Corona Light & A “Shelter in Place” Special Take-Out Dinner from Thaibodia Bistro: Authentic Thai Cuisine

Yesterday afternoon our friends and neighbors Nelson and Susan Bye gave us a heads-up that they were going to pass by our home. They live up on the hill of the gated community with whom we share sheltered common grounds. We opened the back gate leading to our back-yard patio, set the chairs up so we could enjoy our welcomed visit six-feet apart. It felt like a dress rehearsal for hopeful things to come.

Normally, we would greet each other with a warm hug. Now, we had to be concerned that anyone of us could be carriers of the invisible, sometimes silent, and unwelcomed coronavirus that has sadly afflicted so many. I offered our guests a choice of beer or wine. Cecile and Susan abstained, and Nelson said he would join me in having a beer. I hadn’t had a beer since this pandemic began. When I told Nelson all we have is Corona Light, he smiled. It wasn’t too long ago that Google Trends reported there was an uptick in online searches for “corona beer virus” and “beer corona virus.” Thirty-eight percent of Americans said they wouldn't buy Corona beer "under any circumstances," because of the coronavirus. YouGov.com had to point out “the corona virus has nothing to do with Corona the beer; the virus is named after the Latin word crown thanks to an exterior structure that features little spikes, while the beer is named for the Sun’s corona.”

I got two bottles out of the garage fridge, wiped them down with an antiseptic wipe, and we toasted each other from a safe distance. It was like old times, when things were more carefree and we all dined-out together. Nelson and I would always have a photo taken of us clinching our glasses or bottles without the concern we now have of an uninvited guest in the room. 

I couldn’t help but think about the iconic singer Neal Diamond who last month posted on Twitter, “I know we’re going through a rough time right now, and I love you.” He then added “I think maybe if we sing together...we’ll feel just a little better.” He began strumming his guitar and sang “Sweet Caroline with his signature soaring vocals,” playfully changing the lyrics in two places. “Hands, washing hands, reaching” and, “Don’t touch me. I won’t touch you.”

According to Loretta LaRoche, a suburban Boston stress management consultant cited by William J. Kole of the Associated Press in a story on Time.com, “All the hand washing in the world isn’t going to clear up your head.” La Roche uses humor to help people de-stress from the anxiety brought on by this predatory pandemic. “Some people say,” she added, “This is not a time for laughter. The bottom line is, there is always a time for laughter…Laughter helps the brain relax.” My favorite is the tweet by Fox News anchor Julie Banderas who wrote: “How long is this social distancing supposed to last? My husband keeps trying to get in the house.” 

A few hours after our guests had returned home, Cecile and I ordered a “Shelter in Place Special,” dinner from Thaibodia Bistro in Campbell, recommended by our friends, the Rothenbergs. The special deal invites you to choose three entrees for $25.99. The generous portions are enough for two or three meals. The restaurant bills itself as the finest Thai dishes with the distinct hallmarks of Cambodian cuisine. I struck up a conversation with Jay (see photo), the manager who offered me a complimentary cup of iced Thai tea.

Exhilarating 25-Mile Round Trip Bike Ride on Natural Creek Trails to Levi's Stadium: Home of the 49ners

"For people cooped up inside all day, unable to get to the gym but badly in need of exercise, that beat-up old bicycle in the garage looks extra appealing these days.”
—John Cox, The Bakersfield Californian

“People may not remember this that well, but (on) Super Bowl weekend, in some ways, with apologies to the 49ners’ fans, the gift we may have been given was the 49ners losing”
—Dr. Niraj Sehgal, head of UCSF’s COVID-19 Command Center

Our plan yesterday, Bill Rothenberg and I that is, was to connect with nature along the bike-friendly San Tomas/Saratoga Creek Trail heading toward our designated destination of Levi’s Stadium, home of the 49ers. You would never know it, as we were making our way along some city streets to the bike lane of San Tomas Expressway, usually one of the busiest thoroughfares for commuters going to and from work were it not for the coronavirus pandemic. The traffic, if you want to call it that was so light at around 11 AM that you could almost ride across the lanes to the opposite side unscathed. Bill and I rode a few miles before accessing the eight miles long protected integrated trail system to enjoy nature in an otherwise urban environment. Thanks to The Santa Clara Valley Water District in partnership with municipalities, the County and other organizations that provide public access along streams, riverbanks, corridors which are some of the few remaining natural resources in Santa Clara County.
Runners, hikers, couples, parents and their kids riding their bikes were out enjoying the splendor of this sweet, sunny, Spring day, all respecting physical distancing guidelines. We rode under pedestrian brides under freeways with concrete murals of nature. We passed egrets and herons in their natural habitat. Though we were in no hurry, we finally made it to the vacant Levi’s Stadium with Great America amusement park on one side and the Santa Clara Youth Soccer Park on the other that sat empty as well. Outside of a jogger, and a couple of locals, Bill and I had the iconic stadium grounds all to ourselves. I will let the photos speak for themselves.
To think that had the 49ers not lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs who overcame a 10-point lead, when tens of thousands of fans who would have gathered in San Francisco for a celebratory parade right when the coronavirus was beginning to spread is too much to contemplate. As the 49ners were blowing their lead, a group of Bay Area doctors was too busy worrying about the football game as they tended to the region’s first case of coronavirus. The disappointing loss was a blessing in disguise.
Bill and I retraced our path back home to complete our near 25-mile adventure, with our endorphins running high with a full appreciation for living in a state with such wide-open space to bike ride without violating Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “safer at home” order.

Capturing A Beautiful Sunset Today to Recharge and Recover and Affirm our Place in the Universe

“When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.”
—Mahatma Gandhi

“There is a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.”
—Jo Walton

Were it not for extending an invitation to Cecile to take our last walk of the day before the sun went down, we would have missed this burst of golden and greenish filtered rays that felt nothing less than a glimpse into the universe.
A sight like this affirms the primal connection of our human existence. It makes us realize our place in the solar system, something really needed these days when we are asked to shelter in place.

From poets and artists, scientists and ordinary humans like us, how can we not be mesmerized by the golden aura and charm of these precious natural occurrences. As I took these photos, I thought of Meister Eckhart, theologian, philosopher and mystic who once said: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." At the end of the day, we need a reminder that no matter what everything is going to be okay.

The Pope’s Easter Message & a Poem about Light, Love, Healing During this Difficult Time

“With all your science can you tell me how it is, and whence it is, that light comes into the soul?”
—Henry David Thoreau

Inside the Basilica, as Italy continues a nationwide shutdown, Pope Francis' Easter Message challenged the city of Rome and the world-at-large to spread the “contagion” of hope guided by a victory of love that is transmitted “from heart to heart.” This victory doesn’t make “problems vanish,” or “by-pass suffering and death, but passes through them, opening a path in the abyss, transforming,” the darkness affecting so many as a result of the coronavirus that has overwhelmed us—into light.

I offer the following poem by Jan Richardson, an artist and ordained minister in the United Methodist Church called "How The Light Comes" that appears in Roger Housden book: “Ten Poems for Difficult Times.” 

I cannot tell you how the light comes.
What I know is that it is more ancient than imagining..
That it travels across an astounding expanse to reach us.
That it loves searching out what is hidden, what is lost,
What is forgotten or in peril or in pain.
That it has a fondness for the body,
For finding its way toward the flesh,
For tracing the edges of form,
For shining forth, through the eye, the hand, the heart.
I cannot tell you how the light comes, but it does, that it will.
That it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you,
Though it may seem long ages in coming or
Arrive in a shape you did not foresee.
And so may we this day turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes.
May we open more and open still the blessed light that comes.

Speaking about Richardson’s poem, Housden writes, “This poem reaches down so deeply into the essence
of spiritual reality that it lifts our gaze beyond any religious identity to what is always and ever present, always and
ever true, however difficult life may seem and how ever engulfed the world is in chaos. The light serves as a metaphor for consciousness, which illuminates everything and is neither inside nor outside but everywhere. It is at the heart of every religious tradition, and union with it is the goal of all mystical paths.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Postscript: The photo of the Easter bunny and Easter eggs were taken in front of our neighbor’s home on the lake. She said, “I did it for the kids, and for me too." Even in the midst of this crisis she has been able too stay in the light.

A Virtual Passover Celebration with my Wife’s Family Via Zoom

“There’s the rise of the Zoom seder or ‘zeder’ as people are calling it.”
—Stephanie Butnick, Tablet Magazine

“Passover affirms the great truth that liberty is the inalienable right of every human being.”—Morris Joseph

Cecile’s sister Sherry, an active member of the Jewish community in southern part of the country organized a family virtual seder on Zoom last evening for the second night of Passover. As a solitary Catholic in my Jewish household, I have come to respect and enjoy this holiday since my wife and I married in 1977. But a virtual seder was a first for most everybody. Eighteen family members and guests from South Carolina, Chicago, Michigan, California and Vietnam (Sherry’s son Brian) participated in the event. In normal times, when the world-at-large is not being threatened by a pandemic, Jews, extended families and welcomed guests gather around the table for a traditional seder and tell the story of Moses leading the Hebrews Exodus out of slavery from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is a timeless tale of liberation. Passover 2020 is very different.

Jews penchant for survival is demonstrated by the fact that they have celebrated seders during the plague, the inquisition, and the Holocaust. This marks the first time in Jewish history that the table is set with candles, wine, seder plate, matzah, the prophet Elija’s cup, and a laptop computer to see everyone in gallery view. The Passover seder which takes place in the Hebrew month of Nisan, is a time of miracles. 

It is quite the paradox when you think about it. Here you have Passover, a cherished Jewish holiday that commemorates the journey from the bitterness of slavery to the sweetness of freedom with the backdrop of the plague of COVID-19 that is keeping people physically separated and isolated are being brought together through the miracle of technology.

In a recent issue of Forbes Magazine, the Dining Section, Aly Walansky acknowledged there’s no denying this year’s seder nights will be different from all other nights, but it can still be very special and important. Quoting Rebecca Schoffer, 92Y Director of Jewish Family Engagement: “The very essence of Passover, when the Israelites were fleeing Egypt, they did not have time to let their dough rise, which is why we eat Matzah (a flat, humble cracker-like version of bread)…Similarly, we may not have all of our usual comforts this year, but we will manage and be grateful for whatever we do have. Passover is not about tangible items on your Seder plate, it’s about resilience, memory and hope.”

When Sherry went around the virtual table and asked what everyone was grateful for, the central theme echoed what Schoffer said, “Be grateful for whatever you have.” She also added: “What’s important is that we still find cause to celebrate, reflect, and count our blessings, even amidst these trying times. That’s what Passover is about.”

As Cecile and I saw the images on the screen of all the people we love and all of whom love us including our granddaughter Lyla, smiling and waiving to everybody, we realized in that moment all was good in the world.

Postscript: The yarhzeit candle is in memory of Cecile’s and her sibling's Bubbe’s passing when they were young.
Photo credit: Matzah plate by Getty Images

Adapting to The New Normal: Safer Food Gathering Including the Local Farmers’ Market

"There are all kinds of emergencies out there we can prepare for. Take a zombie apocalypse for example. That’s right I said z-o-m-b-i-e-a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e. You may laugh now, but when it happens you’ll be happy you read this, and hey, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two about how to prepare for a real emergency.”
-Ali S. Khan, Posted on May 16, 2011, on CDC website

The words above posted on the CDC and Prevention website in 2011 turned out to be prophetic. In movies, plays and in sci-fi books, zombies are portrayed as being created by an infectious virus, which is passed on by bites and contact with bodily fluids. Even though we don’t have the coronavirus, in so far as we know, we feel like zombies to some degree walking around trying to adapt to the new normal. It’s a whole new world out there and like everyone else we are learning a thing or two and are grateful to all the first responders, medical professionals, epidemiologists and our leaders who are attempting to help us navigate our way out of this crisis. Cecile and I are also grateful to Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Safeway, to name a few who have joined the number of retailers offering special senior-only shopping hours during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Focusing on our Trader Joes' experience the other day, they were so well organized, created an extra line outside its front door to provide customers with a quicker entrance and abiding by the six-foot physical distancing guidelines inside and out. Most everyone including ourselves wore masks and Cecile wore rubber gloves. The last time we wore medical gear like this was when Cecile used to assist me in performing foot surgery at our clinic in San Jose. 

When we made it to the front of the line we were greeted warmly by a young woman clad in a camouflage outfit, a mask and hands covered with latex gloves. She sprayed the upper part of grocery cart as well as our open hands with a disinfectant solution. 

After helping Cecile off load the bags of groceries on the garage counter top for a disinfectant scrub, I headed to the Saratoga Farmer’s market which I had been avoiding of late, due to expected crowds. I was planning to quickly purchase a half-gallon of fresh squeezed orange juice and leave. But to my surprise, for the most part everyone was honoring the six-foot social distancing guidelines as well, which I never thought was possible. They were wearing masks and many were wearing gloves including the merchants. For obvious reasons they did away with the usual sampling of fruits and food. Recalling crowds of panicked shoppers at grocery stores in recent weeks, the open-air markets appear to minimize the risk of exposure. Everyone was calm and courteous. But the festival-like atmosphere of pre epidemic times including live bands was clearly missed.

I discovered that merchants were getting a lot of people who didn’t typically shop at farmers markets or haven’t been in a long time, but were showing up due to the shortage of food in grocery stores. But the truth is that many farmers are doing a brisk business during the COVID-19 pandemic as their wholesale business selling to restaurants has come to a halt and they are as grateful as the customers who come to patronize them.

I purchased the half-gallon of fresh orange juice from one of our favorite merchants, Ferry Farms. I also purchased breakfast burritos from El Tio Santos, another favorite merchant and lastly a rotisserie chicken. I was impressed that the latter didn’t accept cash during the pandemic and instructed me to place my credit card in a Square Point of Sale Reader.

I returned home, going through the ritual of washing my hands with disinfectant soap for 20 seconds, cleaned off the packages the food and drink were contained in, and Cecile, our son Jason who has been working from home visited and joined us for lunch while his dog Daisy looked on thinking hey what about me?

Self Care Biking for My Physical and Mental Health During this Age of Coronavirus: Using Two Wheels to Ease the Uncertainty

“It’s fine to ride your bike for exercise, as long as you maintain a distance of at least six feet…"
—San Francisco Mayor London Breed, SFGATE

“The steady rhythm of thousands of pedal strokes during a ride bring a sense of normalcy to an uncertain and chaotic world.” —Scott Mercier

During Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Covid-19 March 29th Update he said: "This time in our lives is disorienting, frightening and disturbing and has turned everyone upside down, but urged people to find things to smile about and to make others smile. You do the best you can…find a way to create some joy..." Amen to that.
So why biking at this time. The coronavirus paradox of a bike is that it simultaneously gets you out of doors, in touch with fresh air and nature and almost always allows you to stake out six feet of distance from other riders.

Most doctors agree that biking Improves cardiovascular fitness, reduces body fat, builds strength, improves circulation and reduces the risk of developing diabetes and cancer. I ride—and I know my riding companions Jimi Hunter and Bill Rothenberg seen in the photos will agree—because it makes us feel happy. How you feel about yourself, your life and the world around you, especially at this most challenging time is just as important as your physical health. 

An American Psychiatric Association poll 36% of Americans reported that the pandemic has had a serious impact on their mental health. Mental health officials believe that physical activity such as biking can be as effective as medication and counseling in overcoming and even preventing anxiety and depression. An hour of biking can improve your mood and well being. It is a great adjunct to relaxation and mindfulness practices such as deep breathing, yoga at home, and meditation to bring you back into a state of equilibrium. To be able to travel about purely through the pedaling action of your own two feet with an added electric assist for steep hills is an indescribable cathartic experience. 

Most of these photos were taken at the Vasona Lake and Reservoir, various neighborhoods in Los Gatos and Saratoga, the creek trails, the top of Overlook Drive with a magnificent view of Santa Clara County, and in front of the 19th and 20th-century Mediterranean Revival, Italian-Style Mansion nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This was the former estate of James D. Phelen, the three-term mayor of San Francisco who would go on to become California’s popularly elected US Senator. From there it was a harrowing ride downhill from the estate into downtown Los Gatos, before heading home to complete our exhilarating 20 mile excursion. 

Postscript: These were taken during two different timelines this past week, one with my friend Bill and the other with Bill and Jimi who led the way to the top of Overlook Drive.

Feet on the Pedals & our Heads in the Clouds While Enjoying the Majesty of Nature

"When the world is running down, you make the best of what's still around."
—Sting

“I don’t want to close big, beautiful open spaces—not when we’re encouraging people to go outside with intention and purpose,” California Governor Gavin Newsom told The Mercury News with respect to exceptions to the STAY AT HOME order during the coronavirus pandemic.

Before heading out for my weekly bike ride yesterday, Cecile and I went for our usual morning walk on the nature trails where we live. Like most mornings we were serenaded by a symphony of birdsong which broke through our still sleepy awareness. The chorus of largely unseen birds hidden in the trees struck a reassuring note within us that in spite of the coronavirus, our ecosystem continues to flourish and renew itself. 

My biking companion Bill and I rode adjacent to a long expanse of railroad tracks as we headed for a road that would lead us to a 900-foot hilltop of open hay fields In the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve offering sweeping views of Santa Clara Valley. The dark storm clouds of recent days were now replaced by puffy cumulus clouds. Though I was yearning for sunny blues skies, I have lived long enough to know that life would be boring if we only had clear blue skies and sunshine all day. Clouds to me are the magic show of nature. They are continually moving and disappearing in a slow-motion and seemingly mindful way. We were blessed with beautiful vistas of puffy, rounded blobs of cumulus fair-weather clouds hovering over the mountain slopes.

Just about any off-pavement riding will reward you with fresh air, and great exercise. But, we are fortunate to have easy access to the Santa Cruz mountains which offer the exhilaration of scenic views and long downhill stretches. While I love pavement riding, the variable terrain of mountain trails that include rocks, roots, and ruts makes it even more fun.

We decided to take care of business from our last trip in this area and set off on a trail to Garrod Farms Riding Stables
where Cecile used to take the kids for horseriding lessons when they were young. It was also the place that I used to do Plein air watercolor painting with the Saratoga Community of Painters. The late Jan Garrod was one of our members. One favorite spot to paint was the 28-acre Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards just beyond the horse stables. We used to have our Christmas parties in the wine tasting room. On our way there we found ourselves on a narrow trail behind a woman riding her beautiful horse. We let her have the right of way so as not to startle the horse. She alerted us she was making a left turn and we turned right.

While biking itself, is one way of maintaining my fitness and mental health (along with lives streaming yoga, Qi Gong, and meditation), I also see the bike as a vehicle to access natural places of beauty and spaciousness to feed my secondary interest of photography and blogging.

In a recent memo, California State Senator, Jim Beall, whom I had the privilege to volunteer with to help clean up the debris on the Los Gatos Trails and Creek with other volunteers a couple of years ago recommended following the advice and orders of Governor Newsom and the Public Health Officer, related to self-care tips during this time: Taking care of our physical and mental health which includes regular exercise to help boost our immune system. Those permissible activities include: Walking, Running, Hiking and Biking.

Celebrating Our 43rd Wedding Anniversary & Remembering When I Contracted the Love Bug

“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” —George Sand

“Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.”
—Maya Angelou

Cecile and I met in 1972 at a party in Chicago neither of us planned to attend. She was with a blind date and I was on my own. And suddenly it happened, that funny little feeling I felt but couldn’t see. It was aptly described in a George Jones lyrics in the 60s: "Oh, that little teeny weeny thing they call the love bug" I never saw it coming, but my whole world began to slowly shift when we first met. It all started when our eyes met and we began talking and I felt my heart tug. It was that "little bitty teeny weeny thing they call the love bug".

I was in podiatric medical school, working part-time at a grocery supermarket called the A&P, and I wasn’t ready to commit. But, as time went on I realized I had already lost that battle when I got bit by the "teeny weeny thing they call the love bug. It really fooled me, hit me, really took me by surprise,” every time I heard your gentle caring voice and looked into your eyes.

We moved to California in 1975 and married in 1977. 
Our anniversary is a moment to remember, and one more year to celebrate. We have lived together for 48 years, learned together, grown together and raised
two wonderful children (Jason and Michelle) together who are living happy and productive lives and we were blessed with our beautiful granddaughter, Lyla. We have found our love has strengthened in the gentle hands of time. In that time we have shared each other’s burdens and shared each other’s joys. Cecile, our anniversary is a special reason to celebrate one more year of loving each other.

Together we have discovered that we are literally each other’s half. We have learned that every day we love, and
every day we forgive. As the late mythologist scholar, Joseph Campbell said, "Love and forgiveness are like the yin/yang symbol…Here I am, and here she is, and here we are.” Our lives are committed to the relationship. As we face a different kind of bug, named, coronavirus, I can’t think of anyone else I would rather "Shelter in Place" with.
Love,
Dennis

Bicycling in a Surreal COVID-19 World & Witnessing a Biking Accident on "Woz Way”

“Life is delicate, fragile, and short. There’s so much to learn and so much we’ll never know. Embrace the insanity.”
—Nitesh Ambuj

It was a beautiful brisk sunny morning for what turned out to be an over 20-mile bike ride. From where my friend and neighbor Bill Rothenberg and I live in Los Gatos, CA, one could see the snow-capped mountains overlooking the City of San Jose which was our destination. We took the scenic route: The Los Gatos Trails. There were more people walking their dogs, running, and biking like us, than usual. Given the surreal COVID-19 world we are living in, we knew that there would be little traffic. In actuality, the downtown area was like a ghost town. Most everything was closed or empty, even in San Pedro Square, San Jose Museum of Art, and the like. The only place open for lunch was in a seedy area and though we were hungry we resisted the temptation to order and eat on the outside empty patio and instead made do with a packaged Kind breakfast bar.

As long as you are not sick, taking a walk, going for a hike, running and biking appear to be on the safe-to-do-list of Karen Glanz, an epidemiology and nursing professor at the University of Pennsylvania and various County Public Health Departments around the country as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread. The caveat is as long as you avoid groups, and practice social distancing (six feet from each other) which helps to limit the spread of the virus. Getting outside as much as possible and engaging in regular physical activity along with getting enough sleep, keeping up with proper nutrition in times of stress are essential, basic, healthy practices that affect our wellbeing every day, the experts tell us.

As we were making our way home Bill and I came to “Woz Way,” named after the co-founder of Apple Computer. Ironically, Wozniak had recently claimed that he and his wife contracted the coronavirus on a trip to China in early January. He became the butt of a joke, as he claimed on CNN he and his wife were patient zero. She said it was her sinuses. Critics complained it he just wanted to steal some headlines.

As Bill and I crossed over Woz Way, and Park Avenue just before the on-ramp to 87 north, we witnessed a downed biker in the middle of the road. His wife or lady friend was rubbing his back attempting to comfort him. Bill actually saw him spin out of control and crash to the ground. He was breathing but appeared to be in shock. Bill called 911 and within 10 minutes with sirens running the paramedics arrived, placed a neck brace on the injured man and took the couple off to the nearest ER. Like us all, all this couple wanted was a respite from the COVID-19 pandemic news.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words or "Look Papa," it's an Elephant!

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.”
—Alex Haley

"It is as grandmothers that our mothers [and wives] come into the fullness of their grace.”
—Christopher Morley

We have all heard the phrase: “A picture is worth a thousand words,” meaning a picture or image may convey an idea more quickly and effectively than the written word. 
So when our grandaughter Lyla who stayed with us one weekend flipped a “flashcard,” of an elephant in front of the jade elephant I bought from a street sculptor
and had shipped from Agra, India—home of the Taj Mahal, in 1993—I was amused and duly impressed. This precious memory will forever be etched in my mind.
But, I can’t take the credit. It is my dearest wife Cecile (Nonnie), a former elementary school teacher from Chicago who has the patience of a saint, who uses flashcards with vibrant images to stimulate visual learning while babysitting Lyla who is now 15 months old, not to mention providing her with a growing library of children’s books chosen with love that absolutely tickles her fancy. While not speaking yet, Lyla knows how to make her voice and preferences known by finger-pointing, shaking her head no, or a soft martial arts type movement of her hand and wrist against yours, letting you know she prefers another book, and even making Mmmmm sounds to let you know she likes the taste of her food and can’t get enough of it, or it’s not coming quick enough. She lets us know when she wants to hold her own spoon and feed herself. Her palette has expanded to boiled cut up chicken, mango, carrots, squash, avocado, rice, pastina, and boy does she love her plain yogurt. She also likes to stand up and empty her overnight bag when she stays with us, one piece of clothing at a time onto the floor, then proceeds to try to put them on. I guess you can tell we are retired grandparents…actively retired that is:-)

The following images were taken at our home, our daughter Michelle and Kyle’s home, at Red Morton Community Park in Redwood City, Vasona Lake Park for Lyla's first carousel ride on the 100-year-old W.E. "Bill Mason" Carousel, on the red fire truck, and at Effie’s restaurant, our favorite place for brunch.

I remember as if it was just yesterday, after Lyla was born, and swaddled in a blanket of orange elephants, when someone said to me, as good as you feel now, it gets better,
and we are happy to report that it does.

Cherry Blossom Delight by Day & The Clouds Ablaze at Night Like Campfires in the Sky

The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the
cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short.”
—Homaro Cantu

"…Clouds descend the stairway of the sky to mingle with the mountain peaks. From copper canyons of the west
they steal the glowing embers of the dying sun, and scatter them in the blazing climax to light campfires in the sky.”
John Martin Scott, Vagabonds of the Sky

Cecile and I took a brisk walk on the walking trails near our home the other day. It was in the high forties. This is cold for us in Northern California. Nature is having a tug of war in terms of weather variants, ranging from 60 to 80 degrees by day and 40 to 50 by night.

Early Spring is trying so hard to replace the wintry air. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom along the path and outside my home office window. After a late afternoon yoga class, I drove home for dinner and saw a cluster of clouds
with a pink hue. I decided to drive to higher ground to witness the sunset, bursting with color like "campfires in the sky."

It is times like these that I turn to the poets for their whimsical interpretations. Here is an adaptation of a poem by Sk Abdul Aziz, simply entitled Clouds:

I sometimes stare at the clouds
They are so beautiful…aren’t they?
[Both} residents [and] rulers of the vast sky
Constantly traveling
They are various shapes and sizes
Some small patches
Some big formations
They sport different colors…
Decorating the blue sky
And giving it a different look
Every day when the sun rises and sets behind the clouds
The visual is simply breathtaking
I especially love it when the sun plays peekaboo with the clouds
Then at night, the moon peeps out from behind the clouds
And gives the night a whole new meaning
Of course, there are those days and nights when the clouds
Overpower the sun and the moon
One thing I envy about the clouds is that they seem to have so much time on their hands
Never in a hurry

Postscript: The bird between the tree trunks is a Grey Heron, a long-legged predatory bird the lake and grounds where we live

Enjoying a Multicultural Food Fest in Montecito: A Celebrity Paradise Under the Radar

“Love is the food of life, travel is dessert.”
—Anonymous

“It doesn’t matter where you are going, it’s who you have beside you.”
—Anonymous

On the way going and returning from our vacation in Palm Desert, Cecile and I spent two nights in Montecito which sits five miles from Santa Barbara and occupies the eastern portion of the coastal plain south of the Santa Ynes Mountains. The population of this little conclave is about ten thousand people. Among the celebrity elite, Oprah Winfrey is Montecito’s most famous resident. The media mogul owns a 42-acre estate, which she calls the Promised Land. She paid $50 million for it and it is now worth $90 million. Chic, yet somewhat under the radar, Montecito has a mellow vibe and low-key understated elegance. It boasts sun-drenched tranquil beaches and a stunning natural setting, reminiscent of the South of France and Northern Italy. 

We stayed at the Montecito Inn, which was built by Charlie Chaplin and investors back in the day, which has since gone through many renovations. Luckily, we had the pool all to ourselves. The Inn is located on Coast Village Road where a number of popular restaurants are within walking distance and offers a diverse number of places to shop (i.e., Johnny Was, etc.), art galleries, bakeries, and gourmet food shops.

We had breakfast and lunch at Renoud’s Patisserie & Bistro that is well known for its French pastries, croissants, cakes, tarts and more. Co-owner, Renaud Gonthier was trained in Europe, was a top pastry chef for the Ritz Carlton and has appeared on the Travel Channel and The Food Network's Emeril Live. For lunch, we had a fresh salad with a heart-shaped grilled cheese sandwich. This is where we met Papillion, a rescue dog who according to its owner, the lady in the red coat, is also the name of its breed. The toy dog of singular beauty was gentle, alert and seemed happy to meet us and put a smile on our face.

We had dinners at Los Arroyos (Spanish: meaning streams) and Tre Luna (Italian: meaning three moons).
At Los Arroyos, I had Maria’s Steak Enchiladas with salsa verde melted cheese, salsa fresh, mixed greens and radish with rice and beans and a bottle of Pacifico beer. Cecile had the California Salad with roasted corn, black beans, julienne carrots, cherry tomatoes, jicama, red onions, mango and avocado, and Cilantro caesar dressing. Aside from the delicious food, we were serenaded by two Latino singers and musicians with super chill relaxing Latin acoustic guitar songs by various recording artists.

At Tre Luna, we shared an Insalate Pomodoro e Rucola with tomatoes, arugula, artichokes, sweet onions, shaved parmesan, mustard vinaigrette, salad, a plate of Lasagne AL Ragu Di Agnello (lamb) and creamy béchamel sauce and, Risotto Lucca with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and roasted chicken. When we ate here last year comedienne, Carol Burnett and her husband were eating at the table behind us. The restaurant affixes miniature chairs on top of the molding just below the ceiling with the names of loyal return customers.

The morning before we left, we took a walk toward the end of Coastal Village Circle and entered the graffiti-filled underpass tunnel near the gas station onto Butterfly Lane, turned left, cross the railroad tracks (carefully) and revisited the famous Pig House on the left (see photos). The only difference was to the right a parked car was crushed by a downed eucalyptus tree. We continued several blocks to the ocean and walked along Channel Drive to view the multi-million dollar estates, their private gardens, and the million-dollar views before heading home to our humble townhome at Rinconada Hills. Home Sweet Home!

Enjoying the 24th Annual Palm Desert Greek Festival & a Whimsical Street Sculpture Exhibition on El Paseo

“Live every day as if it is a festival. Turn your life into a celebration.”
—Shri Radhe Maa

"Whimsical art is a vibrant and playful style of art that is childlike and carefree…this artwork lifts the sprit and makes you happy.”
—Thaneeya McArdle

Cecile and I were all in for a community celebration at the Palm Desert Greek Festival at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church. While we decided to drive a short distance from the Westin Villas, people were being shuttled in from thoughout the city in a yellow tram. We enjoyed the live Greek music performed by “The Greeks” a traditional Greek Bouzouki Band as traditional folk dancing demonstrations were on display. Attendees were encouraged to join in, learn the steps and “Be Greek for a day.” But the heart of the festival was the amazing, authentic, homemade Greek food created from family recipes handed down from generation to generation. Cecile and I shared four grilled lamb chops with a Greek salad and the famous Chicken Souvlaki with a skewer of chicken & vegetable kebobs, lemon juice, olive oil, Greek oregano, freshly made pita bread with Tzatziki yogurt sauce, feta cheese and Kalamata olives, tomatoes and cucumbers that satisfied our taste buds.

After lunch we walked a couple of blocks to El Paseo, Palm Desert’s world famous shopping mecca. Little did we know we were about to be entertained by new sculptures that marked the debut of the 2019/2020 Sculpture Exhibition already on display in the El Paseo median, including a fanciful red heart called “Stranded Heart”, a soaring butterfly, a comical visage of bigger than life eyeglasses and a big nose, and a wide variety of abstract pieces of the artist’s work that give free reign to stimulate the viewer’s imagination. Palm Desert’s Art in Public Places Commission selected 18 artworks among scores of artists from local Coachella Valley as well as from around the United States and Canada who submitted their work for consideration. A $5,000 honorarium was provided for each selected artwork by artists, galleries, museums/no-profit art organizations, and private collectors.

One may wonder do any of these sculptures sell. When I posed for Cecile in front of the giant nose and glasses I wondered the same thing. While I was entertained by it—put a mustache underneath the nose and you have a caricuture of Groucho Marx. I still have a plastic pair of the Groucho gag glasses that I used to entertain our kids with when they were young. Ron Simmer is the artist of what he calls the "Nose Knows,” and what's been reported is that he was embroiled in some controversy around the artistic integrity of the Nose, he quickly reminded the reporter that the “The Nose” is actually Nose 2, and that Nose 1, sold to a buyer in Twin Falls, Idaho, after being on tour to four different locations. Will Nose 2 sell like Nose 1. The jury is still out or to put it another way, nobody Nose😜

Visiting The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert for its' 50th Anniversary

“Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources…do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
–Theodore Roosevelt

Cecile and I are at the Westin Desert Willow Villas in Palm Desert kicking back, doing a little yoga, walking the trails, reading by the pool and enjoying the 80 degrees temperate climate at this welcoming retreat style setting just past Frank Sinatra Drive.
We decided to revisit The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens five miles away during its 50th anniversary golden jubilee. We fell in love with this animal and garden sanctuary three years ago. Fifty years ago a leading band of visionary conservationists set aside some land to develop The Living Desert Nature Trail. The gardens came first, then the animals and then the crowds. The first year they opened they had a few thousand people visit their nature trail park. Last year they had more than 500,000 guests visit their park. They have achieved some incredible milestones since their humble beginnings. They developed eagle canyon which created the setting for more large animals like mountain lions and bobcats to village Watufu that capped off the African section of the park and the giraffe habitat that has grown within the last year. So much about this place reminds me of my trips to East Africa, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.
There are so many exotic birds and animals, many of them I have photographed for this post. The most popular, accessible and beloved by children and adults alike are the giraffes. For seven dollars you get to feed these very social gentle giants. Some interesting trivia about giraffes. Their spots may look the same from a distance, but the truth is that every giraffe’s spots are different and unique. What looks like little horns on their head (they're not) are really temperature regulators. Like a martial artist, they can give off powerful kicks to each other. They have the longest tongues. They don’t require much sleep. They only sleep ten minutes to two hours daily. They have two speeds: fast and scary fast. Females like to go back to where they were
born to give birth. They have big hearts that weigh 25 lbs. Contrary to what you may think, giraffes do not rub 
necks out of affection. The necking they do is actually males testing who is stronger. They drink water with their front legs splayed out, making them easy prey, so in order to survive they have learned to adapt without drinking water for a couple of days, and satisfying their thirst from the water contained in leaves. 

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens was excited to report that all eleven critically endangered African wild dog puppies, born January 8, 2020, are healthy and thriving. The yet to be named puppies are the second litter for parents, Beatrix and Kiraka (ker-ah-kuhe). The pair’s first litter of six, born April 24, 2019, are eagerly awaiting their chance to meet the newest additions. All the puppies are healthy and absolutely adorable (see photo). Currently on the endangered species list, African wild dog populations number fewer than 5,000. Reason: decline due to human-wildlife conflict, habitat destruction and canine diseases, life distemper and rabies.

Kudos to the Living Desert who has taken on the important work of preserving, conserving and interpreting the desert and all its varied plant and animal life. The early pioneers foresaw the impact that resort development would have on their local desert ecosystem and residents and visitors alike have been the beneficiaries of their compassionate stewardship.
Photo credit: African wild dogs from Living Desert website

Biking Adventure to a Trio of Reservoirs Where the Pueblo & Ohlone Indians Used to Roam

"Be fluid. Be like water. Flow around the obstacles."
—Master Choa Kok Sui

Once again, I have to give “props” to my friend and neighbor, Bill Rothenberg, for recommending this biking route. Though the fat tires of my Sondor’s E-Bike allow me to tackle almost any terrain, this reservoir excursion Bill planned out for us is made to order for cyclists who like to keep their tires on level pavement. We drove to our starting point at Calero Reservoir in San Jose in Bill’s old Suburban. We logged more than 25 miles roundtrip around Calero, Uvas, and Chesbro reservoirs, where the Pueblo and Ohlone Indians used to roam for thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans. 

The Calero County Park was once part of the Pueblo lands of San Jose and Rancho San Vincente land grant. This 4,471-acre park is nestled in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The reservoir offers a host of water-oriented recreational activities, complete with its own boat launch. The adjoining “backcountry” contains California Oak woodland, chaparral, riparian plant communities, and wildlife habitats. During the months of March, April and May, the backcountry offers a spectacular display of wildflowers. The scenic 1,017-acre Uvas Park and reservoir is nestled below the Santa Cruz Mountains. it was once part of the 11,093 acres Rancho Las Uvas (meaning “Ranch of the grapes.”) The beautiful and scenic 232 acres Chesbro Reservoir County Park is named after a local doctor named Elmer J. Chesbro who was also president of the South Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation District. 

After snaking around Calero Reservoir and meandering alongside Uvas Road toward the Uvas Reservoir, we stopped along the moderately trafficked country roads making up this loop to visit and photograph some of the small farms and ranches including the Dini Mapes Ranch in Morgan Hill where three friendly horse gently trotted 20 feet to say hello. 

We passed the lush grounds Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, considered the best in Silicon Valley. We purposely skirted past Chesbro Reservoir and continued riding alongside Uvas Reservoir, stopping again for photos of a herd of cows. On the roundabout, we lowered our bikes under a closed iron bar that was blocking us from accessing the parking lot of the Uvas. Bill bumped into some county sheriffs and I was sure we were going to get fined. As it turned out the sheriffs had just pulled in themselves from another entry point to engage in diving practices. Besides spectacular views of the reservoirs, on which there were a few boaters and fishermen, we encountered a few people parked by the side of the road relaxing in their lounge chairs. We then doubled back to the road leading to the Chesbro Reservoir. Bill and I agreed that if we still had some energy left in us, we would complete the mission of visiting three reservoirs in one outing, which is what we did.

Aside from some impatient speed demons in their high powered pick-up trucks wanting to show us who's boss, and riding on sections of the road that had no bike lanes, it was a triumph to complete this bike road trip. The other challenge we had to overcome was riding up some steeper grade hills. But, these obstacles are also mixed blessings, giving cyclists like us a feeling of accomplishment as we approached the summit of a hill. Once we finally reached the top of the crest, overwhelmed with endorphins and excitement we were rewarded with a sense of freedom as we coasted downhill at 27 MPH. We made our way back to Calero Reservoir, packed up our gear and made our way to Happi House for lunch.

Valentine's Day Celebration at Portola Kitchen's Farm to Table Italian Cuisine

“Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged lightly.”
—MFK Fisher

In the last two years, Cecile and I have grown less cynical of eating out for Valentine’s Day. Back in the day, we grew tired of the overblown expectations, underwhelming prix fixe menus, and price gauging by restaurants on this Hallmark holiday, who spin love into gold for their coffers. The truth is, it is still possible to dine out well on Valentine’s Day without feeling the whole thing is a scam. It is better than laboring romantically over a hot stove and even better to dine out with friends whose company you enjoy. 

Those friends this year and last were Nelson and Susan Bye whom we have traveled with and have shared many a meal in diverse and notable restaurants in the Bay Area and on a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi awhile back. This year, my beloved wife Cecile recommended the restaurant: Portola Kitchen in the Ladera County Shopping Center in Portola Valley, minutes away from the hustle-bustle of Palo Alto. “Everyone says they’re farm-to-table, but we have a unique opportunity up here, being so close to the local purveyors,” Mike Wallau, once told a reporter from the Palo Alto Daily Post that also covers the mid-Peninsula area of Silicon Valley. 

The tone for the evening was set when the hostess gave Cecile and Susan a long stem red rose before we were all seated.
We began our gastronomic adventure with a housemade thin-crust pizza with imported mozzarella from Italy and layered slices of prosciutto. Nelson and I had enjoyed our favorite Belgian-style Allagash beer served in many Bay Area restaurants. 

For our entree’s Nelson and I had the Valentine’s Day special, a mouth-watering filet mignon with mashed potatoes and broccolini. Cecile had an over the top freshly made Gnocchi with gorgonzola cheese and beets. Susan ordered a delectable dish of lasagne. 
The dinner was paired with a bottle of vintage and rather pricey Amarone Della Valpolicella red wine that Nelson and Susan were nice enough to bring from their wine collection. We had a friendly and engaging waiter named Ernesto. Nelson offered Ernesto who was familiar with wine to enjoy a glass and gave him the rest of the bottle. 

To cap offer the evening we shared two orders of the mixed berry crisp dessert with a chocolate heart flourish on top. Perfecto! During dinner one of Susan’s sons whom we knew as a young boy, his wife and children who happened to be eating at a sushi restaurant in the same center stopped by to say hello. You gotta love those synchronicities in life.

So impressed with Nelson’s charm offensive, when the bill arrived we discovered our waiter, Ernesto, waved the $25 corkage fee for the Amarone wine. As they say kindness breeds kindness. Thank you, Ernesto, and thank you, Nelson and Susan, for joining us for a wonderful evening.

Buon Appetitto and Happy Valentine’s Day to all the lovers out there however you chose to celebrate!
May you be safe. 
May you be happy.
May you be healthy.
May you be at peace.

Happy Valentine's Day to our Granddaughter Lyla Isabella Lewis

Ode to Lyla on Valentine's Day😍

Our little valentine
Sweet little valentine
Your angelic smile melts
our heart.
So cute and so laughable 
So photographable
You’re our favorite work of art.
We’re so in love with you 
Can’t wait to play with you
Nothing in this world can keep us apart.

Dearest Lyla, we love you unconditionally. We love you because you’re a gift—a living miracle, and, an act of grace.
Our LOVE for you is sooooooo... BIG, 
Nonnie Cecile, and Papa Dennis💓💓💓

The Tough Ascent: Biking Uphill To Guadelupe Reservoir & Lunch at House of Pho

"Keep challenging yourself, challenges keep you alive."
—Anurag Srivastava

This was the most challenging climb for Bill Rottenberg and me as we biked toward Mount Umunhum (Ohlone, meaning resting place of the hummingbird) which is four miles to the top and the fourth-highest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The keyword here is “toward.” We only made it halfway or two miles up the steep hill to Guadelupe Reservoir which is five miles south of San Jose, CA., along Hicks road on Guadalupe Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe River. The Guadalupe River was named after Rio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (River of our Lady of Guadalupe) on March 30, 1776, by the Anza expedition, in honor of the Mexican Saint who was the patron saint of the expedition. The Guadalupe dam and reservoir were constructed in 1935.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe and La Morenita (The Brown Lady), a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is a venerated image enshrined within the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. It is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world and the world’s third most-visited sacred site. It has special significance to me since I had purchased a three-foot tall hand-carved wooden statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe for my parents when my late dad and I took an Amtrak train from NJ to our namesake city, St. Augustine, Fla. (See Photo of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tepeyac Hill, Mexico City).

At the halfway point, we made a U-turn off Mount Umunhum Trail and made a few stops to stretch. I couldn’t resist doing some yoga poses (triangle pose and Squat pose) on top of some pink and cream-colored boulders. I took some photos of about 20 pairs of sneakers some people flung over the wires above us that spanned the width of the paved trail, a creek bed and when we made our way down, up and back Shannon & Kennedy Roads, some lush greenery, vineyards, deer, and an elegant chateau. 

After our 15-mile ride was completed we loaded our bikes on the bike rack and went to the House of Pho for lunch and headed home. Along the way, we spotted a cool guy driving an Ecurie Ecosse (French: “Scotland Stable”) sports car with the number 19 painted on it. Ecurie Ecosse (photo) was a motor racing team from Edinburgh, Scotland. The team was founded in November 1951 by Edinburgh businessman and racing driver David Murray and mechanic Wilkie Wilkinson. The team raced three Formula One races. Boy, would I like to have had a beer with the distinguished-looking driver who looked so contented in his rare, sleek, automotive pride, and joy.

A Reunion Brunch with our Children's Former Nanny from the Philippine Islands

Our world was made different back in the day because this nanny played an important part in our lives and the lives of our children.

Cecile prepared a wonderful brunch recently for Michelle and Jason’s former Filipina nanny, Norlita (Lita for short). It was more of a reunion of sorts. Lita, was a live-in nanny who helped care for Jason when he was six and Michelle was just over one year old, the same age as our granddaughter, Lyla. Since Michelle hadn’t seen Lita since her college years and hadn’t met Lyla and Kyle, we decided to have this nostalgic get together. Regrettably, Jason was on a business cruise with his co-workers in the Bahamas. I know, I know, poor guy, but someone has to help keep the economy going,🙂 and while he was gone we got to dog-sit our beloved Daisy 💓 who was regally lounging on our sofa (photo).

Cecile's bill of fare was: a fresh fruit bowl, cured salmon (lox), red and green tomatoes, red onions with bagels and cream cheese, mini sausages and cheese blintzes (their Yiddish name), which are of Hungarian origin and similar to a crepe. There is a big difference between a babysitter and a nanny. A babysitter is someone you hire for a few hours so you can enjoy a date night out with your spouse. They are usually the daughter of a neighbor or friend. Lita was not a babysitter. She was a real, true blue, responsible, compassionate nanny with a heart full of love for our growing family, and we had a heart full of love for her, and still do.

When I was cutting back on my work hours as a podiatrist, and Michelle was a young girl, I grew to appreciate what it took for Cecile to manage a big household, care for two young kids, still cook most of the meals, and work limited hours at home doing the books for our foot clinic. Lita was a blessing. She helped pick up the slack. For the five years she worked for us, we treated her like a member of our extended family. We took her on vacation with us, we paid for her driving lessons, donated clothing each year to send back to her large family in the Philippines, were at her side when she proudly became a U.S. citizen and were at the courthouse when she got married.

Lita liked to be called Yaya, which in Tagalong—the language of central Luzon in the Philippine islands where she is from—means nursemaid, caregiver, and/or nanny. But to us, she was far more than that. She was and is a dear friend. As the years flew by, we would see her from time to time when she could break away from her long hours working as a health care aide at Good Samaritan Hospital. We would invite her over like we did this day. No matter how busy she was, she would always bring my favorite home-cooked thinly cut steak with sauteed peppers and onions marinated in lemon juice with a large helping of rice. This day was no different. Thank you, Lita, for your goodness, for being a great co-caregiver to our kids and for the invitation to visit you in Manilla someday, now that you are retired. We just may take you up-on it.🙂