A Somber View of NYC after the Death of My Dear Brother Michael

Born: November 10, 1958
Died: November 01, 2019

"The Creator looked around his garden and found a special place and put his arms around you in a warm embrace and flew you to join mom and dad in their's & now your heavenly place."
—Your brother, Dennis

I would normally relish this view of the New York City skyline from the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel in Weehawken, NJ, where we are staying (photo). But with my brother Michael’s unexpected death, it has taken on a more somber view. 

It is ten minutes from Hoboken where Michael, my sister Josephine, brother Stephen and I grew up.

His passing was sudden and a gut wrenching reminder of the fragility of life. He died on Friday, November 1, at around 10 PM. He was 60.

Eerily, his death fell on All Saints Day, one of the six Holy Days on the Roman Catholic Church calendar, when Catholics pray for the faithful departed, my brother-in-law Joseph Mcallister's birthday and 9 days from his birthday (November 10). It was also a day before the anniversary of our late mother Maria's birthday (November 2) who died on Mother’s Day in 2013. 

My brother is survived by his sons Michael Jr., Brock, Alex and Andrew Augustine, a serviceman for the Air Force who flew back from his base in Japan to be at his father’s bedside before he passed. My brother always collectively and affectionately referred to them as “My Boys."

Dear Michael, your actions were always kind. You had a big heart and warm smile, always anxious to please and loathe to offend. You were a loving brother, father and faithful friend. I will always treasure the memory of the time you, our brother-in-law Joe went on a camera safari to Kenya and Tanzania for a long overdue vacation. I never saw you so happy and it was the greatest bonding experience a brother could have. May you rest in peace!

Our family welcomes all your thoughts and prayers as the family enters a difficult grieving process.

Saratoga Merchants Get into the Halloween Spirit & Our Granddaughter Lyla's First Pumpkin

The Historic Saratoga Village merchants went all out for this year's Halloween season. Most of these photos were recently taken while Cecile and I walked the downtown area recently after lunch. The other pics were taken at Rinconada Hills where we live and a couple while babysitting our granddaughter Lyla cozying up to her first Halloween pumpkin with great joy on the porch of the home she shares with our daughter Michelle and husband Kyle. 

Most scholars agree that Halloween began about 2,000 years ago when the ancient Celtic people of Europe celebrated the end of the harvest and the start of a new year in a festival called Samhain. It was also a time of communing with otherworldly spirits, with big bonfires lit in honor of the dead, and the wearing of costumes to ward off ghosts. When the Romans conquered most of the Celtic territory by 43 A.D., they brought their own fall festivals with them. Their October celebration called Feralia also commemorated the passing of the dead. Fast forward a few centuries and Several Christian popes attempted to replace “pagan” holidays like Samhain with events of their own design. By 1000 A.D., All Souls’ Day on Nov 2 served as a time for the living to pray for the souls of the dead, and All Saints Day was assigned to November 1, to honor the saints and was also called All Hallows, making October 31 All Hallows Eve, and later becoming Halloween.

Despite the new religious focus, people in Old England and Ireland continued to associate the time with the wandering dead. They set out gifts of foods to please the spirits, and as time wore on, people began to dress in scary costumes in exchange for treats—a practice called “mumming,” which is comparable to today’s trick-or-treating which skyrocketed in popularity by the 1950s, when Halloween became a real national event. Today, over 179 million Americans celebrate this holiday.

Happy Halloween Lyla & Friends & Family

Love Papa Dennis & Nonnie Cecile

Biking the 30 Mile Roundtrip Coyote Creek Trail in Santa Clara County

“You are only one bike ride away from a good mood."

The Coyote Creek Trail is a scenic and peaceful stretch of land along Coyote Creek, a favorite trail for hikers, joggers, horseback riders and bicyclists in San Jose, California. It was designated part of the National Recreation Trail in 2009. When we started these weekly biking trips about two months ago, it was just James Hunter and me. Then friend Bill Rothenberg joined us. During this particular trip, veteran bicyclist, and yoga buddy, Gary Covell came along. 

We began our ride at the Coyote Creek Visitor Center parking lot at Anderson Lake County Park at around 9:45 AM and continued along the Coyote Creek Parkway which is the maintained southern Santa Clara County portion of the trail that includes a chain of county parks along the creek. The county portion is about 30 miles of a mostly flat paved trail heading up to Hellyer Park. It was sunny and the temperature would hit 89 degrees. 

Just the day before I went to see an orthopedist for a follow-up check-up of the small fracture of my pinky finger resulting from the injury I sustained while biking along the Ritz Carlton Golf course just a week ago. The doctor's last words before I left his office were, keep a splint on my finger, ice as needed and “Don’t ride your bike!” I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity and felt reasonably assured with my self-clinging splint and bicycle gloves with finger cut-outs, I would be fine. There was no pain, the swelling and bruising were gone. I made due by just using the other finger four fingers to grip the handlebar and front right brake. 

As we continued along, we saw hawks, deer, wild turkeys, an abundance of trees, green and brown grass and plants, bridges. The trail got a little busier with other bikers passing us going in the opposite direction. We met a young man on our return who had stopped off to the side with an electric retro-styled bike/moped made by the San Francisco-based ONYX (Photo). The retro styling is reminiscent of the 1970s and ’80s. This one was painted with the number 69. Though he had functional pedals, it was mostly for show and to escape being caught riding on a bike path with a vehicle that although street legal can hit a top speed of 60 MPH as opposed to ours that tops out at 20 or 30 MPH when driving downhill. His bike had much higher battery power and he told us it retailed for $3600 compared to my $1,000 Sondors’ with a seven gear Shimayo gear shift.

As we made our way back to the parking lot at the Coyote Creek Visitor Center a husband and wife passed us with their majestic horses and made their way to their horse trailers. Lunch today was at the Taqueria at the Chavez Supermarket recommended by Bill, one of ten locations in the Bay Area. Judging by the predominantly Mexican-American clientele we were at the right place. I ordered a Chicken Burrito in a taco bowl. Muy delicioso!

Celebrating the Birthday of Our Thirty Something Son-in-Law Kyle Lewis

“Nothing changes when you cross thirty except you have to start using an anti-aging cream.”

“If the past is a road map for your future, you have accomplished so much in so little time and there is a future
full of promise. Wishing you another year of growth, prosperity, peace and great joy.” The Family

Yesterday, Cecile and I celebrated our son-in-law Kyle’s 32nd Birthday at his and our daughter Michelle’s home in Redwood City. Of course, our precious granddaughter Lyla was there, the life of the party as always, and their dog Decker who is always up for a party. Kyle’s dad Ed and Gerry, and his mom, Kim and AL were also present. 

It’s been said that after the age of 30, one tends to take a few moments to think about how many more peak years they have left. In a mindful moment, you interrupt those crazy thoughts and realize, screw this—who cares about the number thing—feeling young is a state of mind. At 69, I still think this way. So there’s hope:-)

Kyle, turning a new age is a blessing, the beginning of something new and exciting. 
Besides, having a wonderful family, an adorable baby girl, amazing friends who think highly of you, a successful career, and fun hobbies are more important than pondering how fast time is going by.

At 32, through hard work, creativity, focus and deep desire to provide for you and your family, you are quickly realizing the American Dream and it goes without saying, we are all proud of you. 

As someone who has enjoyed a measure of success, I have admired the fact that you chose your own path, not the one others may have wanted for you.

Final thoughts: Life is like a camera, focus on what it is important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don’t work out, continue to be courageous and take another shot. This is the secret to success.

Happy Birthday, Kyle!
We love you.

Encountering Two Buddhist Monks at a Pumpkin Weigh-Off after our Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail Bike Ride

“The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we don’t live in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.”
—Thick Nhat Hanh

Bill Rothenberg and I began our invigorating ride from Pillar Point Harbor along Half Moon Bay State Park’s Coastal Trail taking in sweeping views
of the Pacific Ocean as we made our way to the Ritz Carlton. These parts of the coast are known to be cloudy, foggy and cold. Though it was brisk, we had plenty of sunshine throughout the day. Other than a quarter-mile along a sleepy beachfront street, the ride is virtually removed from traffic. Though it is mostly one, long, unbroken beach, there are actually around 11 named beaches. Along the way, we saw surfers in their wet suits, crows doing acrobatics on thermal air currents, guided horse riding groups making their entrance over a sand dune to the beach.
As we got, further along, we noticed some RV campgrounds. The treeless expanses made the ride very scenic. There were detour signs safely re-routing us to avoid
areas of slides and collapses of some of the trails. It was a relatively easy ride until we hit a quarter-mile of trails that were disjointed and unpaved and filled with ruts and sloping, bumpy, varied terrain that required our deepest attention. 
As if the wide-open scenery and refreshing ocean air weren’t enough, we rode along The Ritz-Carlton and the adjacent golf course. The ride turns around a designated area where the public trail ends.
I ended it with a crash in front of four golfers as I was turning off to the right & Bill went left. I broke my fall with my right hand. Disrupting the attention and concentration of a golfer about to tee off is like walking noisily into a Buddhist monastery while the monks are meditating. But, they were kind and showed concerned for my well-being. Fortunately, we were only going about 5 miles an hour and it appears I sprained my pinky finger on my right hand. 

Speaking of Buddhist monks, upon our return Bill and I took a short cut to a very colorful downtown Half Moon Bay and encountered two Buddhist monks at the 46th annual Safeway World Championship PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF exhibit. I noticed they were taking photos of each other in front of a gargantuan 2,175 pumpkin, so I offered to take one of them together & they reciprocated. A conversation ensued and it turned out they were Theravada (of the elders) monks from a local monastery. I shared with them the five years of annual three-week mindfulness meditation retreats I did at Kyaswa Monastery in the Sagaing Hills outside of Mandalay, in Myanmar. They were familiar with the monastery and my late teacher. One of the monks, asked if I could email him the photos and as we said our goodbyes, he extended an invitation to visit their monastery.

By this time we were famished. We discovered a charming place Mexican Restaurant called the Cantina across the street from the Pink colored Half Moon Bay Feed & Fuel Company, where two musicians were serenading patrons. I had battered fish tacos and Bill had enchiladas, rice, and beans. After lunch we made our way back to Pillar Harbor, having clocked 17 miles worth of biking before heading home.

Postscript: I had an X-ray taken of my 5th digit (pinky finger) on my right hand and was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture, and the doctor dispensed a padded aluminum finger splint and I’m ready for my next adventure.

Dining with Friends at the Upscale Laid Back Dry Creek Grill in San Jose

“Real friends are the kind where you pick up where you left off whether it be a week…or two years since you’d seen each other. —Jojo Moyes

It was so nice to reunite with our friends and neighbors, Susan and Nelson Bye whom we hadn’t seen for several months and who recently returned from one of their overseas adventure travels.

They invited us to join them for dinner at the Dry Creek Grill in San Jose, California, not too far from where Cecile and I founded the Park Avenue Foot Clinic at the start of my career in 1975 after moving from Chicago. The Nelson’s had seen a Metro Silicon Valley restaurant Guide that rated it as one of the top restaurants in San Jose. It didn’t disappoint.

The owners of Dry Creek Grill, Holly and John Smith, were inspired by the vision of creating an upscale, yet laid back steakhouse, that offers great steaks, burgers, and barbecue. But, they also offer specialty dishes like pasta and risotto.

We began by ordering some handcrafted cocktails the restaurant is known for and enjoyed them while seated around a warm glow of a fire pit strategically placed on the front patio to the left of the entrance. When our table was ready we were escorted to a comfortable booth. The spacious and inviting interior offered an aesthetically warm and inviting ambiance for what turned out to be a fine dining experience. Located in the Moose Lodge building that has been in San Jose since 1965, the location has been transformed using recycled materials throughout. One of the most notable features is the massive elongated redwood bar made from the heart of a curly redwood tree that had fallen naturally in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

For starters, we enjoyed fresh-baked cornbread with white cheddar cheese Jalapeño and honey butter.
For our entrees we had a Greek seasoned lamb patty, feta cheese, tomato, red onion, roasted red bell peppers, cucumber, and tzatziki sauce; a Texas-Style wood smoked beef brisket, with BBQ sauce with coleslaw, and baked beans; Pappardelle pasta with wild mushrooms and Risotto with wild mushrooms. This was followed by a trio of tasty assorted Gelato for the table.

A Pacific Coast Bike Ride from Sand City to the 17 Mile Drive in Picturesque Pebble Beach

“Observe the wonders as they occur around you...feel the artistry moving through and be silent.”
-Rumi

Another splendid biking trip recommended by my good friend and long-time biking enthusiast James (Jimi) Hunter to Bill Rothenberg and I that began in Sand City where we parked and off-loaded our bikes. We stopped at Recreation Road in Marina Beach, where I used to hang glide over the sand dunes, then continued on along the pristine Pacific Coastline through the jagged rocks and sandy beaches of Pacific Grove and Asilomar on the Monterrey Peninsula and finally part of the 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach.
It was here that we entered an enchanting world full of dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white breaches, the Lone Cypress, the Restless Sea at Point Joe and the inn at Spanish Bay. This area has a long history dating back to 1602 when Spanish explorers mapped out the area. After a number of ownership changes, Pebble Beach was purchased at auction for 12 cents an acre by David Jacks many decades later was acquired by an investment group led by Clint Eastwood, Arnold Palmer, and Peter Ueberroth.

I mentioned above that we covered “part” of the 17-mile drive. The reason: the pedal on my left side broke off the crank. It was the equivalent of trying to row your boat up a creek without a paddle. Thanks to a good Samaritan cyclist vacationing from Utah whom Jimi flagged down, we were referred to the folks at Winning Wheels Bicycle Shop back in Pacific Grove where an emergency replacement of both the pedal and the crank whose threads were stripped beyond repair. The other saving grace was the fact that my electric assist bike had plenty of battery power left to get me to the repair shop. All I had to do was push the button and I was off to the races.

Just before we found the bicycle shop I encountered a white-tailed doe and her fawn eating grass from a residents’ lawn (photo). As many deer as I have seen in the area where we live and around the world during my travels, I always find myself in awe of them. We stared intently at one another. I am a student of symbolism, especially in animal sightings. The deer prompts you to be yourself and continue along the path. A fawn, in particular, is symbolic of moving beyond unexpected situations and crises. I found myself at peace.

After biking 27 miles off and on for five hours, Bill recommended we have a late lunch at Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery in Moss Landing. After burning off a slew of calories, food never tasted so good.

Postscript: The Red caboose is a nod to the biking trail’s railway history of Monterrey and Pacific Grove.

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.