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“We each do our own thing,” said Kristin,  Said Kelley Daly, the youngest daugh- My heart brimmed with love and pride
          who enjoys hiking out front, alone, savor-  ter:  “Last night, when we snuck over   as I watched Kim interact with other
          ing the serenity of the early morning.  to the hot tub with our wine, it was so   ranch guests. So vibrant, smart, happy
                                             much fun.  We talked and talked – the  – and always empathetic, understanding,
          But during the day, it was easy to spot   longest talks we’ve had in years. It’s been   eager to nurture. Finally Kim had time to
          mother and daughter Sorenson together   like that every night – the slumber party   nurture herself.
          – laughing at themselves in a strip   effect kicks in.”
          tease dance class, sunbathing at the wom-                              “Being here brings back so many warm
          en’s health center, sitting                                                     memories of childhood –
          together on a weathered                                                         when it was just the two of
          wooden swing, deep  in                                                          us: no husbands, no  kids,
          conversation                                                                    no work deadlines, no jug-
                                                                                          gling responsibilities – just
          “In my mind’s eye during                                                        the two of us off playing
          the year, I’ll revisit these                                                    together,” my daughter
          things,” Kristin said. “I’ll                                                    said.  “It’s been 30 years
          feel the serenity of the                                                        since we’ve had that.”
          morning hikes  – and the
          laughter we shared in                                                           All week long, we delight-
          some of our classes: pilates,                                                   ed in having the time and
          dance, circuit training. I’ll                                                   space to play – and loved
          be able to call up the mem-                                                     that the only thing we had
          ories we’re making now.”                                                        to do was be good to our-
                                                                                          selves, pamper our bodies
          Some   mother/daughter                                                          with healthy food, lots of
          pairs admit they began                                                          exercise, massages and
          their Rancho La Puerta                                                          aromatherapy wraps. At
          week with a bit of trepida-                                                     sundown, we loved sitting
          tion.                              Of course, it’s not just about talking. It’s   on our patio, listening to the last breath
                                             about listening, too.  It’s about seeing   of day as it rustled through the branches
          “For the past six weeks, Julia’s been shak-  each other in a different light, about   of eucalyptus and sycamores.  We loved
          ing in her boots, worrying about spend-  shedding roles to really appreciate the   that we had time to talk – really talk.
          ing a week with her mother,” said Jill   extraordinary individual who just hap-
          Weinberg, 57.                      pens to be your mother – or your daugh- “If I could change one thing about this
                                             ter.                               place,” Kim said. “I’d make it so there are
          Julia Weinberg Kramer, 26, shrugged,                                  30 hours in a day, 10 days in the week. ”
          then read a copy of an email she’d sent to   My daughter, Kim DaRosa, lives in San
          her  Chicago-area  siblings:  “First,  let  me   Francisco. It’s an easy commute and we   We cherished the time we had in
          assuage your fears – everything is going   visit often – but for whatever reason, our   our  “stress-free cocoon,” as Kim  called
          great…”                            visits are often harried. There are always   it – and in the end, both loved that we
                                             things to do, places to go, people to see.   could confirm something we’d probably
          Julia added:  “We’re having a wonderful                               known all along, but hadn’t taken much
          time; our whole family is shocked. “  Not long ago we spent our first week   time to think about: that each of us is
                                             together at the Ranch.  It was different   the kind of woman we’d have chosen for
          Dorie Smith, from Lafayette, Calif., ac-  there; we had time to breathe, to fill our   a best friend, even if we weren’t mother
          knowledged she had to do some slick ne-  lungs with the scents of sage, rosemary   and daughter.
          gotiating to get her daughters to join her   and lavender that hugged the curving
          at the Ranch. The sisters said finding time   brick path that led to our hacienda.  Nei-  IF YOU GO
          in their hectic schedules for the getaway   ther of us wanted the week to end.
          was monumental – but added they were                                  Getting there: Because  The Ranch is in
          leery of pushing the bonding envelope   We started most of our days before dawn,  Mexico,  just across the border, you’ll need
          too far. Instead of the usual weeklong stay,  joining sunrise hikes – but were giddy   a passport to visit. Roundtrip bus trans-
          they agreed to join mom for four days.  and guilt-free on the morning we slept in   portation is provided from San Diego’s
                                             and had breakfast delivered to our villa.  Lindbergh Field.
          “I thought we’d be bored,” confessed Sierra   We sweat a lot – and rewarded ourselves
          Higgens, Dorie’s oldest daughter.  “I stand   with transcendent treatments at the spa.  Staying there:  Weekly rates range from
          corrected. It’s been great. I wish we were   We took a cooking class at the ranch’s La   $3,150 to $4,800 per person, depending
          going to be here for the week.”    Cocina que Canta, where we learned to   on season, room type and number of oc-
                                             make guacamole with peas – and made a   cupants in the room. Get 20 percent off by
          Added middle daughter, Tracey Millham:   chocolate cake, so that we could lick the   booking 9-12 months in advance, 15 per-
          “Would I do this again? In a heartbeat – if   bowl.                   cent off by booking 6-8 months in advance.
          mom will take us.”                                                    Learn more: www.rancholapuerta.com.



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