Buddha Day: Celebrates his Birth, Enlightenment and Death Plus Gratitude to My Esteemed Mindfulness Meditation Teachers

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

—Buddha

"Love makes you warm; Anger makes you burnt; generosity makes you free; Greed makes you tired;

Wisdom makes you clear; and delusion makes you cloudy.”

—Ashin Kelasa, Buddhist Monk from Amarapura, Myanmar

Buddha Day is celebrated every first full moon of the ancient lunar calendar. This year it takes place on Friday, May 26. The United Nations began celebrating Buddha Day in its headquarters and offices in the year 2000. The holiday is marked with ceremonies at temples around the world, as well as meditation centers in the U.S. and abroad, reflecting on Buddha’s teachings. Buddhism can be traced to the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. in India. Historians believe Siddhartha Gautama, as he was so named was born into a wealthy royal family in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal. His father shielded him from the outside world by confining him to the palace, where he lived in princely luxury. Yet, it was not enough. Something persistent as his own shadow, drew him into the world beyond the palace walls. There, in the streets, he encountered three simple things: a sick man, and old man, and a dead man being carried to the cremation grounds. Nothing in his pampered life prepared him for this experience. When his charioteer told him that all beings are subject to sickness, old age, and death he could not rest. As he returned to the palace, he met a wandering ascetic walking peacefully along the road, wearing a robe and carrying the single begging bowl (to collect food) of a sadhu, a religious ascetic.

He then resolved to leave the palace in search of the answer to the problem of suffering. After bidding his family a silent farewell he rode to the edge of the forest, cut his hair and exchanged his finer clothes for the simple robes of a wandering ascetic. After six years of searching for a solution of human suffering, and studying under various teachers, Gautama, spent 49 consecutive days in meditation under the Bodhi tree, where he attained enlightenment—enjoying the freedom and tranquility of liberation and becoming the Buddha, the "Awakened One." After his death in 483 B.C., Buddha’s followers started a religious movement, and his teachings evolved into Buddhism.

Postscript: My main meditation teachers over the years in Burma were Michele MacDonald (photo) and Steve Smith of Vioassana Hawaii.

Dropped by the Obon Festival in the Heart of San Jose's Cultural Treasure—Japantown

“There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from...[and enjoy].”

—Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

After attending the first exotic car show in Campbell Saturday, Bill and I decided to ride our bikes to the vibrant community of Japantown to checkout the Obon Festival, which is a celebration of Japanese culture and heritage that takes places every summer. We arrived just as the food booths and San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin—which organized the event—opened. The church is supported by many volunteers and sponsors.

Bill and I had Teriyaki Chicken breast and rice. Then, I visited the interior of the temple which had several altars. The docents were very welcoming and said we could take as many photos as we wanted. The festival featured the popular San Jose Taiko drummers who celebrated their 50th Anniversary. At about 12:30 we watched the Stanford Taiko Drumming group perform. They were superb. Bill had mentioned that one of his sons, Clark was in a Taiko drumming group while in high school. Bill and I have a lot of respect for the Japanese culture and cuisine, and have both spent time in Japan for pleasure and business.

The first Obon Festival was held at this same location since 1935. For Japanese natives, Obon can translate to mean "The Lantern Festival" or the "Festival of the Dead,” honoring the spirits of those who have passed away, who have influenced and contributed to their lives. The idea is also to create an environment that brings the community together. Everyone is welcomed, and we certainly were...In some ceremonies in places like Hawaii, at the end of the Obon festival, lanterns are released into the nearest body of water, so that the spirtits of the ancestors can return to the other worldly realm.

Postscript: As we were riding our bikes out of the festival, I spotted an owner of some Akitas, a large, powerful, muscular breed of dog, orginating from the mountains of northern Japan. "I used to have one named Ninja," I said: “Would you like to pet them," he asked? When I got off my bike to accept the invitation, they startted barking. The owner said, “They are very gentle.” And gentle they were.

Celebrating Sorelle Starr Berger's Bat Mitzvah Hosted by Cecile’s Cousin Jeff & Sheri Berger

Cecile’s cousin Jeff and wife Sheri’s daughter Sorelle, had her Bat Mitzvah Friday, June 16. The services were at the Mosaic Law Congregation in Sacramento. A Kidush Lunch took place afterwards. The evening Festivities were held at Lakeview Estates and Winery located twenty minutes from the heart of downtown Sacramento. The secluded and peaceful site was nestled among the trees on a private, sprawling 20-acre property with a spectacular view of the lake. Our son Jason, his partner Alex, our daughter Michelle, husband Kyle and our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy, and Cecile’s sister Sherry visiting from South Carolina had a fabulous time reuniting with family we haven’t seen in some time. In a sense, the event was also a family reunion.

Dear Jeff and Sheri,

We couldn’t help but notice the little girl

You once held so tight

Tucking her into bed each night

How she’s grown and come to be

The fine young woman you nurtured her to be

Tears of pride and joy rolling down your face

As you watch her find her place

Your sweet young daughter who is by far

A wonderful example of a shining star.

May your remembrances of her childhood stage,

Comfort you through this magical “Coming of Age”

Now ready to study Torah with great ambition

And follow the journey of your Jewish tradition

May the sacred Star of David

Shine upon your daughter today

On this her memorable Bat Mitzvah Day.

Mazel Tov!

Dear Sorelle,

You’ve blossomed into a beautiful young lady.

We marveled how you embraced your studies to become a Bat Mitzvah.

Congratulations on reaching this important milestone in your life and we wish you all the best in your future studies and activities. By the way, It’s worth noting that the extra attention you gave our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy made them very happy. With the beautiful dress you wore, she and her little sister Emmy thought you looked like Elsa, the character from the Disney movie, “Frozen," whom they both adore.

Love,

Dennis and Cecile

Buddha Day: Celebrates his Birth, Enlightenment and Death Plus Gratitude to My Esteemed Mindfulness Meditation Teachers

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

—Buddha

"Love makes you warm; Anger makes you burnt; generosity makes you free; Greed makes you tired;Wisdom makes you clear; and delusion makes you cloudy.”

—Ashin Kelasa, Buddhist Monk from Amarapura, Myanmar

Buddha Day is celebrated every first full moon of the ancient lunar calendar. This year it takes place on Friday, May 26. The United Nations began celebrating Buddha Day in its headquarters and offices in the year 2000. The holiday is marked with ceremonies at temples around the world, as well as meditation centers in the U.S. and abroad, reflecting on Buddha’s teachings. Buddhism can be traced to the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. in India. Historians believe Siddhartha Gautama, as he was so named was born into a wealthy royal family in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal. His father shielded him from the outside world by confining him to the palace, where he lived in princely luxury. Yet, it was not enough. Something persistent as his own shadow, drew him into the world beyond the palace walls. There, in the streets, he encountered three simple things: a sick man, and old man, and a dead man being carried to the cremation grounds. Nothing in his pampered life prepared him for this experience. When his charioteer told him that all beings are subject to sickness, old age, and death he could not rest. As he returned to the palace, he met a wandering ascetic walking peacefully along the road, wearing a robe and carrying the single begging bowl (to collect food) of a sadhu, a religious ascetic.

He then resolved to leave the palace in search of the answer to the problem of suffering. After bidding his family a silent farewell he rode to the edge of the forest, cut his hair and exchanged his finer clothes for the simple robes of a wandering ascetic. After six years of searching for a solution of human suffering, and studying under various teachers, Gautama, spent 49 consecutive days in meditation under the Bodhi tree, where he attained enlightenment—enjoying the freedom and tranquility of liberation and becoming the Buddha, the "Awakened One." After his death in 483 B.C., Buddha’s followers started a religious movement, and his teachings evolved into Buddhism.

Postscript: My main meditation teachers over the years in Burma were Michele MacDonald (photo) and Steve Smith of Vioassana Hawaii.

Lunch at the Colorful Felafel Drive-In Featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins & Dives.”

Cecile and I couldn’t decide where to go for a quick lunch. Since I needed to get my car washed, we decided on the Felafel Drive-In, an old time favorite that was nearby. Since it first opened in 1966, it has become a San Jose institution. I say an old time favorite, because we used to go there all the time beginning in the mid=seventies we established the Park Avenue Foot Clinic near the Municipal Rose garden. Not long ago we rediscovered it. Though they have an expanded menu, we settled for a delicious Felafel Pita Sandwich with hot sauce, and it was delicious as usual.

Guy Fieri described Felafel described the Felafel Drive-In on his show in the fall of 2007 as “One of the hottest Middle Eastern restaurants in the area which has truly been a roadside attractions for many years. The ambiance was improved immensely since the old days, thanks to my favorite muralist Lisa Gemellos who in the fall of 2012 had finished a three-wall mural of Felafel’s Drive-In that she called “An homage to the restaurant and all things Silicon Valley, (and a bit beyond)*

*Rose Garden Resident (April 14, 2012). The attached photos are just a small portion of the actual 3 wall mural with images of the late Steve Job, and Guy Fieri himself.

Taking Our Granddaughter Emmy to a Local Farm Followed by Lunch at Effie’s Restaurant

Cecile and I took our two-year old granddaughter Emmy to the two-acre Westmont Agricultural Farm, not too far from our home, and across from Westmont High School in Campbell. We had taken her big sister Lyla here once before. More than 200 Westmont students study agriculture, grow greenhouse plants and raise animals, as part of the last Future Farmers of America (FFA) in Silicon Valley. We did a self tour, first visiting the cows that seemed happy to see us. Emmy got to pet one. We then visited the chickens, pigs, and goats. I saw a young teenager volunteer open a door that I knew was filled with caged rabbits, and asked if Emmy could get to pet one of them. She happily obliged. She took out a rabbit that happened to be her pet, named Cash. She told us her sister owned several of the other rabbits.

After our little outing we took Emmy to Effiie’s restaurant for her favorite Mickey Mouse pancakes. Cecile had a shrimp salad and I had a tuna sandwich on toasted wheat bread and fries. One of our waitresses took a liking to Emmy. One thing led to another and it turned out that her daughters went to Westmont High School and she was very familiar with the school’s agricultural sciences program and the farm. She said she always knew where her daughters were and it was a very wholesome program overall.

Riding from Santa Cruz to Capitola For Lunch in Celebration of National Bike Month

“Life is Brief and Fragile, do that which makes you happy on a regular basis, because the next day promises nothing"

National Bike Month is promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrate in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, it offers a chance to showcase the many benefits of biking. My good friend Bill and I drove over the Santa Cruz Mountains to the beach trail along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz watching local surfers catch waves in front of the historic lighthouse and and the Surfing Museum. There was a lot of damage during the recent storms, including sidewalks completely into the ocean below which simply meant we had to ride around the orange protective barriers for about ten minutes.

The rock wall of West Cliff can be seen beyond the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf where the raucous seagulls were flying on the thermals, and the barking herds of gregarious sea lions took shelter on—as they always do—the wooden beams and joists below at the very end of the pier.

We continued on riding, passing the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk which includes thrill rides including the Cliff Hanger, Crazy Surf, Cyclone, Typhoon, and the Giant Dipper Rollercoaster to name a few. Since its opening in 1907, the “Boardwalk" was referred to as the “Coney Island of the West.” Once past the boardwalk, we reached the 10-foot wide multi-use path along side the San Lorenzo River Railway trestle, and then onto the Santa Cruz small craft harbor that holds about a 1,000 wet-berthed vessels used for commercial fishing, pleasure power boats, and sailboats.

We also stopped at the nearby Walton Lighthouse which serves as a signal for the Santa Cruise Small Craft harbor boats. As I reached for my cell phone in my left pant pocket to take a photo of the lighthouse, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. It was missing. I remembered taking my last photo on the pathway next to San Lorenzo River Railway Trestle. Bill and I circled back. I knew it was a long-shot as it was about a mile away, but I had to see it through before mourning the loss. I had Bill call my phone hoping someone would answer or we could hear a ring in the near distance. He tried five times. Miraculously, on the fifth ring we heard a light ring. Bill found the cell phone sitting on a flat, two-by-four section that capped the length of a wooden fence. I breathed a sigh of relief. Some compassionate stranger must have seen it laying on the ground and placed it on the fencel.

Returning back to the harbor, we spotted a some happy local fishermen cut, clean and wash their big catch of Rockfish (a.k.a. Rock Cod). Moving on we passed Aldo’s Italian Restaurant which was bustling with patrons on the outside patio underneath white umbrellas. We then headed to Capitola Village. As we approached Bill pointed out a missing section of the pier that was damaged by the same storms that had affected Santa Cruz, rendering it unusable. When we got to Esplanade Park, there stood the familiar bronze sculpture of snuggling Sea Lions. Bill and I had lunch at Zelda’s. We were famished. He had a seared Ahi Salad and I had a Mahi-Mahi Sandwich that didn’t disappoint.

Postscript: As we headed home, sirens were screaming as multiple fire trucks, an EMT, a sherriff’s vehicle, CHP, and Cal-Fire whizzed passed us. After arriving home we found out that authorities in Santa Cruz County recovered a body of a 29-year old man off the coast at Scott’s Creek Beach after a vehicle

veered off Highway 1 and drove off a steep cliff into the Pacific Ocean. The driver, from Dallas, Texas, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Life is short indeed.

A Mother's Day Brunch at our Humble Abode: Our Granddaughters Were all Bubbles & Giggles

“Of all the special joys in life, the big ones and the small, a mother’s love and tenderness is the greatest

gift of all.”

It was the most perfect Mother’s Day. We had an outdoor brunch in honor of three mothers: our daughter Michelle, her mother and my beloved wife Cecile, Kyle and brother Chip’s mother Kim. Also, our special thoughts went out to Al’s mom, Dana Chien, who was unable to attend.

Cecile prepared a mixed assortment of empanadas, and cheese blintzes, Kyle barbecued Chicken apple sausages and Italian sausages, and made a pitcher of Mimosa with fresh orange juice from the local farmers market with pressed cranberry juice after the one Cecile was a hit. We also served bagels with lox and cream cheese, fresh cut veggies for dipping that Michelle brought, and Kim brought the most delicious cakes from Manresa Bakery for dessert. After dessert the moms opened their gifts.

As usual, our granddaughters supplied non-stop entertainment. Their Nonnie Cecile and Papa Dennis gifted them each a hand-held bubble machine to enjoy and keep them busy. Lyla asked if I would put on our Roman fountain in our back patio, which I happily obliged. After a while she and Emmy decided emerge themselves into the fountain as it were a kiddie pool and sprayed the two plaster cherubs and lion head. Later they turned their targets to our sliding glass door, then each other, and lastly took aim at some of us at the table.

In closing, I would like to dedicate the following short poem by Kelly Roper which rings true for me and our children Michelle and Jason.

“A heart full of love,

A head filled with wisdom,

Gentle hands that had soothed our children,

Lips that always speak the truth with kindness,

A beautiful soul filled with goodness and light.

What more could a man ask for in a wife and the

Mother of his children?

To me, you are perfection,

On Mother’s Day and every day."

Celebrating a Jewish Festival with a Community BBQ at Almaden Winery Park

On the Jewish Festival of Lag Baomer, many Jews honor the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who, after spending many years reading the Torah [Hebrew Bible representing God’s revelation to Moses] continuously in a cave filled the world with a shining spiritual light.

When I read the invitation on Facebook, I noticed that aside from a BBQ and picnic there would be a bounce house, horseback riding, face painting, fun games, and raffle prizes, and a bonfire. I immediately thought of our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy. I posed the idea to our daughter Michelle and son-in-law Kyle, and they were all in. Much to Lyla’s surprise, two of her classmates and friends from her preschool attended. As shown in the photos the girls had a blast, as did all the other precious children present. Cotton candy and popcorn were served.

The invitation to attend this festival called "Lag Baomer" came from Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld, the founder, director of The Chabad House who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. In just a few years the young rabbi has won over the communities of the South Bay with his affable, upbeat, and welcoming personality. He has been to our home and we were invited—along with other guests to his and his wife Mussi’s home over a year ago for Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) during the Jewish New Year.

The Lag Baomer festival commemorates two historical events according to Jewish tradition: the passing of revered Second Century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who proclaimed that the anniversary of his death be a time of rejoicing his life; and the end of a plague that killed some 24,000 students of another great rabbi, Akiva Ben Josef who lived around the same time as Rabbi Shimon. In Israel, on Lag Baomer, people flock to the site of Rabbi Shimon’s gravesite in a small village on Mount Meron in upper Galilee.

The day of celebration and special customs follows a 32-day period of semi-mournings for the deaths of the Akiva’s students. During these weeks, observant Jews refrain from pleasurable activities including weddings, haircuts or listening to music. But on the 33rd day (that the word “Lag” represents), these restrictions end and the day becomes one of the most festive in the Jewish calendar. Lag Baomer celebrations are particularly associated with bonfires, said to have a mystical significance. Some Jews attribute Rabbi Shimon with the authorship of the Zohar (means shining light), the foundational text of Kabbalah (Mystical Judaism).

Attended the 2023 Rotary Art Show: A Celebration of Art, Creativity & Community

“Art is important. We tend to think it is a luxury, but it gives people deep pleasure because beauty is the personification of hope that something grander is at work.”

—Gil Dellinger, painter

Year after year The Rotary Club of Saratoga Fine Arts Show provides a community—focused event committed to providing a platform for artists to showcase their work to the public on the beautiful grounds of West Valley College. It is the highlight of the year for artists and art lovers alike. In addition to the art exhibitions, the show featured a variety of interactive experience, including artist demonstrations, workshops, and hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.

Why bother going to art shows? Professor Samir Zeki, a neurobiologist with the University of London, scanned the brains of volunteers while they viewed 28 works of art, and discovered when a person views art they find beautiful, it triggers an immediate release of dopamine into the brain-a chemical related to feelings of love, pleasure, and desire. Involvement with artistic or cultural activities is associated with better health, lower anxiety and lower occurrences of depression.

Having spent about 7-years doing plein air watercolor painting with the Saratoga Community of Painters, it improved the quality of my life, it opened my mind to new ideas, and helped me become more self-aware. I have included photos I took of many vibrant and inspiring pieces from Rotary Show for your enjoyment.

Exotic Dinner with Friends at Meso Modern Mediterranean at Santana Row

“Nourishment is the nutrients in the food, the taste, the aroma, the ambiance of the room, the conversation at the table…and the joy of the entire experience.”—Marc David

My wife Cecile gets the credit for finding and recommending that we, and our good friends, Susan and Nelson Bye try Meso which turned out to be a gastronomic gem that offers a deliciously curated selection of modern Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant which bills itself as “where the flavor, spirit and style meet," is located at Santana Row in the center of urban life reminiscent of a bustling, posh European community.

Nelson brought and shared a superb bottle of hand-pressed wine with us that is made from the finest Napa Valley grapes at Charter Oak Winery in St. Helena, California. We shared a number of appetizers including a trio of dips that included hummus, smoked eggplant, red bet labneh with house made pita bread and chips and added crispy mushrooms. We also shared Charred Snow Peas with Muhammad consisting of roasted peppers, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses; Roasted Carrot and cucumber with avocado, dill, feta, sesame and lemon; and Spiced Lamb Flatbread with yogurt, sumac onion, spicy zhoug, oven roasted tomato and sprouts. We also shared our entrees that included Beef and Lamb Moussaka and Kufta Meatballs of lamb and beef, with baby spinach, pomegranate, pine nuts, and tahini. According to Nelson none of the dishes disappointed, and I have to agree, though the spiced lamb appetizer was a little too spicy for the ladies. The service was first class, and the setting which included an indoor fountain that changed colors was aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

We decided to have dessert at Smitten, also in Santana row where each couple shared a Banana Ice Cream with chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream in a freshly made waffle cup. We enjoyed the people watching along the way, and colorful structures and activities along the way.

A Wonderful Dinner with Friends at Hercules Drafthouse and Cantina

“Heading up Hercules is Chef Beltran Reyes [who came here from Guatemala at the age of 18],” was described in an article in The Mercury News by Laura Ness, as, “one of those instantly endearing chefs whose sunny disposition and inner drive have brought him to the point of fulfilling a long-held dream to prepare beautiful food and eventually have his own place."

Cecile and I had an early dinner with good friends Sarah and Bill Rothenberg at the relatively new Hercules Drafthouse and Cantina in Los Gatos that had its grand opening last fall. Part restaurant, part sports bar, in a comfortable and spacious indoor and outdoor setting, the Cantina has something to

offer everybody. Having taken over the former location of Hults and Flight, Hercules, which began as a beer-focused hangout, now includes a latin menu. They also have a wide variety of cocktails. Cecile and Sarah had a margarita and I had one of their pilsner draft beers to accompany a generous portion of Nachos for the table, a delicate, more tasty version of the usual over done version we have had at other Mexican style restaurants.

For our entrees, Sarah, Cecile and Bill had an assortment of fish tacos and I throughly enjoyed a Pan Seared Salmon, rubbed with adobo and topped with mango salsa, and served with rice and vegetables. Juicy and delectable, it was one of the best Mexican style salmon dishes I have eaten in quite some time.

The consensus was that we would be return customers, and would consider their Happy Hour offerings as we tend to eat earlier.

I approached Niko, one of the partners to ask him how they came up with the name Hercules which reminded me of the movie of my youth: Hercules Unchained (1959) staring Steve Reeves about two warring brothers. Niko, seen here in a selfie we took together explained it is a reference to a Spanish professional wrestler. It turns out that the late Alfonso Carls Chicharro’s ring name was Hercules Cortez, known to compete in Spanish, European, and North America (AWA).

After dinner we walked over to "Easy Breezy,” the yogurt, custard shop for dessert.

Family Brunch at "Happy Days" Diner & the Legend of the Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas

Everything begins with a story and the Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells where many of the guests for our nephew Michael and Lauren’s wedding were staying is no different. In 1881, an elderly woman who suffered from dementia would sit by the well all day drinking mineral water. After a while people began to notice the crazy old lady wasn't so crazy anymore. Since that time the well became known as the “Crazy Well” that had magical healing powers. People from all over the country flocked to this magical well. The Crazy Water Hotel was later built on the same site of the well in 1912. For more than 100 years health seekers are still drinking Crazy Water. It is the only bottled mineral bottled in Texas. We hung out in a spacious lobby between the Crazy Coffee and Water Bar and a kid’s toy shop with a free mini carousel ride in front that our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy—with the push of button—made good use of.

The morning of the wedding ceremony and dinner banquet we strolled down North Oak Avenue to the Happy Days Diner for brunch. The memorabilia—laden eatery was named after the famous TV series of the mid-70s and 80s starring Harry Winkler as the super human greaser, Fonzie. It was filled with a juke box, gum-ball machine, soda fountain and likeness of not only the Fonz but Elvis as well. Slowly but surely most of the Augustine clan helped to fill the place to capacity.

After brunch Cecile and I, our son Jason, daughter, Michelle, her husband Kyle, and our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy walked a bit further to the heart of the historical downtown currently undergoing revitalization. We saw a bright red pick up truck on the sidewalk filled with flowers and a skeleton in the driver’s seat. The truck door identified its' owner as being The Kraze Boutique. Just short of the truck we noticed a red marque emblazoned with the name The Ritz, once a long-shuttered movie house. The Marque is available for rent to announce birthdays, marriage proposals, anniversaries and the like. Interestingly enough, while we were there, there was a happy birthday greeting to Emmaline, which coincidentally is our granddaughter Emmy’s actual first name.

Postscript: Upon returning home, I spoke to my good friend James Hunter, who interestingly enough informed me that his mom, Virginia and late brother Chuck were born in Weatherford, Texas, where my nephew Michael and his wife Lauren’s wedding took place. James' mom was also her school’s homecoming queen. It’s a small world indeed.

More Photos at Our Nephew Michael and Lauren's Wedding At the Spectacular Clark Gardens Botanical Park

Located just 45 minutes from downtown Ft Worth, Texas, and a short distance from Mineral Wells where most of the guests were staying, sits an idyllic Garden of Eden-like setting. After the wedding ceremony that was officiated by Steve Joyce, Michael’s stepdad we proceeded to a large tent. In my last post I focused on the beloved newlyweds and some photos of the honored family guests. The following photos include some new photos of family, the lush gardens, fountain pools, and bigger than life bronze sculptures near the entrance. Finally, I included a short video of our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy dancing to Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t she Lovely.”

Once again,

congratulations

to Michael and Lauren honeymooning in Costa Rica, Michael's beloved mother, Carla and loving stepdad, Steve Joyce, Lauren’s family and friends. Cecile and I, our son Jason, daughter Michelle, son-in-law Kyle and Emmy and Lyla were enriched by this experience.

Celebrating our Nephew Michael and his Wife Lauren’s Wedding at Magical Clark Gardens in Cool, Texas

“Congratulations to a couple whose match truly seems made in heaven. May your years together be filled with heartfelt joy.”

Family from New Jersey, California, Japan, and Texas including my brother Steve and sister Josephine and their families and of course Cecile and I and our family gathered together at the Clark Gardens, a breathtaking 50-acre oasis in North Texas to celebrate our nephew Michael and Lauren’s exchange of their wedding vows. The two lovebirds met at a rock-climbing venue in 2019, and make quite a handsome couple. The ceremony was lovingly officiated by Michael’s stepdad, Steve Joyce. His brother Andrew was his best man, and his other brothers Brock and Alex were also part of the wedding party. As the best man, Andrew, a sergeant in the US Air Force, stationed in Japan had some fun and loving things to share about Michael and jokingly welcomed his new sister-in-law “into our dysfunctional family.” Finally, it was a joy watching our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy dance up a storm and meeting their 19 month cousin Luka and 4 month old Ayla for the first time.

Congrats to Carla and Steve Joyce and Lauren’s family.

Dinner at Pastafina in Downtown Mineral Wells, Texas & Bumping Into Three of my Nephews

Cecile & I, our son Jason, daughter Michelle, our son-in-law Kyle, and granddaughters Lyla and Emmy had dinner at Pastafina Italian restaurant when serendipitously two of our nephews, Andrew and Brock Augustine walked in. They were picking up pizza-to-go to bring back to an Airbnb they are staying in up the road. We are all in town for our nephew (their) brother Mikey Augustine’s upcoming wedding to his beloved Lauren tomorrow evening at Clark Gardens in the town of Weatherford. After we had dinner we were returning to The Crazy Water Hotel when we bumped into the groom himself and a close friend. Mikey had told his friend he had a strong feeling he would encounter us, and his

Intuition completed the cycle of synchronicity. Cecile told me had I not gone up to our room early I would have seen Alex, my late brother Michael’s fourth son and their mother Carla and Lauren. We are all looking forward to the wedding celebration with much anticipation.

Cycling in Natural Protected Creek Trails and Quiet Neighborhood Settings Never Gets Dull

“To me, it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or the sun is shining…as long as I’m riding a bike I know

I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

—Mark Cavendish

Nothing beats taking in the beautiful views of nature, while a crisp fresh air blows gently into your face. Aside from the endorphins your body produces from the physical activity of cycling, being surrounded by the natural world around me puts my mind at peace. Brooks, streams, water walls, percolation ponds, reservoirs and lakes provide a tranquil view. Being hit with months of rains these winter and spring the poppies are popping and the yellow mustard flowers are blanketing the terrain. Bicycling for me is not a race, but an adventure and an opportunity to be mindful of all the beauty around me that I once took for granted or was too distracted by stray thoughts to notice. Cycling gives you a birds-eye view

of the world around you.

The photos that follow were taken over some recent rides these past couple of weeks. Some were solo and others were with my friend Bill. We each make ourselves available at a moments notice with the stipulation that family comes first.

Almost all of the photos were taken on the Los Gatos Creek Trail extending in the direction of Campbell or San Jose in one direction or to Vasona Lake County Park and in neighborhoods where car traffic minimal.

Recently, we made a pit stop at Carstar South Bay Auto Body & Paint on University Avenue to witness the mechanics repairing and painting racing cars as a side hustle to general body work business. It’s ironic, we live in Silicon Valley, one of the busiest high tech communities in the country,

but we are also blessed with some of greatest biking venues in the world, many in our own back yard.

Embracing & Celebrating the Dual Nature of Easter: the Secular & Religious

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

—Dolly Parton

“Easter is the demonstration…that life is essentially spiritual and timeless.”

—Charles M. Crowe

The secular Easter holiday is centered on the a visit by the Easter bunny, a hunt for dyed Easter eggs and an Easter basket of goodies for the kids and grandkids. This is a folkloric tradition. German settlers brought the Easter Bunny tradition to America in the 1700s. Their children made nests so this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, this custom spread. The religious aspect is centered on church services, Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and Easter brunch or dinner. Of course, for those not affiliated with a religion, Easter is more likely to symbolize spring, hope and renewal, which is not a bad thing.

Though, I’m not a religious Catholic per se, there is an old saying: “Once a Catholic always a Catholic.” It will always be a part of me. Moreover, I love the spiritual teachings of many of the Catholic mystics and monks. That said as a young man I was always stuck on the Crucifixion part that in historical terms seemed so banal, so dark—a downright calamity. I also didn’t know how to apply the resurrection part to my life until much later.

Thanks to the late Joseph Campbell, an academic scholar of comparative religions at Sarah Lawrence College, who gained prominence on the world stage after the "Power of Myth" series on PBS with Bill Moyers in 1988, I learned the significance of the Easter story. Campbell said: “If we think of the crucifixion only in historical terms, we lose the symbol's immediate reference to ourselves...The crucifixion is not a calamity if it leads to new life.” The resurrection in turn was a dramatic physical and spiritual transformation that transformed Western civilization for two millennia. Campbell references The Imitation of Christ, "which is symbolic of participating in the suffering and joys of the world (i.e. accepting the good with the bad), all the while seeing through them the radiance of the divine presence.” Transformation gives us hope that no matter how dire our circumstances, we can find redemption in our personal lives, as well as society or culture, as a whole.

Postscript: I was so moved by Joseph Campbell’s teachings that I wrote a book in the 90s with a tribute to him called "Invisible Means of Support: A Transformational Journey," that was endorsed by his late wife Jean Erdman, a choreographer, dancer, and theatre director who died in 2020 at the age of 104.

Celebrating Passover with Family & Surprisingly the Largest Annual Passover Seders are in Nepal

"Passover takes place in the home rather than the synagogue and centers around an epic meal—the Seder—so you remember Passover as storytelling, you remember it in family."

—Simon Schama

Our daughter Michelle, son-in-law, Kyle and our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy joined us for an intimate Passover Seder at our home. Lyla with her Nonnie Cecile's help told the story of Passover. The traditional circular Passover Seder Plate consists of a variety of symbolic foods that are eaten during the Passover meal. For the main meal we had salad, oven roasted potatoes, and veggies, a delicious tender brisket and fresh baked halibut. For dessert we had colorful French macaroons and coconut macaroons.

Having married into a Jewish family which has been a blessing, I can tell you that Judaism celebrates a lot of holidays. But the oldest of them is Passover which began last evening and continues for a week. As the mythic story goes, Passover, also called Pesach, is the Jewish festival celebrating the ultimate exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery to freedom in the 1200s BC as chronicled in the Old testament book of Exodus. This master story of redemption from slavery has shaped Jewish consciousness and values.

The whole week of Passover is a perfect time to remember loved ones who have died, holding close to one’s heart the legacy they have left behind. Top of mind is Cecile’s mom, Margie and father Harry, two of the finest people people I had the pleasure of knowing (photo) and who treated me with loving kindness and generosity.

Postscript: Surprisingly, Nepal is the home to the world’s largest Passover seder, boasting over 1,000 participants and is held in Katmandu. The reason: The country is overflowing with young Israeli travelers who have recently finished their mandatory army service. During Passover, many want to be reminded of their mom’s chicken or matzah ball soup or to experience of the familiar crunch of matzah (cracker). Other attendees simply feel compelled to travel to Nepal to experience the holiday in such a unique, exotic way. Rabbis fly in to Nepal to lead the seder. Some of the events are hosted by the Jewish outreach organization, Chabad.

Source: Haggadadot.com

Dinner with Friends at Pho Banh Mi Vietnamese Eatery in San Jose

Having been to Vietnam on a couple of occasions, I can say the cuisine focuses on preparing food with the freshest ingredients...It is also done with minimal use of oil and dairy and relies on the light, fresh flavors of herbs and vegetables. As a result, it is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world.

Always willing to try something knew, our friends Bill and Sarah Rothenberg recommended we have dinner at Pho Banh Mi restaurant, recently. Formerly, a Burger King, in the same parking lot as Home Depot, the owners did a great job of remodeling the building. The contemporary interior is clean, bright and charming. Locals waited patiently through three years of Covid before its grand opening, and by all accounts it was worth the wait. The restaurant made good use of the previous burger drive—through—window for their thriving take-out service.

They have a wide variety of food to choose from, including around eight types of their signature Banh Mi sandwiches, and delicious and comforting Pho (Pronounced “fuh”), a large bowl of steaming Vietnamese Noodle Soup with either beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian style and Tofu, and all the toppings. The best thing about pho is that it is such a restorative food. The soup is savory and rich, while clean and refreshing a the same time.

We were served water infused with cucumber. I had the Special Pho with egg noodles, steak, brisket, brisket and meatballs and everyone else had the Special Vermicelli Bowl with Chicken, fresh raw veggies, herbs and egg roll. The staff was friendly and the service was impeccable.

Postscript: When I think of Vietnamese noodle soup, I think about Barack Obama joining the late Anthony Bourdain (whom Cecile and I heard speak at D’Anza College) for a sit-down meal and a beer in Bun Huong Lien, a noodle spot loved by locals in 2016. “There’s no better place to entertain the leader of the free world in my opinion, than one of these classic funky family-run noodle shops you find all over Hanoi,” Bourdain declared.