Ramble 21: Oh la la, Shangri La

On St. Patrick's Day Sergei and Marge stroll on the pedestrian path along Shoreline Drive. As you know if you've been outside in the last weeks, spring is sprung and: "the sun is a-shinin' to welcome the day, the birds are all singing all happy and gay, heigh ho...." (On this topic of spring ditties, this year Sergei scored a home run with Marge - who loves such things - when he introduced her to a ditty from his childhood:
"Spring is sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is?")

As often happens when it's a particularly warm and lovely weekend day, Marge and Sergei head to their favorite Alameda haunt, the place they call Shangri La (see pix of Shangri La at sunset on the last day of 2012).

On the way on this day, Marge captured this pic of the beach near Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary getting its annual sand re-arrangement.
Here, a trio of youth take advantage of the St. Patrick's Day holiday to relax upon the sand re-arrangers.

Then Marge and Sergei push on to Shangri La where large flocks of birds gather.
Sergei suggests these flocks are preparing to leave for their breeding grounds up north. In some spots along the beach, there are so many birds crowded into such small areas that the tidelands look almost ... textured .... The pic below gives a good sense of that quality of textured tideland that is actually high density bird life. (Note the egret to the right. Marge asks, "Sergei, doesn't that egret remind you of how your grammar school Headmaster hovered nearby to keep an eye on the goings-on as we kids played?"
"Sure does Marge." )

Then on to Shangri La.
On this day, several residences have residents on display in their back yards as they enjoy the beautiful day. (For the map lovers among our readers, Shangri La is on the bay side of what is Bay Street for vehicles, mailmen, and those too timid to explore the dirt footpath).
Sightings of Shangri La residents is unusual - which is why Marge mentions it. On this topic, she's been known to mutter, "If we had the good luck to live along here, Sergei, wouldn't we take every opportunity to hang out outside?"
Sergei mutters his answer, "Yes, Marge." (Once he added, "Marge, you and I, generally, are not covetous people but...do you notice that our most fervent bouts of envy are directed at residents who reside in Shangri La?" In response, he got an ear full from Marge about "making the most of your good luck, appreciating the glory around you, etc.)
Today, Marge is somewhat mollified to discover that at least one set of residents appreciates her/his spectacular location and celebrates it with this totem-like sculpture.
Isn't it something?