. The wildlife sightings were incredible! We saw some very rare species including the Hector’s Dolphin, the NZ Sea Lion, the Royal Albatross, and the Yellow-Eyed Penguin. (The New York Times recently reported that the Yellow-Eyed Penguin faces possible extinction as there are only 2000 left in the wild.) We could hardly break away from our binoculars when we saw the beautiful creatures—so still and cooperative. Gentle and beautiful. We weren’t so keen on the looks or the behavior of the sea lions. Lesley was looking through her camera, and I through binoculars, just in time for a bull to open his disgusting mouth, revealing undigested rot, a jumble of teeth, and slime. It was so revolting we had to laugh at the resemblance to Jabba the Hutt. In contrast to the penguins, the sea lions are violent, uncooperative, and generally discontent. It’s hard not to have favorites.
Lesley is the second best cookie maker I know (Mom still tops the list). I had given up making cookies here, blaming it on the New Zealand butter and the elevation. Les had no problem adapting a variety of recipes and making them scrumptious! Sophie and Eliza are enthusiastic bakers and they really enjoyed helping her with some recipes. One morning the little girls took up a project on their own and made the adults some delicious quiches that they had learned how to make at school. It was so nice being pampered by the chefs.
In addition to her tasty treats, I love Lesley’s sense of humor. She had endless funny comments to make about the “freedom campers”, the Kiwi clothing styles, and the admirable “have a go” and “work it out” mentality. We’ll never forget the train attendant who told us it would serve me right if I didn’t watch my step getting off the train and had to go to hospital. It would be my $5,000 not his. Or the principal who told the kids, on the school biking field trip, that it would serve them right if they drank from their water bottles and then ended up running around the “paddock” with no toilet or cover. These seem humorous only because they were culturally outside of our overprotective culture that is buffered with continual signs, reminders, and legal lawsuits. There is much to be admired in a culture that expects personal responsibility and common sense.
Lesley has visited me in all of the places that I've lived--Colorado, North Carolina, Washington, Utah, and now, New Zealand. She is a dear sister. From the beginning, my memories include her presence. We are so glad that she travelled across the globe to be with our family. Thank you, Les!