Celebrating Kim's Birthday AL Fresco In Michelle & Kyle's Backyard Terrace In Redwood City

We began the evening with a refreshingly bitter Negroni which is said to have been invented in Florence by an Italian

Count. It’s a one-to-one recipe of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth (though Kyle substituted dry vermouth) and an orange peel garnish For Kyle, who had recently sprained his foot (hence the black boot cast on his left foot and leg), this was just what the doctor ordered:-) As you can see in the photo he was feeling no pain. Neither was I for that matter. Sometime later, Kyle and Michelle's good friend and next-door neighbor, Kayvon, and his father Farouk joined us for a drink (photo).

Our granddaughter Lyla, was quite the social hostess, happily taking slices of gourmet cheeses from the appetizer plate and handing them out to family members. Somehow, Papa (yours truly) wound up with the biggest pile on my plate. We also had the prosciutto and coppa (capicola), sliced Italian bread, crackers, and, gourmet Marcona Almonds.

The big surprise was gourmet pizza and sides of meatball dishes with arugula and tomato sauce which Michelle and Kyle ordered from Vesta, a Michelin guide award-winning Italian eatery in Redwood City. The pizza specials included Margherita, Sausage & Honey, Mushroom with goat cheese, Peach, and Bacon. Michelle made an abundant delicious mixed vegetable salad. Vesta was among the eight Peninsula restaurants that received a $100,000 donation from Facebook Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who wanted to help keep their favorite local restaurants afloat during the coronavirus crisis.

At the end of our family get together, Michelle brought out a birthday cake, and our little Lyla got to practice singing Happy Birthday to Lollie (Kim).

Postscript: Many thanks to my dear friend and former colleague, Dr. Douglas Robinson, a foot and ankle specialist who treated Kyle at my request on Friday and made it possible for him and Michelle to host the evening's festivities in honor of Kyle’s beloved mother.

Photos: of the pizza from Vesta's website

Happy Grandparents Day and Lyla's Debut Performance on a Native Percussion Instrument

“There’s no greater music than the sound of [our] grandchildren laughing.”

—Sylvia Earle

Today we celebrate National Grandparents Day, to acknowledge the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. It is said that this special connection has proven to make grandparents live longer, and make children more emotionally resilient. It was Marian McQuade who was recognized nationally by the US Senate and by President Jimmy Carter as the founder of National Grandparents Day. McQuade’s motivation was to educate the youth about the important contributions grandparents have made in the lives of children throughout history. On August 3, 1978, Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation, that officially declared National Grandparents Day in 1979.

Cecile and I got to celebrate early, as our daughter Michelle decided to work from our home on Friday, while we played with Lyla. Cecile (Nana) made Lyla breakfast, and afterward, we read her stories, got out the coloring books, play dough, finger puppets, sang together.

Later in the afternoon, Lyla took me by the hand and led me to the carpet-covered stairs and said, “Up!” Using both her hands and her feet she climbed to the top of the landing, refusing my assistance. We walked down the hallway and she intentionally stopped to give a high-five to a bronze Buddha’s outstretched right hand. I had brought this one home from one of my trips to India some years ago (photo). The right hand held upright with the palm facing forward, referred to as a "mudra" in Sanskrit, symbolizes fearlessness and protection and the left hand held palm-up on its' lap is a meditative gesture. We continued to the back bedroom our son Jason used to occupy when he moved back from LA and where Lyla's portable crib was set up. She was particularly interested on the items on his desk. “Up,” she said again, indicating she wanted to sit on top of his desk. She was particularly interested in the framed photos of Jason, a golden giraffe, the TV channel changer and most of all the snooze alarm which after repeatedly pushing all the buttons, and much to our surprise went off at 8:30 AM on Saturday morning.

We then went into my office next to the bedroom, we looked at family photo albums I had stored under my desk. I also let her ring a temple bell gifted to me by our good friend Maybelle from Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

I then pulled down a Native Slit Tongue Log Drum, a percussion instrument made with a rich rosewood finish, and two soft mallets from my display shelf above the credenza I collected from my travels for Lyla to play and recorded her debut performance. She joyfully struck six distinct warm musical tones. I am sure our precious little angel will be returning for an encore performance in the near future.

Biking Encore in Triple-Digit Temperatures with My Son-in-law and Friend Bill

“Cycling side effects may include sweating, euphoria, freedom, and general awesomeness.” —author unknown

Our daughter Michelle, Kyle, and our granddaughter Lyla returned from a two-week vacation in Del Mar, a beach city in San Diego County late Friday evening, and spent the night. Thanks to the generosity of my biking friend and neighbor, Bill Rothenberg, who lent Kyle one of his bikes and helmet we were able to embark on another biking adventure together. The three of us have ridden together twice before. We began with a pit stop at Starbucks for iced coffee-to-go in downtown Saratoga, made our way to the front of Villa Montalvo, once the grand estate of Senator James Phelan that was built in 1912, now operated by the Montalvo Art Center where we took a selfie together. We then made our way from Saratoga-Los Gatos Road over quiet little neighborhood roads to the top of Overlook Drive. We entered an open meadow with spectacular views of the valley. Kyle, an avid hardcore rider who owns a standard racing bike, had his first taste of riding an electric pedal-assist bike in higher elevations. After two and a half hours of riding, we headed home, but not before stopping in front of our former family home in Saratoga. I bumped into my former neighbor who runs a software company here and abroad. Bill took a photo of Kyle and me in front of the home we lived in for over 34 years before downsizing five years ago to a townhouse in Rinconada Hills. I met a fellow bike rider on our way home, and he joked that I was making him work hard to keep up as he had a standard riding bike. He was with his adult kids who were lagging behind him.

After arriving home, I went to the Farmer’s Market for steak and veggie burritos and vegetable crepes to go and a half-gallon of fresh-squeezed orange juice and had lunch with the family. Later in the day as the temperature surged we took Lyla for a swim in the pool, before they returned home to their home in Redwood City.

Today, Bill and I rode our bikes several miles along the railroad tracks and up some very steep inclines to and within Stevens Creek County Park. Before entering the park we rode up a steep hill as the temperatures soared to hundred degrees and hit a dead end. I struggled to get to the top, had to stop to catch my breath. On the way down we serendipitously ran into the same bicyclist I had met near our former home the other day who had recognized me. We chatted and he told us that his father who is 85 rides his bike in these parts. That was all the inspiration I needed that God willing I will be able to continue to ride for many years to come.

Before we entered Stevens Creek County Park, he also informed Bill and I that the hill we just climbed at the end of the cul-de-sac, is the home of Pro Football Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott who played for the San Francisco 49ers and San Jose mayor, Sam Liccardo, whose San Jose home was vandalized with graffiti recently by protestors, protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

With temperatures spiking to 102, seven degrees lower than what would wind up being the high for the day, I was ready for a mid-afternoon swim. The pool in our gated community never looked so good.

Biking Along Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury & Land's End Trail In San Francisco

“Hello! My name is Dennis Augustine and I’m a Bikeaholic: A person suffering from an extreme love of bicycles."

Bill Rothenberg and I followed behind our friend, fearless leader and former bike racer, James (Jimi) Hunter and his wife Jennifer by car to San Francisco the other day. They laid out a plan to escape the heat and smoke that has continued to blanket Silicon Valley and enjoy another biking adventure that definitely made it to our top five list of great rides. It’s amazing how driving just sixty-miles north from where we live could make such a difference in air quality. San Francisco was the lone exception of the eight of nine Bay Area counties that has been blanketed with a dark, hazy, smokey overlay.

San Francisco is a proverbial paradise for cyclists with a passion for pedal power. After parking near the SF zoo we drove along the flat three-mile sidewalk along Ocean Beach known as the Great Highway on the far western side of the magnificent Golden Gate Park, considered to be one fo the best urban parks in the world that cover more than 1,000 acres. Sitting on the Pacific Ocean, the weather in Golden Gate Park was 35-degrees cooler than the 90-degree heat we were experiencing back home.

Everybody agreed we were in a magical fairytale setting. We passed grassy meadows, the grand polo fields, secluded lakes like Stow Lake, waterfalls, the 55-acre botanical gardens and the Conservatory of Flowers. We also visited the Chinese Pavilion and took in the majesty of the beautiful Huntington Falls. And, as if that weren’t enough we visited the bison paddock along John F. Kennedy Drive that were peacefully grazing. It was created to honor the Wild West. The first bison was brought to the park in 1891 and more were added over time from private and public herds.

We then rode through the Haight-Ashbury district. The unique colorful community was home to the “Summer of Love” in 1967 as depicted on the facade of one of the buildings I photographed. I also took a photo of my friend Bill on his bike on the corner of Haight and Ashbury with his curly hair, reminiscent of our hippy days. In fact, all of the guys have let their hair grow long since the pandemic. Considering we grew up in the 60s, we feel right at home getting in touch with our hippie roots that hails back to the time of Jimmy Hendrix, Janus Joplin and Jerry Garcia.

We retraced our path back through Golden Gate Park and continued to the Land’s End Trail near the Cliff House. We rode along the dirt trails along the coastline, looking out the Mile Rock Lighthouse, Sutro Baths, Seal Rock and glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge that we had crossed with our bikes earlier in the pandemic.

After completing our 24-mile excursion, we packed up our bikes and headed back home. During the drive, Bill and I ate a chicken burrito, thinking about how lucky we are to be able to experience such beauty from the vantage point of riding atop our two-wheeled companion.

Postscript: The Warrior One Yoga Pose was taken at the entrance of the Golden Gate Pavilion that was graciously accepted from the Honorable Teng-Hui Lee, Mayor of Sister City Taipei as a testament to the abiding friendship between the people of Taipei and San Francisco on the occasion of the official dedication of the Golden Gate Pavillion on April 15, 1981.

Celebrating My Milestone 70th Birthday Thanks to My Better Half

“You don’t have to let the stay-at-home orders put a damper on your special day."

The plan was to hold the event on our outdoor patio with nine family members including Cecile and myself. That was until we began to feel the effects of some of the Northern California wildfires that included unhealthy air warnings. There were times when it was a struggle to see the sun through an eerie orange glow of smoke that had that familiar sour smell and caused your eyes to burn. Even when at times the sky looked relatively clear, if you looked closely, you could see a thin veneer of haze and soot fell on our newly acquired covered outdoor furniture.

So, we resorted to Plan B: We held our little dinner party indoors. Our son Jason made margaritas, Kyle brought over a case of Pacifico’s beer and Cecile ordered an abundance of Mexican food that was delivered by Pedro’s Restaurant and Cantina. We enjoyed fresh salsa, guacamole and chips as appetizers, and had chicken enchiladas, cheese tamales, rice, refried beans and salad. For dessert, we had a chocolate layer cake buttermilk topping from Icing on the Cake and vanilla ice cream. 

Thanks to the generosity of our extended family, I was gifted with yellow colored biking vest with zippered arms sleeves, a reticulated bike lock, a back fender rack, and an online gift certificate to Breathe Together yoga classes.

The headline on the front page of  The Mercury News the following day read, “Hey, California: With wildfires, blackouts, bloody protests, pandemic, could 2020 get any worse?"

As I sat quietly, my answer to this question, is yes, things could always get worse, which is the reason to seize the moment before it passes. When we first realized we wouldn't be able to eat out of doors I told Cecile maybe we should postpone my birthday dinner which is officially August 26 anyway.

Cecile gently and wisely talked me out of this notion and I’m so happy she did. It came off without a hitch. Everybody was in a celebratory mood, and it was a joyful and peaceful respite from these volatile and dangerous times we find ourselves in.

Fun-filled Times During a Triple Digit Heat Wave & Rotating Power Outages

"Sometimes the best moments happen when they are unplanned and unexpected.”

Our daughter Michelle decided to come over on Friday to work from our home and brought our granddaughter Lyla. This time Kyle joined her. We were thrilled. Later that morning Kyle, an avid cyclist and I rode to Lexington Reservoir vis a vie, the Los Gatos Creek Trails with a pit stop at the top of Vasona Lake. It was his first time there by bike and I was happy to lead the way. By the time we began to make our loop around the upper part, the temperature began to surge to 105 degrees. The ambient air from riding and the intermittent shade from the forested trees helped to provide some relief, and of course, we had water to drink. We returned 2 1/2 hours later and I headed for a scheduled half-hour outdoor lap pool session at the Bay Club Courtside. The water never felt so good. We also scheduled time to swim with the family in our gated community pool later in the day. The kids decided to stay the evening and we picked up three thin crust Cicero’s pizzas, watched a movie, and called it a night. Cecile made some delicious baked French toast for an early breakfast she prepared the evening before. Kyle and Michelle, and Lyla were invited for lunch with friends on Saturday in Santa Cruz. Our son Jason came over later in the morning and we had lunch and hung out.

Michelle, Kyle, and Lyla returned later in the day. Lyla was happy to see Uncle Jason and his dog Daisy. We scheduled another swim time at our local pool. Lyla got to offer some water to drink to the large decoy white swan that is intended to keep crows and other critters away. She also enjoyed some coloring book time, storybook reading, baby flashcards, blowing bubbles with Nana (Cecile) in our front atrium, hanging out with our white stone buddha statue on a pedestal, gently touching its ringlets (curls) on the top of its head and hugging it. Pointing to the world-famous icon, she said, “Girl!" There are indeed female buddhas in various Buddhist sects, but that's a conversation for when she is older. We ordered take out from Oren’s Hummus, whose specialty is Fresh, Authentic Israeli Food, with beer and Margaritas and talked into the night without ever leaving the dinner table.

Early in the morning, I awoke to flashes of lightning reflecting off our master bathroom mirrors and rain pelting the skylight. Lightning is rare in California. We were lucky the rotating Power outages that affected millions lasted only two ours.

Later that morning Kyle and I decided to ride our bikes again. We began with a road less traveled residential ride through some quiet, Saratoga neighborhoods, making our way to Big Basin Way for a gorgeous ride through the redwoods until we reached the Mountain Winery on Pierce Road. Kyle led the way from there to Mt. Eden Road winding up around the mountain where it levels out along some hillside vineyards with spectacular views of Redwood Gulch and Steven’s Canyon Road. The descent from over a 2,000-foot elevation on the way back was fast and furious, making the steep climb preceding it well worth the effort. Cecile had a wonderful scrambled eggs and chicken apple sausage brunch waiting for all of us, capping a wonderful weekend that seemed to unfold in the most fun and natural way.

Enjoying Take-Out Dinner From Hero Ranch Kitchen with Friends on our Back Yard Terrace

“Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures.”

—Michale Broadbent

Boy, have times changed. There used to be a time when we invited friends to our home for an intimate dinner and we would welcome them at the front door. But in this Brave New World, we find ourselves in, where the pandemic still poses an existential threat, like many we have resorted to welcoming our friends through the back gate of our outdoor terrace. Unless it is a small family gathering, we limit the number of guests to one couple. We take turns ordering and picking up take-out food. Studies show due to the dilutional effect of large amounts of open space transmitting the novel coronavirus outside is very low. The ground rules are we cancel if anyone is feeling ill, no shaking hands or hugs (missing that immensely), and arranging our chairs in such a way to honor the guidelines of social distancing. It is no guarantee, but so far “knock on wood,” we are faring pretty well.

Last week, we were Susan and Nelson Bye’s guest for dinner in their back yard patio. They live a quarter-mile up the walking trail in the upper level of our gated-community. This time they were “our" guests and based on pre-arranged plans we each ordered from "The Hero Ranch Kitchen," in downtown Saratoga. Oddly enough we had always talked about making plans to dine at this relatively new establishment, that is until the pandemic shut that idea down. As John Lennon once said, “Life happens when you’re busy making other plans.” But, hey! We have no complaints. We are doing a lot of things differently these days. Whoever thought I would swim and bike ride everyday? It has been a wonderful unexpected change in routine.

Hero Ranch Kitchen is a farm-to-fork restaurant across from the Basin Restaurant and near the Plumed Horse. The owner, Angelo Heropoulos, supplies much of produce from his Almaden Valley ranch. Cecile and I ordered three lamp chops, gnocchi with corn, and three fried chicken sliders. The Byes shared Crusted prawns, stuffed mushrooms, corn, hamburger, clam chowder, and truffle fries. It was delish.

There is a photo of Nelson, telling us about the "Chaos Theory.” Not the mathematical theory by Edward Lorenz who discovered that within the apparent randomness of chaotic complex systems, there are underlying patterns, interconnectedness, and, repetitions that may not be random at all. No, no, Nelson was telling us about the bottle of "Chaos Theory" wine he brought for us to share from the Brown Estate Vineyard in Napa Valley. One glass relaxes you and was a nice complement to the food from Hero Ranch Kitchen; the second glass gives you a little buzz and the third glass makes you think: What virus?:-)

For dessert, we offered Good Humor Creamsicles and/or Klondike dark chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bars. As the sun was beginning to set, showing off pink hues on the horizon, we said our goodbyes to the Byes, Cecile and I took a walk around the ponds and waterfalls and called it a night. All was well with the world.

Postscript: The Brown family of Napa Valley has employed the scarab beetle, an ancient Egyptian agricultural totem as part of their visual branding on their wine labels through the years, a symbol of good luck and long life.

Biking the Los Gatos Creek Trails to the El Sereno Open Space Preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains

“A good bicycle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to.”

—Dr. K.K. Doty

Friend and neighbor, Bill Rothenberg and I began our ride from Rinconada Hills, where we live to the Los Gatos Creek Trails to downtown Los Gatos. We then made our way to Great Bear Coffee for an iced coffees to go. It was perfect timing for me as I recently had a drink holder installed on my handlebar by Mike’s Bikes, thanks to Bill who got me keen to the idea.

From there we navigated a few neighboring streets to get to Hernandez Avenue for a steep climb to El Sereno Open Space Preserve that is named after the 2,249-foot Mt. El Sereno, located between Los Gatos and Saratoga, CA in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The 1,415-acre Preserve park offers a distinctive scenic backdrop to these towns.

Several small meadows also boast terrific views of Lexington Reservoir where I had just completed a solo climb and loop high above and around this wonderful body of water the day before.

El Sereno Preserve is the perfect place for hikers, campers, bike riders, and nature lovers. Some of the photos I took are a combination or sampling from both the Preserve and Lexington Reservoir County Park.

Once Bill and I got into the park, the first one-third of the ride is on a nice fire road which offers plenty of shade. Then we broke out into the blazing sun for a couple of miles on a fairly rocky and somewhat steeper terrain before returning to some shade again for the final quarter mile of the ride to the top. The view of Silicon Valley took our breath away. I am always amazed that we can access a pleasant trail like this so close to home, with amazing views, not so long or burdensome steep climbs that makes you feel like you are in your own private sanctuary. Who needs ownership when you can have access to such beauty that is blissfully quiet. Some of the photos with the panoramic views were taken in a hidden open meadow off Overlook Drive.

In spite of the great vistas, El Sereno isn’t as steep as most mountains, though the descent into town follows many exhilarating twists and turns down a relatively mild slope that bicyclists look forward to after a strenuous climb.

Bicycling at the Ritz at Half Moon Bay to Pillar Point Harbor and Beyond

“Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”—Albert Einstein

An eclectic group of six bike riders hooked up in Half Moon Bay for an amazing 25-mile round trip ride along a stretch of the Californian Coastal Trail, a multi-use path that follows the former Ocean Shore Railroad route that welcomes bicyclists, runners, hikers, equestrians, and those with wheelchairs. We began on a trail leading up to the Ritz Carlton to Pillar Point Harbor and beyond. The participates were my good friend Jimi Hunter, a former triathlon athlete, who organized the trip, his wife Jennifer, his good friends Jimmy B. and Gary Covell, my friend Bill Rothenberg and myself.

The spacious panoramic views, a diversity of landscapes, beachfront shorelines, breathtaking coastal bluffs, giant cypress trees, lush habitats, soaring red-tailed hawks, and majestic, dive-bombing pelicans along our route made our hearts sing.

As we approached Pillar Point Harbor, surfers were out catching a few waves near the site of the famous Mavericks big-wave surf competition. We enjoyed passing the charming beach houses, inns, and eateries that make up the quaint seaside village of Miramar Beach. We also took in four picturesque beaches that makeup Half Moon Bay State Beach, namely; Roosevelt Beach, Venice Beach, the sandy mounds of Dunes Beach, and Francis Beach. Then, there are the awe-inspiring views of Poplar Beach, overlooking the golden shore and the blue Pacific Ocean. Lastly, the Wavecrest Open Space, the scenic land preserve purchased by the Peninsula Open Space Trust that offers refuge and nesting sites for local birdlife such as northern harrier hawks and barn owls.

What made this extra special is Jimi Hunter’s better half, Jennifer Hunter created a youtube video recording of our little adventure using a GoPro, complete with the music of California by Aden. Jen had a camera attachment on top of her helmet and was our videographer for the outing. The opening narration was done by Jimi, who used to announce running races, triathlons, and red bull sports events back in the day.

After our ride, we secured our bikes and enjoyed a take out lunch from the San Benito Deli in the expansive outdoor courtyard, known throughout the Bay Area and beyond, because of the reputation of its sandwiches.

You can view the youtube video clip produced by my fellow blogger, Jennifer Hunter by selecting the link below.

https://youtu.be/48hkSW3sLjw

Jennifer Hunter, LitasWorld.com and @LitasWorld Instagram

Who Says You Can't Go Home Again? Biking in the Old Neighborhood with my Son Jason

“All that he knew was that the years flow by like water and that one day men come home again.”

—Thomas Wolfe

Who says: You Can’t Go Home Again? Actually, the late novelist, Thomas Wolfe wrote a book by that title. Though Wolfe’s intended meaning behind the title is that if you try to return to a place you remember from the past it won’t be the same as you remember. Still, it is a nostalgic exercise to revisit where you started and realize how far you have come on your life’s journey.

Thanks to my friend and biking buddy Bill Rothenberg who lent Jason his old bike and helmet, Jason and I recently “did" go home again, touring the old neighborhood. Bill took a photo of us in front of our former home at 14318 Chester Avenue in Saratoga, CA., that Jason and our daughter Michelle grew up in. The big red brick house on the hill with the large semi-circular driveway, a beautiful courtyard, a nanny’s quarters, free-form swimming pool and shady oak trees was a source of fun, security and comfort for our family for over three decades. The years flew by to be sure, and before we knew it Jason would wind up living and working in West Hollywood and Michelle in New York City. Cecile and I officially became empty nesters. Five years later we downsized to a more modest townhouse in a gated community in the neighboring town of Los Gatos and gratefully the kids moved back to the area.

Jason and I not only went home again but Bill, a devoted family man knew intuitively it would be cool to tour all the schools Jason attended as a kid: Argonaut Elementary school, Redwood Middle School and Saratoga High School where he performed in the band and marching band respectively, and he took photos of us for the family archive and this blog. We even rode through West Valley College, where Jason and I used to rehearse every Monday evening and performed for one year before he went off to college in Santa Barbara, in the 105-piece, intergenerational Saratoga Community Band, led by our musical director, Craig Northrop. Jason played the clarinet and I played the saxophone.

Intellectually, for most of us, when we look back on our childhoods, we realize that the home we grew up in and the schools we attended only existed for a moment in time. The hometown we remember is a collage of scenes we construct in our minds to give our lives an anchor. We realize that we are lucky enough to have a few wonderful and meaningful hometown relationships that survived large distances and breaks in time and managed to mature through shared and independent experiences. As for the physical home we once shared, Cecile told our kids home is where the family is, and our relationship continues to blossom.

Bicycling & Forest Bathing in Haddart Park with My Friend Bill & Son-in-Law Kyle Lewis

“We ride to breathe, to soar, to live, to relax, to feel free and be mindfully aware we are living in the present moment.”

Knowing my son-in-law Kyle Lewis is an avid bicyclist who introduced me to a biking app called Strava that creates a map, records average speed, elevation, distance traveled, and other stats, I texted him saying we should ride together someday. “I’d love that,” he said. Little did I know that day would come sooner than expected, thanks to the generosity of Bill Rothenberg, one of my riding companions. Bill offered to drive up with our bikes to meet Kyle in front of his Redwood City home this morning. My daughter Michelle and granddaughter Lyla warmly greeted us. Though Bill knew Michelle in her younger years he was meeting Kyle and Lyla for the first time.

Kyle had mapped out a 22-mile ride for us that had us riding through Redwood City, Woodside, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, and Atherton. We encountered some interesting sights like the Castle Home, Dinosaur sculpture, a friendly woman on horseback who I asked if it was okay to photograph that led to an interesting conversation about the responsibilities and joy of riding horses.

One of the highlights was entering the sweet space of Haddart County Park just off King’s Mountain Road above Woodside, CA. It is a 900-acre serene refuge of forested slopes and steep, cool canyons within easy reach of the population centers of the San Francisco Peninsula. A great place to explore a redwood forest. Kyle had related to a post I had written recently on how biking solo in nature makes you feel peaceful and at one with the world. It has been known for centuries that the sounds of the forest, the fragrant aromatic scent of the trees, the sunlight peeking through the trees, and fresh, clean air restores, refreshes, and rejuvenates our energy. Kyle said, “This is where I go to meditate." Of course, he meant meditation in action or better yet, mindful awareness of being in the present moment.

I never got to speak to him about an ancient practice I have employed from time to time called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. In Japanese shinrin means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” Practically speaking, shinrin-yoku which is a national pastime in Japan and has been proven scientifically to reduce stress and promote well-being, metaphorically means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses and bridging the gap between us and the natural world.

We exited Haddart Park onto Kings Mountain Road, the most interesting downhill ride of our near 2-hour trip reaching maximum speed of almost 30 miles an hour. We returned to Kyle and Michelle’s home, had another chance to play with Lyla before Bill and I uploaded our bikes on the back of his SUV and headed home.

Celebrating our Son Jason's Birthday & A Flashback of Our Adventure Trip to Vietnam

“The coronavirus is causing unprecedented devastation…it’s okay to cherish a moment of brightness” —Graziella Simonetti

Cecile and I decided that we would have Vietnamese food delivered from North restaurant in Los Gatos. Though it has only been in existence for several months before the coronavirus began to make news, North has become one our favorite Vietnamese restaurants for take out or delivery. Created by a couple of Bay Area culinary veterans, it has distinguished itself by featuring California/Vietnamese fusion dishes. The name NORTH reflects the restaurant’s location on North Santa Cruz Avenue. It also is a reminder of the memorable trip Jason and I took to Southeast Asia which included a tour of South and NORTH Vietnam when he was a young man. Ironically it was during the time of the Chicken flu epidemic. The open markets were selling pork instead of chicken. We visited the Hanoi Hilton where we saw the prison camp where Sen. John McCain was imprisoned during the Vietnam War. Our adventure story was featured in the Saratoga News in 2004. There is something about traveling with your child in a far and exotic land that allows you to bond in a very special way.

Jason’s partner, Alex whom we hadn’t seen for months due to the pandemic joined us for the birthday dinner. We enjoyed Miso-glazed salmon, Garlic Noodles, Tofu curry w potatoes, Green beans, Chicken Satay, Chicken salad, Veggie pot stickers and chicken salad. But, the creme dela creme was Cecile's Oreo Mud Pie with fresh whipped cream. It was a labor of love for her first born.

Dear Jason, it seems like your beloved mother and I closed our eyes for a moment and suddenly a man stood where our young boy used to be. We may not be able to carry you in our arms anymore, but we will always carry you in our hearts. You have given us so many reasons to grateful and proud of the man that you have become, but our proudest moments have been for us to tell others that you are OUR SON. We love you NOW and Forever. Happy Birthday son!

A Laid-Back Father's Day Weekend: Cocooning with our Kids and Granddaughter Lyla

“I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us in odd moments, when they aren’t trying to

teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.” Umberto Eco

You can’t always arrange to have your children together in one place for Father’s Day, especially with the pandemic and other logistical concerns. But we managed pretty well. Jason treated us yesterday with take-out food from the Falafel House. For my Father’s Day gift, he presented me with a box of Antoine gourmet cookies that was launched as a Kickstarter project and delivered by Antoine to the Silicon Valley Elite including Apple, Google, Facebook and dropping them off at people’s doors. Jason knows my "sweet spot" or should I say my "guilty pleasure.” These are dangerously good. He stayed for dinner and had "Pizza My Heart" delivered and we watched “Undercover" on Netflix.

Today, Michelle, Kyle and our granddaughter Lyla arrived with lunch. Michelle had prepared a caprese salad, a yummy frittata with peppers, onion and potatoes, and bite-sized cookies. You can never have too many cookies.

Lyla wasn’t into the whole gourmet food thing today but did feast some fresh organic blueberries. Kyle and enjoyed an Allagash Belgian wheat beer. After lunch the dad’s open their presents. I got a Papa (grandpa) T-shirt from Cecile but Lyla prefers to call me “Baba." Kyle got a similar shirt with Daddy printed on it. Michelle and Kyle got me bicycle shorts. Kyle and I share a passion for bicycling. It was the perfect gift, and last but not least Lyla created a vivid, colorful painting for me. After Lyla awoke, we showed her how to waive a wand to create soap bubbles which is always entertaining for kids and adults alike.

I find it interesting how holidays are observed. The first observance of Father’s Day in

America is believed to have been held on July 5, 1908 by Gracy Clayton in West Virginia. She was mourning the

loss of her father who died in a mining accident and suggested that her pastor honor all the fathers who had perished in the accident. Two years later, in June 1910, Father’s Day began to take root across churches in Spokane, Washington. During the 1920s, enthusiasm for the event began to fade. Then in 1930 Sonora Dodd, daughter of American civil war veteran William Jackson Smart began raising awareness for Father’s Day celebration on a national level. But it wasn’t until Lyndon Johnson officially assigned a date to Father’s Day in 1966 and in 1972, Richard Nixon signed it into law as a national holiday.

A Father’s Day Weekend Memorial Tribute to My Late Dad Frank and Late Brother Michael Augustine

“There is no expiration date on the love between a father and his child.” —Jennifer Williamson

On this Father’s Day Weekend, we remember the loss of two beloved members of our family. The first is our father Frank Augustine who died of natural causes in our childhood home in Hoboken, NJ, on December 18, 2017, three weeks shy of his 101st birthday. Dad had excellent recall for his age, so much so that over time, I was able to record an oral history of his colorful life. In the 1940s he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Oregon and Idaho. It was a popular job relief program established in the 1930s by FDR, as part of his New Deal platform to keep kids off the streets and provide them with gainful employment. Dad also did two stints in the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas with my late uncles Joe and Anthony Augustine, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he served as a cook for his unit and as a personal aide to his mentor and friend, Army Chaplain, Capt. William Walsh.

Some months after our mother Marie died in 2013, I wrote a feature story about our dad and his lifetime achievements and contributions to his community and his country that was published in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Legacy Journal in the Spring of 2014 (see link at the end of this post). Dad entered the order of the Maryknoll Fathers as a seminarian in Ossining, NY for one year, served in the Maritime Service in New London, Connecticut, and was the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus for two terms. He also served as a Boy Scout leader in Hoboken for 25 years, was the oldest living life member of the Elks Lodge No. 74, and was known in his neighborhood as an urban gardener, homemade winemaker, and lover of nature. He retired from Maxwell House Coffee in June 1975, the same month and year I began my career as a podiatric physician and surgeon in San Jose, CA. In 1984, while visiting with my mom at our California home, dad gifted me his most prized possession, a freestanding glass-enclosed gold Atmos clock with a circular perpetual motion pendulum (photo) presented to him by General Mills, the parent company of Maxwell House in honor of his twenty-five years of loyal service. Forty-Five years later it sits regally on our library shelf, a symbol of his generosity, love, and the passage of time from one generation to another.

The other beloved member of our family we fondly remember for Father’s Day is our late brother, Michael Augustine who died tragically on November 1, 2019, (All Saints Day), nine days short of his 61st birthday. Our brother was named after our dad’s father Michael, who was a coal miner and railroad worker. My brother became an eagle scout under our dad's tutelage and often said, “He was the best father a son could hope for.” Out of all four of us siblings, my brother Michael had our dad’s temperament. He was easy-going, loved to joke around, and always had a smile on his face. He was also a hard worker. Always drawn to the carpentry and construction field, in 2002 he took a job with the Shauger Group, Inc (TSG) in East Orange, NJ. Due to his enthusiastic dedication to his job, he became an important and integral part of the company team as its’ carpenter foreman and supervisor. He was much beloved by his fellow employees and his boss Donny Shauger who felt a brotherly kinship toward Michael. Thirty-six co-workers and Donny attended his funeral service. He is survived by his four sons whom he was deeply devoted to. They are our nephews Michael (Mikey) Augustine, Jr., Andrew, Brock, and Alex who adored him. Though they are no longer with us, Michael and our dad will continue to dwell in our hearts and minds. Cecile and I made a donation in Michael's memory to provide food and masks to Mukuru students in Kenya, a country of scenic beauty and majestic camera safaris where Michael and I along with our brother-in-law Joe bonded on a trip of a lifetime (photos). I never saw him so happy.

Postscript: Feature Story: 97-Year old Frank Augustine Recognized Lifetime Achievements“

—a son’s tribute to his father.” by Dr. Dennis Augustine (RET. D.P.M.)

http://hoboken411.com/archives/103013#sthash.zwalTuRS.dpuf

Hanging out With our Granddauther Lyla in Woodside, California's Horse Country Known Throughout the World

"Horses calm me. I love being around them. They smell great, they are beautiful to look at, they are loving, demanding, temperamental, and they settle you.”

—Shania Twain

Cecile and I made plans to meet our daughter Michelle, her husband Kyle, and our eighteen-month year old, granddaughter Lyla, in the parking lot near Buck’s Restaurant in Woodside that gained fame as a meeting place for venture capitalists and tech entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley. Before they arrived, we put our face masks on and stopped at the home and garden center of Emily Joubert. They were only allowing several people in the store at a time due to new COVID-19 reopening guidelines, so we settled on viewing their offering on the outside until the kids called to let us know they were arriving shortly. Woodside as a whole is known as horse country, which is the reason we were invited to join the kids here in the first place. Recently, Michelle had taken a photo of Kyle holding Lyla in front of two horses who were corralled in front of their owners’ home, and Cecile and I were happy to revisit the same two horses with them. Whenever you ask Lyla what sound does a horse make, she is eager to oblige. She loves to be quizzed and is in that phase of learning the sounds of animals. Many of the properties we passed have barns and fields for keeping horses around their home. Unlike the early California explorers, settlers, ranchers, and loggers, whose horses provided their transportation and horsepower, horses in Woodside today provide recreation and pleasure riding, equestrian sport, and equine-assist therapy. It also provides the rural community character that Woodside is known for around the world. Although I have ridden horses several times in my life, there is something special, peaceful, and calming about just being in their company. In today’s fast-paced, screen-centric, internet-connected world that was given birthright here in Silicon Valley, their contribution is essential.

The two horses seen in the photos I took were more than 50-feet away when we arrived. But a little clicking of the tongue got their attention, and they slowly made their way toward us to sniff our scent and begged to be pet. Most of us took a turn petting these docile, beautiful creatures, and within minutes the gathering together became a mutual admiration event. It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon with family.

Bicycling Solo: Joy, Beauty & Serenity During Stressful Times

"Most of our pleasures come from unexpected sources."

—Herbert Spencer

I’ve been teased by my good friend, James Hunter—or Jimi as he likes to be called—that

my blog site enjoyyourlifenow.net is becoming a biking blog. Perhaps to some degree. It is a free travel and lifestyle blog, but the mode of travel has been limited to two wheels, battery powered for steeper hills. And, due to the coronavirus, my trips are local rather than national or international. That said, I have no complaints. Having inherited my late dad’s sense of curiosity, I am more focused on the journey, rather than the destination. I am seeing more of my community in a whole new way. I am captivated by sights and sounds in nature that are heartening and joyously beautiful.

After reading my blog site that he subscribes to (he doesn’t go on Facebook) Jimi often responds by saying that I have “beginners mind.” It is a Zen phrase that refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just like a beginner would. And, I owe it all to him. I never thought I would ever ride ten, twenty, even up to 30 miles round trip on a bike, not at my age.

Moreover, biking has saved me in so many ways, both physically and mentally. It is one activity that I and many of my fellow cyclists can still enjoy during this pandemic. It was Jimi who got me interested in biking a few years ago. I took to it like a moth to a flame and have never looked back.

With the coronavirus still at large, biking provides fresh air, especially on a stunning day like today, with a cool, gentle breeze at my back. With the gyms, health clubs, workplace closed and so many other activities off the table, biking is the ultimate escape from being cooped up in our homes. Bikes, unite us, even as we are so physically disconnected. We get to engage each other at a safe distance. We greet one another with a nod and a wave that adds a sense of community and connectedness at a time when that human connection is sorely missed.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoy taking and posting them along the way. Check out the Santa Fe double engine cars that I had never seen before riding miles along the railroad tracks on the way to the percolation pond (photos).

It used to be that I was only riding my bike once a week. But I have upped that to several times a week and enjoy the solitary rides as well as with a friend or two. The silver lining in all this, is the chance to smell the roses, take deep full breaths as the air quality has improved, enjoy the silence while I can as the noise pollution has abated due to a dramatic drop in traffic.

When I returned home, Cecile had prepared homemade pizza with fresh tomato and feta cheese, roasted carrots and broccoli, and a side of Caesar's salad. I enjoyed it with a glass of the Essence of A to Z Oregon Reisling after which we took our final walk of the day on the trails around the lake.

Postscript: While I was on the road biking on Allendale Avenue near the vineyard where we used to live, someone was rolling up in his car along side of me, and it turned out to be Jimi Hunter (photo). It’s funny when that happens. He pulled over and we talked. Call it random if you’d like, but it occurred at the exact moment I was thinking about him. The magic of synchronicity.

The Shoreline Biking Adventure & Being Serenaded by Thousands of Shore Birds

The Shoreline Biking Adventure & Being Serenaded by Thousands of Shore Birds

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

—Maya Angelou

“I don’t ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days.”

—Unknown

What a difference a few days makes. We had a four-day heatwave here in Northern California.

Temperatures topped 100 degrees. Yesterday, it dropped back down to the 70s. It was sunny and mild

with a nice breeze at our backs. The clouds were wispy as if their edges were being teased apart by the winds.

Bill and I drove twenty minutes to the Stevens Creek Trail, a 5-mile paved trail for pedestrians, runners and bicyclists near the

Mountain View-Sunnyvale border, below El Camino Real over highway 85.

The protected bike trail includes a dozen bridges, tunnels, and underpasses in the heart of

Silicon Valley. After parking, we offloaded our bikes and accessed the on-ramp bridge on Dale Avenue.

The bridge crossing over Hwy 85 is a massive, solid concrete design.

The trail is accented with creeks, thousands of trees and shrubs, benches, and water fountains.

The scenic trail is like a natural lineal park, a vital recreational resource that replaced what used to be unused land.

It runs past a series of high-tech business parks and mobile home parks. We stopped to check up on the progress

of Google’s futuristic new headquarters that looks like a cross between a Galactic spaceship and the famed Opera House

in Sydney, Australia. The construction crew was working in earnest. Symbolic of the times, workers were wearing face masks.

We continued to Shoreline Park at Mountain View, reaching the perimeter of the South Bay until we got to the jetty. We were looking for the pelicans. They weren’t in their usual place, so we continued riding a couple of more miles and off in the distance we saw

long land masses filled with what appeared to be thousands of white shorebirds including the majestic white pelicans.

The white shorebirds and seagulls graced us with a chorus of singing. After taking a number of photos, I recorded a short video

clip of this magical spectacle of nature. It’s been said that a bird can alternate exhaling between its two lungs and thereby sing in

harmony with itself. With the birds in the backdrop, Bill coaxed me into doing an Eagle Pose, a balancing posture that stretches the shoulders and upper back while straightening the thighs, hips, ankles, and calves. It builds balance, calm focus, and concentration. When one thinks of yoga twisting oneself into a pretzel, the eagle pose fits the description. The other standing balancing posture, with one knee-up, and outstretched arms is my fun, improvised version of a bird-like Kung Fu pose.

Another self-fulfilled day. Finding joy and respite from the coronavirus threat and the peddlers of the 24-hour news cycle seems all too willing to report every repetitive minutia ad nausea. News fast is certainly warranted at times.

We retraced our steps, heading back to where the car was parked, loaded up our bikes, and headed to the Falafel House for take-out lunch and headed home.

Biking Around and Above the Lexington Reservoir & a Yoga Stretch Pit Stop on a Flatbed Trailer

“A long bike ride or whatever your passion may be, is the answer to puzzling questions of life you will soon forget. Or as the old saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun.”

The following photos are from two recent biking excursions to the Lexington Reservoir, one with my friend Bill earlier in the week and one with Gary Covell which we arranged on the spur of the moment this morning. It was perfect day to ride and a perfect day to be alive. As everyone knows the news hasn’t been pretty of late, tensions are high and mental health experts say that stress and anxiety of living during this pandemic are on the rise. There is nothing like a bike ride to cut through the monotony of staying at home. In fact, more and more physicians, psychotherapists, and politicians are encouraging people to spend time outdoors biking, hiking and walking.

I met Gary at the parking lot of Bay Club Courtside where we are members and has been temporarily shut down pending re-opening orders from Governor Newsom. We hopped on the Los Gatos trails leading us through the parklike setting on the back side of downtown and began our steep climb to the reservoir. There were an equal number of bicyclists and walkers, but not overly crowded. We continued on a secondary climb above the heavily wooded Santa Cruz mountains that looks down at the reservoir.

Many times, during a bike ride I find a convenient place to take a pit stop and do some yoga stretches to ham it up and loosen up the body to stay connected and to be fully present. Afterall, as much as I feel at one with nature during our weekly rides, holding on firmly to the handlebars especially on gravel and bumpy terrain, and even smooth paved roads on steep inclines causes the neck, back and leg muscles to tense up. So, in a cool wooded area overlooking the reservoir I saw an old isolated flatbed trailer that lended itself to doing a few yoga stretches before continuing down the mountain. On the earlier ride with Bill, we had continued cautiously down a steep but doable dirt trail that took us further down to the water’s edge on the other side of the reservoir where a mother was taking photos of her young son and daughter who were sitting on a tree stump. We greeted a family sitting under a canopy, having lunch, drinking and fishing. Other than these few people we had the place to ourselves and bathed in the tranquility and majesty of it all. Gary continued along the highway 17 past Bear Creek Road. I parted ways with Gary on Lark Avenue as I continued on the trails heading toward home, passing fellow bicyclists young and old alike, I realized anew, a bicyclist little secret that melancholy is virutally incompatible with bicycling.

Bike Ride to La Honda and Pescadero & Visiting the Curious Alpine Goats at Harley Farms & Getting Stranded

Bill Rothenberg and I hooked up with Gary Covell who led this adventure. We drove in two cars from Los Gatos to La Honda and parked at the La Honda Center to begin our ride. 
We passed a forested edge of Sam McDonald County Park, San Mateo County Memorial Park and some other towns that if you blinked, you were bound to miss. We continued our ride to Pescadero Creek Road that led us through enchanted wooded areas, and a charming farming community. It turned out to be one of our best classic, scenic rides. It features some challenging, climbs, through the magnificent redwoods and along the back roads around the Santa Cruz Mountains with virtually no traffic on single lane with great pavement. The scenic climb winds along the mountain under the shaded woodlands with estate homes and farms tucked away from the main road. We passed through miles of sweeping vistas and enjoyed the Zen like calm of the expansive lush green woodlands.

We navigated some gorgeous climbs along the remote back roads around the Santa Cruz Mountains. We enjoyed the quiet calm thorough the expansive lush green woodlands, the crisp mountain air and the refreshing cool breeze at Pescadero State Beach.

Aside from the spectacular views, the highlight of the trip was a small residential community of Pescadero where we saw colorful crafted old wooden homes and visited with the friendly and very curious Alpine Goats at Harley Farms Goat Dairy grounds and bought. The people and animals who live and work there reflect the dignity and grace of farm life. The white baby goats are too cute for words. One extended its’ head beyond the pen to smell my shoe. He, and, another baby goat was drinking milk from one of the feeders. The Alpine goats are known for their very good milking ability. The milkers welcome the goat herd each morning, the cheesemakers make cheese into an art form. We saw Rosie the donkey, whom the owners take on walks in the farm Secret Garden. I befriended one of the farm cats resting on some pillows in the empty dining room on the top floor. I sat next to him wearing my blue bandana over my nose, and mouth, and proceeded to gently rub its belly. The farm normally offers tours, but they have been put on hold due to the pandemic. We decided to continue on to Pescadero State Beach to take in the cool, refreshing ocean breeze before returning back to La Honda.

On the way back from our 30-mile round trip excursion, my electric assist bike battery ran out of power. I found myself stranded on the side of the road on an incline for the first time. I was unable to use my cell phone to text or call my bike mates because it was out of reach from the nearest cell tower. After waiting for twenty minutes, I saw a person about a hundred feet away on foot walking toward me. It was Bill checking up on me near the YMCA Camp Jones Gulch. He was low on battery power. He said he would go get his SUV and come back for me. He told Gary who was eating lunch and surprised about what happened that he was going to pick me up and we would take a different route home. I found a place in the shade, feeling overheated and a bit dehydrated with barely a half a bottle of water, left. A UPS stopped across the road to inform me that Bill was on his way. Forty-Five later Bill arrived. As the saying goes he was a sight for sore eyes. We drove back to La Honda Center, grabbed some lunch drove back home. All’s well. Thanks Bill, for saving my butt:-)

Recollecting Tender Childhood Memories of My Late Mother Maria on Mother’s Day

"There are no goodbyes, wherever you are, you will always be in my heart." —Mahatma Gandhi

Mother’s Day marks the seventh anniversary of my beloved mother’s passing, May 12, 2013 at the age of 88. Aside from the celebration of Mother’s Day itself, there are four things that remind me of my connection to her and to our Sicilian family heritage. My mother arrived in this country in 1947. I was her first born in 1950.

1-My first trip to Sicily was with my parents aboard the Saturnia Italian Liner in 1953 when I was three years old (photo of mom and me at the ship’s dining table).

2-The cactus garden I can see outside my home office window (Photo) is a constant reminder of where my mother grew up in what was then a small, fishing village in Roccalumera, Messina, Sicily, which has become a favored tourist destination (pre-pandemic). Its’ origins date back to the ancient Roman empire. This is where I first had my taste of the soft, colorful orange red cactus fruit. The cactus plant is a metaphor for the resiliency of the Sicilian people: tough on the outside but soft and loving on the inside.

3-The lemon trees that are also on the premises of the gated community where we live remind me of my mom. Nine out of ten lemons in Italy come from Sicily. My mother loved to eat lemons. She would peel and quarter them, add a sprinkle of salt and sometimes a splash of vinegar. I can still feel my mouth pucker up when I recall trying to eat them with her for the first time. “Mom, how can you eat this,” I would ask? She would smile that beautiful smile of hers and in her indearing accent say: "itsa good."

4-A natural polished heart-shaped stone I found on the stone pebbled beach I discovered in Roccalumera in June of 2006 (photo) also reminds me of my mother. I keep it on my desk and hold it in the palm of my hand from time to time.

Still loved, still missed, and though you are no longer with us, you left behind some beautiful memories, and will always be in our hearts and by our side.

For all sons and daughters who have lost their mother perhaps, the following poem by an unknown author will resonate with you as we celebrate this Mother’s Day. 

“Your Mother is always with you.
She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she’s the smell of certain food you remember, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself.
She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well, she’s your breath in the air on a cold winter’s day.
She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep,
The colors of a rainbow…
Your mother lives inside your laughter. She’s the place that you came from. Your first home, and she’s the map you follow with every step you take.
She’s your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy,
But nothing on earth can separate you. No time, not space…not even death.

Wishing all mothers or mother like figures or surrogates a very Happy Mother’s Day!