Mother's Day Brunch Celebration for the Three Moms at Michelle & Kyle's Place

“Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There’s no bond so strong in the entire world. No love is so instantaneous and forgiving.”—Gail Tsukiyama

Mother’s Day is a celebration to honor our mother’s selfless love and the sacrifices they make for their children. On this special day, we celebrate mothers, mother-like figures in our lives and even grandmothers. Our mothers dedicated a larger part of their lives nurturing and making us better humans. We shouldn’t need a special day to honor our mothers. They should be cherished every day of the year. Even when they are no longer living we remember them.

Today we celebrated Mother’s Day at Michelle and Kyle’s home in honor of Michelle, her mother-in-law Kim Chien and of course her beloved mother, and my beloved wife, Cecile. Michelle, you were always a wonderful daughter and you are great mom. And, by the way many thanks to you and Kyle for the grandkids, Lyla and Emmy:-). Their presence makes all that we celebrate year round more richer and more joyous. As a mother, you know the fundamental truth in the words of Victor Hugo who once said, “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness ands children sleep soundly in them.”

Mother’s Day was celebrated as early as the 1900s. In 1908, Anna Jarvis wished to commemorate Mother’s Day as an official recognized holiday to honor her mother, Ann Reese Jarvis, a peace activist who passed away three years prior. In 1914, US President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national holiday.

P.S. A special Mother’s Day shout out to Al’s mom, Dana Chien and Gerry Woodward (aka GG), who is a gracious and loving grandmotherly figure to Lyla and her baby sister Emmy; and my sister Josephine Augustine Mcallister

Happy Wedding Day to Our Young Burmese Friends In Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

“When two hearts are meant for each other, no distance in a relationship is too far, no time is too long, and no other love can break them apart.”

Cecile and I want to express our heartfelt congratulations to our friend Maybelle on the marriage of her daughter Michelle (Hmu Ma Di) to Jason (Ye Myint Myat) who are getting married at Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in Mandalay, on the 5th of May with a reception to follow on the 7th of May at the Palace Restaurant where we all once ate together. Yes, you may have noticed that Maybelle’s daughter and soon to be son-in-law took English names like our daughter Michelle and son Jason. I still remember being invited to Maybelle’s home for the first time and seeing a sign with her daughter Michelle’s name painted on it. It is not uncommon to take on an English name, especially while studying English at the university.

I first met Maybelle, a devout Catholic and volunteer during my first spiritual pilgrimage to Mandalay to attend a three week silent meditation retreat at a Buddhist monastery overlooking the Great Irrawaddy River. It was through her that I was introduced to two Irish Catholic sisters of charity who received permission from their archdiocese to attend the same retreat I was attending. I attended said retreats over a five-year period beginning around 2004 to 2009. I had the pleasure of meeting Maybelle’s late husband Noah and I have known their daughter Michelle since she was six or eight years of age.

The only thing I knew about Mandalay at the time was a movie: "The Road to Mandalay" starting Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and that Rudyard Kipling wrote a Poem called Mandalay which was published in 1890 that was set in colonial Burma, then part of British India. Mandalay city is in north-central Myanmar (Burma) on the Irrawaddy River, the second largest city in the country and former capital of Burma and Upper Burma. It is famous for being the old royal capital of Myanmar. In the past, Burmese kings would have lived in the city and you can still see some of their palaces in evidence. The city still has a royal feel to it.

During a pre-trip tour of Southeast Asia including Thailand, Cambodia, Lao and Vietnam in 2018, Cecile and I visited Mandalay to spend time with Maybelle

and her Michelle and later her boyfriend Jason for dinner. Maybelle drove us to many of the best tourist sites and to the monastery so I could say hello to one of my most esteemed lay meditation teacher Michele Macdonald who was leading a retreat. Other than the beautiful pre-wedding photos, most of the images were taken during our stay in Mandalay and on the grounds of the Thai Style Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort Cecile and I stayed at and highly recommended by Maybelle.

Michelle, who was recently staying with Maybelle at their aunt’s home in Allentown, PA this past year, worked at Amazon and is well liked by her co-workers. She and Jason intend to move to the United States. Since the military coup in Myanmar over a year ago there is no future there for young people. The government there has brutally cracked down on its citizens after massive protests by the Burmese people, losing any progress that was being made toward quasi-democratic rule.

May your marriage give you endless tenderness, love, joy and unforgettable moments together.

Peace, love, and many blessings,

Dennis and Cecile

Attending the 63rd Annual 2022 Rotary Fine Art Show at West Valley College

“It isn’t until the painter has no idea what he’s doing that he makes good paintings.” —Edward Degas

"Life is a work of art—if you don’t like what you see, paint over it.” —Zenshine

After lunch and a nap yesterday, Cecile and I decided to attend the Annual Rotary Art Show at West Valley College which continues through today from 10 AM to 5 PM. They are celebrating their 63rd annual Fine Arts Show which has been produced since 1957. It is the setting for 200 fine arts and fine hand crafts booths. The artist booths are set on grass along the campus walkways creating a stunning open-air gallery for this re-imagined exhibit. They offer light music and specialty beers and wines, as well as on-site food booths, pottery making demonstration and a fund kids activities corner. There are not entry fees. It is a great way to spend part of your morning or afternoon. These images I took were art and settings that caught my fancy. I love art that pokes me to slow down, to look, see and think and ultimately something that speaks to me, such as the colorful image of the person playing a guitar while sitting on a bike.

So what draws people to art shows? "Art is essential to the human spirit. It makes you think about what the artist is trying to say. It can take you places,” says Maria Rodale, Author, CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc. Maria Rodale makes her point by describing: "A huge color photo of a South African man and a little girl. She was resting her head on a hyena. He was pulling back the hyena’s gums to show its teeth. I could almost taste the dust, sense of heat and the smell. I was almost there.” Speaking of South Africa, and having spent time there during my travels, I enjoyed the mixed-media work of Fortune Sitole, a self taught artist who began making sculptures out of clay and cars out of wire since the age of 12. He had no idea he was making art. His current work shown here depicts townships of South African showing activities of everyday life.

As someone who painted plein-air watercolors with the Saratoga Community of Painters for over 7 years, having begun with no real experience except attending an indoor watercolor class for a year at a local recreation center, I can tell you that art makes you feel something. It makes you think and wonder what the painter was thinking. It makes you realize that throughout time, people are fundamentally the same the world over and throughout time. Even if you do arts and crafts, you’re an artist. Even if you plant an outdoor garden, you are an artist. You don’t need to even understand art. Art shows you things that word’s can't say. One can make their life an art form. Art-making is meditation in action. Forms of exercise like yoga, running, swimming can be an art-form. Blogging can be an art form. When I studied to be a podiatric physician and surgeon, we were taught that medicine was both an art and a science.

What would your life and work look like, be like, feel like, if it were a work of art. Psychologist, researcher, and author of creativity and flow, Mihaly Csikszentmhhalyi, said it best: “How we choose what we do, and how we approach it…will determine whether the some of our days adds up to a formless blur…or something resembling a work of art.”

Postscript: The Rotary Club of Saratoga, the Arts Show is the primary fundraising event supporting local and international charities.

Feasting on Traditional Chilean—Style Empanadas from Cafe Vina at Our Friends Home

“In Chile these folded meat pies, considered to be the national dish, are so treasured that soon after Salvador Allende was elected president in 1970, he spoke of celebrating his brand of revolution not with violence, but 'with red wine and empanadas.'"—Florence Fabricant

After several attempts to choose a restaurant to have dinner together Susan and Nelson Bye, our neighbors, friends and traveling companions graciously offered to host our feast at their home at Rinconada Hills, a quarter of a mile up the road from us. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.

Susie has been raving about Cafe Mina’s authentic, traditional empanadas at Saratoga Prince of Peace Farmers Market, open on Wednesdays from 2 PM to 6 PM for some time now. If anyone should know about Chilean empanadas, it is Susie who was born in Quito, Ecuador, and two years later moved to Chile with her family. Later, they moved to the United States where raised her own family. We knew her when our respective children were young, and reunited with her and Nelson after we moved to Rinconada Hills over six years ago.

The empanadas were everything Susie claimed they were: delicious, savory and abundant. She and Nelson served us three kinds: beef, chicken and vegetarian. Nelson also made roast chicken, and he and Susie served a variety of salads and a side of asparagus. For dessert we enjoyed chocolate chip cookies from Levain bakery from New York that Cecile and I provided.

We provided a bottle of Banshee Mordecai Red, and Nelson served us a Tobin James 5 varietals mix that include: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec from his private collection.

Postscript: The Chilean empanada habit came from Spain, where empanadas have been documented since the 13th century. "To Chileans, empanadas mostly mean empanadas al horno, which are frequently baked in a wood-burning oven. The classic versions are filled with seasoned minced (not ground) meat and onions and garnished with hard-boiled egg, olives and raisins,” adds Fabricant in the New York Times (April 14, 2009)

A Pleasant Encounter with Geese & Goslings During a Bike Ride on the Los Gatos Creek Trail

"After years of study, I concluded that the Canada goose is the most joyous creature I’ve ever known...According to the goose mantra, every moment is to be cherished, savored, and revered…A Canada goose never forgets a face or a kindness…I have seen…goslings coo to one another with sheer, unabashed affection, and wondered how they managed to get it right and we didn’t. In their world, sibling rivalry is for the birds.”

—Mary Lu Simms, Investigative reporter specializing in wildlife issues

This was my first bike ride since taking a spill in Tiburon during a group ride that began over the Golden Gate Bridge with friends including my son-in-law Kyle earlier in the month requiring a trip to the ER. I had an interesting encounter involving geese and goslings during a warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. There was one adult couple of geese that were in the middle of a pedestrian/bike path that appeared to be in a panic trying to protect two adorable yellow goslings from being run over. To their right were two other adult geese coaxing nine or ten goslings to stay close. I drove my bike off to the side and motioned fast approaching teen bicyclists with my hands to slow down to avoid injuring the furry little goslings.

Geese are known to mate for life. They are one of the most intelligent birds, with a great memory and do not forget people that have shown acts of kindness toward them. Canada geese bring their goslings together in flocks known as a clutch or gang of goslings that are communally looked after by all the adults. In other words it is like a big kindergarten with the adults sharing duties. In fact, I later realized that the first couple of geese were merely watching after the two goslings that belonged to the second group.

Goslings are fun to watch, but don’t dare touch if you see a clutch or gang of goslings. Both parents (especially a gander) will aggressively defend the goslings until they are able to fly, which is about ten weeks. They will hiss or scream at humans and other animals if they get too close to their nests and babies. Otherwise for the most part geese are friendly, have personality galore, and given enough time and engagement may bond with you much like a dog.

Friends Treated Us To Dinner at Mint Leaf Cuisine: A Thai Inspired Haven for Foodies

Friends Treated Us To Dinner at Mint Leaf Cuisine: A Thai Inspired Haven for Foodies

"The only thing I like more than talking about food is eating it.”—John Walters

“Good food is all the sweeter when shared with good friends.”—Author Unknown

Our dear friends Jimi and Jennifer Hunter vacationing in Kaui right now treated us to dinner recently at Mint Leaf on Big Basin Way in historic downtown Saratoga. I have been posting about this Thai-Asian fusion restaurant for years, and have found that it has inspired others to give it a try,

resulting in them becoming dedicated customers. Much of the decor is of Thai origin as are the owners Mint Sirisawad and Laksana Chungpia.

The array of ingredients used in the food are derived from various parts of Asia. They offer an extensive five Main Course menu categories to choose from. The Hunters brought a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cecile and I brought a bottle of Zinfandel to take advantage of the Mint Leaf’s No Corkage Fee policy.

We decided to share Fried Egg Rolls (a decorative 4-piece cut in half) serving stuffed with cabbage, carrot, bean threaded noodles and Taro served in a shot glass of red sweet and sour sauce at the bottom for the table to share and rice. The Hunters shared a Mint Leaf Pad Thai entree: An amazing presentation of Pan-fried rice noodles with eggs, bean sprout and chives in a sweet tamarind sauce and wrapped in omelet egg served with peanuts and Thai Basil with Green Beans sautéed chili garlic green beans, basil and red peppers with Tofu. Cecile and I enjoyed Yellow Curry (Mild) with carrots, potatoes, and onion with Grilled salmon filet and Scallops Spinach Curry: Seared with very mild turmeric curry, spinach and topped with red bell peppers with wheat rice on the side. With our bellies full and satisfied we passed on dessert.

Having spent years roaming Southeast Asia, The restaurant’s decor decorated in crimson and gold leaf, white banners hanging above the dining areas like boat sails, Thai sculptures, silk pillows and tapestries and, a peaceful Buddha overlooking the customers is reminiscent of temples and spirit houses we have all visited during out travels. Mint Leaf offers Gluten free and vegetarian dishes available, as is outdoor “park-let” seating which the City of Saratoga has extended until the end of 2022, We chose early seating and practically had the place to ourselves.

Celebrating Passover with Family and Friends as a Modern Day Exodus Takes Place in Ukraine

“The exodus from Egypt occurs in every human being, in every era, in every year, and in every day.”

—Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

Last evening Cecile and I celebrated the second evening of Passover at our home with our son Jason, daughter Michelle, her husband Kyle, our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy, Kyle’s brother Chip, Kim and Al, Jason's dog Daisy and partner Alex who was able to join us later for dessert.

Lyla walked into our atrium, dressed in a colorful gown, her pink camera we gifted her hanging over her neck, hair in a bun, and holding a drawing she made for her Nonnie Cecile. Our hearts were filled with joy to have both her and Emmy bring the lightness of being into our family event. Tomorrow we get to do it all over again when we celebrate Easter at Kim and Al’s.

Michelle, Kim and Al brought flowers and gifts for the girls, and Jason and Chip brought wine and a plant. The appetizers and traditional Seder plate were set up in the Living room and dinner was set up buffet-style on our kitchen counter. We had lamb chops, salmon, asparagus, potatoes and salad.

Passover honors the freedom and Exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharoah Ramses ll. Before the ancient Jews fled Egypt, their firstborn children were “passed over” spared from death, thus the naming the holiday “Passover.”

As we celebrated and remembered the past, it was impossible not to think of the modern day Exodus taking place in Ukraine in real time where so many are being denied the opportunity to observe their most cherished Jewish holiday. According to Chabad, one of the largest Hasidic Jewish organizations in the world, tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews have fled while 80% remain either unable to escape or wanting to stay close to their families. But, thanks to Chabad who has a close and wide network in Ukraine, and other groups including the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Federation of North America, “have mobilized to help Ukrainian Jews celebrate Passover wherever they have sought refuge. Chabad plans 52 public Seders welcoming about 9,000 people, according to Deepa Bharath of the Press-Telegram.

This does not include the tons of Passover food for refugees in Poland, Moldovia, Hungary, Romania, and Germany.

Happy Passover and Peace for the people and country of Ukraine!

Brunch at Effies and a Visit to See the Animals at Westmont Agricultural Farm with our Granddaughter Lyla

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

—Anatole France

Since our granddaughter Lyla, had off from Jewish pre-school due to first night of Passover, she hung out with Cecille, myself and her uncle Jason.

She wanted to play in my home office which she refers to as Papa’s room (She tells everybody I have the best toys). She loves to play my Brazilian box drum I acquired during my travels. This time she played it while singing her ABCs (video).

Then she played with my medical bag instruments (Stethoscope, reflex hammer, and blood pressure cuff) and examined and pretended to treat all my hand carved animals I brought home from Kenya. She made me wear my grey surgical cap while she wore my green one backwards and me to tie the strings. She’s either going to be a veterinarian or musician. Next she wanted to see videos of “fire of all things.” She mentioned she heard about a cat that was saved by fireman. I assumed she heard something at her preschool. So I showed her clips of firemen saving cats from trees and apartments. You could see the joy in the firemen’s faces as they retrieved the pets and returned them to their owner. Lyla was moved by what she saw. She kept repeating, oh, "that’s so nice”

It’s a mitzvah (a good deed in Hebrew). Then, she followed my lead and kept saying. “It’s a mitzvah."

When Cecile came back from the grocery store we all went to brunch at Effie’s. Afterwards, we took a ride to Westmont Agricultural Farm in Campbell to see the animals. The first thing we saw was a black cow beinng washed and groomed by a young man. We were allowed to roam the farm to our hearts content. There is no charge for visitors. Some of the friendly farm hands and students were accommodating. One young woman offered to bring out a baby bunny for Lyla to see and pet, after we visited pigs, cows, lambs, and chickens. The earthy smell always brings me back to my visits to family friends in Italy who had a farm and raised chickens and cows and made fresh mozzarella from the cows milk.

The two-acre farm is located across the street from Westmont High School not too far from where we live. It seems out of place in a suburban area that values high technology. Many students from the high school who study agriculture grow greenhouse plants, raise animals for show as part of a program that keeps the area’s rural history alive. The farm is the last Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter in Silicon Valley that harkens back over a century ago when the valley was filled with orchards of apricots and plum trees.

Dinner with Friends at Neapolitan-Style Locanda Sorrento in Historic Downtown Campbell Bring Back Childhood Memories

Cecile and I invited our friends, Bill and Sarah Rothenberg to join us for dinner at a relatively new restaurant called Locanda Sorrento located in historic downtown Campbell. Though it wasn’t stated anywhere on the menu or website, I could see, the word “locanda" in Italian means Inn, which in former times meant a house providing food and lodging for travelers. Locanda Sorrento recently took over the space that was previously occupied by another Italian Restaurant, Tigelleria Organic which Cecile and I used to frequent and is now closed. Locanda Sorrento is one of several restaurants launched in the Bay Area by Restaurateur, Enzo Rosano over the years that specializes in Neapolitan offerings based on his mamma Carmela's recipes that he learned to cook while growing up in a town just outside of Naples.

We enjoyed some beer and cocktails (Aperol) and sliced bread with a green dipping sauce and a Pizza La Florita: Zucchini Flower, Mozzarella, Pancetta & Provolone Del Monaco for the table. It has as tender and light crust that didn’t bend or collapse when picked up.

Sarah enjoyed a very colorful and tasty Insalata Locanda: Butter Lettuce, Artichoke Hearts, Watermelon Radish, Pomegranate Seeds, Toasted Almonds, Goat Cheese & Champagne Vinaigrette, and Guazzetto: Manila Clams, Peinnoplou’s Tomato, Garlic, White Wine Sauce EVOO Crostini. We ordered two dishes of Polpette Della Mamma: Wagyu Beef Meatballs, Tomato Sauces, Parmigiano—Reggiano & House-Made Crostini. Bill and I loved Enzo’s Favorite Branzino Dish: Panko Breaded Mediterranean Sea Bass filet (no bones to pick) with Lemon EVOO Vinaigrette over Tricolor Cauliflower. I was impressed that most of l the staff spoke Italian. The ambience was colorful and the presentation was excellent. Our waiter was attentive, the servers were friendly, and the most important thing is the food was delicious. The meatballs could have been hotter, and Sarah felt the clam broth didn’t have much taste. Bill agreed it was worthy of a return to try some other dishes. They even have plant-based selections.

There is a framed watercolor painting that caught my attention (see photo) of a map of Naples including of all the places I used to visit family and friends such as Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, Amalfi and the Isle of Capri, collectively known as the Amalfi Coast. The fact that Enzo named all his restaurants after these wonderful places didn’t escape me. There is also a bride and groom riding a red Vespa (I used to own one). My uncle Lillo taught me how to ride his in Sicily when I was 13 years old. Our family friends Rosa and Mimi (or shall I say Rosa’s aging parents) owned a hilltop villa in the village of "Saint Agatha of the Two Gulfs” overlooking the Gulf of Naples to the north and the Gulf of Salerno to its south. We always had an open invitation to visit.

Instead of having dessert at the restaurant, we decided to go to the Creamery down the street for ice cream. The old Campbell water tower was lit in pink, providing a nice contrast against the night sky. There was also a beautiful wall mural of LOVE on one of the buildings with the words “From Historic Downtown Campbell” that added a bit more romance to an already romantic evening.

Golden Gate Bridge Bike Ride to Tiburon & Ferry Boat Back to SF After I Fell To the Ground

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely...but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke...and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a ride!”

—Hunter S. Thompson

Bicycling the San Francisco is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. Riding across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most exhilarating things to do. In fact, Bill and I, friends Jimi Hunter and his wife Jennifer have done a variation of this ride several times together. This time I invited my son-in-law Kyle Lewis, an avid cyclist to join us. We hooked up with Jimi and Jen—who were spending the weekend in San Francisco—near Fort Point. The views of the San Francisco Bay and the bridge are utterly breathtaking.

Once crossing the bridge that is famous worldwide for its signature orange-rust color and immense size, we made our way to the quaint city of Sausalito in Marin County. Jimi recommended to Bill, Kyle, and I to see the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Bay Model Visitor Center which has a large functioning 3D hydraulic model of the Bay Area.

We continued riding and when we reached Harbor Point in Marin County, I hit a bump while attempting to grab an energy bar from the back of my jacket, lost my balance and crashed into the ground (photo). Everyone was at my side. I was dazed and confused, had pain in my ribs on the left side of my body, the palm of my right thumb, scraped knees, the tops of my hands, and upper left arm. Frankly, I didn’t remember going down, and was in a state of shock and confusion when I was assisted in getting back up on my feet.

I noticed the right side of my bike helmet with MIPS technology my son Jason gifted me was abraded. The MIPS brain protection system is a helmet-integrated with a low-friction layer designed to reduce rotational motion transferred to the brain from an angled impact to the head. Bill had told me later, he was amazed I was able to continue riding ten additional miles to Tiburon—albeit slowly—to catch the Ferry back to San Francisco. While Bill rode his bike back to the parking lot to get his SUV—so I didn’t have to ride anymore—the rest of us had lunch at Red’s Java House, a waterfront landmark since the 1930s. We ordered take-out for him. On the way home, Bill offered to drop me off at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara to be checked out. After spending three hours in the ER, the doctor on call reviewed the X-rays of my right hand and chest, as well as ct scan of my brain. The diagnosis was a concussion, rib contusions and possible fracture(s) and abrasions of my knees, and hands which were attended to before I called Cecile to pick me up.

Postscript: I won’t sugar coat it. Physically, I feel like I went a round with Mike Tyson. However everyone agreed it could have been worse. Emotionally, I view it as being in a state of Amor fati: A Latin phrase that roughly translated means “loving your fate.” It is used to describe an attitude of accepting and embracing the conditions of your life exactly as they are. I will ride again, I told myself. I felt grateful for the commraderie of friends who had my back and the joy and beauty I experienced on Saturday before the incident. One would never know looking at all of the photos taken of me after the fall that I was wounded.

The following is a Vimeo video narrative reenactment of my fall at the "scene of the crime" by my good friend and former competitive racer, Jimi Hunter, who has had his own share of thrills, spills, and injuries over the years, much more serious than mine. He and Jennifer video all their rides.

https://vimeo.com/695513655/e45a91524e

A Solo Windy Bike Ride Before the Recent Rain

"Sometimes the things we [see and] feel on a bike [ride] can be sublime.”

—Justin Coulson

I hesitated about going out for an evening bike ride. It was cold, very windy and rain was forecasted.

But I elected to take the window of opportunity while it was still dry, an hour before sunset. I dressed warmly and as per usual I didn’t regret it. I made my way to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Competitive

bike riders have all these strategies to be more efficient when encountering wind which can have a drag on speed.

But, I enjoy riding with or against the wind especially in a protected area where there are no cars. As a lover of nature, I often stop to take photos. In this case the abundance of cloud formations is what often interest me.

Edmund Burke’s Philosophical Enquiry (1757) connected the sublime with experiences of awe. He saw nature as the most sublime object, capable of generating the strongest sensations in its beholders which proved influential for several generations of artists. The definition of sublime is something majestic, impressive, and elevating one’s spirit.

When I ride solo in nature, I never feel alone. I never get bored. Nature is throbbing with life. Time alone in nature provides time and space to step back and reflect on my relationship to the natural world. I love taking photos of clouds, especially when they are abundant and moving as they do during a windy day.

Most of these photos were taken on the Los Gatos Creek Trail, a couple of miles from home. The one of me in front of the mural was taken on the caged pedestrian and biking bridge over Highway 85. The rest of the photos were taken on the trails and streets of Rinconada Hills, the gated-community where my wife Cecile and I live. Speaking of Cecile, when I arrived home she had a nice Italian meal waiting for me: Buitonni Sweet Italian Sausage tortelloni with marinara sauce and parmesean cheese and meatballs.

Celebrating our 45th Wedding Anniversary: Where Did the Time Go?

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”

—Audrey Hepburn

“Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same.”

—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Cecile and I are celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary this 25th day of March 2022. Breaking it down we have been in love for 16,435 Days; have spent 394,461 Hours together, not counting three additional years of living together in my beloved’s home town of Chicago. We moved to San Jose, California inn 1975, and together open my Podiatric Medicine & Foot Surgery Practice. Though she was an elementary school teacher by training she became my medical assistant and office manager. Our patients loved her sincere, welcoming presence and smile.

We decided to get married in 1977. We were blessed with having two wonderful children (Jason and Michelle) and further blessed with two adorable grandchildren (Lyla and Emmy) and a wonderful loving friendship with our son-in-law Kyle and his wonderful family. During this time we had countless happy memories and magnificent travel experiences together as well as with our children and grandchildren.

A wedding anniversary reminds Cecile and I about one of the most important days of our adult lives. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on our relationship, and come together to celebrate. We are well beyond doing something that outdoes the preceding anniversaries in our younger days. Our celebrations are much more carefree. Our anniversary serves as a heartwarming reminder of the day we met and doing something special to affirm our commitment to one another and congratulate ourselves for getting through the challenges that life has placed in our path. Marriage is not all rainbows and unicorns. It is full of ups and downs. As unwelcome as the downs can be they have given us the ability, wisdom, and strength to weather the storms. All of our experiences good or bad are part of our personal storyline and getting through the difficult times has only deepened our connection.

Dearest Cecile,

Our Wedding Anniversary is a time to look back,

Remembering our first meeting, first date, first dance, first embrace, first kiss.

To think of all the things we’ve done and the places we’ve been.

The joy, the tears, the doubts, the fears

The wondrous things we’ve seen together, the two of us as one.

We have learned that love is a living thing and true love never dies.

May each of us continue to see that love in one another's eyes,

So as we celebrate today, recalling milestones from our past,

With the full understanding that in the years to come

Our love will always last.

Happy Anniversary,

sealed with a kiss,

Dennis

Bicycling the Los Gatos Creek Trail to Lexington Reservoir Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains

“On the bike I savour everything to the full. I live every moment. I discover places that otherwise I could not see. When I get on my bike I feel no boundary or limit. I am a conqueror, and every time is a little great quest, body and mind.”

—Paola Gianotti

At a mild 84 degrees, it was a great day for a ride. After Cycling to the Los Gatos Creek Trail with a pit stop at Jamba Juice, Bill and I continued our ride to Lexington Reservoir County Park, a scenic 950 acre park and reservoir which includes a 338 acre man-made reservoir available for shoreline fishing. The reservoir is also open to hand launch vessels only, including canoes, yaks, float tubes and standup paddleboarding (SUPs). Below the Lexington Reservoir exists a ghost town called Lexington which was once 550 feet above sea level. Due to draught conditions the water level is low. That said, it is still a sight to see while riding around the top perimeter looking down. The photos were taken on Tuesday and a previous ride we did last month. The ride around Lexington Reservoir itself is 7.8 miles, though Bill and I rode a total of 19 miles roundtrip from where we live.

A Middle Eastern Style Birthday Luncheon for our Granddaughter in our Daughter Michelle & Kyle’s Backyard

“Stay close to and be loving to your children and innocent grandchildren. Bask in their light. Do what you can to make grace happen for them. It’s not what we have in our life, but who we have in our life that matters.”

Happy Birthday to Emmy, the cutest little angel who brings love, light, and joy into our lives and is worthy of another celebration.

After all, in my view, if Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth can have two birthday parties several weeks apart so too can our little Princess Emmy.

So when our daughter Michelle and Kyle invited some family and friends who weren’t able to celebrate Emmy’s first birthday the end of February, we were all in. They decided to have a Middle Eastern Luncheon delivered by Dish-dash.

Aside from our daughter Michelle, husband Kyle, daughters Lyla and Emmy; Cecile and I, and our son Jason; Kyle and his brother Chip's mom Kim and Al, their dad Ed and Gerry; Michelle and Kyle’s close friends and neighbors, Kayvon and his wife Behnaz; Kyle and Chip's friend Vince Grosso and his four-month year old Graham were part of the festivities.

Thanks to Kim and Al, Emmy got her first American Girl doll; Lyla was enjoying being pushed on the swing, playing ball, and being read stories to. Emmy was very engaged, scooting around in her cute little white flower-fringed tutu, we enjoyed watching both girls open up their presents. Yes, even Lyla received some gifts, so she didn’t feel left out. The food was awesome, the company was wonderful, and all the grandma’s and grandpa's got to spend special time with our granddaughter’s, Lyla and Emmy. My heart melted when Lyla came up to me and asked: “Papa can you play with me? ”What could be better than that?

Dinner at Kings Fish House at Westfield Valley Fair with Friends: The Ultimate Seafood Experience

Dinner at Kings Fish House at Westfield Valley Fair with Friends: The Ultimate Seafood Experience

“Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”

—Anthony Bourdain

I was always taken by this provocative and irreverent quote by Bourdain, the late celebrity chef, author, and vagabond who explored international culture, cuisine, and the human condition. Though in principle I believe the body “is" the temple of the spirit from an Eastern and Western perspective, I simply saw Bourdain’s quote as a metaphor for enjoying food from different traditions.

This past weekend Cecile and I were invited to join our friends and our travel companions Nelson and Susan Bye for dinner at Kings Fish House at San Jose’s Westfield Valley Fair Mall’s newly renovated dining district, a first time for all of us. We were seated in a tented area at the front of the restaurant with heating lamps to ease the chill in the air. As usual and gratefully, Nelson brought a bottle of California Red Wine called Eight Years in the Desert (2019) from his private collection to enjoy with our meal.

Susan ordered a hand cut Lobster Crunchy Roll with crab salad, asparagus and cucumber with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder while Cecile enjoyed Wild Eastern Sea Scallops with a side of roasted Organic Carrots and deep-fried Brussel Sprouts, Mac ploy, and bacon lardon. Nelson and I enjoyed a Macadamia Nut Crusted Wild Alaskan Halibut with orange ginger butter sauce which included two side dishes. I had Sautéed Fresh Spinach and the Brussel Sprouts. The food did not disappoint.

For dessert, our waiter—without hesitation—recommended "Butter Cake!" I was skeptical at first. I never heard of butter cake. When it was brought to our table, it was a sight to behold. From the first bite we knew this buttery moist spongy cake with vanilla ice cream, berries and fresh whipped cream was going to satify our sweet tooth.

Postscript: King Fish House in San Jose is the first Northern California concept restaurant of the acclaimed Southern California-based restaurant chain that boasts having some of the freshest seafood that is sourced directly in-house form King’s Seafood Distribution. It offers a changing menu depending on what is in season. For those who don’t eat seafood they also offer pasta dishes, filet mignon, burgers and chicken. The chic main dining room that is across from Bloomingdale’s features two awesome 300-gallon saltwater tanks, stocked with live seafood from around the globe.

A Fabulous Dinner with Friends at the New Upscale & Casual Shepherd & Sims Restaurant

“You know what’s better than blabbering about food? Yep, eating it! And, this place was worth eating at and writing about."

This past weekend, our friends Bill and Sarah Rothenberg agreed to try a new restaurant for a change-of-pace and settled on Shepherd & Sims. I know what you’re thinking, the name sounds more like a law firm than a restaurant, but don’t let that dissuade you. It is dining at its finest. The new eatery, a creation of Jim and Angelique made its’ debut last September. The couple who also operate a number of other restaurants including the Table in San Jose, Vesper cocktail lounge in Campbell and Forthright in Campbell, took over the former location of Aviva’s Restaurant, next to the neighborhood Whole Foods in Los Gatos. They transformed it into a nicely appointed restaurant with two dining sections and a full service bar. The menu had been reported to reflect the food the couple likes to eat. Jim was quoted in the Mercury news last October as saying, “We want to enjoy life and we want people to enjoy life with us.” The Stumps partnered with chef de cuisine, Robert De La Mora, to create a menu containing California ingredients infused with flavors from Mexico. The ambiance was a blend of French bistro and familiar warmth of a classic New American neighborhood eatery.

We began our culinary adventure with cocktails and beer. Sarah and Cecile ordered a lemon drop and Bill and I enjoyed a nice cold 20 oz Ruekeller Helles lager draft beer from the Bruery in Orange County, CA. We liked it so much we shared another round. The $3.00 bread service included a dollop of ricotta cheese, and Seka Hills olive oil. We also shared and order of pork pate with golden raisins, cornichon pickles, mustard seeds, lemon verbena, chive and micro greens served with toasted rustic batard bread.

Cecile and I shared a pear salad with endive frisée, candied spiced pistachios, gorgonzola dulce with burnt honey vinaigrette. Bill had a Shepherd & Sims salad that included organic lettuces, arugula, red onion, fennel, heirloom tomatoes, avocado, potatoes with a zesty red wine vinaigrette. For our entrees Sarah enjoyed Olive oil poached Spanish octopus seared on the plancha [grill], marble potatoes, green Spanish Mojo-confit [duck], heirloom cherry tomatoes, marinated avocado, and smoked paprika oil.

Cecile ordered the gruyere cheese Parisian gnocchi with wild mushrooms, madeira, creamy grand padano sauce and kale. Bill and I feasted on a sumptuous Pork Chop with Koji (fermented rice) with roasted apple, apple relish and roasted parsnip. Though I don’t eat it often this was the best pork chop I have ever eaten.

We were satisfied enough with the food that was prepared with great care and attention that we opted out on dessert. I can’t wait to return to try some of their other dinner and luncheon offerings. If I had any negative critique, I would say it was difficult to carry on a conversation during the 7:30 seating due to the echoing chatter of all the patrons and would consider an earlier seating. Other than that it was an excellent dining experience.

Granddaughter Emmy's Hot Pot Birthday Dinner Party at the Chiens

The dinnner party began with drinks for the adults and playtime with Emmy, the birthday girl, and Lyla. Our granddaughters enjoyed the play structure swings, and sliding pond Al (Pops) and Kim (Lolly) had installed for them in their spacious back yard. Emmy was also enjoying crawling on the synthetic turf, playing with the stone rabbit family, and sitting and standing on the trampoline. A traditional Chinese Hot Pot set-up adorned the dinner table consisting of raw foods ready to be cooked in the hot flavorful broth. Raw ingredients such as brocoli, tofu, halibut, shrimp, scallops and beef were available for self-cooking. The cooked pieces are then dipped in dipping sauces soy or hot sauce for additional flavor. The broth which is brought to a boil is then left simmering for the duration of the meal. It was a fun, casual way to stretch out our time together. Though hot pot is considered a main course, Al also added Chinese-style vermicelli noodles also known as glass or cellophane noodles which are transparent in into the metal cooking pot.

Cecile and I brought fresh-baked cupcakes from Marvel Cake created by Maryam Menari for dessert, one of which was set aside to place one candle in it for the birthday girl. Since Emmy is not at the age to be able to blow out the candle, our daughter clapped her hands in front of the candle to extinguish the flame, a little trick she learned from her mom. We sang Happy Birthday to Emmy and afterwards, we sat around engaged in conversation while the girls engaged if free play. I don’t expect Emmy was entirely sure what was going on or what the fuss was all about, and will not remember her first birthday but when she is older she will be able to see all the photos and know we all lovingly gathered together to celebrate her first year on this planet.

Happy Birthday Emmeline (Emmy) Lewis. We love you.

Happy First Birthday to Our Granddaughter Emmy & A Poetic Offering in her Honor

“A baby’s smile is a dancing flower of twinkling stars.”

—Apollo M.

Experts say that a baby’s voluntary smile indicates a social activity to express warmth. During crazy times like these, you need to see a baby’s smile as a reminder that there is good in this world. The photos included in this post were mostly taken recently while babysitting

Emmy.

The exception was a photo and a short video clip I took of Emmy socializing—or shall I say engaging in parallel play—with a baby named Hana in the shallow side of a kids swimming pool at the Maui Marriott Resort on Kaanapali Beach this past December during our annual family vacation. Emmy was wearing a pink sunhat that Cecile and I bought her and Hana who was wearing a long-sleeved flower print top were splashing the water in front of them with their hands. They were smiling and staring at each other as if they had known each other from a previous time.

They were supervised of course. Hana’s dad was holding her arm on one side, while Nonnie Cecile was watching Emmy on the other side. Behind Emmy sat her protective big sister Lyla. According to her parents, a Persian couple who reside and teach college-level engineering in San Diego, Hana was named after the East side section of Maui known to be home of Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), the Hotel Hana Resort and huge stretches of lush coastline, waterfalls, and vast rainforest. But the most amazing discovery was that Emma and Hana were not only one year olds but by the magic of coincidence happened to be born on the same day and the same year (February 27, 2022,). So, Cecile and I would like to extend our birthday wishes to Hana and greetings to her parents in San Diego. We look forward to celebrating Emmy’s Birthday with the rest of the family.

Dearest Emmy:

Your heart-melting smile is so divine

Everything you do makes our lives worthwhile

Your untouched innocence is so sweet

Your magical charms can’t be beat

Your eyes are blue as the sky above

That look at us with trusting love.

Your chubby cheeks and rosy lips

And dainty little finger tips

Every unfathomable word you say

Touches our lives in a heartfelt way.

Your actions are beyond being cute

They lift our spirts like a parachute

It’s hard to believe how time has flown,

You started so small, but how quickly you’ve grown.

From rolling to sitting and a quick little crawl.

To your first little steps and standing up in your crib,

You’ve conquered it all.

We wish you a very Happy First Birthday

Papa and Nonnie

A Delicious Tapas-Style Dinner with Friends at Newly Opened Teleferic Barcelona

“Small plates are called Tapas. They are plates for big hearts, love, and people who believe in inclusion and sharing kindness. In Spain, It isn’t just a style of eating, it’s a celebration of life!”

—Jose’ Andres, Chef, Humanitarian & Founder of World Central Kitchen

Our friends Bill and Sarah recommended this restaurant to celebrate a belated Valentine’s Day. I say belated because they were out of town visiting family during Valentine’s Day and Cecile and I had a new electrical main panel and a charging station installed in our garage for my new Tesla and Valentine’s Day was earliest they could schedule the work. Sarah made a reservation for outdoor seating and baby was it cold outside, even with the heat lamps. The young woman who seated us offered Sarah and Cecile a comfy blanket to ease the chill. Tapas are Spain’s traditional small plate snacks and has become popular all over the world including right here in California, most often accompanied by a drink. Cecile, Sarah and I had the restaurant’s signature homemade Sangria (actually I had two) and Bill had a Spanish beer.

We feasted on Ham Croquetas: Croquettes with Iberian ham, piquillo pepper sauce and aioli; Pan con Tomato: Spanish loaf, tomato dressing with chorizo butter; Roasted Chicken empanadas with spicy aioli; Spanish Meatballs with Canary Masala sauce and friend potatoes; and Secreto Iberia Paella: Acorn Fed Black Pig Fillet, pork belly and mushrooms. For dessert we indulged our sweet tooth with a Trio Selection of Teleferic’s most popular desserts: Arroz Tres Leches: Rice pudding with cream Catalana foam and jelly; Torrid: French toast, Catalan cream, banana and vanilla ice cream; Churros con Nutella: and Barcelona street fried dough with Nutella.

Teleferic Barcelona’s owner Xavi Padrosa along with his sister Maria Padrosa just opened their newest restaurant in the Old Town shopping center in Los Gatos, CA on January 12. It offers tapas, homemade sangria, paella and their authentic Spanish market and deli, El Merket is stocked with a large assortment wine, specialty imported Spanish products, and food to go. The modern open-spaced Mediterranean style decor creates a warm, eclectic ambiance. It has been reported that most of their employees are trained in their locations in Spain before they came to the United States. This was brilliant planning on their part considering how the pandemic shuttered many restaurants.

Postscript about the History of Tapas: Legend has it that it was first invented in the 13th century. While recovering from a sickness, King Alfonso X of Leon, Galicia & Castille was only able to drink and eat small quantities at a time. By so doing, he unwittingly created small plate eating, similar to tapas.

Apparently, after dining this way, he figured that always getting some food with every drink would help reduce the drunken behavior of peasants and so decreed that small snacks eating should be served with every drink, across the land. As peasants were poor and seemingly preferred to spend more money on alcohol, rather than buying food, this seemed like a reasonable solution.

Happy Valentine's Day to Cecile: My Partner for Life & Our Friends and Family Especially our Granddaughters

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”

—Oprah Winfrey

The limo breaking down is a metaphor for someone who sticks by you through thick and thin no matter what. My wife Cecile, embodies that

kind of love. She is my true soulmate defined by someone who does not judge you for your flaws or your jagged edges. A soulmate is someone who upon witnessing those things, chooses to stand by your side; always encouraging you to heal on your own time, in your own way, and if there was any doubt would always say, “We’re going to get through this together."

Valentine’s Day is one of those days when I realize anew how lucky I am that that Cecile and I found each other. It's not like I forget on the other days of the year, but at this special time, it becomes much clearer to me that being with her since the early 70s has been a blessing.

So to the most important woman in my life I want to add thanks for being you and for being mine. My best friend and the love of my life

You’re the most amazing, thoughtful, compassionate woman I know and I am fortunate enough to call you my wife. Thanks for bearing raising two wonderful, well-adjusted humans (Jason and Michelle) who work hard, are enjoying a good life, and still enjoy traveling and being with us. Last but not least for being a devoted grandmother to Lyla and her baby sister Emmy that have given us so much joy during the advent of our golden years.

I end with a short poetic offering by John P. Read called:

‘Our Love’

L is for ‘laughter’ we had along the way.

O is for ‘optimism’ you gave me every day.

V is for ‘value’ of being my best friend

E is for 'eternity,’ a love that has no end.

Cecile and I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. May you celebrate love in whatever form it may come, including your furry friends and most of all loving your self.