(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, Ca) -  We read that humans are hardwired to surround themselves with other humans; family and friends are part of our pod.  Knowing people for a long time but knowing little about them happens and particularly at Lake Murray where we spend lots of time. Other places where people congregate are the same. People that go to Lake Murray for an hour or two at approximately the same time each day are bound to know each other.

They become so familiar and comfortable that we think of them as friends, intimates and people that we consider being our advocates.  We say that we are like a family but we really don't know a great deal about each other. We stop for a few minutes to chat, a friendly wave or greeting. Word gets around when others are missing, an illness, a trip, if there is project in the offing or news they hear on their I-Pod.

The lake friends' communication line is stronger than a prison grapevine. Someone always knows what is going on. Just ask anyone. If they don't know the answer, they know someone who does. Today Dana Dugan heard on her I-Pod that there was an earthquake this morning in Chile.  On 9/11 I was told on my run that a plane crashed into the twin towers in New York and by the time I was on my way home the third crash had taken place. This was long before most people were having their coffee.

John and Sean have been running at the lake for years.  I met John Lovberg long before I got to meet his wife Sue or their son.  They brought their new dog, Dixie to the lake for its inauguration run.  I heard that John was a scientist; he is actually a physicist.  He was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He now lives in Kensington. Lake people know Sean Prendergast too but I wonder how many know he was born in Castlemain, County Kerry Ireland. He goes back to Ireland occasionally to help his dad on the farm. He and his family live in Del Cerro. Sean is a Certified Public Accountant.

John has been running at the lake for about 10 years.  Sean started running there in 1986.  Each has run 17 marathons including all of the 12 Rock N Roll marathons. The guys sort of run together,  I say sort of, because one of them is always in front of the other. I think it has something to do with when the endorphins kick in. By the way, Sean is known as John at the lake.  His real name is Sean so that is what I like to call him. Sean is the one with the red curly hair and maybe some freckles. John is blond and taller.

Sean and John met each other at their daughters' school doing volunteer work. The men's daughters: Aine Predergast is 20 years old and Lilli Lovberg is 21 years old. 

Each started dancing around five years of age.  They dance with Malone Academy of Irish Dance. Aine and Lilli have competed in local, regional national and world competitions, solo and in teams in the United States and in Ireland.

Lilli was last year's Miss Colleen of the annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade.  She represented San Diego in the Maiden of the Mourne pageant in Ireland. Aine is this year's Miss Colleen and will travel to Ireland to compete in the Maiden of the Mourne pageant in August. Aine has danced in the world championship of Irish Dance in Ireland three times. Aine is studying political science with a minor in women's studies. Lilly wants to be a fashion consultant. Congratulations ladies and to your parents Sean and Mary, John and Sue. After all these years, it is good to learn about your families.

The San Diego version of torrential rains created the huge sinkhole at the end of San Carlos Bay.  Branches were strewn across the road making more work for lake staff. All of us that braved the elements slogged our way through puddles and patches of slippery mud.  It was great.  The air was fresh and the rain was warm. Other people that partook of the rainy weather were as exuberant as I was. 

Soon we will see a burst of color at the lake. Already the viney wild cucumber is winding itself around anything that is still. It will only be around for a month or two until next year. It is very pretty now.  If you run, walk or bike with your head down you will miss the red, orange and yellow monkey flowers, the vervane, another favorite, pearly everlasting and deer weed is blooming now.  Also, flowering mule fat and black sage.  Check them out soon.

Reservoir Keeper, Gayle Havens told me that as of March 1, the gate to lake parking would be opened to cars at 5:30am instead of 6:00am to accommodate early risers that want to exercise before work.  This new time will be the year-round time opening, so far. Staff never wanted the later time opening but it was a decision they did not make.  Lots of cars are lined up at the entrances as the lake truck approaches the locked gates.

An update on the adoption of Sara Elizabeth from Uganda: Last month I wrote about Amy and Court Levi and their three boys. One boy is adopted and the young Levis' wanted to adopt a Ugandan baby girl that they heard about. Amy and Court went to Uganda and fell in love with Sara Elizabeth who was sickly and not getting the care she needed because it wasn't available.

After much time of waiting and interviews, the Levis' were initially told "yes she will be able to be adopted but she can't be taken out of the country."  Finally, after months of emotional ups and downs, the adoption was finalized and a judge issued a visa for the baby.  She is now home with her new siblings and hopefully will get the medical attention she needs.  The Levis' are hoping that Sara Elizabeth will become a happy, healthy American little girl.

On Thursday, March 18, Dr. Nigella Hillgarth will speak to the Friends of Lake Murray. Dr. Hillgarth is one of our favorite speakers.  Nigella is the Executive Director of the Birch Aquarium.  She came to San Diego from the largest aviary in the nation where she was Executive Director there as well. It is the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Dr. Hillgarth was born in Tipperary, Ireland got her doctorate in animal behavior at Oxford University, England.  She studied bird behavior in the United States, did research in bird behavior in South America and parasites on pheasants in Asia.

The Friends of Lake Murray meet at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church on the corner of Wandermere Dr. and Park Ridge Blvd. at 5:00pm.  For more information call Barbara Cleves at (619) 463-9706 or via email: Barbara.Cleves@ NewsEtc.com.