California!

     Last week we were in Sacramento for a visit with Richard's brother Ray and his wife, Rosemary.   I was aware of many changes in the twenty years since our last California visit; medical marijuana is now in widespread use for not only pain in chronic disease, but also for acid reflux, insomnia, headaches, etc. One of the neighbors seems to be using it in his backyard.   The Feds are investigating profiteering and insist it is against national laws.   We read of shoot-outs in the foothills over marijuana patches - prescriptions seem to be readily available and providers are supposed to be non-profit.  
       Less smog in the air than when we visited decades ago due to  new car changes and smog checks on old cars, regulations on wood burning and other causes of pollution.    
       Bicycles are everywhere with lanes marked in most streets.   Some electric bicycles speed along.   In San Francisco, we were told that nude bicycle rides are the rage.    The city council is trying to prohibit nudity on public transportation; an ordinance has been introduced to require the nude to bring a towel with them if they are eating out in a restaurant!
         Farmers markets have sprung up all over the city; lush, beautiful fruits and vegetables, locally
grown, are in demand with crowds of shoppers.   Actually, everywhere we visited as tourists was full
of consumers who were buying products.
        Cell phone towers are cleverly and realistically disguised as tall pine trees - they actually look like
native trees.   California is always entertaining to a Midwesterner!