Frost Advisory: nighttime temperatures will approach freezing. This is a Big Deal for southern California. The winter of the year I bought this house (1987), we had almost a month of hard frosts (below freezing) and all the ornamental plants around the perimeter of the back yard died.

That beautiful back yard, ringed with hibuscus bushes and centered by a huge old mulberry tree, was the reason I chose this house over the others I had seen during my search for a new home. The weather was gorgeous; the scorching temps of July and September were done for the year. I fell in love.

But, as is so true with lovers and Neptune, disenchantment set in. The hibiscus died. The mulberry was not amused. The house had no heat, neither central heat nor wall heater (which had been removed preparatory to putting in central heating). We welcomed the piling on of dogs and cats each night; our pets put aside their petty squabbles under the inducement of greater warmth.

I still have wool sweaters, Aran knits, from that winter, which I haven't had the opportunity to wear since then (not cold enough). We got central heat installed as soon as the weather warmed up (less expensive) and our savings account had recovered from buying a house and moving costs (had to buy washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator).

Separated and then divorced a few months after that. Moving 20 miles away was not sufficient to convince husband at the time that I would not put up with his teenage mistress on the side. A fresh start, I thought, but it didn't work out.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then. Time really does heal.