Recalling My Dad Being Honored at a Veteran's Ceremony at the Iconic Justice Brennan Courthouse

“Congratulations, Mr. Augustine. Thank you for your service.”

—Editor of the Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal

“I’m absolutely filled with life and soul. It’s so satisfactory to see…[Mr. Augustine’s] personal service to others.”

—NJ Freeholder Albert Cifelli

My dad lived a simple but charmed life in many ways, in spite of being orphaned at the tender age of six through 18 at St. Joseph’s Hospital Orphanage and St. Michael’s School for Boys in Scranton and Hoban Heights, PA. In the fall of 2013, at the ripe old age of 96, my sister Josephine Mcallister and I had the pleasure of witnessing our dad being recognized for his lifetime achievements by former mayor of Hoboken, Dawn Zimmer, the NJ Board of Chosen Freeholders, chaired by Anthony Romano, and NJ State senator Brian Stack. On April 15, 2014, dad was honored at a Veteran’s Ceremony along with approximately 80 other Vets (and family of Vets that had passed away) in the grand rotunda of the iconic Justice Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City, NJ. He was the oldest living veteran in attendance.

Our dad received two Hudson County Military Service Medals and a Citation Certificate for his many years of service in the US Army. He served as a personal aide to friend and mentor, Army Chaplain, Capt. William Walsh in San Antonio, TX and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in MD, until September 15, 1942, when he was given an Honorable Discharge just before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The event was a joint effort by Hudson County Executive, Thomas A. DeGise, the Officer of Veteran Affairs, and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders chaired by Anthony Romano. The medals and Citations denoted the people of Hudson County’s thanks for their service to our nation.

Dad died on December 18, 2017, almost three weeks shy of his 101 birthday. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered. Though he was a conservative, he was very touched after receiving an autographed portrait of the Obama family after reaching 99 years of age.

Back History: In 1935, dad hitchhiked across the country to San Antonio, TX to follow in the footsteps of his brothers Joseph and Anthony Augustine in the Army, where they served in the 23rd Infantry and later the 15th Field Artillery at Fort Sam Houston (Photos).

Postscript: Our nephew Andrew Augustine, has proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for the last 10 years. He is currently an F-15 Crew Chief stationed in Okinawa, Japan with his lovely wife Kaylyn, a former Airman in the US Air Force now working in the private sector (Photo). Our late cousin, Nicholas Girone was a US navy veteran and his son Carmine Girone is a veteran. Finally, my sister Josephine's husband Joseph Mcallister is a Navy Veteran. He was stationed in San Diego, CA and Manilla, Philippines. He took many of the photos at the Veteran’s ceremony.

Thanks dad, for gifting me your medals before you died. I will treasure them forever.

The Way we Were; The Way We Are: Still Together and In Love: Happy Birthday Cecile

Remember the 1973 Sydney Pollack film around the time we met in Chicago while I was attending Podiatric Medical School, called "The Way We Were,"starring Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford, a heartbreaker with a foregone conclusion of two people who are helplessly in love but culturally different? The idea of an unattainable aspiration of two people staying together who were from two different cultures, one Jewish and the other a Gentile (non-Jew) like myself who grew up Catholic. The play and the film featured Streisand’s iconic song of the same name. The lyrics:

Mem'ries light the corners of my mind

Misty water-colored mem'ries of the way we were.

Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind

Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were.

Can it be that it was all so simple then

Or has time rewritten every line

[If we had the chance to do it all over again, tell me, would

we, could we.]

Mem’ries may be beautiful and yet

What’s too painful to remember

We simply choose to forget.

So it’s the laughter we will remember

Whatever we remember the way we were...

My answer to the one line of the lyrics: If we had the chance to do it all over again, tell me, would we, could we,

would be a resounding yes: I would choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality. As we enter the last chapter of our lives we are so fortunate to enjoy the continued unfolding dance of life. And that whatever was too painful to remember, looking back on our lives we chose to recall what was beautiful, not painful. For with pain and the pushes and pulls of a relationship comes learning, understanding, forgiveness, and hopefully compassion for each other and the human condition.

Finally, other than the customary rituals of dinner together and flowers, my gift to you is a BIG Thank You. Thank you for your unconditional love, for bearing me/us two beautiful well adjusted wonderful children in Jason and Michelle, for always watching my back, for your patience enduring all my peccadilloes, standing by me through the highs and lows, for making wherever we lived a warm and loving home, and the time and effort you put in to making our relationship strong. How blessed we are to have two precious granddaughters, Lyla and Emmy to dote over. Our lives are so rich because we chose each other, and our love stood the test of time.

Revisiting a Bicycle Ride to Lexington Reservoir Following the Recent Atmospheric River Storms

"Rain is a precious gift to humans, to wildlife, and to nature.The next precious gift is a reservoir to catch and conserve it.”

Since the recent atmospheric river storms sent record-breaking billions of gallons off water into the parched reservoirs, Bill and I thought we would ride up to Lexington Reservoir County Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains and see for ourselves if it made a difference. While everything looked a lot greener, and the reservoir a bit fuller, experts say, “It wasn’t enough to make a significant dent in the statewide draught." Hopefully, more rain is on the way in the winter months.

Unlike today with the bright blue skies, yesterday the clouds were abundant and slowly moving through in the most playful way as seen in the photos. Lexington Reservoir is an artificial lake on the Los Gatos Creek near Los Gatos. Aside from Bill and I not being affected by the draught as cyclists, neither are the rowers of the Los Gatos Rowing Club on Alma Bridge Road who are always a welcome sight. They offer year-round recreational and competitive rowing programs for middle school and high school students. Many of the alumni have gone on to row at top colleges and several have competed in the Olympics.

The ride initially begins on the Los Gatos Creek Trail a short ride from our homes and continue along the back of downtown Los Gatos and onto a wide gravel path that is immensely popular to dog walkers and hiking enthusiasts. If you a cyclist however, you might want to avoid it during the weekend. There is a short steep climb at the very end of the path that requires some grit and focus and switching the bike into low gear. After leveling out for a bit, there is a short downslope followed by a straight diagonal line about a quarter mile in length before reaching grades around 15 percent. At the top of the climb is the scenic Lexington Reservoir. We decided not to circumnavigate the reservoir as usual which cut our round trip ride from 25 to 18 miles.

Postscript: On the ride back on the Los Gatos Creek Trail, I stopped to take a couple of photos of The Main Street Bridge Mural Project next to the freeway of An Ohlone Indiginous Village including a bear, that was sponsored by the Town of Los Gatos and painted by Volunteers. Wooboi Weary is the Designer/Director

Remembering My Late Sicilian-American Mother Maria

"All that I am, or ever hoped to be, I owe to my angel mother."

—Abraham Lincoln

My mom was born November 2, 1924 and left her body on Mother's Day, May 12, 2013. She was born in Roccalumera, Sicily in the Province of Messina. Her maiden name was Micalizzi. She came to the United States in 1947 and gave birth to me in 1950. She was a devout Catholic, and devoted mother to her children.

Over the years my wife Cecile and I had the pleasure of inviting her as our guest to visit family in Italy and Sicily on several occasions, and treated her and my late dad Frank to vacation with us in Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska, and stay with us multiple times at our home in California.

Thanks to mom, I was encouraged to visit a childhood friend of hers from Sicily, Dr. Carmine Sippo who became a mentor and introduced me to the field of Podiatric Medicine and Foot Surgery. She was a blessing to our family and my childhood friends adored her for her generous hospitality. She had a million dollar smile, a contagious laugh, and a sharp wit. She was a woman like no other. She gave me life, nurtured me, dressed me, kissed and hugged me, but most of all loved me unconditionally.

Nothing can separate us. Not time, nor space or even death. Thank you mom for everything you did for us. You will never be forgotten.

A Halloween Pizza Party and Our First Trick or Treat with Our Granddaughters & Family

“There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick or treater looking for a brightly lit front porch.”

—Robert Brault

Cecile (Nonnie) and I hosted a Halloween Pizza Party last evening and along with 50 plus residents in our gated community at Riconada Hills, we volunteered to make treats available to trick or treaters. We were given a map with the addresses of all the participants. Our daughter Michelle and son-in-law Kyle brought our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy to take part in the fun. They were decked out in their matching green dinosaur costumes. Cecile and I had matching pumpkin T-shirts. Kim and Al who live nearby were excited to join us. Cecile and I provided Lyla with an orange flashlight which was a hit especially when it got dark. She had a soft cushioned pumpkin bag with a handle to place her candy in and wouldn’t part with it for anything. Kyle rolled Emmy in a stroller behind us to neighboring homes who were all too happy to receive us.

What’s cuter than little kids in costumes? Nothing, in my book. Their joy over dressing up and getting Kit-Kats, Skittles, Reese cups and the like are their own reward. Well, not so fast! Cecile used to buy the candy back from our kids Jason and Michelle after they went trick or treating, and they never had cavities and we saved on dental bills. Emmy is too young (8 months old) to know what she was missing. Will Michelle be able to buy the candy back from Lyla who will be three years old next month? She is really strict about not having sweets in the house. Only time will tell:-)

The invitation from the managers of Rinconda's Homeowners Association (RHOA) sent us an invitation that read:

Double, double, toil and trouble, fires burn, and cauldrons bubble…calling all witches, goblins, and ghosts…get ready for the spookiest night of the year, as the scary pandemic days fade away all the goblins and vampire get ready to prey. The fun begins when the clock strikes 6 PM on all Hallows Eve otherwise known as Halloween. Come hunt for treats through the treat map, all addresses with a Jack-O-Lantern will provide a snack. Credit was given to Steph Contro for coming up with this wonderful idea.

Postscript: Thank you Kim (Lollie) for making and bringing the caramel apples. They were great. Just ask Lyla:-)

Remembering My Late Good-Natured Brother Michael Two Years Since his Passing

“Like a shooting star, flying across the sky, so fast, so far, gone much too soon, with no time to say goodbye."

My brother Michael who was named after our grandfather on our late father Frank's side, tragically took his last breath on All Saint’s Day, November 1, 2019. It was nine days before his 61st birthday and a day before our late mother Maria’s birthday. All Saint’s Day is celebrated in honor of all saints of the Catholic Church both famous and obscure, including my brother's namesake St. Michael the Archangel, one of the most revered angels not only in Christianity but Judaism and Islam as well. Michael is of Hebrew origin and means “gift from God.” All Saints Day stems from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between heaven and the living.

Ever since he was a little boy Michael had the smile of an angel. Goodness oozed out of him. He became an altar boy, and later an Eagle scout under our father’s tutelage as his scout leader. He was modest, and never looked for praise. He was never one to boast except in jest, worked hard for the ones he loved the most, and was well regarded by his co-workers and his boss in the construction industry as a team player who took pride in his work. His dreams were seldom spoken and his wants were very few. He loved his children [Michael, Jr., Andrew, Brock, and Alex], his nieces, nephews, and his siblings too. Like all of us he had his ups and downs. Life was not easy at the end. Looking back, I would describe it as "a smile behind a vale of tears.”

With the passage of time I don’t really think of Michael as really gone away, but as having reached his destination—a safe zone filled with love, majesty and grace. Moreover, a place of warmth, and comfort where there is no such thing as time, days or years, where the only thing that passes away are our troubles, burdens, regrets and fears. His spirit has already ascended to his final resting place, at peace for eternity in that heavenly space.

The desire to be remembered lies within our genetic code. It is why we carve our initials in tree trunks, press our hands or feet in cement before it dries, and chalk our names and images on walls, rocks, and caves. We want to leave our mark, to be remembered. By the same token we want to remember those we’ve loved and lost, not only for them but for ourselves, to mend, to heal, to live on, and to never forget. We love you Michael.

Postscript: My fondest memories of Michael will always be the time I spent with him and my brother-in-law Joe in Kenya and Tanzania in 2006 where he was the most relaxed and carefree. It was a trip of a lifetime.

Getting into the Halloween Spirit at the Queens Saratoga Pumpkin Patch & Historic Saratoga Village

“The farther we’ve gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we’ve come to need Halloween.”

—Paula Curan

The countdown to Halloween this weekend is getting shorter. As you approach the stoplight that marks the entrance to downtown Saratoga there is a large black sign with gold lettering that says: "Welcome to Historic Saratoga Village EST 1848.”

On either side of the sign are a colorful stuffed character. To get into the Halloween spirit each year downtown merchants place a character outside their shop that best describes what they are selling. Cecile and I like to have lunch and walk off our meal by pausing at each establishment on Big Basin Way and take a photo of each of some of the characters. One of our favorites are the four creative stuffed characters in front of the Gilbert Dupont Salon doing whimsical yoga headstands. Others that we like are firemen, an astronaut, and the bee keeper.

The other photos were taken at the Queens Saratoga Pumpkin Patch, a one acre lot that features a petting zoo, a cow train, a boat ride on a large plastic inflatable pool, pumpkins of all sizes for sale, a gift shop, all sorts of stuffed animals, and colorful painted murals on wood of the likes of Homer Simpson and a variety of other cartoon characters.

It has been a great fall tradition for over 30 years. We used to take our kids to visit here, buy pumpkins and get them ready to carve their jack-o’ lanterns. This year we took our granddaughter Lyla here after preschool to keep the tradition. The patch is favored by Halloween enthusiasts who love to decorate their homes for the season. The pumpkins are locally grown including by growers in Half Moon Bay. Bales of hay, corn and gourds are also for sale. Our favorite photos are of our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy with our daughter Michelle and of Kyle with them on their outing to Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch in San Jose.

Happy Halloween to family and friends near and far.

Babysitting our Granddaughter Emmy is a Gift That Keeps on Giving

“Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.”

—Lois Wyse

Now that our loving granddaughter Lyla, nearing three years old is in preschool, most of the babysitting we share with other grandparents each week are now focused on our precious good natured seven-month old granddaughter Emmy (short for Emmeline) whom Cecile and I gladly babysit on Mondays and Wednesdays.

It is exhausting to be a parent living and working in Silicon Valley while raising a family. The arrangement we worked out with our daughter Michelle and son-in-law Kyle who now live closer to us has created a closer bond for all concerned. They really appreciate the help and we are flexible enough to happily provide the assistance. If either of the grandparents takes ill or goes on vacation we graciously cover for each other. The trade off is worth it. They have the help they need and we get to be a part of our granddaughters lives. As grandparents we give them a cultural connection and reassurance of their roots, and in exchange they give us continuity that our lives will live on through them. Cecile and I marvel how Lyla and Emmy have developed their own unique personality.

There’s an old saying: “A grandchild is a treasure whose worth you cannot measure except by the love in your heart." Even when they are not in your arms, on your lap, or in your home, they are always in your thoughts especially when you're on vacation. They make your world a little softer, a little kinder and, a little warmer. It is the simple moments with our grandchildren that so often become the most precious memories. They are like flowers, you never get tired of watching them grow. Bottle feeding Emmy has a calming effect on us, and watching her eat cut up strawberries, avocado, carrots, squash and yogurt is not only nurturing but a source of entertainment. She has learned to let out a yell when she wants more.

These photos mostly of Emmy since her big sister Lyla is in pre-school all day were taken over the past few weeks while in her stroller while we walked on the trails around the lake, ponds, and waterfalls where we live and while babysitting her in our home.

A Windy Cloud filled Sky Bike Ride and Lunch with a Friend at Andale’ Mexican Taqueria

“Clouds are on top for a reason. They float so high because they refuse to carry any burden.”

—Jasleen Kaur Gumber

Yesterday was a great day for a bike ride. The clouds were in abundance, making all sorts of dazzling patterns. I love how they arrange themselves high up in the sky in interesting and beautiful formations as seen in the photos I took. As a kid I gazed at clouds for long spells daydreaming while laying on the grass. They have the power to bring rain and within hours or days dissipate, reminding me that everything changes in life just like moods, thoughts, emotions, and aging. The air was cool and windy. Trees where swaying in the direction of the wind. There were some dark clouds on the horizon, forewarning rain was on its way today, and here we are the rain came and went for now.

Bill and I got off to a late start. We met at 11:30 AM, close to lunch hour and knew at some point we would be hungry.

We left with the idea of riding our bikes on the protected Los Gatos Creek Trail to the back of downtown Los Gatos and having lunch at Andale’ Mexican Kitchen Taqueria To Go, a little cantina with a lot of heart at edge of the strip. This eatery is not to be confused with the larger Andale’ Mexican Kitchen and Bar Patio across the street, owned by the same family.

I can’t think of a better name than Andale’ for a Mexican Restaurant that is geared up for a quick bite. The Taqueria has very limited seating on the inside as well as seating in front which allowed us to more readily keep an eye on our bikes. One of the most popular uses of the word ‘andale’ is as synonym of ‘hurry up’ or ‘come on.’ As a synonym for ‘come on’ it means to show agreement as to a situation or proposal, in our case we agreed to have lunch. It also fits the synonym of ‘hurry up,’ as in hurry up and eat, we have more riding to do.

Andale has a decent menu. Bill had a burrito and I had fish tacos, though most often I order their fresh mesquite chicken salad. On the way home—virtually a circular loop—we took a quiet scenic short cut to Highway 9 (aka Los Gatos-Saratoga Road), at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains and another short cut to and through West Valley College back to Rinconada Hills where we live, having completed a 15-mile loop.

Cecile and I Offering our Best Birthday Wishes with a toast to Our Son-in-law Kyle

A loving husband to our daughter Michelle, devoted dad to our most treasured granddaughters Lyla and Emmy, and a avid cyclist whom I have had the pleasure to ride with on a few occasions.

Postscript: We called to drop off some birthday gifts for Kyle and some treats from "Icing on the Cake" and were asked to join them for dinner (Take out from Brothers Italian Restaurant), an offer we couldn't refuse:-)

Slurping Down a Steaming Bowl of Ramen Noodles with my Son Jason at a Family Owned Japanese Eatery

“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.”

—Anthony Bourdain

Several years ago Former President Barak Obama and the late food critic Anthony Bourdain proved that you don’t need a five-course meal at a fancy restaurant to enjoy yourself when they sat down on plastic chairs and slurped down some cheap, but delicious noodles at a restaurant in Hanoi. Our son Jason stopped by, and it was Cecile’s Mahjong night with her friends. I asked him if he wanted to grab dinner out. I told him I had a craving for Ramen noodles. He was of like mind and found one close by near the Pruneyard, called Hinodeya Dashi Ramen.

We were first-time customers and didn’t know what to expect. We chose to sit on their covered outdoor patio. The place has nice casual atmospherics. The waitress told us to order online by placing our cell phone over the barcode on our table to check out the menu. Before, I was able to take out my credit card, Jason said he was going to treat. It was the best offer I had all day:).

We ordered a bottle of Sapporo, a crisp refreshing lager and a side dish of Gyoza, which are dumplings filled with pork and chicken and served with dashi sauce. For the main dish we ordered Tori Paitan (Chicken Ramen). It was a nice layered dish with Ramen noodles and a tantalizing rich dashi-style broth at the bottom followed by leaves of fresh spinach, fillet of chicken, Shiitake mushrooms, a half soft boiled egg at the top, and a slice of crispy kale on the side of the dish. The Ramen was fresh and we loved the savory taste. What distinguishes Hinodeya from many Ramen bars with its light clear dashi-style broth is fish-based as opposed to being pork-based. The owners are a Japan-based family whose culinary business ventures go back 136 years in Northern Tokyo founded in 1885. Hinodeya first made its debut in San Francisco ten years ago. Seven types of ramen are offered with wheat noodles or vegan spinach noodles. Home Ramen Kits available for takeout or delivery. I am definitely going back again for more.

Photo Credit of Former President Obama & the late Anthony Bourdain (Reuters)

An Exotic Dinner with Friends at Mandala Indian Cuisine

“Life is like Indian food, both are tasteless without spices.”

—Kumar Naresh

Cecile and I were invited to join our friends, Sarah and Bill Rothenberg for appetizers and drinks in their backyard patio that was followed by dinner at Mandala Indian Cuisine, a recent addition to historic downtown Saratoga. We managed to get outside seating with a heating lamp. I have had the good fortune of visiting India three times back in the day. Whether I stayed at an ashram (a meditation and yoga retreat center) or a hotel the food never disappointed. The same can be said even more so for the Mandala Indian Cuisine Restaurant. The food experience including the presentation was a true feast of the senses.

Bill had a bottle of Taj Mahal beer and I ordered a bottle of Kingfisher beer. Sarah happily sipped through a Mango Lassi, a sweet yogurt drink traditionally made with yogurt, cream and Mango. We ordered Naan, a tandoori baked unleavened bread, one of the most popular Indian flatbreads for the table, as well as Papadum, a thin crisp made from black gram flour that is accompanied by three basic Indian chutney dipping sauces

Indian food is full of complimentary flavors. It provides balance, color, and cleanses the palate. Mandala offers an extensive list of exotic dishes that can be intimidating to some people of western cultures unfamiliar with the food choices. It might have something to do with fear of the unknown. People assume that it’s all curry and therefore all spicy. In reality, all palate preferences are fully represented from spicy, sweet, hot, and sour. You can tell the helpful waiters to ask the chef to tone down the spice.

We decided to share the following: Chicken Momo: a famous Nepalese style steamed chicken dumpling served with tomato and sesame chutney; Lamb Rogan Vindaloo: Lamb cooked with potato with blend of spices; Mix Tandoori Kebabs Platter that included Seekh kebab, salmon, Chilean sea-bas, tandoori chicken and rack of lamb skewered in a clay oven served with vegetable puldo; Vegetarian Biryani: Saffron basmati rice, mixed vegetables, mint, fried onions cooked dum-style,and white Basmati rice. This was accompanied by Raita, a basic condiment, made from yogurt with cucumber, mint and toased cumin seed used to cool and temper heat and spice. Instead of a traditional midday buffet, the three owners of Mandala elected to offer a “bento box” for lunch, with more than 30 entree choices which has been reported to have won over customers.

The inside of the restaurant is nicely appointed, including a bronze statue of Ganesh, the elephant deity that sits high up on a wall shelf that symbolizes wisdom, understanding and is considered the remover of obstacles that paves the way for people to move forward in life.

Postscript: Meaning of Mandala: It is the interplay of vivid colors and ancient symbols. Tibetan monks spend hours creating mandalas with grains of colored sand. The purpose is to call the community to meditation and awareness of something larger than their own small world. Once made, they destroy it. Why? The underlying message is that nothing is permanent. All things are in a state of flux. It may be beautiful, ephemeral, and moving, but it is temporary, just like the beautiful and artful presentation of food we ate for dinner. That said it was good while it lasted:-)

The Joy of Running Together Sculpture that Captured Our Imagination

“In honor of the Bloomsday Run…This sculpture represents people of all ages and nationalities, creating a positive symbol by acknowledging the larger spirit of our local community and the world.”

—David Govedare, the artist

As a novice watercolorist for several years with the former Saratoga Community of Painters in Saratoga, CA, I have an appreciation of art including muralists and sculptors that make a statement for the public good. In this case, I was absolutley awestruck when my eyes first layed sight on the Joy of Running Together sculptures, a public work comprised of 40 life-sized figures, all posed in the motion of running located near the finish line of the race. I loved it so much I wanted to be a part of it—as you can see in the photo as did our friend Susie Bye, a triathlete who beat me to the finish line:-)The sculpture is intended to give encouragement to the runners in their last leg of the race.

The Bloomsday Run is an annual timed road race in Spokane, WA where we recently visited for a few days. What began as a small run with about 1,200 runners over 40 years ago has become an annual tradition and national running event attracting tens of thousand of runners every May, thought the last two year were done virtually due to the pandemic.

“The Joy of Running Together,” sculpture by Govedare is a gift to the City of Spokane by individuals and businesses who helped sponsor the work in friendship with the Lilac Bloomsday Association (1985).

*Bloomsday celebrates Thursday 16, 1904, the day depicted in Irish writer James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. The day is named after Leopold Bloom, the central character that the novel chronicles

Enjoying the Iconic Riverfront & Manito Parks the Crown Jewels of Spokane City & Touring Bing Crosby’s Family Home

The Post-Cruise Port of Call was Spokane, Washington which was two hours by bus from Clarkson where we disembarked from the American Empress, the end of our seven day riverboat cruise. We were provided a light lunch at Manito Park, a 78-acre garden of native and cultivated landscape with 20 acres of world class botanical gardens. They are considered the crown jewel of Spokane City Parks. The name “Manito" is a Native American world meaning “a supernatural force that pervades nature.”

Our next stop was the home Bing Crosby grew up in. We toured the inside of the house which contained many of his memorabilia and awards such as the Academy Award he received for Best Actor in “Going My Way,” in 1944. Our friend Nelson, who comes from a family of golfers met Crosby on the 1st Fairway at Pebble Beach in 1975 and got his autograph.

After our bus tour was over we saddled up at the historic 1909 Looff Carrousel at Riverfront Park, the former grounds of Expo ’74, the environmentally themed world’s fair. It is considered one of the Ten Best Carousels in the United States. We bought two red carousel T-shirts for our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy. We checked into The Davenport Grand Hotel.

Later we explored the rest of the 100-acre Riverfront Park, branded as Riverfront Spokane that is a public urban park in downtown Spokane situated along the Spokane River and encompasses the Upper Spokane Falls, which is the second largest waterfall in the United States, and, when combined with the Lower Spokane Falls, creates the largest urban waterfall in the country according to Wikipedia. The site of the park and surrounding falls were a Native American gathering place.

After resting up a bit, we had dinner with Susan and Nelson Bye at Anthony’s Restaurant in the heart of downtown Spokane and that overlooks the Spokane River and upper falls. The view of the cascading river gushing over the Spokane Falls provided a rustic and romantic backdrop for a wonderful and memorable time. While waiting for our outdoor seating to free up we enjoyed Fresh Huckleberry Daiquiri featuring hand-picked huckleberries from Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams in the Cascades that are naturally organic. For dinner we enjoyed Anthony’s Award-Winning Clam Chowder, Tempura Green Beans with orange saffron aioli, Northeast Seasonal Salad, Roasted Scampi Prawns, Crab cakes, Fresh Halibut and Grilled Silver Salmon with Cornbread and cooked Huckleberries. To cap off the evening we had ice cream with huckleberries, continuing with the theme for the evening.

Postscript: Bing Crosby died October 14th from a heart attack doing what he loved just a few yards away from the clubhouse while playing golf near Madrid, Spain.

A Master Native Tribal Storyteller Addresses our Group & Hells Canyon Scenic & Fast & Furious Jet Boat Ride

“I don’t think [the meaning of life] is what we’re seeking. I think [it’s] an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.”

—Joseph Campbell

During an enrichment presentation aboard the American Empress riverboat docked at Clarkson, Washington, J.R. Spencer, also known as Whitebull addressed our group. He is an artisan, educator, and performing artist of Native culture and living traditions of his people, the Nez Perse Tribe. He regaled us with the rich history of native stories and traditional music in a touching, lighthearted, and respectful manner. He took us on a journey dating back to the Legend [Dreamtime] Days of his ancestors and shared how these stories were passed down from one generation to another. During his talk, Whitebull told us that his people are very childlike and the wisdom teachings are from the heart. He began to chant in his native tongue and we were transported to another time and space. Suddenly, he turned to English and kept repeating “I love Oreos I love Oreos I love Oreos ” After nervous laughter engulfed the room, he added: “Now that your heart is open, let’s continue.” It was simple, it was wise and as he played his flute and played his tambourine, and continued to chant our hearts opened ever more to what he had to say about the wisdom teachings of his ancestors.

After a light lunch, we boarded a coast guard approved Jet Boat nature adventure into Hells Canyon. We felt the excitement rise as we first stepped aboard the covered, comfortable jet boats prepared to travel through North America’s deepest gorge that has peaks that rise almost 8,000 ft high. It was electric. It was fast like a “Bat out of Hell.” We witnessed the canyon’s beautiful, blue waters and roaming wildlife that included horses, cows, birds, and long-horned sheep in the cliffs. The ride was exhilarating to say the least as we ventured through the narrowest sections of Hell’s Canyon along the Snake River. Our knowlegeable and experienced captain named Justin, provided a narration about the canyon in detail, including the history and geology of this natural wonder of the world. He informed us that we would be riding through three states: Washington, Oregon and Idaho. He paused the boat to show us where the Pittsburg fire in Hell’s Canyon Recreation Area on the Wallova-Whitman National Forest, which was started by lightning burned through 6,400 acres. About half way through our half a day ride, we relaxed at the Idaho Garden Creek Preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy in Hell’s Canyon to stretch our legs, stroll through the orchard where turkeys make there home. Lemondade and chocolate chip cookies awaited us at The Porch.

We returned renewed and fulfilled as we re-boarded the Empress just about the time for dinner. We feasted on Crispy Fried Chicken Livers, Wild Rice Soup, Hand-tossed Caesar Salad, Lamb Ragu with Creamy Polenta, Duck Breast with Currant-Orange Gastrique, Grilled Shrimp with Champagne Sauce, wine and dessert followed by entertainment by the Empress Quartet.

Exploring The Culture and Art Scene at "The Dalles," Oregon & WIne Tasting at the Jacob Williams Winery

“The scenery in Oregon is varied, romantic, picturesque and grand. There is certainly nothing to equal it in North America.”

—Overton Johnson and William Winter (1846)

Cecile and I and the Byes spent the day in The town of "The Dalles,” Oregon, a relaxing retreat along the banks of the Columbia River that serves as the eastern gateway to the Columbian Gorge National Scenic Area. Native populations had used the area as a trading center for a least 10,000 years.

After breakfast our American Empress bus driver drove us to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum that is located in a beautiful and unique ecosystem native to the area. From there the next stop was the National Neon Sign Museum that focuses on the evolution of light from the light bulb signs (1880-1920) to the introduction of neon to the United States in 1923 and the unique role advertising and signage has played in American history business. It was a very entertaining and dynamic presentation featuring familiar named brands like Mobilgas, Borden’s Ice Cream and Cadilac Service to name a few.

In the afternoon we were taken to the Maryhill Museum, an elaborate artistic dream of eccentric millionaire Samuel Hill that is perched high atop the bluffs overlooking the meandering Columbia River. It included an eclectic collection of local, indigenous people to international works of art including 80 works of Auguste Rodin, objects from the palaces of the Queen of Romania and more. Prior to our bus ride to the museum our guide directed our driver to show us Sam Hill’s reconstructed Stonehenge positioned on the edge of the gorge. Built in 1918 to resemble the Neolithic original as a memorial to those who perished in World War l.

Our afternoon was concluded at the stunning family owned Jacob Williams Winery, a picture-perfect location with bright red umbrellas to sample their award winning and locally made wines. We sat back and enjoyed the incredible views of Mt. Hood, the Columbia RIver Gorge, orchards, vineyards and the rolling hills of Washington. Our guide, who had announced on the bus she was of Sicilian heritage (like myself). She sat with us for about twenty minutes. She had an impressive resume including serving 20 years in the military that included a stint in Afghanastan working as an advanced Intelligence Interrogator, and 20 years of teaching. Retired now from both, she works as a tour guide. In her spare time she kayaks daily with her three dogs.

Entranced by the Majestic Mt Hood & Exploring Stevenson Along the Columbia River Gorge

“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.”

—Hilaire Belloc

After Astoria, we cruised all day, reached a point where we basked in the ethereal majestic peak of Mt. Hood along the way. We cruised to the Bonneville Lock & Hydroelectric Dam. This navigation lock raises and lowers the river traffic 60 feet. In our case our boat entered the lock and waited for the water to rise as scheduled until it lifted the boat to the level of the river on the other side, a fascinating event to witness.

We continued cruising until we docked at Stevenson, Washington, our next port of call. Stevenson is one of the many river towns along the Columbia River Gorge that feature awe-inspiring views of the Cascade Mountains and intriguing historic sites. The spectacular and varied terrain of the untamed Pacific Northwest is simply stunning. After breakfast aboard the American Empress, we explored the area with a riverfront walk and later explored the nearby Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center by the Hop-On Hop-Off excursion. The first native people to settle the area were the Cascade Chinook Indians. After visiting the museum we watched the nearby migrating salmon travel upstream to spawn at the underwater fish viewing rooms next to the fish ladders at the Bonneville and Dam we had crossed over earlier in the day. The ladders allow the salmon and steelhead to climb 60 feet to bypass the dam, a truly amazing feat.

We had another amazing and delicious dinner accompanied by premium wines. I had cantaloupe and ham, kale salad, eggplant parmesan, and short-ribs and bananas foster flambé Our favorite server was our 21-year old waiter named Marcus. Cecile and Susan adored him in a motherly way (photos). We ended the evening with seeing two back-to-back Broadway shows as the American Empress continued cruising on to our next destination.

American Empress Riverboat Cruise Adventure Exploring Astoria, Oregon

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float. To roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.”

—Hans Christian Anderson

Astoria is located at the mouth of the Columbia River within a few miles of the Pacific Ocean beaches. It is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. It has close historical ties to the Lewis & Clark Trail. It was named American business tycoon John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria in 1811. An American Queen tour bus took Susan, Nelson, Cecile and I to visit the 125 feet high Astoria Column, a historical landmark containing fascinating pieces of American Indian, US and Oregon history. It sits on a wooded area on Astoria’s highest point with sweeping views. Italian immigrant artist, Attilo Pusterla was retained for his expertise in Bas relief technique called sgraffito, and Italian Renaissance art form that combines paint and plaster carvings to decorate the Column exterior with a free of 22 significant events that occurred in the region.

Afterwards, we had lunch outdoors at the Astoria Brewery downtown, strolled along the shops, cafes and other breweries of the Riverwalk and visited the barking sea lions under the pier that make their way here from California. The Riverwalk stretches across the entire length of the waterfront. After resting in the afternoon we attended an excellent presentation called “Welcome to the River” in the show lounge about the boat, the region, and facts about the Columbia and Snake rivers.

We had a 5:15 PM early dinner in The Astoria Dining Room enjoying everything from baked salmon, steamed lobster claw, penne pasta marinara, Stuffed Sweet Bell Peppers, great wines and dessert. Showtime was at 8:30 PM and featured Lindy Pendzick in what was billed as a celebration of Life, Love, and Music that incorporated show tunes and some opera. She was accompanied by the Empress Quartet of seasoned musicians.

At 9:30 PM we attended Rockin’ with Ryan for “Beatles Night” where he played favorites from the fab four and we were encouraged to sing along. It was very nostalgic, romantic and fun.

Postscript: We have been impressed with the safety protocols. All guests had to be double vaccinated (Cecile and I and the Byes have had our booster shots). We had our temperature checked at the hotel and Covid-19 nasal swab test. Anyone who didn’t pass these tests were required to make other arrangements.

Amazing Sunset Dinner at Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar on the Waterfront in Downtown Vancouver, WA

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” —Virginia Woolf

(The above quote sits over the open see-through kitchen of Twigs Bistro…)

After enjoying a wonderful vegetable frittata and a short stack of pancakes for breakfast at the Hilton Hotel Cecile and I hooked up with our good friends Nelson and Susan Bye who just returned from the Portland area visiting family. We did a self-guided walking tour of downtown Vancouver enjoying the local parks, colorful wall murals, other public art, and other points of interest. We decided to grab a milkshake and ice cream cone for lunch and save our appetite for dinner. Cecile and I had enjoyed an amazing dinner with an unexpected fiery sunset at the Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar on the shores of the Columbia River—so much—the night before we went back again for an encore with the Byes. We began with Happy Hour cocktails, beer and wine along with appetizers that included fig and prosciutto flatbread with gorgonzola and chives. For dinner we feasted on Orange Chicken Salad, Grilled Ribeye with veggies and mashed potatoes, and southern style cornmeal crusted Lemon Caper Halibut with caper sauce, veggies, tomato confit and jasmine rice.

Vancouver’s new waterfront is the Pacific Northwest’s newest destination for waterfront adventure with unbeatable views. It is nestled along the curves of the Columbia River just 10 minutes north of Portland, Oregon. The 7-acre waterfront park includes the striking Grant Street Pier and renown restaurants such as the Twigs Bistro. The pier juts out 90 feet over the Columbia River and was specifically designed by nationally-renowned public artist Larry Kirkland to evoke the billow of a passing sailboat. It is a popular gathering point for people to take in the wondefrul ambiance and take photos. The Vancouver area was originally established by Native American tribes, including the Chinock, Klickitat, and Cowlitz nations. The Columbia River Renaissance Trail connects downtown Vancouver to the picturesque Columbia River waterfront, and is a perfect outlet for walking, jogging, biking and rollerblading.

By the time we made it back to our hotel we all had easily completed our ten thousand steps for the day and I ready to relax and get ready for our Columbia riverboat cruise tomorrow afternoon. To further that goal, I took a Jacuzzi and swam laps in the indoor large size pool that I have been fortunate to have all to myself the past few days.

Vacationing in Vancouver, WA and Portland, Oregon Before Boarding our Riverboat Cruise

Cecile and I are currently staying at the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver, Washington across from the 69 feet tall Salmon Run Bell Tower and Glockenspiel clock tower located at Esther Short Park. After a quick cup of coffee and light breakfast we walked through the park and headed to the Vancouver Farmers Market, the number one visitor attraction in the Southwest that sits on the north bank of the Columbia River directly across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.

Afterwards we took an UBER across the Columbia River Interstate Bridge (I-5 Bridge) to peruse the Portland Saturday Market located in Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza in Portland’s historic Old Town. It was the brainchild of two women artists in 1973. It is considered the largest continuously operating weekly open-air crafts market in the United States. It also has a very colorful section of handmade, exotic ethnic food offerings including Greek, Lebanese, African, Indian and Kathmandu. Cecile and I had a delicious beef/lamb gyros with onion, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, feta and tzatziki sauce wrapped in toasted handmade pita from Angelina’s Greek Gyros booth.

We decided to take a scenic walk along the beautiful Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a car-free bike and pedestrian trail along the West shore of the Willamette River. It was such a pleasure to see everyone having fun.

Is Portland Oregon safe? We had the same reservations as many have given the history of political unrest. Travel Portland affirms the city remains a safe city for visitors and are unlikely to see signs of the protests that have been shown in national news media. It recommends that visitors exercise the same caution, concern and common sense when traveling to any metropolitan destination. As far as Vancouver, WA, as of November 2020, it was considered to be the 14th safest place in the country.

Postscript: On Sunday, we will hook up with our friends, the Byes who are visiting family in the area to board the American Queen for a riverboat cruise on the Columbia River and its’ tributary Snake River.