Enjoying Outdoor Dining at Mextizo Restaurant & Cantina: A Logical Choice in these Pandemic Times

After a year of mostly picking up take-out food on my way home from a bike ride, Cecile and I were in the mood for outdoor dining the other night. We chose Mextizo Restaurant and Cantina, formerly the home of The Blue Door restaurant at the West Gate Center in San Jose that featured Greek-inspired cuisine in an upscale setting that was affected by the COVID-19 shutdown. I had written a couple of positive posts while the Blue Door was in operation and had the chance and pleasure to meet Sylvia Foundas, one of its' founders.

She and her husband Peter, whose family is steeped in the restaurant business were faced with the challenge of making a big change in their offering. They decided to create a new concept restaurant and brought in Executive chef, Everardo Andrade who was a former cook at Reposado in Palo Alto and Olla Cocina in San Jose before joining the Blue Door Restaurant team. Andrade created a menu that reflects the food he enjoyed growing up in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The irony is that many years ago, the 8,000 square foot space was home to the Chevy’s restaurant chain. The owners believed Mextizo was a better fit for the neighborhood that they opened almost a year ago. The shutdown was a perfect time to engage in several weeks of a major renovation.

We ordered a beer and strawberry margarita with salsa and chips to start. Cecile enjoyed three Empanadas Vegeterianas for her entree that included cilantro avocado masa stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, butternut squash and Oaxaca cheese served with salsa tatemada and Mexican coleslaw. I had a delicious Traditional Asada: Grilled hanger steak marinated in adobo that was topped with Mexican green onions, cilantro, guacamole, radishes and red tatemada salsa. This was complimented with a side of refried black beans. We can’t wait to try some of their other offerings in the future.

Even though Cecile and I have been fully vaccinated, we are still avoiding indoor dining for the time being unless there is an open door with plenty of ventilation. “According to a recent article in The New York Times citing peer…peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the odds of indoor transmission are about 19 times as great as the odds of outdoor transmission.” Of course other studies state there is a less than 1% chance of Covid-19 transmission with indoor eating. While they fight it out, we believe it doesn’t hurt to err on the side of caution.

A Coastal Biking Adventure & Soaking in a Hot Tub at a Magnificent Beach House with a Million-Dollar View

“To me, it doesn’t matter whether…the sun is shining…as long as I’m riding a bike I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

—Mark Cavendish

Bill and I were invited to join good friends James (Jimi) and Jennifer Hunter yesterday at a beach house in Aptos where they are vacationing with their grandson Wesley. Mutual friend, Gary Covell joined the guys for a morning bike ride along neighboring beaches which included Manresa State Beach and La Selva Beach near Watsonville, Seacliff and Capitola. Jimi, a retired teacher, former triathlete and always the jokester welcomed us at the private gate of the home of a friend, wearing a white and green top hat with a cannabis leaf imprint, and a black Bicycle Outfitter shirt.

The magnificent three bedroom, three bath 2,200 square foot home known as La Casa de La Contenta (Spanish for House of Contentment) combines the love of nature and luxury and captures the essence of California coastal living. It sports a million-dollar panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and includes a relaxing hot tub which we luxuriated in after our 25-mile bike ride.

The Hunters also hosted lunch, which included BBQ chips, chocolate chip cookies, beer and soft drinks. La Casa is nestled within the grounds of New Brighton State Beach, one of the most popular and most visited state beaches in California.

This popular recreation spot is connected with Seacliff State Beach, where the Ohlone Indians thrived for thousands of years on the area’s plentiful natural resources. From the back yard

deck one could see Seacliff’s famous fishing pier in the distance that extends out to a unique concrete tanker, the SS Palo Alto, a remnant form the World War I era that never saw wartime service. It was turned into an elaborate amusement center, and later brought to rest in the shallow water near the beach. During our ride we stopped to take a group photo near this landmark.

Postscript: Jimi led us to Seascape Park, in Rio Del Mar where we unexpectedly found ourselves in the midst of a Tai Chi class in progress. Having taken Tai Chi classes at Courtside Bay Club—as did Jimi—we were happy to see the students keep their calm without being distracted by our intrusion in their space, and we respectfully moved on.

Picnic at Oak Meadow Park with our Granddaughter Lyla & Sitting in the Cockpit of a Decommissioned USAF Jet

“In the end, kids won’t remember that fancy toy you bought them, they will remember the time you spent with them.”

—Kevin Heath

"We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

—George Bernard Shaw

Oak Meadow Park, is considered the gem of all Los Gatos parks. It features a large 12-acre playground

including a real decommissioned USAF T-33A “T-Bird,” America’s First Jet Trainer (Nicknamed: "Shooting Star.”) Lyla inspected the outside, walked onto the wing of the jet and sat in the cockpit.

I couldn’t help thinking about my nephew Andrew (Drew) Augustine, an F-15 Crew Chief at the United States Air Force stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and his lovely wife Kaylyn, a former airman in the USAF, who now works for VSE Corporation in Okinawa.

The park also sports a scaled-down red fire engine, corkscrew slides, swings, playhouses of different sizes, BBQ and picnic facilities, a large grass field for youth soccer games, a carousel, and a one-third scale Billy Jones Wildcat railroad that offers rides on steam-engine locomotives year-round in a creek-side setting.

Whenever I want to assist Lyla on climbing a play structure she always lets me know if she doesn’t want me to help her. She pushed my hand away, and said, "No Papa, I want to do it myself.” She’s fearless. It was a very colorful day. Parents were out riding bicycles with their kids. One guy was throwing a frisbee for his dog to catch in mid-air. Lyla met a cute 2-year old like herself who shared the steering wheel of the red fire engine with her.

Dogs are not the only living creatures that need a wide berth to run and play. So do children. Before we sat down for our picnic on-the-grass, Lyla began to run toward a whimsical covered performance stage a thousand feet away where summer concerts usually take place. A man watching began to laugh, saying: “Wow, she has a mind of her own, doesn’t she.” I smiled and said, “You don’t know the half of it.” It was like chasing a running back to the goal line. When she got to the stage she commanded it. She walked all over it in a circular fashion and I encouraged her to dance. Like the decommissioned USAF Jet trainer, she is the family’s “shootings star.”

We finally had our picnic on the grass. Lyla seemed very contented as she sat on Cecile’s (Nonnie’s) lap. The three hour playtime flew by. Yes, we were tired but contented as well. I couldn’t help think about the musical lyrics of the late Paul Vance:

"When this old world gets me down and there’s no love to be found;

I close my eyes and soon I find

I’m in a playground in my mind

Where the children laugh and

The children play

And we sing a song all day.”

Lyla awakens the child in us and we give her the space to be who she is: a loving, curious, determined, joyful child who knows she is loved unconditionally.

Happy Birthday to My Biking Buddy Who Always Goes the Extra Mile to Enjoy the Ride: Circumnavigating Lexington Reservoir

"Every mile brings new possibilities. Here's to another year of going wherever the road takes you."

—Author Unknown

At 8:26 AM I sent a text to my friend Bill Rothenberg to wish him a Happy Birthday and asked him if he would like to circumnavigate the Lexington Reservoir. A former Triathlete his comical response was: “I am one-third through my birthday triathlon: Dog walk: Done [he has two Labradoodles, Roscoe and Misty]; a Swim at 9AM and around 9:45 AM, a bike ride.” So, the answer was “yes."

On this beautiful, mild, sunny day we hit the Los Gatos Creek Trails, stopped in front of Vasona Reservoir and made a pit stop at Great Bear Coffee, where I treated Bill to a large iced coffee. Bill, doesn’t go anywhere without his caffeine fix to jumpstart his day. For myself, I’m a Jamba Juice kinda guy. Since Great Bear doesn’t sell Jamba Juice, I ordered their large special new Watermelon, Citrus Lemonade drink. Sugar is my fix and I added a breakfast muffin.

After hopping on a pedestrian/cyclist bridge behind downtown Los Gatos, we resumed our ride, switching to a gravel pathway parallel to Highway-17 leading to the Lexington Reservoir County Park. As many times as we have done this ride, it always feels fresh and new; mainly because like artists we recreate the experience newly each time. The other thing Bill and I have in common is that we are both Cycopaths: persons suffering from chronic bike riding disorder with abnormal urges to ride and feel free:-)

Though there are sections of the reservoir that are drying up due to draught conditions there were still some spectacular views of the water. The "creme de La creme" is when we got to the last quarter of the ride where we experience the coolness of the forested canopy and later switching from the paved roads to the narrow dirt trails just above the reservoir. All in all we rode about 28 miles with an elevation gain of 1,700 feet which took over three hours including returning on the creek trails most of the way home.

Final birthday greeting to Bill, a guy who has many talents, lives life at full throttle, who has introduced me to many trails and shortcuts, always has my back and, is fun to ride with. Best of all, we have great wives, his Sarah and my beloved Cecile who support our cycling adventures.

Reciprocal Back-to-Back Outdoor Take-Out Dining from The Wine Cellar and Aldo's with our Good Friends

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

—Charles Shultz

“True friends are like diamonds—bright, beautiful, valuable and always in-style.”

—Nicole Richie

We were invited to join our good friends Nelson and Susan Bye in their back yard terrace for a take-out dinner from the Wine Cellar. The Bye's provided the drinks and Cecile and I brought chocolate cupcakes from from "Icing on the Cake” for dessert. They sat at the head of the table on one side and we sat at the other. Though the Wine Cellar restaurant was serving dinner under their big white tent on their outdoor terrace, we were perfectly content avoiding the crowd and enjoying the view overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains as the sun was beginning to set. Though the temperature begins to drop after 5PM, we felt the warmth from the two towering, glowing restaurant-grade heat lamps that Nelson strategically placed for our maximum comfort. More recently, we ordered take out food from Aldo’s Restaurant and dined on our outdoor terrace with our Roman fountain flowing in the backdrop. Once again the Byes brought a bottle of 2012 Amazon della Valpollecella and Blue Moon Light Sky citrous wheat beer. We provided Dove dark chocolate ice cream bars.

Even though things have opened up of late and Cecile, myself and the Byes have been fully vaccinated, given the times we are in, we didn’t feel we missed out. With the recent birth of our new granddaughter, Emmy, we are still acting with an abundance of caution and still avoiding large social gatherings.

After all living in the same gated-community as the Byes, we don't have to drive outside the premises, there is no loud chatter or loud music to contend with, and we don't feel rushed to finish our meal. The three plus hours we spent in each others company during both get togethers never went so fast. Though we have adapted pretty well to the pandemic lifestyle, we speculated when it would be safe enough to resume re-booking our Great Lakes cruise from Quebec City and Montreal to Chicago we were forced to cancel last September. Though, It still feels like a distant dream. We are still shooting to resume our annual family vacation in Maui in December and perhaps rescheduling our Great Lakes trip in the early spring 2022.

For all who have endured difficult emotions triggered by the pandemic and accompanying collateral damage and financial and personal loss; are the subject of political oppression (i.e., the brutal military coup affecting our dear friends in Myanmar, etc.), and are feeling a sense of isolation:

May you be well.

May you be safe.

May you be happy.

May you be peaceful.

May you be filled with loving-kindness.

May things turn around for the better.

Love,

Dennis and Cecile

The Meditating Buddha Statue in our Atrium Has Become our Granddaughter Lyla's Imaginary Friend

“Minds are like flowers; they open when the time is right.”

—Stephen Richards

“See the world with the innocence fo children.

Approach the world with the daring of children.

Love the world with the readiness of children.

Heal the world with the purity of children.

Change the world with the wisdom of children.

—Neale Donald Walsch

Somehow the meditating Buddha in our atrium garden—one white and one black—has become Lyla’s imaginary friend.

One day she pointed to the black Buddha and asked what’s that? “The Buddha,” I said. She had a difficult time pronouncing his name at first. But, in no time she learned to say his name very clearly. I didn’t try to explain what the iconic figure represented except to say he is "happy and peaceful.” After all, she is barely 2 1/2 years old. One day, she had the desire to wash the Buddha with a wet paper towel. I’m really not sure why, but she did so with such gentleness and joy as if it were one of her favorite dolls. One day she witnessed me placing a rose on the lap of the Buddha. Suddenly, every time we baby sat her, she asked to do the same. She also began to take a few petals from our large potted jade tree and placed them in the lap of the Buddha and even try to feed him.

Today is Buddha’s birthday in the United States. In Asia it is celebrated during different times of the Lunar calendar. Temples are decorated with flowers. A special ceremony called “bathing the baby Buddha, is a popular ritual especially among children. People pour water over a statue of the Buddha. It is a way to show respect to the Buddha for his teachings and to celebrate new beginnings. It is symbolic of a purification process on the inside not an actual cleaning of the body.

Flowers are considered the most suitable offerings to the Buddha. There are frequent references to flowers in the sacred scriptures that the Buddha enjoyed their presence in the monasteries and gardens at the edge of Ganges, where he taught and meditated more than 2,600 years ago. Buddha means “one who is awake,” attributed to when he became enlightened. The former prince was not a god, but rather a philosopher, mendicant, meditator, spiritual teacher and religious leader who lived in ancient India.

In the town of Luang Prabang in Laos, where Cecile and I visited a few years ago, we witnessed and participated in rituals that form the basis of everyday life both for the monks and ordinary lay people. Every gesture and every object has a meaning and a history stretching back centuries. Many of these rituals are accompanied by flowers. The best flowers to offer are those that fall from a tree or plant, for it is believed that to cut a bloom is to destroy a living thing. The idea being not to remove or take anything that is not freely given, a hard concept to teach a child. Flowers represent impermanence—a central teaching of Buddhism. They are sweet-smelling one day and foul and withered the next. They also represent generosity and symbolize the beauty of enlightenment. The jade plant is often called the “friendship plant” and is a staple in many Asian households. In places like Bali, India, Thailand. Laos, Nepal you will see the remains of offerings everywhere.

The Lotus Flower grows in the deep mud, far away from the sun. But, sooner or later, the Lotus reaches the light becoming

the most beautiful flower ever. It is highly regarded in many different cultures, especially in eastern religions as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth.

Its characteristics are a perfect analogy for the human condition: even when the roots are in the muddiest of waters, the Lotus produces

the most beautiful flower. The Buddha is sometimes depicted sitting on a Lotus Flower, symbolizing the one who overcame

the trials and tribulations in the material world and became enlightened, just like the lotus flower which begins to grow in the

muddy water but manages to surpass the water and produce the perfect flower.

Lyla, who wore a flower print dress today painted today with two brushes, planted a soon-to-become flower garden that Cecile bought for her and before we took her home

she helped me spread rose petals on the lap and at the foot of the Buddha.

Happy Easter & Happy Spring: For Our Granddaughter Lyla it's All About Rabbits, Easter Egg Hunts & Other Forms of Play

"I think we need to do some deep soul searching about what’s important to our lives and renew our spirit and our spiritual thinking, whether it’s through faith-based religion or just through loving nature....”

—Louie Schwartzberg

“I still believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and true love. Don’t even try to tell me different.”

—Dolly Parton

"The moment you stand up and claim your divinity,

Christ is reborn within your heart,

Buddha rejoices,

Mohammed dances upon the mountaintop,

Lao Tzu winks approvingly

And the Promise of the Tree of Life is Fulfilled....”

—Walt Whitman

Cecile and I babysat our 2-year and four-month old granddaughter Lyla today. She was dressed for the Easter season. She had a pink "Hoppy Easter" top with a long-eared bunny rabbit on front, floral print pants, white slip-on sneakers with a decorative butterfly (certainly a symbol of transformation) on top. Before going for a bike ride, I colored with her, and when I returned, Cecile was blowing bubbles with her. We took her for a walk to see the turtles sunbathing on the rocks in the lake and ponds in our gated community. There were rumors that white tailed bunny rabbits were being sighted. Sure enough, as I had hoped one did make an appearance. Lyla was captivated. She was also captivated by a two-tiered fountain of flowers next to our neighbor’s driveway, and while sitting on a large white decoy Swan at poolside.

Cecile and I are an intermarried couple. I was raised Catholic, She was raised in Judaism. Having been in the midst of remodeling our home these past few months

we weren’t able to celebrate Passover with family and friends. Though I have a deep appreciation for my birth faith, especially the Christian mystics, my main interest is in the Eastern traditions involving mindfulness practice. I also love nature, and springtime is my favorite time of the year. With my interest in cycling and photography I can immerse myself in the most in-the-moment heart-opening experiences that make almost every day a special holiday.

In early April, even sooner in California, birds are chirping and preparing their nests for offspring, flowers are popping up from the ground and trees are getting green buds.

Green thumbs are tending their gardens and watching for the first signs of bulbs they planted last fall. Even if Easter is not a religious holiday for you—and perhaps more so if it is—there is something to be said about seeing the first flowers of the spring season begin to bloom in your garden.

In short, the world is coming alive after a long and cold winter for so many as it does each year at this time. Moreover, the Covid-19 vaccines are being administered in full force giving the most vulnerable among us a big sigh of relief. Easter being a symbol of hope, renewal and a new life is certainly at play this year more than ever before.

Our secular symbols of Easter: eggs, baby chicks, rabbits, are the first contact young children have with the celebration of Easter. For many children—including myself when I was a child—Easter was, and is, a time of Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts, Easter baskets with chocolate rabbits, shimmery foil covered chocolate eggs, and jelly beans inside.

But, what do all of these Easter treats mean? The egg is an ancient symbol of new life and associated with festivals celebrating spring. It has also been associated with death, rebirth, and kingship especially in pre-historic Egypt, Crete, and Mesopotamia. In Christianity, Easter eggs were said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and his resurrection. According to some sources, decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition dating back to the 13th century. Eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter. Over the years, it evolved to decorated eggs being hidden on Easter morning for children to find. The following poem by Richelle E. Goodrich about Easter resonates with me in many ways including the miracle of transformation in the "change of seasons and "resurrection of souls."

Easter is…Joining in a birdsong,

Eying an early sunrise,

Smelling yellow daffodils,

Unbolting windows and doors,

Skipping through meadows,

Cuddling newborns,

Hoping, believing,

Reviving spent life,

Inhaling fresh air,

Sprinkling seeds along furrows,

Tracking in the mud.

Easter is the soul’s first taste of spring.

—Richelle E. Goodrich

Photo credit for “Cosmic Egg” is Salvador D

Biking the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park & Revisiting the 1,000-Year Old Toppled Redwood Tree

Just outside of the quaint village of Aptos, CA, lies a serene oasis called the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. It is named after the matriarch of the Marks family from Salinas who donated the land to become a state park.

There are over 40 miles of well maintained hiking, jogging and biking trails, and fire roads meandering through 10,000 acres. Waiting to be discovered are second growth redwoods and oak groves in rugged semi-wilderness terrain, that rises from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet with panoramic views of the Monterey Bay from Sand Point Overlook.

Bill and I met a couple of mountain bikers at the lookout point who we passed along the way as we peddled to the top. One had only been riding a year and was absolutely loving the joy and freedom of cycling. The other, more experienced rider who had the same brand of riding gloves as mine was equally exuberant. Suddenly, he said: “Sir, do you mind me asking how old you are?” It’s rare that anybody calls me “sir," and my first instinct was to turn around and see who he was talking to:-). “I’m 70,” I responded smilingly. “Oh, great,” he added, “it gives me hope and inspiration,” for the future. Ironically, I have made the same sort of inquiry whenever I encounter someone ten years my senior still riding. As they say everything is relative.

Historically, almost all of the redwood forest we were in the midst of, was cut down during a 40-year logging boom from 1883 to 1923. When loggers departed the Aptos Creek Canyon, the forest began to heal itself from the scars of the past. The Forest of Nisene Marks is a monument to the miracle of forest regeneration.

On October 17, 1989, about a dozen miles below the Forest of Nisene Marks, the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta Earthquake tore through Aptos Creek Canyon snapping redwoods and Douglas fir tops like toothpicks, loosing sand and stone, sending violent and destructive tremors rippling across Northern California. It flattened downtown Santa Cruz and collapsed the Bay Bridge. Our swimming pool at our former home in Saratoga rocked up and down from side-to-side like the Tilt-a-wheel amusement ride of my New Jersey youth.

Though Bill and I enjoyed the thrill of rugged and varied terrain trails, not to mention some of the cleanest and coolest air in California, it was a challenging. At times I felt I was riding a bucking bronco, especially during the plunging descent.

When we got to the guard attended entrance parking lot, I invited Bill to check out the site of a 1,000-year old "Advocate Tree" that was uprooted during a storm in The Forest of Nisene Marks in January 2019. This majestic “old growth” landmark redwood once stood at over 260 feet and had a circumference of 45 feet. It had been around during the time of the Anasazi (“Ancient Ones”) cliff dwellers, believed to be the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians. It was alive when Genghis Khan ruled Mongolia, when Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, William Normandy invaded England, when the Spanish Conquistadors conquered the Americas. It was alive during the African Slave Trade, the Salem Witch Hunt Trials, and the American and Civil Wars.

Postscript: I first witnessed the fallen Advocate Tree shortly after the storm that caused its’ demise in 2019. I had climbed on top of the colossal toppled tree that had broken into several monumental section. See photo of me standing on top of its massive trunk and of our friend James Hunter standing along its’ length.

A Self-Guided Cycling Tour of the Embarcadero Waterfront & the Iconic Golden Gate Bridge

"San Francisco itself is art, above all literary art. Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. Every home a poem, every dweller within immortal…”

—Williama Saryoyan

San Francisco is a tie-dyed, technicolor haven for free spirits and open-minded sentient beings and it was great to revisited it. Bill and I off-loaded our bikes from his SUV near the Chase Center indoor arena, the home venue of the Golden State Warriors in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco. We then made our way to Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team in South Beach, and began our 3-mile roadway ride—with pauses in between—on the Embarcadero waterfront, one of the most cycle-friendly coastal stretched in the city. This palm-tree laden coastal parkway is a cyclists’ dream. Embarcadero means “pier” or “a place to embark” in Spanish. We then paused at Rincon Park, where the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s massive “Cupid Span” sculpture depicts a colorful bow and arrow angled downward.

Sea lions made their appearance on pier 39 in the Embarcadero more than thirty years ago, and became a permanent fixture. Waddling and raucous barking and behavior has captured the imagination of tourists and residents alike. Last year, a hand-painted series, illustrated by Bay Area artists of six-foot-tall colorful fiberglass sculptures in their likeness were spread across the waterfront, downtown and Golden Gate Park as part of a yearlong art Installation celebrating their 30th anniversary (now 31) of their takeover of Pier 39, following the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.

The historic Ferry Building that serves as a terminal for ferries first opened its doors in 1898, played a major rule in the city’s growth and commerce leading up through WW2. It houses one the city’s most vibrant marketplaces. On top of the Ferry Building sits a 245-foot clock tower with four clock deals, each 22 feet in diameter (photo). Coit Tower is a 210-foot tower in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood can be seen from the Embarcadero district.

Of course, the main attraction is the iconic Golden Gate Bridge which is actually dark reddish-orange. It is a stunning piece of architecture and the pride and joy of San Francisco. The American Society of Civill Engineers voted it one of the Modern Wonders of the World. For all its beauty and charm it is considered one of the most photographed in the world.

The last two times we biked across it, it was shrouded in fog. The other day we were blessed with a clear, albeit windy day and as we approached the bridge the view was absolutely breath-taking. There were more walkers than bicyclists. We were able to see the skyline of the city and the notorious Alcatraz Island that once housed America’s most infamous prisoners like Al Capone. It closed in 1963 and re-opened as a tourist attraction in 1973.

As I approached the bridge proper, I could feel the anticipation growing in my stomach as I had felt before. The great tower and cables loom bigger than life. An electrical surge of joy overcame me. The gust of wind was invigorating. Everyone seemed to have a smile on their face. It felt more like a pilgrimage to a sacred site. In many ways it “is" a sacred site.

On the way back over the bridge we stopped at Vista Point. I had the good fortune to meet a senior monk from the Dhammakaya Meditation Center in Morgan Hill who is originally from Thailand and was also enjoying the sites. His familiar saffron robe, fluttering in the wind brought me back over ten years ago when I did a three-week silent meditation retreat at a Burmese Monastery in Lampang, Thailand that was well supported by the business community in Bangkok. It is the only city in Thailand that still uses horse carts as a means of transportation.

Postscript: Bill and I were admiring the Powell & Wide Street Trolley when the driver offered to take our photos in front of it. He informed us that Krispy Kreme was giving away free donuts for showing our vaccination card through the end of 2021. Maybe, next time:-)

Celebrating our 44th Wedding Anniversary with my Beloved Wife Cecile and Still going Strong

“A Marriage is a commitment to that which you are. That person is literally your other half. And you and the other are one…a marriage is a life commitment, and a life commitment means the prime concern of your life…In marriage, every day you love, and every day you forgive. It is an ongoing sacrament—love and forgiveness…Like a yin/yang symbol…Here I am, and here she is, and here we are.”

—Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

“A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are…Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we’re safe in our own paradise.”

—RIchard Bach

It is hard to believe Cecile, that we have been married for forty-four years which is the equivalent to 528 months,16,060 days, 385,440 hours and 23,126,400 minutes. When I think about our relationship, it is akin to the flowering red Camellia we planted on the side of our town home at Rinconada Hills that we both adore. In China, the camellia represents the union between two lovers. The delicately layered petals represents the woman, and the calyx (the green leafy part of the stem that holds the petals together) represents the man who protects her (Though God knows you’ve saved me plenty of times:) The two components are joined together, even after death. Typically when the petals of a flower fall off, the calyx will stay intact. With camellias however, every botanist knows that the calyx and the petals fall away together which is why the camellia also represents eternal love or long-lasting devotion.

As your husband I want you to remember that in my book you are beautiful, compassionate, loving, worthy, important, special, unique, talented, irreplaceable and a pure soul.

Happy Anniversary, my love. I look forward to the next chapter in our lives. As the camellia teaches us, a true love story has no ending.

Postscript: A few photo memories of the last leg of our 30th anniversary trip in 2007 that included a colorful day at the Hong Kong Flower Show which curiously was celebrating its 30th year anniversary.

Threatening Rain Clouds Dazzling Sunsets and Snow-Capped Mountains: Enjoying the Majestic Quality of Mother Nature from My Bicycle Seat

Terri Guillemets once said: "Clouds are the sky’s imagination. And their different shapes and colors are a fodder for our power of imagination. They are what we want them to be. Their gathering to cover the sun, and dispersing to uncover it again, is splendid to watch. There can’t be anything bad or sad about them. Watching them float by is a beautiful experience; and…watching the clouds float across the sky is by no means a waste of time.”

Weather in the Bay Area the past few days has been unpredictable. Sunny, and bright blue skies one moment, and in the next moment increasing dark rain cloud formations seemingly about to burst with much needed rain.

There was a pretty steady flow of cool air as I rode the protected Los Gatos Creek Trail to get my bike tuned-up in San Jose. Just looking at the snow-capped mountains made me shiver. Considering we are quickly approaching spring, this was unexpected. In contrast, on the way back home nature was offering up a full palette of colors. The sunset was bursting with so much color and intensity, I was in awe. Yesterday, my biking buddy Bill Rothenberg and I rode to the boat launch area on the lower end of Lexington Reservoir in the foggy Santa Cruz Mountains. The rowing team were carrying their boats above their heads as they walked on the dock ready to launch their boats for practice.

A helicopter was flying around the reservoir and then landed near the waters edge. The contrast between the varying weather patterns was like watching a split screen TV weather channel showing what was going on in the different parts of the state. All of this was a reminder of the versatility and majesty of mother Nature.

Sometimes, I feel like I am riding my bike in the clouds, and becoming one with them. It reminds me of a quote by Leonard Louis Levenson: “A pessimist sees only the dark side of clouds, and mopes.” I used to feel that way. He then added, “A philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn’t see the clouds at all, he’s walking [or riding] on them."

When I don’t have my head in the clouds, I take note of what’s happening on the ground around me. As I ride the underpass tunnel on the paved trail below a city street, I see a large mural of rainbow trout to the right of me (photo). I note a family feeding the ducks in one of the percolation ponds; A father and young son riding the underpass of another city street.

A father in a low-riding tricycle reaching over with his right hand and tenderly tapping the low back of his boy who is attempting to navigate a steep incline, in front of him as I trailed behind. He made to the top, not an easy task. The father is proud for him. Heck, I was proud of the young boy.

There is no way to feel totally isolated, even in the midst of a pandemic when you go out there and see people living in the moment. They are walking their dogs or letting them run free in the dog parks, people are hiking, fishing, running, rowing, skateboarding, riding their unicycles, and physically challenged individuals on their motorized wheel chairs, even when its cold or damp outside. Almost everyone wearing masks, doing their part to keep safe and others safe.

A Classic St. Patrick's Day Dinner Last Evening with the Chiens

“May you bring light to the home

Warmth to the heart

Joy to the soul

And love to the lives you touch”

Irish Blessing for newborn Emmy and big Sister Lyla

It is rare that we get to eat a classic St. Patrick’s Day feast of corned beef and cabbage, green-mashed potatoes and carrots, but thanks to our son-in-law Kyle’s mom Kim and Al Chien, Cecile and I were invited to join them, our daughter Michelle, granddaughter Lyla and, our newest granddaughter, sweet Emmeline (Emmy) last evening.

After catching up on our day, we enjoyed some drinks. Green beer, as it turns out has nothing to do with the original celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day. But drinking does, and so we did. As I approached Kyle at the kitchen counter, he offered me a beer. It was not just “a” beer, but a blend of beers. Blending Guinness dark beer with a Harp Lager beer has a long celebrated history. Kyle poured half of my glass with Harp Lager. Then, like an alchemist took a spoon, turned it upside down, and held it over the liquid surface and slowly poured the rich, creamy, dark Guinness Draught, the king of Irish beers over the back of a spoon. If done correctly, it will sit atop the other beer and you can see a clear boundary between the two. The reason this works is that Guinness isn’t as dense (not heavy) as some believe as Harp Lager beer.

Then, we helped ourselves to a buffet of lean, moist and delicious corned beef, green-mashed, roasted rainbow carrots, cabbage and, fresh-bake sourdough bread. For dessert, Kim (Lollie) with Lyla’s help made a colorful, rich layer cake that contained cream cheese, whipped cream and chocolate filling.

The grandmothers, Cecile (Nonnie) and Kim (Lollie) bonded with Emmy who currently has blue eyes and is making smiley faces. There is nothing like a newborn to warm the heart and soul of the family, and of course Lyla always entertains and is showing increased affection to her baby sister.

Happy St. Patrick's Day in Honor of a Roman Brit that Became the Patron Saint of Ireland

“For the whole world is Irish on the seventeenth o’ March!”

—Thomas Augustine Daly

“Ireland is a land of poets and legends, of dreamers and rebels.”

—Nora Roberts

“May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need the most.”

—Irish Blessing

“There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”

—Oscar Wilde

Since around the ninth or tenth century, the people of Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast day of St.

Patrick. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade actually took place on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish

colony in what is now known as my namesake city, St. Augustine, Florida. Legend has it that St. Patrick was not Irish at all. He was born in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family, kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. After escaping, he returned to Ireland and is largely credited with bringing Christianity to its people. He taught that the three leaves of the native Irish clover (the shamrock) represented the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit).

St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t widely celebrated in America until Irish-American immigrants made it popular in the 1700s. Though St. Patrick’s Day originated in Ireland, the parades, parties, and the practice of dyeing rivers green (i.e., the Chicago River), is purely an American tradition to demonstrate Irish-American pride. In a surprise tweet, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the Chicago River was dyed green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. The surprise dyeing of the river was done to avoid large crowds gathering at the waterfront. This is the second year in a row that the traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade are cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Postscript: While a young adult living in Hoboken, NJ, my friends and I used to take the Path train to McSorley's Old Ale House in NYC to celebrate. The iconic Irish pub was established in 1854. The bartenders were Irish and there was sawdust on the floors (See photo).

Our Granddaughter Lyla Has Officially Become Our Extended Family Physician

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But…for children, Play is serious learning. Play is really…the work of childhood.”

—Mister Rogers

While at our daughter Michelle’s mother-in-law Kim and husband AL’s home waiting for Michelle and her husband Kyle to bring home their new born daughter

Emmeline (Emmy) from the hospital recently, Lyla was keeping busy playing with her toys. I happened to see a plastic bag with a stethoscope in it off to the side behind a doll house Kim and AL bought for her and I made mention of it.

Reacting to my interest in it, she walked over to her doctor’s kit and began to unpack it. AL helped put her doctor’s white coat on. She then picked up her stethoscope, put on her doctor glasses and walked over to me to give me an examination. She had an

Otoscope, a medical device that she employed to examine my ears. The doctor’s kit really fosters great imaginative play. I was fascinated how engaged she was in playing the role. Mr. Rogers was right, Play is serious learning.

Here are some photos I took of our granddaughter, Dr. Lyla Lewis and a photo that was taken of her examining my ear very intently. When I went home, it made me search for my first doctor’s bag while I was a student at the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. I can’t wait to share it with her. A real stethoscope that will enable her to hear a real heart beat. As far as our dreams for Lyla, as grandparents all we wish for is that she be healthy, happy, giving, curious, vibrant, and good things will come her way.

Discovering and Visiting with Lupe the Mammoth that Roamed San Jose 14,000 Years Ago

On the way to San Jose during a bike ride on the trails, Bill and I discovered Lupe the Mammoth that roamed the very same territory that would later become known as Silicon Valley.

Bill and I can’t take full credit for the discovery, though:-)

It turns out in the summer of 2005, citizen scientist Roger Castillo discovered the skull of a Columbian mammoth while walking his dog, Jenna along the Guadalupe River near the San Jose airport. So actually, it was Jenna who really deserves the credit. Paleontologists from UC Berkeley’s Museum of Paleontology conducted the excavation, and discovered a thigh bone and the pelvis of the juvenile mammoth along the river,

affectionately called Lupe. Though now distinct, it is believed that Lupe would have roamed the valley 14,000 years ago.

You can stand besides a 10-foot tall full size replica indoors at the Children’s Discovery Museum when they open back up, or in front of a model of a fully grown 13-foot mammoth with it’s large tusks outdoors, where Bill and I shamelessly posed for a photo-op. It is hard to believe that that around the time the mammoth roamed the valley, that saber tooth tigers, ground sloths and condors were also roamed where the titans of the tech industry currently cast their wide footprints.

A Star is Born: Our Second Granddaughter Makes Her Debut on the World Stage

“Like stars are to the sky, so are the children to our world. They deserve to shine.”—Chinonye J. Chidolue

“You may think you’ll never love another grandchild like you love your first. You’re wrong.”—Adair Lara

We are happy to announce that our loving daughter Michelle gave birth to our second granddaughter, "Emmeline Belle Lewis," on Saturday, February 27, at Sequoia Hospital Birth Center in Redwood City with her beloved and devoted husband Kyle by her side. She weighed 8.06 ounces. As everyone knows, due to the pandemic other family members were not permitted at the hospital due to safety protocol. However, the birth of their newborn was no less magical than when our first granddaughter, Lyla was born over two years and two months ago.

Like her older sister before her, Emmeline (affectionately called “Emmy”) was swaddled in the Sequoia Hospital Birth Center's signature elephant blanket (photo). In fact, the attending nurse that first admitted Michelle and Kyle in the hospital was the same nurse that gave Lyla her first bath after she was born. The upward pointed trunk of the elephant symbolizes energy, luck, prosperity and kindness. It is the movement elephants use to greet friends and express sheer delight. The ones on the blanket point to the stars.

We were in invited to Kyle’s mom and Al’s home, where Kyle, Michelle and Lyla are temporarily staying, for an early dinner to welcome Emmy. There we sat waiting expectantly to see the latest addition to our respective families. Adding a new baby to the family is an exciting time to be sure, but for some families it is not always a smooth transition. Kim told us that when Lyla first saw a photo of her newly born baby sister, she said. “She’s so cute.” That was a positive sign. Finally, after being discharged from the hospital they arrived. Lyla, happy to see her parents, gave Emmy who was being held by Kyle a beaming smile and a wave hello. We celebrated with a glass of champagne. Cecile and Kim, ever the nurturing grandmothers (Nonnie and Lollie) got to hold little sweet Emmy which in French means “hardworking,” first. Kyle showed everyone how he was taught to use a small syringe (like an eyedropper) to feed breast milk to the baby. Curious Lyla got to participate. Actually, she asked to participate. The rest of the evening unfolded ever so sweetly as Lyla continued to show her love and support for her new baby sister. She asked to hold Emmy, even saying, “please!" She rubbed the baby’s tummy, her back. She wanted to feel her tiny ear, her soft hair. She kissed and hugged her, gently laid her head on Emmy’s lap. At some point she must have realized this is not one of her most precious dolls. This is the real deal. This is her baby sister. Someone whom she can help bathe, feed, sing and play with her. “I love her,” she said, and so do we.

Postscript: Michelle shared with us that Kyle chose the name Emmeline, taken from Emmeline Pankhurst who founded the Women’s Social and Political Union, whose members—known as suffragettes—fought to enfranchise women in the United Kingdom

Note: The next to the last photo is Lyla at Birth and the one before that is Emmy.

Nothing But Blue Skies: Bicycling to Guadalupe Reservoir & the Beautiful Sights Along the Way

“Blue skies smilin’ at me, nothing but blue skies do I see…”—Willie Nelson

After exiting the Los Gatos Creek Trails a mile or two from our homes we headed to Kennedy Road which runs into Shannon and onto Hicks Road making our climb toward to the Guadalupe Reservoir with blue skies as far as the eye can see. We made one stop on the way to see La Rusticana d’Orsa Water Wheel [a 'working waterwheel,' I may add] which has been described as “…a unique estate of rare beauty tucked away in the Santa Cruz Mountains,” dedicated to fine wine production since the 1980s.

There is a cobbled stone driveway and Italian cypress bushes in front and a vineyard atop of a terrace of rolling hills with rock walls miles away from phrenetic pace of Silicon Valley.

We continued our climb to the reservoir. Beyond this body of water, there were moss-laden creek beds with some water, enough to make some beautiful tributary-like designs, only nature knows how to do. The silence was broken by a solitary person across the ravine yelling and singing at the top of his lungs while jumping up and down on a rock landing as if he was at a rave party. On our bike rides we never know who or what we are going to run into. Given the bucolic setting, it was oddly entertaining.

After enjoying a zippy downhill ride with many twists and turns beyond the reservoir we reversed course. Lagging behind I stopped to take photographs. Bill and I had agreed to meet back at the reservoir. When I arrived I climbed on top of two large boulders overlooking the reservoir spillway. Feeling a need to stretch from time to time, I instinctively assumed a Downward Facing Dog position to stretch my spine and lengthen my tight hamstrings and calves. Then, I did a Squat pose to open my hips, ankles, groin muscles, Achilles tendon and stabilize the spine. It felt good.

The area we were in is virtually devoid of any traffic, is peaceful, and has some beautiful estates tucked away from the main road. As we continued on, Bill noticed and pointed to deer grazing on lush green grass in front of someone’s residence and I was able to capture a few photos before they sought refuge deeper into the brush. I also took some photos of Bill in front of a ranch house with a sign advertising oak slabs and a few whimsical wood sculptures for sale.

After our almost 29-mile ride, we stopped at a local Jamba Juice for an energy boost and to cool off, hopped back on the creek trails and headed home.

A Challenging 31-Mile Bike Ride From Aptos to La Selva Beach and the Pastoral Corralitos

“Cycling isn’t a hobby for me, it’s my inner peace.”

—Everyday Cyclist

My biking buddy Bill Rothenberg and I uploaded our bikes on the back of his SUV and headed over the Santa Cruz Mountains to Aptos, California. We hooked up with his childhood friend, Charlie Savoca, a Soquel acupuncturist, at a local shopping mall parking lot.

The challenging part of the ride was to conserve enough battery power which has as range of just over 30 miles to make the roundtrip ride. We were blessed with mild temperate weather. Our first stop was La Selva Beach (photos), one of several communities that neighbors Seascape. It is also next to Manresa State Beach.

“La Selva,” is Spanish for “the jungle,” or, in temperate regions, “the forest,” is a small beach community that was once surrounded by dense conifer woods. It is also near the San Andreas Fault, close to the epicenter of the October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake that had shook us to our core.

We continued on to Valencia Road, 3 miles of gentle rolling forested hills, to Day Valley Road which starts off with a climb to the top and exhilarating descent to Freedom Boulevard.

We then made our way to the pastoral Corralitos, a small rural town known for farms, wineries, and our final destination the infamous Corralitos Market & Sausage Company Bill and Charlie had raved about. We enjoyed the beautiful views, of open pastures, cows, horses, lovely flower gardens, and a proud apple grower for Martinelli & Company, my favorite apple juice vendor along the way.

Bill, Charlie and I purchased deli sandwiches, chips and drinks to go, at the Corralitos Market & Sausage Company and ate at an outdoor picnic table across the street, and Bill, a short-lived (4 months) full-on vegan, ordered enough smoked lamb, German and Linguisa sausage to go to open a small butcher store:-)

After replenishing ourselves with food and drink, we retraced our ride back to Aptos. As expected I barely had enough battery charge for my pedal assist eBike. After saying our goodbyes to Charlie, Bill and I took the Old Santa Cruz highway back home.

Enjoy the photos!

Postscript: The ever-popular Corralitos Market & Sausage Company, has a real butcher shop,

makes 30 varieties of in-house made smoked, and fresh sausages, catering to a diverse population with ethnic foods originating from Croatia, Portugal, England, and Mexico.

Happy Lunar New Year! and Many Thanks to Yan Zhao, Mayor, City of Saratoga for the Gift

“A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood.”

—Chinese Proverb

I made a quick stop at the Saratoga Farmer’s Market for some fresh orange juice and noticed a gathering around a colorful booth I had not seen before. As I moved closer, I was handed a bright, beautiful red envelope (known as hongbao), compliments of Yan Zhao, mayor of Saratoga.

While traditionally the giving of red envelope centers on children (filled with money), it is also customary to give red envelopes to friends, family, colleagues and other relatives, and even a casual acquaintance can expect to receive an envelope. The red color symbolizes good luck, good health, and prosperity in Chinese and other East Asian cultures. In the twenty-first century, many people exchange digital red envelopes instead of the traditional paper one. These are virtual packets of very real cash, transferred directly to friends and family’s smartphones.

I looked in my envelope and noticed there was no cash:-) but there was a beautiful and heartfelt card wishing me a Happy Lunar New Year, and informing me that in the Chinese Zodiac, the Ox gifts the world with superhuman strength of mind, body, and spirit. So thank you mayor Zhao for your good wishes and generosity of spirit.

In closing, I have attached a short video clip link below of the lion dance, sent to me by Rose, a Chinese-American friend and fellow yoga Qi Gong enthusiast. It is one of the most important traditions of Chinese New Year. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. It is a powerful, festive and a magical performance that adults and children the world over love. We have had the pleasure of experiencing the lion dance through our many travels in Asia and South Asian countries, and in San Francisco’s Chinatown. This video was recorded in Harbor City in Hong Kong.

https://vimeo.com/515047297/a59edb18f4

The Call of the Wild: Cycling Through the Redwoods to Summit Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains

“There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive...” —Jack London

My friend, Bill Rothenberg charted a course to drive his SUV up to the parking lot at the lower level of Lexington Reservoir County Park. We off-loaded our bikes and rode around the upper part of the mountain to Old Santa Cruz Highway, and continued our climb to Summit Road. Some of the photos were taken from our recent ride around the entire reservoir just after our heavy rain storm. The clouds were abundant, floating and stunning to behold. The balance of the photos were taken yesterday and it was all blue skies. I can see why some of my friends live in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The air is fresh and cool and one feels embraced by the giant redwood forest that make us and our bicycles appear dwarf in comparison.

Once on the Summit we stopped at the Taylor Ranch, and unattended cabin that sells fresh eggs, apples and fresh-pressed unfiltered Apple Cider on the honor system. There is a sign that reads “Please help yourself and leave money in the box. Thanks for your honesty.” Bill and I purchased a half gallon container each of the apple cider.

We continued to ride on Summit Road, before reversing course. The next stop was Nestldown which I have some history with. The now defunct Saratoga Community of Painters, a watercolor group I belonged to for many years got permission to do plein-air watercolor on their spacious grounds. It is billed as a place to share meaningful events, to serve nonprofit groups and give them the opportunity renew themselves and find respite in a beautiful, nurturing environment of gorgeous gardens and redwood groves. Actor Nicolas Cage was married here in 2004.

The photo Bill took of me pointing to the sign "Call Of The Wild RD" is a shout-out to friends Elizabeth Sharkey, a teacher at Fisher School in Los Gatos and podiatrist and colleague, Dr. Doug Robinson, whom I continue to refer patients to since I fully retired in 1992.

Last stop and ride through was at Chemeketa Park, an unincorporated community of 150 homes located in

Lexington Hills. Chemeketa is a Kalapuya Indian word with various meanings attributed to it, including “resting place,” “meeting place,” “old home,” or camping ground. The Kalapuya lived in the area now known as the Willamette Valley.

The Native American theme is present throughout with street names including “Comanche Trail,” "Ogallala Warpath,” “Apache Trail,” and “Navaho Trail.”

We finished our downhill ride and the rest of Lexington Reservoir before loading up our bikes on Bill's bike rack and headed home.