Stunning Sunset Barbecue Celebration with friends at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz

"Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.” —Kristen Butler

Cecile and I congregated with friends at Seabright State Beach for our annual Sunset Barbecue. This sandy beach sits between Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Harbor. Aside from being a well-known spot for barbecues, and dog lovers, and to catch some stunning sunsets—as witnessed by the photos I posted—Seabright also offers a warmer climate than other local beaches. That being said, we have learned over the years that it is best to bring along warm clothing as the temperature drops as the sun goes down, and this evening was no exception. Everyone brought a side dish or appetizer (cheese & crackers, fresh fruit bowl) raw veggies and hummus dip and drinks to supplement the barbecued hot dogs and chicken skewers. Our friend and neighbor Mark Brodsky volunteered to cook while wearing his Albert Einstein T-Shirt that read: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” I must digress by adding that I found myself wanting to finish Einstein's quote which included its meaning…”For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” My personal belief is the universe was born out of the imagination of intelligence and power higher than our own.

Before we took to our foldable beach chairs to enjoy our barbecue someone from the group yelled out, let’s do Tashlich), a lovely ritual generally practiced by many Jews for Rosh Hashanah. Tashlich means “casting off” in Hebrew and involves symbolically casting off misdeeds of the previous year by tossing pieces of bread into a body of flowing water. Stated another way, it is the act of seeking absolution for not being the kindest and most pleasant version of oneself. So off to the surf we went, each of us tossing a piece of pita bread into the surf. I must say having been raised Catholic, this seemed like a more appealing alternative than going to the revolving door of the confessional to have a priest absolve me of my sins. If nothing else, the seagulls certainly appreciated our efforts.
As the sun began to break the horizon line, it acted precisely like a quote I once read by Pamela Hansford Johnson:
"The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.” 

Peace Everyone!

The Three Amigos Bike Squad Take on Santa Cruz Beach & Beyond

“No road is too long when you have good company."
—Author Unknown

Bill Rothenberg and I picked up James (Jimi) Hunter at his home off Highway 9. He’s so famous they named
a street after him called Hunter Lane (photo). To call him a veteran biking enthusiast would be an understatement.
In ancient times he used to race bikes in the over 30 groups. He is also my good friend who got me back into biking. It was Jimi who organized the Santa Cruz Beach bike ride along the coast. With Bill, a long-time friend being a recent addition to our group, I officially dubbed our name: “The Three Amigos Bike Squad. Of course, I haven’t told Bill and Jimi yet:-)

When one thinks of Santa Cruz, it is of surfers, pot-smoking hippies, redwood trees, and the Boardwalk. However, Santa Cruz County, it turns out is a cyclist’s paradise. There are miles of pristine coastline and bucolic stretches of berry and vegetable farms like artichoke and Brussel sprouts. In fact, Agriculture remains the top industry, surpassing even tourism. Miles of coastline given to the state for public use that includes beaches north of Santa Cruz were provided by a nonprofit trust. 

We began our ride on West Cliff Drive's 3-mile long Bicycle Path with its stunning backdrop of ocean waves and dramatic cliffs, just 25 minutes over the Santa Cruz Mountains from where we live. We reached the Lighthouse Field State Beach which is the home to the surfing museum and the historic lighthouse. Along the way, we were intrigued by a woman riding her bike with her dog riding alongside her with some sort of a harness. Jimi, who struck up a congenial conversation with her, asked if she wouldn’t mind us taking photos of her and her part pit bull. She told me her name was LeeAnn Sherwood, a child of a pastor whose life strayed from her Christian roots. She became addicted to cocaine, danced in strip clubs to make ends meet, and raised a child as a single mother on a 'G-string' budget. Hence, the name of her new book: “Around the World on a G-String available on Amazon.

It turns out that Jimi, once an avid surfer knew her boyfriend, surf icon Keven Reed who according to my research landed the cover of a 1975 issue of Surfing Magazine, having been the first person to do eye-popping aerials. In 2017 it was reported in the San Jose Mercury that Reed was homeless and embroiled in a murder, charges were dropped but he still remained a person of interest. The 60-year-old now goes by the name of Keven Callahan.

After bidding farewell to LeeAnn, we continued on to what would become a 17-mile journey. The trail ends at Natural Bridges State Park, where we used to take the kids when they were young to see the annual migration of monarch butterflies, 

We then stopped at the Blue Whale Skeleton exhibit with 18-foot jawbones on the ocean bluff at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center on McAllister Way, at the end of the road of the UC Santa Cruz Marine Campus entrance. and the Wilder Ranch State Park which has 4,505 acres, with 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails winding through breathtaking coastal terraces and valleys. 

Most of the trails we traversed were over uneven sand and gravel terrain that challenged us. My Sondor’s electric-assist bike with the fat tires was made for this environment. We decided to head back just short of Bonny Doon Beach, a clothing-optional Nude Beach where I used to hang glide back in the day. We took a short cut along the railroad tracks.

When we got back into town we visited Santa Cruz bikes. One of the bikes we saw was priced at $8000. They allow anyone to take their bikes for a test drive. One of those riders turned out to be one of Bill’s former co-workers who retired to Santa Cruz.

We had three choices of where to eat and by executive order by Jimi (because he was treating) we ended up at Santa Cruz Taqueria Santa Cruz #1 and ordered a veggie burrito and a chicken burrito and it was good.

A Double Celebration at our Home: Rosh Hashanah & Kim's Birthday

“The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people.”—Author unknown

Last evening marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and we were joined by our daughter Michelle, husband Kyle and little Lyla, Kyle’s mom Kim and husband AL Chien, our son Jason and partner Alex for an intimate dinner.

Rosh Hashanah traditionally begins at sundown. It is time to share a meal and prayer with family and friends. Cecile began the ritual of lighting the candles to usher in the Jewish Holidays. The lit candle creates a sacred space and brings joy and peace to the home. After lighting the candles—in this case, two—representing the male and female aspects of God’s presence, with eyes closed, Cecile swept her hands in a circular motion above the flames a few times to welcome the holiday into our home. She then lifted the cloth covering from the freshly baked round Challah and Jason recited the blessing over the wine. Michelle recited the hamotzi (blessing over the bread). We then proceeded to break off pieces of challah and Cecile instructed our non-Jewish guests to dip their bread in the honey which symbolizes one’s wish for a sweet new year to come.

Rosh Hashanah literally means the beginning or “head of the year,” the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, considered to be the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. During this period, Jews focus their attention on reflecting on one’s negative actions and misdeeds of the past year and atoning for those actions.

Unlike some ancient cultures such as the Celts who celebrated the start of the new year during the spring equinox because it was the time of planting, Semitic cultures in the Near East celebrated the new year in the fall, after the harvest was gathered. To greet someone on Rosh Hashanah one could just say, “Shanah Tovah,” which means “good year” in Hebrew.

“Rosh Hashanah is sometimes called “The Feast of the Trumpets," a celebration of creation or the “birthday of the world.” 

Cecile prepared a feast for us including a fresh tomato salad, baked spinach casserole, baked salmon filet, brisket, Sephardic Style borekas, a unique dough that gently folds and stretches over cheese-laden potato filling, and other goodies. This was followed by ice cream, apple pie and a fresh banana birthday cake we ordered from “Icing on the Cake,” in honor of Kim’s birthday.

A Colorful Family Day & Taking Lyla & Decker to the Rose Garden

"Grandchildren are like flowers, you never get tired of watching them grow."—author unknown

Friday is our new babysitting day for our granddaughter, Lyla. Cecile was there by 6:30 AM and our son Jason and I got there about the same time. I Ubered up later in the morning. Our son in law Kyle took a long bike ride and hooked up with us later and Michelle was at work.
I brought their handsome German Shepard, Decker a couple of bone-shaped biscuits I picked up in the doggie basket at Charles Schwab while making a deposit. Yes, this is dog-friendly California and bringing treats for Decker makes you a friend for life.

I took over the noon sitting shift from Cecile. Lyla was staring rather intently at her uncle Jason. She doesn’t see him as often, but he had the day off from work and joined in the fun. I got the honors to feed Lyla after her nap—my favorite thing to do and Jason and I took her and Decker to the rose garden at Red Morton Community Park in Redwood City. The park is huge, and though Jason had been to this park before he had not seen the Rose Garden, decorative Roman fountain and the Bocce ball court on the far end of the park.

The temperature was about 83 degrees, the air sweet and mild, a slight breeze in the air, and a white band of cloud formation that hung above the hills in the distance. This was in far contrast to the 98-degree weather we had the other day.

Lyla was fixated on the large blooming purple rose, my favorite color. She is at the stage where everything goes into her mouth. She is now recently begun brushing her four teeth and loves doing it.

After Jason and I circumnavigated the park we headed back to Kyle and Michelle’s house. it was time for another bottle feeding, and nap time. When she woke up her "dada Kyle" took over and we said our goodbyes. She has finally mastered the word dada.

Jason returned home, and Cecile and I headed for Standford Shopping Center. We did some food gathering at Sigona’s family-owned produce and specialty grocery store, which has the feel of an old-fashion open-air market of years ago.
As we headed back to Cecile’s car, I took some photos of the flower blossoms in the large cement plant holders that grace the grounds of Palo Alto’s signature shopping center.

What a lovely way to have the day unfold, and a great way to begin the weekend.

Biking the Steven's Creek Trail & Visiting the Magical Pelican Nesting Grounds

“Life is short. If there was ever a time to follow your passion and do something that matters…that moment is now.” 
—Author Unknown

At a certain time in life, most of us begin to realize we no longer have the same kind of energy and resiliency of our younger years, and biking stops being fun. Pedal-assist biking or e-biking has changed all that and has restored the joy of childhood and the freedom and thrill of moving through time and space.

My neighbor, friend and new riding companion of late, Bill Rothenberg met me in front of my townhouse and secured my bike alongside his on the back rack of his Suburban. Bill has an Adventum and I have a Sondors pedal-assist bicycle that gives one the feeling of having bionic legs. A push of the button on the steering wheel, gives you that added boost that creates an exhilarating experience, especially when climbing hills. 

We drove to an access point to the Steven’s Creek Trail. Bill cautioned me that the concrete bridge has a long on-ramp that has hairpin turns of 180 degrees and it is best to start out slowly. One of those turns almost brings you to a near standstill. The paved trail traverses the west side of Highway 85 and enters into a lighted tunnel under El Camino Real.

Though not part of the Bay Trail itself, the Stevens Creek Trail is a 5-mile paved feeder considered an important gateway to the Bay Trail that follows along the banks of Steven’s Creek. It is one of the most ambitious and best-developed trails in the Bay Area that cost about $30 million to build and funded with private and public funds. Building the trail required the construction of several bridges and underpasses, and the planting of thousands of trees and shrubs, benches, signs and drinking fountains. 

The trail eventually led us to Shoreline Lake, the marshlands and a stunning panoramic view of the South Bay. Part of the trail is on a raised levee, with steep inclines on each side. There was a pleasant breeze blowing off the San Francisco Bay that kept us cool. Everything is slightly downhill, with the trail heading straight to the Bay with grasslands and swampy areas on each side. 

As we rode the perimeter of the Bay, I recommended to Bill that we visit a series of little islets where hundreds of white pelicans, ducks, and shorebirds have their nesting grounds in the marshes off the main jetty facing the Dunbarton Bridge in the distance. Cecile and I used to walk these trails with great frequency. Except for bikers, joggers and bird watchers, most of the crowd stays in the lake area. We spotted two professional nature photographers strategically located with their tripods and massive zoom lenses capturing the images of these majestic creatures. 

Bill and I were famished. We had lunch at the lakeside bistro. I had a veggie sandwich and fries and Bill had a Chinese chicken salad. We had a pristine view of the lake, surrounded by colorful umbrellas, squirrels, and birds hoping to feast on the scraps of food left on the plates by vacating diners. We then rode our bikes back towards where we began and loaded them on the bike rack and headed back home, having completed what turned out to be a 16-mile adventure.

Pelican Symbolism: In many cultures, pelicans are believed to be a symbol of purity, peace, kindness, generosity and good luck. They also teach us to be patient and strong and learn to recharge our batteries to help us endure the many difficulties of life that come our way. Finally, they beckon us to be calm and enjoy life.

A Peekaboo Mirror & Baby Gaga Moment with our Granddaughter Lyla

“Just when you think you know all that love is…along comes a grandchild.”—author unknown

The best toy that will keep a baby entertained, is not expensive, you probably have one in your own home, and it is great for their development is the bathroom or living room mirror. Like most babies, Lyla, now 9 months old, loves mirrors. We have all seen babies amused and suddenly become very playful in front of mirrors. What first appears as a blur until their eyes develop soon becomes a love affair with their image. In the beginning, the image that they see is their best friend. Before you know it by six and seven months babies like Lyla can see clearly, recognize their parents and are doing Face Time with grandma and grandpa. Though Lyla has been making blabbering sounds for a while, now at nine months old she is making Baby Gaga sounds trying to communicate with her reflection in the mirror and with all of us as well. 

Last week my wife Cecile (Nonnie) bought Lyla a book at Books Inc., called Baby Can Do: Peekaboo Baby with a fun mirror surprise (on the last page) by Roger Priddy, Natalie Munday (Editor). This engaging book full of bright photographs of happy babies and colorful objects is basically a peep-through book of babies. After I played with her, fed her, and took her for a long stroll around Red Morton Community Park in Redwood City, Cecile read Lyla the Peekaboo book for the first time. I took a photo of her seeing her reflection in the child-safe mirror on the last page. It was love at first sight. She maneuvered her self forward to kiss the hard surface multiple times.

When humankind first saw their own reflection on any surface that was capable of casting its own image, our fascination began. When I was taking photographs of Lyla at the park I saw a bigger than life shadow image of myself on the concrete walkway and I found myself prompted in a child-like way to take a photo of it. 

The Greek myth of Narcissus, the young hunter enamored by his own beauty reflected in a pool of water tells us that our fascination with our image dates back to ancient times. One could say that refection pools were humankind's first natural mirrors.

The Neolithic man produced mirrors made from polished obsidian, a form of volcanic glass. They have been uncovered in central Turkey in 6000 BCE. Later mirrors made their appearance in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Small, copper disc mirrors dating back to 4000 to 3000 BCE have been recovered in the Tigris-Euphrates River Valley in modern-day Iraq.

Ancient Greeks and Romans manufactured mirrors. During a trip to Venice more than 10 years ago, Cecile and I learned that the process of making fine, glass mirrors was later perfected by the Venetians, particularly by glassmakers on the island of Murano dating back to 1364, which became known as the Isle of Glass.

Mirrors have a long and fascinating history. More than just tools to serve our vanity, mirrors occupy an important place in our mythologies, legends, and tales—even on the big screen. In the 1991 Disney version of “Beauty and the Beast,” the Beast has an enchanted mirror that allows the user to see anything he or she wishes to see.
Lewis Carroll’s Through The Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871), the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), where Alice travels again to an alternative world through the magic mirror.

The child in the mirror and in our life is our granddaughter Lyla. May she grow up to love her self, her life and the people around her.

Sources cited:
http://www.mythbeliefs.com/…/mirror-mirror-on-wall-history-…
https://pathways.org/blog/mirrors-good-baby/

A Family Gathering a British-style Pub in the Park with Live Music

“Everybody loves Bluegrass. Many just don’t realize it yet.”

Our daughter Michelle and husband Kyle invited us to attend PUB In the PARK event at Red Morton Community Park in Redwood City. Cecile, her sister Sherry visiting from South Carolina, our son Jason and I met up with Kim and AL Chien, Kyle’s brother Chip Lewis visiting from NYC and their father Ed.

We spent a leisurely end-of-summer afternoon sipping cold beers on tap from local breweries poured and served in a larger than life inflatable British-Style pub. We sat on blankets and lawn chairs while listening to live Americana and Bluegrass music and eating delicious tacos, quesadillas, and tortas from Los Tolucas Mexican Food Truck. We had to show ID before we could enter the whimsical pub. The attendant at the entrance made us wear a wrist band. He said just think of it as TSA at the airport. Mine read OVER 21-AGE VERIFIED. How politically correct, I thought:-)

With its large laid-back open spaces, complete with shady trees and grassy lawns Red Morton Community Park was the perfect venue to hang out with family and friends, enjoying each other’s company.

We were entertained by the Stoney Mountain Ramblers who are influenced by the traditions of Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, and the Grateful Dead. "The Ramblers got the crowd hootin’ and hollerin’ with their hot picking, high-lonesome harmonies, barn-burning dance tunes" that had some adults and young kids alike on their feet. The Ramblers have performed in a variety of historic Bay Area bluegrass venues including the Pioneer Saloon, the Brookdale Lodge, and the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival in Hollister, CA.

As the last call for beer was made, the last set by the band announced and the security guards leaving the premises, we thought it an apt time to make our exit. After a half-hour stopover at Kyle and Michelle’s, enjoying a margarita and saying our goodbyes we returned home.

Postscript: Cecile’s sister Sherry returned to Charleston, South Carolina today and we’re all grateful her home was spared from any damage from hurricane Dorian.

Biking the Bay Trails to Alviso & Exploring Wildlife & Salt Ponds Dating Back to the Ohlone Indians

"Life is like riding a bicycle, to stay balanced you must keep moving."

This post is essentially a sequel to an attempted 20-mile bike ride with my good friend Jimi Hunter was aborted when he got a flat tire and realized he didn’t bring his repair kit. A week later we were ready to experience the whole enchilada. This time we were joined by friend and neighbor Bill Rothenberg who met us at our starting point at Shoreline Lake. As far as the old adage two’s a company, three’s a crowd, we all got along great. As Jimi said, when I asked if it would be okay if Bill joined us: “The more the merrier,” and that it “was."

We made our way from Shoreline Lake, near Google in the heart of Silicon Valley and took the Bay Trails to the Alviso Marina County Park, which was first known to the Ohlone Indians. As Malcolm Margolin wrote in The Ohlone Way, “The Ohlones lived in a world where people were few
and animals were many, where the bow and arrow were the height of technology.” Now the technology has expanded to include electric-assist bikes.

Back in the mid-19th century, Alviso was a bustling seaport until flooding and the rise of railroads replaced shipping driven commerce. Alviso’s identity has shifted to its new role as a managed wetland. The South Bay area provides critical habitat for migratory birds and contributes to the environmental health of the bay.

We explored and took photos of the quiet beauty of the wetlands, wildlife, marshes, elaborate salt ponds of the old marina and historic town of Alviso. Back in the day, the Ohlone people harvested salt for local use and regional trade, small scale salt production on the SF 
Bay expanded into one of the largest solar evaporation complexes in the world.

This contributed to the loss of more than 85% or the rich tidal marshes that once surrounded the Bay.
However, salt ponds can be a natural part of the SF Bay. Look closely and you will see wine-colored bodies of water surrounded by piles of salt with vistas that seemingly go on forever.

Twenty-five square miles of former commercial salt ponds in the South Bay, now publically owned are being restored
to a mix of wetland habitats designed to provide homes for a variety of beautiful wildlife. A portion of the salt ponds will be restored to the tidal wetlands for wildlife threatened with extinction, but many will remain as ponds like those seen in the photos.

Once we made it in and around Alviso we decided to have a late lunch at the Lakeside Cafe at Shoreline rather than ride the ten miles back on
a full stomach. We had a blast. Most people our age have memories of riding bikes as a kid. As an adult, you want to get a car.
The electric-assist bikes have been a godsend to getting more and more people back into biking and thanks to Jimi, for showing me another way of enjoying my day, getting healthy exercise and exploring the beauty of nature.

Having a Fun Visit & Offering Refuge to Cecile's Sister Sherry from Hurricane Dorian

“The only thing you can really control…is how you react to things out of your control.”—Bassami Tazari

My sister-in-law Sherry who lives in the area of Charleston, South Carolina was attending the 100th birthday party of Uncle Eddy on the Schwimmer family side in San Diego. As fate would have it, it was right around the time Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane was predicted to hit the Bahamas and then continue towards the coast of Florida and the Carolinas. I told Cecile, you should invite Sherry to stay with us until the hurricane blows over. So Sherry re-routed her flights to stay with us until the final reveal of Hurricane Dorian. She knew it was out of her control and it was an opportunity to be with her sister.

Gratefully, Dorian was reduced to a Category 2. Now, Cat 1,2 or 3 can still be bad hurricanes but they are not usually killer storms. They are mostly tree, roof, boat, water damaging storms that are miserable and inconvenient to be sure, but there was a minimal chance of being killed directly by the storm. Like Russian Roulette, the odds are much, much greater than one in six that one will survive. 

I was impressed that Sherry was taking the whole thing in stride. Yes, she has been through this many times before and had the advantage to take refuge from the storm by staying with us in mild, sunny California. And, she has insurance. Nevertheless, we still worried what she would face upon her return.

So, with family by her side, she made the best of it. I took her to a yoga class which is almost always a pleasant, relaxing experience. Ironically, the teacher announced that she was going to have us focus on the water element. As she instructed us to lay on our backs and close our eyes she asked us to imagine we were like waves of the sea hitting the shoreline. In fact, some of the postures she guided us through were wave-like. The teacher even played a recorded piece of music of the sound of water to accentuate the experience. Afterward, Sherry and I compared notes and we both concluded with a smile that it was difficult not to think about the storm surge about to hit the Carolinas over the ensuing days.

The next day we walked a few miles on the trails right outside our home, we went to visit our granddaughter, Lyla in Redwood City, whom Sherry hasn’t seen since last May when we celebrated her son Jacob’s 40th birthday. Cecile had already been baby-sitting since 6:30 AM when Sherry and I Ubered up after another yoga class later in the morning. We played with Lyla, read her stories, pushed her on her swing on the front porch, I got to feed her and then Cecile put her down for a nap while Sherry and I went to the neighborhood park to take our daughter and son-in-law’s dog Decker for a walk. We discovered a Romanesque fountain surrounded by a rose garden.

At about 5 PM we said our goodbyes to our son-in-law Kyle (Michelle wasn't home from work yet)and had dinner at Mayfield Bakery & Cafe in Town & Country Village in Palo Alto “featuring simple and rustic, yet elegant California-inspired cuisine.” We shared a mouth-watering thin-crusted Margherita Pizza with fresh sweet red and orange heirloom tomatoes and basil that was out of this world. And for our entree, we had a crispy and tasty salad with kale, strawberries, toasted grains and almonds, pecorino, dressed with Lemon Vinaigrette with a fillet of pan-seared salmon on top. Caesar, our waiter was great as was his assistant. BTW, that stick in my mouth at the fountain was a See's Butterscotch lollypop:-)
P.S. I would be remiss if I didn't offer my thoughts and concerns for those who have and will suffer great losses and upheaval, especially those in the Bahamas.

Enjoying A Visual & Gastronomic Dinner at Mint Leaf Cuisine Asian Fusion & Thai

“Good food, good drink, good ambiance, good people and good times. Life’s far too short for anything less. Grab it while you're able"

Whether dining alone or with friends, Mint Leaf Cuisine Asian Fusion and Thai, is Cecile’s and my go-to-place for casual Pa- Asian dining. This evening we were joined with three friends from Cecile’s Mahjong group and their husbands. 

Asian fusion cuisine has been around for as long as there have been people from different ethnicities living in close proximity to one another combining foods from their respective traditions. It began to gain prominence on the American dining scene in the 1980s when chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Roy Yamauchi began experimenting with fusing flavors of different cultures. In later years, as the American palate became more sophisticated thanks to personal travel and the late Anthony Bourdain shows like No Reservations and Parts Unknown, Asian fusion offerings became more diverse. Ingredients such as sriracha, curry and soy sauce became the ketchup and mustard of the day.

Mint Leaf Cusine Asian Fusion & Thai has been in existence for about ten years. Their extensive 3D elephant engraved menu offers a diverse range of ingredients and exotic foods from different parts of Asia and beyond, including udon noodles and nori seaweed from Japan, Greek feta and lemongrass and chili from Thailand. Like the owners, the decor, food, and atmosphere have its roots in the Thai tradition. Its location is in the historic downtown area of Saratoga, CA. We enjoyed platters of appetizers for the table that included cream-cheese dumplings with sweet and sour sauce and potstickers. For entrees, flat ribbon noodles with chicken, New York Steak with spicy noodles and my favorite yellow curry salmon with potatoes, carrots, and coconut rice. 

One of the popular features of dining at Mint Leaf that has cultivated a loyal following is their BYOB with No Corkage Fee. Everyone brought a bottle or two of wine and I included several bottles of beer as an option. The restaurant offers many vegetarian options and friendly service.

To me, the ambiance is important to any dining experience. The dining room is appointed with a colorful palette of crimson and gold that reminds me of a smaller version of the ornate Thai temples we visited during our many trips to Southeast Asia. There is an abundance of colorful and comfortable silk pillows that adorn the chairs and benches and decorative tapestries and statues. Moreover, there are white fabric banners hanging from the ceiling with a prominent Buddha image smiling down on the multi-cultural patrons.

Celebrating my 69th Birthday hosted by Kim and Al Chien & the Meaning behind my Numerical Age

“The number 69 signifies family, home, harmony, idealism, health, and compassion.”—BS Srinivasan

Cecile and I feel so grateful to have celebrated my 69th birthday hosted by my son-in-law Kyle's mother, Kim and husband Al Chien in the comfort of their entertainment center in the back yard of their beautiful home. Once again, they delivered a 5-star barbecue of Tri-tip and salmon and some great tasting vegetarian side dishes that were out of this world. We loved your matching aprons (photo). From their flattering ecard invitation (photo) and treating us so royally, Cecile and I feel so blessed to have them in our lives. It was indeed a pleasure to share this special day with our son Jason and his partners Alex, our daughter Michelle and Kyle and of course our little angel of a granddaughter, Lyla. Thank you for all the love and thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful gifts.

Being a student of Qi gong, a holistic system of coordinated body posture, movement, breathing and meditation used for health, spirituality and martial arts training with roots in Chinese medicine and philosophy, I had a chance to think about the number 69 earlier today.

For many years, the number 69 has unfairly gotten a blemished reputation in the West due to the perception of separation between a man and a woman, focusing on their differences. Also, people perceive 69 in a more sexual connotation. At this point, I can hear my children saying, “Dad, TMI" (too much information.😅 But, I would like to expand the conversation to include the idea that the number 69 is about giving and receiving as symbolized by the Taoist Yin Yang symbol or balance between two partners in all our interactions including physical love-making with our partner. In other words, physical intimacy goes far deeper than just the physical parts. 

In the West, the Asian philosophy of Yin Yang is referred to as Yin AND Yang,” which infers polar opposites or contrary forces that are interconnected in the natural world and how they give rise to one another. However, in Chinese medicine, Yin Yang does not represent opposing forces, but rather complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole—a more dynamic system if you will. In Asian or Taoist philosophy good/bad and other moralistic distinctions are set aside in favor of the idea of balance between the two. Females and males become one. Becoming aware that we are one allows us to let go of the concepts we grew up within the West that perceives us as being separate and focusing our attention on the deeper connection between partners or couples.

Biking the South Bay Trails; a Stop at a Wildlife Refuge & Lunch at the Lakeside Bistro

“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.”—Joseph Campbell

Beginning at Shoreline Lake in Mountain View, my good friend Jimmy Hunter and I took a 10-mile mountain bike ride through a wildlife oasis for migratory birds and endangered species located in the heart of California’s high-tech industry. There is a multi-million-dollar project to transform the old salt ponds back into wetland habitat to return the city’s bay shore to its natural state after a century of industrial salt production.

It was magnificent. We literally had a bird’s eye view of egrets, sandpipers, pelicans and other waterfowl that wade in the mudflats, marshes and the multi-colored water caused by aquatic plants and algae growth that are part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Natural Wildlife Refuge. Though it was a hot day, the coolness of the ambient air kept us comfortable as our bikes hugged the path contouring the edge of the bay. 

Suddenly, something caught my eye. I spotted a mythological-looking structure seemingly made out of a pile of rocks, a miniature version of what one often sees around the world that are created by nature over millions of years. Jimmy informed me that other bikers, joggers and hikers often take a stone and add it to the design as if it were a community project of artists. It had a whimsical and spiritual feel to it and was the perfect place for a photo op. After we had our moment, we attempted to continue on to Alviso which was another five miles away when Jimmy discovered he had a flat tire. After yelling out a few expletives, and berating himself for forgetting his backpack which had a tire repair kit in it, we had to decide how to deal with the situation before us. Jimmy encouraged me to continue to ride a couple of miles further on my own while he doubled back and I would meet him at the Lakeside Bistro for lunch.

As far as I was concerned it was a perfect morning, and I didn’t want Jimmy to worry about my missing out on our final destination. After all, as the wise ones say "the journey is the destination," and lunch at the Bistro was the icing on the cake. I had seen and experienced so many precious moments. We ordered Fish and Chips and an Eggplant and Provolone and red bell peppers on flatbread and agreed we would complete the intended trip to Alviso, known for its great Mexican food early next month. 

After we heading home, I took a nap and finished the day with a swim at Bay Club Courtside and a 7 PM Restorative yoga class, or what I call the perfect trifecta.

Hangin' with Lyla in Redwood City in Her Watermelon Baby Outfit

Hangin' with Lyla in Redwood City in Her Watermelon Baby Outfit

“It’s funny what happens when you become a grandparent. You start to act all goofy and do things you never thought you’d do. —Mike Krzyzewski

We spent the day hangin’ out with our granddaughter Lyla at our daughter Michelle and our son-in-law Kyle’s new home in Redwood City. When Lyla was born 8 months ago, we shared the great news with our friends and family, many of whom have become old hats at this wonderful stage of life where one’s offspring gives birth to a new generation of offspring. They all said the same thing: “Savor the moments, it only gets better!" We treasure our time with Lyla whose name in Persian means Dark Princess and in Hebrew means night. Cecile and her sister Sherry who are thirteen months apart and grew up in Chicago would always say "Laila Tov" to one another before they went to sleep which means "goodnight.” But, in contrast to the meaning behind her name, Lyla is a beaming ray of light that brightens our day and brings joy beyond measure whenever we are in her presence.

The watermelon outfit Lyla is wearing for the first time happens to be the same baby outfit Michelle wore when
she was Lyla’s age. There are no words to describe the feeling Cecile and I both felt watching our precious little grandchild wearing her mom’s outfit. It brought us back in time. Aside from the joy of being Nonnie and Papa, our given names, for grandma and grandpa we get to witness how Michelle has become the attentive, loving mother her mother was and continues to be.

As someone who likes to journal and take photos, I am have become self-appointed archivist and blogger who enjoys documenting family events and other celebrations of life on Facebook and my blog site: enjoyyourlifenow.net

The photos were spontaneously taken throughout the day. The first photo is of her is sitting on her blanket on the front lawn of her new home. The second photo is her holding an envelope containing a letter of acceptance from Stanford University. Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself:-), but
as the pop hit song lyrics go: “Anything Can Happen.” Then there’s Lyla with her big brother Decker who loves to lick her face, fingers, and toes as if she were a popsicle.

Here is a poetic offering by an unknown author called: "We Love You, Little One" that speaks to the spirit of how we feel about our little princess and appeals to parents and grandparents alike.

We’d daydream of the things we’d share,
Like bedtime stories and teddy bears.
Like first steps and skinned knees,
Like nursery rhymes and ABC’s.

We thought of things you’d want to know,
Like how birds fly and flowers grow.
We thought of lessons we’d need to share,
Like standing tall and playing fair.

Each nap time we lay you down to sleep,
We gently kiss your head and cheek.
We count your little fingers and toes,
We memorize your eyes and nose.

We linger at your nursery door,
Awed each day we love you more.
Through misty eyes, we dim the light,
We whisper “We Love You” every night.

We loved you from the very start,
You stole our breath, embraced our hearts.
As grandparents and grandchild, our journey’s begun,
Our hearts are yours, forever, little one.

After a long day, of feeding Lyla, taking her for a walk in her stroller to the local park, playing with her, kissing those chubby cheeks, making her laugh, reading her bedtime stories, feeding her, putting her down for a nap, alas it was time to go. Cecile and I ended up at Terrain Cafe at Stanford Shopping Center for an early dinner al fresco on their outdoor patio and counting our blessings in the midst of a challenging week, before heading home.

A Midsummer Wine's Dream & Delectable Food Bites at Tigelleria's Ristorante with Friends

“More important than the food pairing [are the people] with whom you drink the wine.”—Christian Moueix

Cecile and enjoyed a special taste of Italy with our friends Susan and Nelson Bye who we invited to join us, pairing great wines and tantalizing food bites at Tigelleria Ristorante in the heart of downtown, Campbell, CA. The restaurant pronounced (Tee-gel-leh-ria) is the name of a special cast iron pan that is used to make a tasty circular bread with a crisp crust and soft center from Modena, Italy, home of the late, great operatic tenor, Luciano Pavarotti and is served throughout Tuscany and Veneto.

The bread is served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and gourmet mushroom dip. The restaurant is the creation of owner and Executive Chef, Elisabetta Benetollo and offers dishes from traditional Venetian family recipes. It highlights fresh quality cuisine using locally sourced organic foods.

Our waiter Francesco photographed here between Nelson and me introduced us and nineteen other patrons at the table to a veteran sommelier, Cristina Rinaldi, who made a passionate, entertaining and informative presentation about the history of the wines we would be drinking, where they originated, and what made them special. Her love affair with wine began when her boss paid for her schooling to become a sommelier. As she introduced each wine before each food serving she held up a map of Italy and pointed out the regions where the grape vineyards were grown and wineries established.

Our taste buds were enlivened with a 2017 Parpinello Vermentino paired with burrata topped with arugula and balsamic vinegar reduction; a 2015 Castello Della Panneretta chianti Classico paired with organic house-made grandma lasagna; and a 2015 La Casetta Valpolicella Repasso paired with top sirloin steak with potatoes and herb butter.

Nelson an avid wine buyer and collector, whom I thought was photographing the labels on the wine bottles was actually scanning the labels. He introduced me to the Vivino app considered to be the best wine label-scanning application for smartphones, which provides details about the wine such including expert ratings, price, features, and the places to buy them at the best price. The app is a personal guide for newbies and connoisseurs alike.

For dessert we shared a Tortino al Cioccolato, an organic chocolate torte served with Amarena cherry ice cream that was freshly made to order that did not disappoint. We left the restaurant perfectly sated with smiles on our faces.

Note: The photo of the hanging ornamental marionette soldiers are common in Sicily and made me feel nostalgic for my late mother Maria's birthplace.

Shoreline Lake for Lunch, a Stroll, Invigorating Beauty & Peaceful Refuge

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things"—Robert Breault

Cecile and I decided to escape the heat by going to Shoreline Lake in Mountain View, a 20-minute drive from our home. On the way, we heard a roar of eight motorcycle policemen as they sidled up alongside us as seen in the photo. We hadn’t been to Shoreline in quite some time. We were rewarded with a cool, breezy, sunny day. Most people don’t know that this large shimmering lake was once a landfill. Beyond the perimeter of the lake is the South Bay (photo). We had shared an Eggplant & Formaggio (Herb focaccia with sun-dried tomatoes puree, artichoke hearts, roasted red bell peppers & mozzarella cheese) at the American Bistro that sits strategically and cozily near the edge of the water. Plexiglass barriers surround the outdoor patio to protect against the wind and colorful umbrellas protect you against the sun.

This time of year, kids, accompanied by their parents and teen counselors engage in various water activities including kayaking, windsurfing and paddle boating which is also available to the general public. The Bistro also draws companies like Google, Samsung who treat their employees to luncheons on the waterfront lawn and patio and offer team building activities. After lunch, we walked around the lake and enjoyed watching the seagulls gliding on the thermals and a few small private planes heading to and from Palo Alto airport just ten miles away.

Beyond the activities mentioned above, this place is a source of great inspiration for the inner poet, the Plein-air artist who needs a scene to paint, couples looking for a romantic interlude, families who want to picnic and anyone craving a little bit of nature and wildlife. I discovered this wonderful refuge many years ago with my watercolor group called the Saratoga Community of Painters that has since disbanded but has left me with a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Here’s a little bit of LAKE Wisdom:

Soak up the Sun
Cast Away Your Troubles
Keep Things Clear
Make Positive Ripples
Take Time to Reflect
Shore up Friendships
Be Full of Life & Grateful for the Day

Dinner with Family at Celia's: A Mexican American Success Story

"Time with those we love is the greatest gift as today’s little moments become tomorrow's precious memories."

Cecile and I babysat our granddaughter Lyla on Friday and our daughter Michelle and son-in-law Kyle asked us to join them for dinner at Celia’s Mexican Restaurant in San Mateo, a stone’s throw from where they live. Asking Kyle if he likes Mexican food would be liking asking him if the pope is Catholic.😜 Celia’s, which has an extensive menu and great non-machine made secret blend Margaritas is one of his favorites.

Michelle, Kyle, and Cecile had Agave Margaritas and I had a frozen strawberry Margarita along with tortilla chips and guacamole for the table. For our main entrees, we feasted on vegetarian fajitas with fresh tortillas (no lard), Tostada chicken salad, cheese, and chicken enchiladas. Kyle and I had a beer with dinner. The only missing was a mariachi band, but we had Lyla to keep us thoroughly entertained.

Political pundits who argue over the immigration policy might consider the story of the late Celia Lopez-Rodriguez and her late husband Perfecto Lopez. In 1955, five years after they were married, Perfecto immigrated to San Francisco to raise enough funds to bring Celia to the United States one year later. The couple had to work 16-hour days in local restaurants for three years before they could afford to bring their four children to join them. 

In 1961, with money they had saved, the founders of Celia’s opened a cafe in the Outer Sunset District of San Francisco. They served burgers, fries, and milkshakes in a largely Irish neighborhood. When they expanded their business to include dinner, they experienced a slowdown. Following her intuition, Mrs. Lopez-Rodriguez insisted they should introduce Mexican food on their menu. Her husband disagreed, believing it would never sell in the neighborhood. Celia began sneaking out a few enchiladas to their regular customers and within a week’s time, lines formed out the door and the rest, as they say, is history. They changed their name to Celia’s Mexican Restaurant. Rather than franchising their business, each future restaurant was owned and operated by different family members using recipes Mrs. Lopez had brought with her from their small town in Jalisco, Mexico.

Having grown up very poor in a town with no paved sidewalks and no roads, Celia and her husband Perfecto had achieved the American Dream and lived to see their grandchildren go to college.

Celebrating the 4th of July with Family & Friends & Happy Holiday Weekend to All!

“The essence of America—that which really unites us—is not ethnicity, or nationality, or religion. It is an idea—and what an idea it is: that you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. That it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going.”
—Condoleezza Rice

I am grateful that the founding fathers created a system of government that among many liberties mostly allows it's citizens to create their own destinies, choose where and how to live, what fields of endeavor to pursue, the right to protest and the freedom to travel.
Speaking of travel, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control we canceled our Alaska Cruise this week. Instead, Cecile and I celebrated at Bay Club Courtside resort facility in the sunny and mild temperatures of Silicon Valley in Northern California. Our son Jason and Alix were our guests and we were surrounded by a community of friends and acquaintances. There was a Pool Deck Concierge Service we rarely take advantage of on holidays and weekends and a Poolside DJ. We had frozen lime Margaritas, burgers, salad with filet of Salmon and watermelon. A few of the lap pool lanes were opened up for members and guests to luxuriate themselves atop larger than life-sized inflatables such as the Pink Flamingoes seen in the photos. Families with children were even bustin' a groove on the other side of the club that also has a pool and playing organized games. The photo of me with the person with the black cap is my energetic Iranian American friend AJ Dadnia (aka The Zumba King)😎
Cecile and I were also seated in our chaise lounge chairs next to Carlos and his wife Claudia that I know from yoga and Qi Gong class.

In honor of the 4th of July, here is a poetic offering by Joanna Fuchs, that spoke to me as it relates to the spirit and meaning of the freedoms we were given and that literally and figuratively breathes life into our American flag:

Old Glory (in free verse)

I am the most famous icon on earth,
on display all over the world…
standing guard at majestic official buildings,
in courtrooms, churches, and even on the moon.
I fly from the houses of families who revere America,
and snap in the breeze on parade.

…Sometime soiled and tattered, even bloodstained,
I survive the grinding toil of wars,
urging my weary warriors to fight on...
I lie precisely folded, held by mothers of fallen soldiers
as their fingertips caress me for comfort and strength.

I am invincible.
I have been burned, spat upon, trampled and cursed,
but I overcome all to unfurl, soar and inspire again.
I am the Star-Spangled Banner; I am Old Glory;
I am the American Flag, a symbol of freedom, forever.

Poem adapted from Joanna Fuchs
www.poemsource.com

Peace and thanks to the wonderful workers and staff at Bay Club Courtside!

Magical Moments: Sage advice from a 103 Track Star to Whom this Post is Dedicated

W. Somerset Maugham once wrote, “Nothing in the World is Permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.”

Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins takes delight in everything she does. Believed to be the oldest woman to formally complete on an American track, she took up running at age 100.

Back History: In a recent interview, Sarah Mervosh, a New York Times reporter, asked Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins, age 103 if she had any closing thoughts after have had completed the 100-meter dash race in the National Senior Games in Albuquerque. The centenarian who set a record for the 100-meter dash when she was 101, said: "Keep yourself in good shape if you can. Have many passions. And look for magic moments. That is something that I have done in my life—think of the things that are magic moments that happen to you, like sunsets and sunrises, rainbows, beautiful birds, music and people who make lovely comments to you. All of those are magic moments and they are free for all. Be sure to keep your eyes open for them." 

When the reporter called her for the interview, she was taking a break from running, the Louisiana native was enjoying the day at a botanical garden. It turns out the flowers are another passion of hers. “I’m a big flower person,” she said, “I usually wear a flower in my hair, even when I’m running. I would rather be the 'Flower Lady’ than the 'Hurricane Lady.’”

As a tribute to this inspiring grand lady, I have dedicated this post and photos—mostly of flowers that I recently took as well as images (sunsets, etc.) I captured recently of other magical moments that have brought me a great deal of joy. After all, life is short or as Julia says, “As I get older, I feel like I only have so many 100-yard dashes left…”—a perfect metaphor for living and enjoying life now. It’s never too late.

Credit: Sarah Mervosh, The New York Times, June 2019
Photo Credit of Julia Hawkins (Brit Huckabay/National Senior Games, via Associated Press)

Celebrating Our Son's 38th Birthday at the Blue Door Restaurant and Bar

“Life should not only be lived, but it should also be celebrated.”
—Osho

Before heading to the Blue Door Jason took a group selfie of us with Daisy whom we are going to be dog sitting
for the next few days. We love to take her on the walking trails where we live. After the photo, we met up with our daughter, Michelle, Kyle, our granddaughter Lyla, Kyle’s mom Kim and Jason’s partner, Alex at the restaurant.
We ordered some drinks and appetizers including Prosciutto Flatbread and Mediterranean Sampler. For dinner, we had Chicken Kebabs Platter, Scallop & Prawn Risotto, The Blue Door Burger, Fish and chips to name a few.

For dessert, we ordered one of Jason’s longtime favorites: Affogato which is a Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream served with a single shot of espresso. We ordered one for Jason and three for the table and sang Happy Birthday to him after which he blew out the candles. At 38 years old Cecile and I would like to think we were good parents and that we didn’t subject him to any childhood trauma.

But, we’d be wrong. Have you ever ordered a tantalizing dessert and once it’s placed in front of you, one or two people at the table would say oh, I don’t want dessert, I’ll just have a “bite” of yours. By the time you’re done “sharing” half of it is gone and you are left feeling deprived. That’s what we used to do to poor Jason, especially as we got older and the thought of eating an entire dessert became daunting. We almost always would say “We’ll just take a bite or taste of yours. I got to thinking about how we took this habit for granted and how presumptive it was.
After all, you wouldn’t want to say to someone I think I'll pass on the salad and soup and have some of yours:-). At our advancing age, Cecile and I have finally become “woke” parents in this politically correct world and are more sensitive about what we say or do:-)

All kidding aside, we are so happy to be able to celebrate special family events. In the Middle Ages, people had 150 days of the year for rest, feast, holidays and other celebratory events. They worked hard but the cycles of work and play followed a steady rhythm. These days most people can’t afford to take off half the year to participate in family traditions, but back in the day when the kids were young and we were working long hours, thanks to Cecile, we always found time to establish small, regular rituals that gave us and our children fun things to look forward to. We have continued to do so and for this, we are eternally grateful.

Happy Birthday, Jason. You’re the best. We love you.

Celebrating a Very Special Father's Day Including our Family's First Time Dad

Cecile, our son Jason and I were happy to celebrate our son-in-law Kyle's first Father’s Day, along with his dad Ed Lewis and Gerry, his mother Kim Chien and last but not least our daughter Michelle at their home in San Mateo. We missed you AL.
We had fresh veggies with hummus dip, Jalapeno Poppers as appetizers accompanied by a pitcher of Moscow Mules and Rose wine, barbecued tri-tip, Mexican grilled corn on the cob, Salmon fillet, Zucchini Linguini with cherry tomatoes, Tomato-Mozzarella Stacks with Basil.
For dessert, we had an assortment of specialty cookies, grilled fresh peach and with home-made vanilla ice cream.
Our granddaughter Lyla who was recently introduced to soft food enjoyed some sweet potatoes and avocado.
As usual, we exchanged gifts. The secret is out that I am a Lululemon fan and I was showered with the trendy and comfortable yoga pants and shirts and a bottle of wine and some very heartfelt Father’s Day cards.
Among other gifts, Kyle made out with some Lululemon tops and bottoms, dress shirt & slacks and a novelty miniaturized basketball court gifted to him by Kim to pass the time in between his business ventures and childrearing activities.

Kyle, as you know, being a father is a very special milestone in life and celebrating your first Father’s Day is all the more special because you and Michelle brought Lyla, a little angel into this world who will soon begin to call you Dada. We all wish you and Lyla a life long unbreakable bond filled
with love and affection. She is lucky to have you as a devoted dad and you will both be enriched by the process.

Father’s Day honors fathers and celebrates paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society.
Since the Middle Ages Catholic countries of Europe celebrated Father's Day on March 19 which is Saint Joseph's Day. The Spanish and Portuguese brought the custom to Latin America, where March 19 is often still used. 
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge first recognized Father’s Day. However, due to the massive popularity of
of the festival, President Richard Nixon established it as a permanent national observance in 1972.
Many countries in Europe and the Americas have adopted the third Sunday of June as the official day of celebration.

Postscript: Happy Father’s Day to all those who are no longer with us including my late dad, Frank Augustine, and Cecile’s late dad, Harry Weiner who are: 

“Sadly missed along life’s way, 
quietly remembered every day…
No longer in our life to share,
but in our hearts, you’re always there.”
—unknown author