A 27-Mile Bike Ride Across the Iconic San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge & Other Magnificent Sites

“If you Love life, don’t waste time. For time is what Life is made of.”—Bruce Lee

Bill and I met friends Jimi Hunter and his wife Jennifer at the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant in San Francisco at around 11 AM yesterday, parked the cars, and offloaded our bikes. We began our exciting adventure riding past the Cliff House near the Sutro Baths just north of Ocean Beach to the paved Golden Gate Bike Trail. Biking across Golden Gate Bridge is a great way to get an up-close and personal experience with one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. This exhilarating ride also offers a birds-eye view of the beautiful bay, Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and the San Francisco City skyline. Though it can be windy and foggy, we had sun and blue skies all day long.

On the return back across the Golden Gate Bridge, we rode through the Presidio, China Beach (tucked in between Lands end and Baker Beach), and historical Fort Point (see video) offering one of the most spectacular views of the bridge. The old Civil War fort sits right under the southern end of the bridge. The Presidio has dramatic ocean overlooks, hills, historic forts, and beautiful natural ecosystems unique to the area. We visited the Jedi Master Yoda Fountain at the headquarters of LucasFilms in the Presidio Park and R2D2 in the lobby. We continued our ride to the Wave Organ, a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty that forms the small Boat Harbor in the Marina District. The sculpture is known to offer “liquid music” made up of hisses and gurgling notes that ebbs and flows during the changing of the tides and restless movement of the Pacific Ocean.

At about 2:20 PM we rode through Haight-Ashbury, the famous 60s hippie hangout and former home of the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and more. You know when you hit Haight Ashbury when you inhale a whiff of pot and incense, and see very colorful eateries, murals, and people. At the recommendation of Jimi and Jennifer, we at VeganBurg, home of award-winning Vegan Burgers that are 100% plant-based. Out of eleven to choose from I enjoyed a mouth-watering crispy Avocado Beetroot with fresh avocado, beetroot, lettuce, Aussie onion, and creole tomato on a soft artisan whole wheat bun with a side of fries sprinkled with seaweed flakes. The manager was kind enough to let us park our bikes at the back right end of the restaurant.

On the way back to the Beach Chalet Brewery where the cars were parked, we road through Golden Gate State Park, passing Stowe's Lake, and pausing at the Botanical Gardens. We stopped for photos of the parks’ Peacock Meadow special exhibit of lights that will run through March 5, 2022. White during the day, and a burst of color at night, the exhibit designed by SF artist, Charles Gadeken is called "Entwined." We also stopped at the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, which is an extravagant neoclassical icon which features a classical Roman rotunda and curved colonnades in an idyllic park setting on land belonging to the Presidio. Bill and I clocked 27-miles on our Strava app and made it home traffic free at 4:30 PM.

Captured this Prehistoric Looking Grey Heron Near our Townhome at Rinconada Hills Lake

"Stand tall, stand proud. Know that you are unique and magnificent. You do not need the approval oof others."

—Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Cecile and I were walking along Rinconada Hills Lake while strolling our granddaughter Emmy, and suddenly we hear the loud voice

of a friend from across the lake, calling our attention to a Grey Heron standing as still as a statue on a rock patiently waiting for its’ next meal. I slowly walked towards it, taking serial photos as I advanced. The heron is an easily recognized, grey-backed bird, with long black legs, bright yellow bill, and a black eyestripe that continues as long, drooping feathers down its’ long white neck. They make quite a fashion statement. Herons nest in colonies called 'Heronries,’ often seen in the top of trees, where they make their large, ungainly nests out of twigs and lay 3-4 eggs. The young will fledge from the nest after about one and half months. If you spot one enjoy it while you can as it’s average lifespan is only 5 years.

These birds have always been the center of fashion. Sadly, in the early 1900’s, they were killed by the thousands so their flashy breeding plumes could adorn women’s hats. These plumes were quite the fashion statement of the day. Thanks to the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1916, that put a halt of the senseless slaughter of these and other migratory birds.

Heron Symbolism: Autonomy, persistence, peace, self-reliant, solitary, stability and resourceful. Whatever heron wants, heron gets.

Natural Bridges & Wilder Ranch State Parks & A Colorful Coastal Bluffs Mountain Bike Ride in Santa Cruz

“You are one bike ride away from a good mood [and a great day].”

—Sarah Bentley

Someone one once told me if you smile when you see a butterfly, you have happiness in your soul.

It has been a long stretch since Bill and I had been to Santa Cruz. Our first stop after off-loading our bikes was a ride to the Monarch Butterfly Nature Preserve at Natural Bridges State Beach. We walked our bikes down the boardwalk ramp before it winds into a tree-filled canyon where thousands of monarch butterflies seek sanctuary along the branches of eucalyptus trees. We found ourselves in a community of others including an adorable young girl with her mother wearing a monarch butterfly cape. We also spotted a large owl sleeping on a tree limb. We continued our ride to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center located at UC Santa Cruz to see the outdoor Gray whale skeletan exhibit (photo), and circled back to hook up on a dirt trail to Wilder Ranch State Park north of Santa Cruz. After going through some brushy areas and agricultural fields, we came to the beginning of a series of some magnificent coastal bluffs with awesome ocean views heading north towards Bonny Dune. We saw pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, harbor seals, and sea lions lounging on the rocks and beach for about 10 miles round trip out of our 18-mile journey. Except for a few couples, friends, and families hiking and a few bicyclists on the trail, we had this mixed mellow terrain all to ourselves. Upon our return we I met a horse named Bo taking a stroll with its' handler, and then made our way to Steamer Lane for a late outdoor lunch. While we waited for our order, we went to see another monarch butterfly refuge in eucalyptus trees in the back of Steamer Lane located in Lighthouse Field across from the surfing museum. I’ll let the photos and short video clips of the ocean crashing into the bluffs tell the rest of the story.

Farewell to the Celebrated Vietnamese Zen Master Who Helped Pioneer the Mindfulness Movement in the West & My Encounter with Communist Rule

"One of the most influential spiritual leaders of our times.”

—Oprah Winfrey

Thich Nhat Hanh, whom I've ways considered one of my teachers, was a revered Zen master, peace activist, author, poet, and founder of the Plum Village Monastery in Southern France. "Thay," as he was often called which means teacher in Vietnamese, who helped pioneer the Mindfulness movement in the West passed away peacefully at his villa on the grounds of the 19th century Tu Hien Pagoda (temple) in Hue, Vietnam. Born Nguyen Xuan Bao, the ailing monk who was exiled in the 60s for opposing the Vietnam War had a stroke that in 2014, that left him speechless. At the time, it was believed he wouldn’t survive. But on October 28, 2018, he returned to Vietnam to live in a room with sparse essential furnishings in the very temple where he took his vows at the age of 16. Framed above his head in his own brushstroke were the words tro ve, meaning “returning.” In 1961, he went to the United States to study, and later taught comparative religion for a time at Princeton and Columbia universities. His reputation grew among the hippies of my generation who set his antiwar poetry to music. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., referring to him as “this gentle monk from Vietnam.”

Nhat Hanh taught a simple form of meditation and mindfulness that was approachable to those interested in peace and tranquility. He published over 70 books, many that have passed through my home library over the years. He told anyone who would listen that you didn’t have to spend years on a mountain top to benefit from meditation. He also taught his students and readers how to live mindfully, focusing on being in the present moment. This was appealing to Westerners who were seeking spirituality without the trappings of organized religion of their youth.

That being said, he had his detractors. His highly publicized visits enraged other Vietnamese exiles when he toured the country in 2005 and 2008, and held well-attended services, giving the impression that the ruling Communist Party permitted freedom of worship. I can tell you from personal experience following a tour of North and South Vietnam with my son Jason in 2004 that religious freedom is heavily curtailed in Vietnam, and the official Buddhist Church of Vietnam is controlled by the state (VBC). This surprise revelation occurred to me following my visit to the Venerable Thich Vien Dinh, who was under house arrest at his Pagoda outside Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). His only crime was that he belonged to the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) and not the Vietnamese Buddhist Church (VBC) under control by the Communist Party. I discovered that there was a mole in the Pagoda reporting to the communists, and whatever photos I took and sent back were confiscated. The authorities also inquired how much money I donated to the pagoda. As of 2017, Dinh’s brother Truman Nhu, a real estate agent in

San Jose and friend who left Vietnam in 1984, informed me that through peaceful resistance and sheer political will, that his serene brother Vien Dihn who he hasn’t seen in 35 years is still a leader of the UBCV. While still under house arrest, he was living peacefully in a 800 year old countryside pagoda in Binh Dihn Province.

Postscript: Thich Nhat Hanh liked to use the lotus flower as a metaphor for life. It reminds us that like the lotus, in order to reach our potential, we have the power to rise above the murky, muddy water-which represents life’s challenges-to bloom into a thing of beauty ("No Mud, No Lotus)

Bike Ride To Best Artisan Empanadas (BAE): Multicultural Delights to Die For

“If you were Columbian, you would have your own version of an empanada…and then in Ecuador, you’ll find more crispy-fried empanadas, so yeah, every culture has there own version of empanadas.”

—Jose Garces, Ecuadorian American Chef

I received a text recently from my biking buddy Bill that read, “I’ve got a new lunch place in Campbell. Ride there 11:30 or 12 PM.” What followed the invitation was a preview of what Best Artisan Empanadas (BAE) had to offer, and it looked promising.

When we arrived there, it was the perfect set up: Outdoor seating to keep an eye on our bikes and a mouth-watering menu of sweet and savory offerings. It was a gem of a place.

Bill enjoyed a Panzerotto, a turnover that originated in Central and Southern Italy, with mozzarella cheese, sausage, pepperoni, and tangy

marinara sauce with a salad; and, I ordered a Spicy Thai empanada with diced chicken breast, carrots, sweet baby corn, pease and bell peppers in a pleasant coconut-infused yellow curry. It was delish.

Best Artisan Empanadas wants you to know that it was born from the aspiration of bringing people together through empanadas.

We were happy to discover that they use wholesome and fresh ingredients and are cooked and baked at their location in Campbell everyday.

What we especially liked was their dough stems from Peruvian style pastry, and their recipes are inspired by the diversity of cultures,

including Mexican, Greek, Italian, Greek and Southeast Asian. They also serve artisan pastries and sweets, breakfast empanadas, pizza, calzones, and salads. Finally, they have partnered with two local roasters that offer its’ customers the highest quality of coffee and quality crafted espresso drinks, They also offer beers, cocktails and preferred styles of wines to complement their empanadas, frappes, ice drinks, smoothies and milkshakes.

I was so happy with my Thai empanada, I bought some to take home to share with the family.

For my New Jersey Friends, check out the highly recommended Empanada Guy, Carlos Serrano, who was raised in Newark who began his empanada business in the garage of his home and now has five food trucks and a restaurant to boot.

Recalling Our Visit to the National Civil Rights Museum In Memphis While Observing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

“The quality, not longevity of one’s life is what is important.”

—Martin Luther King Jr.

I was only 13 when Dr. Martin Luther 'King Jr.' gave his historic “I have a dream” speech in 1963. The struggles of the civil rights movement during the 60s were hard to digest as a young boy. I remember being moved by his inspiring and passionate oratory skills and non-violent protests. During a riverboat cruise in the spring of 2018, with a final stop in Memphis, Cecile and I, and our friends, Nelson and Susan Bye spent an emotional morning visiting the National Civil Rights Museum. 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. It looks much like it did on April 4, 1968, when James Earl Ray fired the fatal round from the boarding-house window next to the Young and Morrow Building directly across from Mulberry Street. A funeral wreath of red and white carnations hangs on the railing outside room 306, making it a symbol of the civil rights movement and becoming the first Civil Rights Museum in 1991. In its’ day, the Lorraine Hotel hosted such entertainers as Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, and B.B. King. The vintage cars in the parking lot represent the vehicles parked at the Lorraine Motel when Dr. King was killed. While musicians were welcomed to perform. Though his birthday actually falls on January 15, it is officially observed on the third Monday in January which is January 17.

I chose the following poem which in my view best remembers, honors, and celebrates the life of one of the greatest Civil Rights leaders of

our time.

Standing Tall

—by Jamie Mckenzie

Some kings rule their kingdoms sitting down

Surrounded by luxury, soft cushions and fans

But this King stood strong, stood proudly, stood tall

When the driver told Rosa “Move to the back of the bus!”

When the waiter told students “We don’t serve your kind!”

When the Mayor told voters “Your vote don’t count!…” And,

When the sheriff told marchers “Get off the streets!”

Using fire hoses, police dogs, and cattle prods to move them along

The King stood strong, stood tall, speaking of peace, of love,

Children hand-in-hand, as he yelled free at last, free at last.

When some yelled for violence

For angry revenge

An eye for an eye

And a tooth for a tooth

He stood his ground

Preaching peace

And when some spit out hate

He stood there smiling

Spreading love…breaking down the walls

Ringing the bell joyfully for Freedom

While standing on the mountain top

They shot him coldly

Hoping to see him fall

Hoping to put him away

To bring him low.

But this King

Even in death

Even today

Stands strong, stands proudly

Stands tall

And we remember

[This is a modified excerpt taken from Mckenzie's original poem]

Bicycling the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve & Across the New Bike Overpass Once called a "Mythical Bridge.”

“The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.”

—Zeno

My friend Bill Rothenberg and I rode out to Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, with the intention of riding across the new 1,400 foot long,12-foot-wide bridge that crosses over US Highway 101 that Bill had been reading about. The new pedestrian and bike bridge that cost $23.1 million to build replaces the Benjamin Lefkowitz underpass that was built in 1989, which was only open an average of six months a year due to seasonal flooding. Once called the “Mythical Bridge” because of long bureaucratic delays, the new bridge finally opened in Palo Alto on November 20, 2021. It will provide Palo Alto with year-round access to the Baylands, the Adobe Reach Trail and other outdoor amenities. The new bridge was rededicated to Lefkowitz, a native of Brooklyn, New York who advocated the cause for bicycle safety and access in Palo Alto.

To get to Baylands Nature Preserve, we parked at Shoreline Lake. The Preserve, that begins beyond the perimeter of the lake and near the South Bay is the largest tract of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. An amazing fifteen miles of multi-use trails provides mixture of tidal and fresh water habitats. Additionally, the Preserve encompasses 1,940 acres in both Palo Alto and East Palo Alto. It is an important habitat for migratory shorebirds and is considered one of the best birdwatching spots on the West Coast.

After riding the rutted and bumpy little sand dunes close to the water’s edge, Bill and I circled the commuter Palo Alto airport, watching private pilot owners, the titans of Silicon Valley tech companies, and private equity executive being flying in and out. We also passed a large golf course, and stopped to revisit and pay homage to the abstract bike sculpture by artist James Moore, called “Bliss in the Moment.” This shrine commemorates renowned Bay Area cyclist William Bliss and his work on the San Francisco Bay Trail and bicycle safety issues. Shortly beyond this point we made our way across the new bridge.

When we completed our ride, we headed back over the new bridge, toward Shoreline's Bistro Cafe. I commented to Bill, that we didn’t see many birds close-up like we usually do. But, many of our bike rides to the Baylands usually brought with it, some unexpected surprise. Suddenly, as if I was granted a wish by the universe, as we approached the boat rental dock, there appeared an amalgamation of birds rarely seen together in this spot (see video clip). There were American coots, shore birds, bright white Egrets lining the shore like sentries at the gate, squawking seagulls, and my favorite, the great white Pelicans. It was nature at its best and our bike ride felt more complete. When we got to the Bistro Cafe right on the lakefront, we placed our bikes to the side, and ordered lunch. Bill had fish and chips and I had a chicken fillet sandwich on sour dough with lettuce, caramelized onions, a feta salad on the side with pomegranate fruit, and taro chips on the side as a pesky, but interesting looking duck began begging for food. I offered a couple of taro chips and it went on to the next busier table.

Afterwards, we were still hungry for more—riding that is, and rode a few miles through the Permanente Creek Trail under pass tunnel and beyond, before returning to Shoreline to upload our bikes on Bill’s SUV for the ride home, feeling fulfilled, and appreciative for a pretty special day and all the city planners and visionaries who made this possible.

Our Granddaughter Emmy: The Incredible Lightness and Joy of Being Discovers the Beauty of a Camellia

"A child is a flower that grows in the garden of life. Some grow taller, some are different colors and some will change how the view the world. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful. Each one is unique. Each one is to be loved.”

—Dave Hedges

Most of these photos were taken yesterday with the exception of Emmy wearing her pink headband curiously examining the pink

camellia last November, that matched the flowery print pants she was wearing. We love the way our daughter Michelle dresses Emmy. When she or our son-in-law Kyle drop her off for the day, it is like receiving precious cargo, which of course she is. She loves being taken for a stroll around the lake at Rinconada Hills where we live. By the time I took over in the later afternoon watching and being with Emmy, her Nonnie Cecile got her 8500 steps in strolling her around the grounds and needed a much deserved break.

It is cooler now here in Northern California than it was in November, and we have Emmy covered up like the bundle of joy she is in her yellow knitted blanket. We sat by the pond with the waterfalls roaring in the backdrop. We talked with our neighbors. We stopped to pick a camellia, and when we got back to Nonnie and Papa's townhouse, Emmy and I sat in the atrium. I made an offering to the white Buddha statue, laying the camellia on its lap as I had done with her big sister Lyla in the past. She was pretty talkative at this point and I decided to take a video clip of her joyful chatter after which I played Ringo Starr singing: “We all live in a Yellow Submarine…" which she listened to and watched with that calming, joyful signature smile of hers.

Postscript: A Camellia flower symbolizes love, affection, and admiration. Due to its’ beautiful blossom and symmetrical accuracy, it's a symbol of perfection and excellence.

An Exotic Dinner with Good Friends at Mint Leaf Cuisine & a Little Eastern Philosophy

“True friends are like stars. You don’t alway see them but you know they are there."

Cecile and I had dinner at Mint Leaf Cuisine with my spirited friend and confidant, James Hunter who goes by his nickname Jimi, and his wonderful wife, Jennifer. It had been a long time since we all got together. Cecile and I are regulars at this unique Thai Pan-Asian fusion restaurant in historic downtown Saratoga. The food not only tastes consistently sumptious but the colorful ambiance and artistic food presentation is very appealing. The decor is reminiscent of an ornate Thai temple. It’s been reported that much of the atmosphere and food at Mint Leaf is Thai in origin as are the owners Mint Sirisawad and Laksana Chuangpia. But their extensive menu offers a fusion of ingredients from various parts of Asia and in particular Southeast Asia, including Myanmar (Burma), where I have spent many years on silent meditation retreats at a Burmese monastery in the outskirts of Mandalay before the recent brutal military coup.

Mint Leaf invites patrons to bring your own booze (BYOB) and does not charge a corkage fee. Cecile and I brought a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford Ranch in

Napa Valley to share.

For starters we shared Fried Egg Rolls stuffed with cabbage, carrot, bean threaded noodles and Taro served with sweet and sour sauce in a shot glass. For our entrees, our vegetarian friends, Jennifer and Jimi had Thai Basil with Green Beans: chili garlic green beans, basil, red bell pepper, cubes of tofu with brown rice; and, Yellow Curry with carrots, potatoes and onion with brown rice respectively. Cecile had her favorite Seared Scallops in Green Curry with chunks of avocados, eggplant, red pepper, green peas and basil; and yours truly had Yellow Curry with carrots, potatoes, and onion with grilled salmon and coconut rice.

Cecile and I had gifted an exquisitely crafted hard cover photography and story book called "A River of Offerings" (Mandala Publishing) written by Jennifer Prugh, a founder of Breathe Together Yoga (formerly Breathe). Beginning in 2008 she made more than a dozen trips to India particularly along the Ganges River to deepen her understanding of yoga, meditation, and its people. Having traveled to India on three occasions over the years I shared her sense of adventure and self discovery. The book is part history, ancient mythology and spiritual odyssey. As early contributors of a Kickstarter campaign to assist Jennifer in getting her book published, Cecile and I received extra copies. We had always intended to gift a copy to Jimi and Jen who like ourselves had taken classes with Prugh at Bay Club Courtside and this seemed to be an auspicious time to do so. As I looked around the dining room decorated in crimson and gold leaf, and white banners hanging above the dining room like sail cloths, with an image of the Buddha* peacefully looking down at us, everything seemed to be in its proper place.

*The Buddha which means “Awakened One” was a spiritual teacher who lived in Northern India over 2500 years ago. He taught training of the mind, self-restraint, and meditative and mindfulness practices characterized by full attention to the present moment.

https://jenniferprugh.com/read/

Happy Birthday to My Late Dad Who Lived to Be a Hundred (1917-2017)

“Take one day at a time and go along with the tide.”—Gilbert Herrick

It is an amazing feat when I think about it. My dad, Frank Aloysius Augustine whose birthday falls on Wednesday, January 5, was not a vegetarian. He was somewhat overweight. He may have qualified for having been on a quasi-Mediterranean diet since he and my late mom Maria were good Italian cooks. But by God, he loved his sweets. Yet, in all those years he only was hospitalized once and his mind was sharp as a tack. Living to 100—in his case, just a tad shy of 101, remains a rare occurrence. Individuals who are blessed to reach that age are referred to as centenarians, and make up less than one percent of the US population. So as a family, my belief is we should celebrate his life rather than mourn him. He beat the odds, and as a family we benefited from it. Dad would have loved Gilbert Herrick, attributed to the quote cited above. Not only did he love to rhyme but he lived one day at time and didn’t take life too seriously, especially after retirement. He was, what the local newspaper referred to as an 'Urban Gardener.' He loved to make wine in our back yard shed, he was active in the Hoboken Elks lodge, Grand Knight of the nights of Columbus for two terms, and a Boy Scout Leader for 25 years. Back in his early years he was a lay brother in the Mary-knoll Seminary in upstate New York. Fortunately for me I wouldn’t be here to tell this story had he continued on to become a celibate priest

When it came to death, dad would say, “We all have to go sometime.” If my mother was around when he said this, she would say, "Frank, what’s the matter with you in her charming Sicilian accent?" In her mind any irreverent mention of dying was bad luck. But, when he knew the time was near, he said: “Your mother is calling me to join her.” Shortly after he uttered these words he left this world as we know it on December 18, 1917.

The following poem by English clergyman, and Professor of Divinity at University of Oxford, Henry Scott Holland (1847–1918), wrote this insightful, humble and beautiful poem about the ‘unbroken continuity of life’ after death. "Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?” In one verse father Holland affirmed why I write to remember and honor my father on the anniversary of his birthday and his passing as if he were still here.

Death is Nothing At All

Death is nothing at All

I am I, and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other,

That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.

Speak to me in the easy way

Which you always used.

Put no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed

At the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word

That it always was.

Let it be spoken without effect.

Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same that it ever was.

There is absolute unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind

Because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.

For an interval.

Somewhere. Very near.

[Up a spiral staircase through the clouds]

All is well.

Note: Some photos of remebrance

A Fun Heart-Warming New Year’s Day Family Pajama Dinner Party & A Poem: The Gift of a New Year

“Sometimes a year has been so disastrous and so terrible that entering a new year will automatically mean entering a wonderful year.” —Mehmmet Murat Ildan

We celebrated New Year’s Day at Kim and Al’s spacious and beautifully decorated home. Since they weren’t able to host or be with us on Christmas Eve dinner this year, we held off on the Secret Santa gift giving until yesterday.

I have often described being guests of Kim and Al Chien during Christmas and New Year as entering a magical winter wonderland not only for the kids but adults as well. This is our granddaughter Lyla’s third holiday season and baby sister Emmy’s first. Without 'gilding the Lily,’ as the saying goes, I will let the photos tell the story about the ambience, the special decorations including a stunning Christmas tree, white gift stockings on the fire place, collection of colorful nutcrackers, the magnificent table setting, elaborate food preparations complete with a framed menu of the day, and an array of Christmas gifts under the tree. A lot of time and love goes into creating this enchanting experience. It is truly a labor of love and a gift from the heart.

During Thanksgiving we all agreed to randomly draw names out of a hat to become someone’s Secret Santa.

It is a Western Christmas tradition in which members of a group, community or family are randomly assigned a person to whom they give a gift. The indentity of the giver remains a secret and is not revealed until the gift is actually given. What we did, is a variation of a tradition that dates back to a famous origin story of an American philanthropist and business owner named Larry Dean Stewart, who gave anonymous gifts during the Christmas season. Everyone seemed pleased and grateful for their gifts, especially Lyla. For our son Jason’s partner Alex and myself, It was a very special time since our Teslas, a dream car gift to ourselves, had been delivered just in time for the holidays.

In a previous post I had mentioned that our granddaughter Lyla had led us in a chorus of Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer while dancing. The fact that she did this during Thanksgiving Dinner didn’t matter. There was a continuation of the theme, when Kim and Al presented Lyla with a red flashing nose of Rudolf himself that Lyla shared with Al and Uncle Chip.

Postscript: Kim had invited me to deliver a prayer before our meal. I did it in the form of a Poem(s) by Joanna Fuchs, I adapted and modified with my own sentiments and offer it up here called:

The Gift of a New Year

Here’s to the year that’s almost passed its expiration date—2021.

We all had some surprises, didn’t we? Some good, some distressing, some mournful,

Let’s use everything we got from our experiences, everything we learned, to enrich the new year.

Here’s to the new year, 2022, a gift we haven’t fully opened yet.

May its’ bright, shiny package contain even more than we hope for.

Let’s resolve to get less stressed, upset, and anxious about things over which we have no control.

It will resolve itself just in the process of life itself, as it always does.

And even while we’re delighting in new treasures, let’s appreciate fully what we already have.

The blessing we take for granted; make a list, and check it twice.

And here’s to all you wonderful people who are putting up with my post;

I hope the new year you see yourselves the way I see you:

Bright, interesting, fun, and lovable, especially our blessed ones—Lyla and Emmy.

Let us toast 2022. May it be filled with good things, and engulf us with serenity, happiness, and

Transformative possibilities.

May it give a whole new meaning to the phrase, “The Good Life."

Treasured Friends who Hosted a French-Style New Year's Eve Dinner to be Remembered

“Eating, and hospitality in general, is a communion, and any meal worth attending…is improved by the multitudes of those with whom it is shared.”

—Jesse Browner

Our dear friends, neighbors, and traveling companions, Nelson and Susan Bye invited Cecile and I, and another wonderful couple, Dianna Martin-Orloff and husband Norm to be their guests at their home at Rinconada Hills for a special treat. At the Byes request, we had pre-ordered our preferred dinner selections and dessert from French restaurant, Le Papillon which in French means butterfly. They offered a New Year’s Eve special curbside pick up menu. While we waited for the food to be delivered we had appetizers and cocktails. Nelson’s son Jonathan was gracious enough to pick up and deliver the food for us to enjoy.

We collectively ordered Butternut Squash Soup with Pumpkin See Granola; Baby Lettuce Salad with Pears, Toasted Pecans, Grated Feta, and Chambord Vinaigrette; Chilled Beet and Puff Pastry Tart with Goat Cheese Sabyon and Pistachio Oil; Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with Chive Beurre Blanc, Pickled Shimeji Mushrooms, and Potato Mille-Feuille; Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Cognac Jus, Maitake Mushrooms, and Potato Gratin; Roasted Breast and Leg of Duck with Vincotto Jus, Pickled Cherries and Black Forbidden Rice. For dessert we ordered Poached Pear Tart with Puff Pastry, Vanilla Mascarpone, and Sauternes Syrup and Chocolate Marjolaine with Pistachio, Caramel Ganache and Praline Butterscotch. However, we were so filled from dinner and a bottle of chocolate that the Byes ordered from Li-Lac chocolates in Grenich Village, NY, shaped like a bottle of champagne, we decided to bring our desserts home at the end of the evening.

Since we live in California it was decided to have a New York style New Year's Eve dinner party from 6PM to 9PM PST and call it a night. But, since we were enjoying each others company so much, we decided to stay until midnight PST. We ended the year relaxing on the Byes large sofa, drinking champagne and after surfing TV specials "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” on ABC, “New Year’s Eve Nashville’s Big Bash,” on CBS, we settled on CNN's "New Year's Eve Live" with co-host Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper. We watched Eric Adams being sworn in as New York City mayor replacing Mayor Bill de Blasio just after midnight. It is amazing how quickly six hours flew by. It is interesting how if show interest in the other person, share your passions and backgrounds, family history and willingness to go out on the ledge sharing something personal how you find out how much you have in common.

Our thanks to the Byes for their generous hospitality. The food and wine was awesome, the company was great, the conservation flowed well and Cecile and I left feeling how fortunate we were to have such good friends.

A Happy and Healthy New Year to our Friends and Family & an Inspiring Message for 2022

“Joy is the happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” —Br. David Steinda-Rast

We are all aware of the terrible things that have happened in the world this past year and the year before, and everyone is anxious for it to end. We often feel guilty when we experience moments of joy when our fellow human beings are suffering. But allowing ourselves to feel joy when it arises is a crucial part of our collective healing. One of the tools I have found useful and inspiring is reading poetry about the human condition. It allows me to feel the anguish while at the same time holding onto to the joy of being alive no matter what happens. Poetry is like medicine for the soul. It can inspire hope that when the reality of something horrific happens, it won’t last forever, and that change is on the horizon if we are willing to work for it or give it time. Even a glimmer of hope during a time of great turmoil is the solace we all seek. Kelly Fanucci, a nationally syndicated columnist, offers that glimmer of hope in her poem, “Faith at Home,” that went viral last year:

“When this is over, may we never take for granted

A handshake with a stranger, full shelves at the store

Conversations with neighbors, a crowded theater

Friday night out, the taste of communion

A routine checkup, the school rush each morning

Coffee with a friend, the stadium roaring

Each deep breath, a boring Tuesday, [and] Life itself

When this ends:

May we find that we have become

More like the people

We wanted to be

We were called to be

We hoped to be

And may we stay that way—better

For each other

Because of the worst.”

A new year means a new chapter. We hope that 2022 is an incredible part of your life story.

Peace, Love, and Light,

Dennis & Cecile Augustine

Video Clip of my Up Close Encounter with an Elegant Great Blue Heron in the Creek

It was cold outside (46 degrees) by Northern California standards an I was debating weather to take a late afternoon bike

ride. I had just lost my best childhood friend and wanted to be in nature. Even the wine colored Patagonia Fleece Jacket my son

bought me for Christmas didn’t cut the feeling of what seemed like cold Arctic air. Then I felt a drizzle. At this point I wasn’t totally committed to continuing the ride and I was prepared to cut it short. The drizzle ceased and I made my way to the Los Gatos Creek trails just past the spillway of Vasona Lake Reservoir.

Everything was green and the creek beds were flowing like a rapid river. I stopped to check out the flow and as I turned around I spotted a stunning Great blue heron wadding in the water amongst the reed and rocks. I took a few photos from a distance and decided to make my way down the ravine to get closer. I was being careful not to scare it off because they cans be skittish. But, with the sound of the rushing water it didn’t hear me.

Or, maybe it did hear me since it began to move on its’ long stilted legs. I decided to take a short video to record its’ movement and the sound of the roaring water rushing into the creek from the spillway. It was so calm and elegant. When it got to a small boulder, I saw it quickly move its head and yellow beak down beneath the water and pierce a silvery gray small fish. If I blinked I woulld have missed it. It had been stalking its’ prey. Persistence paid off for heron and me. Instead of riding 5 miles, I did ten. I didn’t feel cold any more. For the heron it was his evening meal. It felt like a moment of grace and observing the natural order of things.

What I learned from the Great Blue Heron:

Wade into life

Keep a keen lookout

Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet

Be mindfully patient

Look below the surface

Enjoy a good reed

Go fish

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Mourning the Loss of a Great and Dear Childhood Friend and 911 First Responder: John "Jack” Dempsey

“When a childhood friend unexpectedly leaves us, a piece of our heart is forever broken.” —Author Unknown

When someone suddenly disappears from our lives, as it always does in this impermanent life of ours—in this case the loss of my close and dear childhood friend from Hoboken, NJ, named John “Jack” Dempsey—we can see the precious value of that friend more clearly as it forces one to reflect upon that friendship. John passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, December 23, 2021 at the age of 72. He grew up on 9th and Bloomfield Street and I grew up on 5th Street between Garden and Bloomfield. We both went to the former Our Lady of Grace elementary school just across from Church Square Park near my family home. It was because of John, a very popular young man that I was introduced to new friends on 11th and Washington Street. It was our turf, if you will. We played a lot of street games such as stickball, stoop ball, slap ball, miniature football, whiffle ball, and basketball to name a few. We also played poker and Acey Deucey for money on the steps of the iconic Masonic Lodge when it was closed and other venues. No one made me laugh more than John. He had great sense of humor coupled with a sharp wit. We played electronic football and Monopoly at his parents’ home and vacation home in Budd Lake and we loved to go to Schnackenberg’s Luncheonette for cherry cokes, egg creams, tuna melts, milkshakes and cheeseburgers and meet up with mutual friends. This gem of a hangout operated since 1931 was officially closed on January 28, 2019, and replaced by a new owner under the name of Alfalfa. We also hung out in the abandoned warehouses and piers with our friends where the movie “On the Waterfront” starring Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger, Karl Malden, and Lee J. Cobb was filmed. Now the waterfront has been replaced with sparkling high-rise apartments, condos, restaurants, retail outlets, commerciall buildings, and the W. Hotel. The street is now known as Hoboken Waterfront Walkway. There is also a Frank Sinatra Park, named after Hoboken’s favorite son.

Even though we played other sports, in the end, our all time favorite game growing up became basketball at various municipal parks around town. John and I went to St. Michael’s High School in Union City for two years before transferring to Hoboken High School for our remaining two years and graduated with the class of 1968. We played basketball at both schools. He was a star forward and team player who had a jump-shot that was pure poetry. He also ran track and later in life took up golf . From the first time we met, John and I were inseparable. We wore the same black leather and beige Parker jackets. To make this point see the attached yearbook photo of our St. Michael’s Junior Varsity Team. In the top or second row, John wore a number 51 T-shirt and I was number 22. Someone, who I don’t recall, wrote at the top of the yearbook photo “What happened?" You’re not together!" We also began college at Northwestern State College in Alva, Oklahoma for two years, leaving for different personal reasons. In John’s case it was the unexpected passing of his dad. This is where our paths began to diverge. He decided to attend Rutgers University, and I entered pre-med at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY, after which I decided to attend the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. After graduation in 1975 Cecile and I moved to California. John decided on a path of law enforcement, and enrolled in the Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Academy. Before he could graduate, he was drafted by the United States Army and was set to serve in Vietnam. Luckily, upon completing his military Police training, he was reassigned to serve in Stuttgart, Germany at the United States European Command in the Military Police Honor Guard. Upon being honorably discharged he began his career with the Port Authority and was assigned to the George Washington Bridge where he served for the next thirty years. He was also a Port Authority racquetball champion two years in a row. John was a first responder on the September 11th attack on our country. The loss of 37 fellow officers, and attending most of their funerals and memorial tributes had a profound impact on his life.

John married his St. Michael’s High school sweetheart, Sheila Ferry on November 16, 1974, while I married my beloved Cecile whom I met in Chicago on March 25, 1977. My parents Frank and Maria Augustine loved John and treated him like a member of the family, and he loved them. It was so comforting having him present at their wake and memorial mass as he was for my late brother Michael. John was a real mensch and much beloved. He adored and was devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren. Cecile and I offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife Sheila, their children, William, Sheila Cooper, and Deirdre Flores, grandchildren, Molly, Owen, and Kieran, and John’s surviving sisters, Maureen (his twin), Eileen, and Kathleen. We love you John and may your Rest in Peace dear friend.

Please check out the obituary of a real patriot who served his community and his country with honor and dignity. It has been visited over 1871 times and counting.

https://www.vandermay.com/obituarydetail.html#/20961

Postscript: The photos of John and Shiela were taken at my dad Frank’s 100 th birthday dinner Trattoria Il Cafone in Lyndurst, NJ, except for the last two of me with John holding my godson William with Sheila by his side and John with his arm around my late mother Maria and Sheila looking on, respectively.

Lyla Explores Her Inner Artist Before Christmas Eve Dinner

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

—Pablo Picasso

Binge painting is a known phenomenon in the art world. Many artists will wait for inspiration to hit them and when it does they can draw and paint for hours. It can get pretty messy especially for a three-year old like Lyla. What began as mere finger painting using water-based watercolors turned into wearable art from head to toe as you can see in the photo of her sitting on my lap at dinner time. Painting is more than just a simple activity. It is a way to express emotions, ease frustrations, use their senses, explore

color, process, and outcomes. Kudos to Kyle, for bringing out the paints and paper that Lyla asked for to engage her inner artist.

Lyla is not limited to painting, she led us in singing Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer while dancing (video clip). It didn’t matter that it was during Thanksgiving dinner at Kyle’s mom and Al’s home. Toddlers bend time and protocol according to their own needs. And in the process bring joy and laughter to us adults by just being themselves in the moment, when given the space to do so.

There is also edible art. Michelle, Kyle, his brother Chip and our son Jason created a fabulous meal: Meat and Vegetarian Lasagne, which as a first generation Italian/Sicilian,

is music to my heart, not to mention my stomach. Michelle made a Kale Pear Salad, Cecile made roasted Brussels sprouts and Jason made a Banoffee pie, layered with caramel, fresh bananas and fresh whipped cream dusted with chocolate in a graham cracker crust. Kyle made me two Moscow Mules in the signature copper cup which was probably one too many, but what the heck it was Christmas Eve.

We were happy to hear that our granddaughter Lyla loved the Toniebox we gifted her, a child-friendly audio system that allows kids to listen to music and stories using their own portable speaker. It has been all the rage. Little Emmy loved her doll and is already bottle feeding her while seated on Kyle's lap.

Merry Christmas to Family and Friends near and far.

Postscript: Video Clip of Lyla Leading us in Singing Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer while Dancing

Merry Christmas Holiday Season From Our Family to Yours From Maui & California

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality.”

—Washington Irving

“Hawaii is paradise. It sounds cheesy to say it, but there’s music in the air there.”

—Bruno Mars

As most of you know, we spent half of the Christmas season in Maui, in the land of swaying palm trees and abundant tropical cheer. So as they say in Hawaiian, Mele Kalikimaka. While the much anticipated holiday season may have looked different than last year, the precautions we took to stay safe during the pandemic were worth the exercise for us to enjoy time in the sun and and engage in island-style holiday cheer with our kids, Kyle and granddaughters Lyla and Emmy.

Maui is a stunning island with beautiful beaches, balmy winds and a plethora of palm trees. But the best thing about the island is when you can go there and do absolutely nothing and still have an amazing time. It was a time to enjoy some much needed R and R, and to reconnect and enjoy being together without having to do anything touristy. As always Lyla and Emmy were the source of our entertainment and joy. We grilled, ordered in, and frequented a number of fabulous restaurants nearby and visit with friends. There was plenty of space for everyone. Hearing the waves lap up on the shore, listening to soft, relaxing island-style Christmas songs, while sipping on Mai Tais that Jason and Kyle prepared and kept a pitcher in stock in the refrigerator daily.

When Cecile and I started to come to Hawaii over forty years ago it felt a little strange to see Christmas celebrated on the islands. After all, I was used to a very different kind of Christmas growing up in New Jersey with the cold weather and snow. I really did experience a white Christmas. But, it didn’t take long to adjust to a Christmas season in paradise.

I included some photos of Christmas decorations that added to the holiday spirit.

A virtual holiday hug to all,

Dennis and Cecile and Family

Wishing my Wife's Sister Sherry Who Makes her Home in South Carolina a Special Happy Birthday

“Side by side or miles apart sisters will always be connected by the heart.”

—Author Unknown

Dear Sherry,

Cecile and I wish that your birthday celebration will be as special as you are. We both see you as a person who always deserves the best and nothing less. You have been a devoted mother, sister, friend, and dedicated teacher of special needs.

I am proud to call you my sister-in-law and it has always been a pleasure to have you visit us in California and to see you at family gatherings. I’m not sure if you are aware of this but the name Sherry is taken from the French word ‘cheri’ meaning dear one, which fits you perfectly. I have included a photo taken from a framed one of you (left) and Cecile (right) which she treasures and sits prominently on a shelf above our TV. Most of the other photos were taken at our nephew Zach’s Bar Mitzvah luncheon at Maggiano’s Little Italy at Old Orchard and dinner party at Northeastern University in June 2018, including of you, Cecile, and your beloved brothers Mark and Lawrence.

We wish you much peace, joy and happiness.

Dennis and Cecile

Pirate Ship at Kid-Friendly Discovery Cove Pool & a Family Dinner at Monkeypod Kitchen In Maui

"Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind.”

—Disney’s Lilo & Stitch

The Pirate ship named Discovery became Lyla’s favorite place to go. It is child-friendly and a perfect place to interact with parents and grandparents as well. The play area even has cannons that shoots water as well as decorative yellow and green turtles that Emmy and Lyla

love to sit on and was a perfect area to take family photos.

For dinner we went to Monkeypod Kitchen, located at Whalers Village, a place were foodies, beer lovers, and families gather together after a long day at the pool or beach. It is funky and lively. There are surfboards hanging from the ceiling above the bar. Waiters zip by with trays of tempting foam-topped cocktails and slice of creamy desserts. We were seat4ed at a breezy outdoor patio with great views of the Pacific. The bar takes up the entire length of the room and offers 12 craft cocktails. We had their signature Mai Tai topped with fluffy honey-lilikoi foam. The food is consistently good and didn’t disappoint. The art is very Hawaiian.

The Restaurant was named after the Monkeypod tree that thrive all over the Hawaiian Islands. Also known as a rain tree, it is an ornamental tropical leguminous tree that has clusters of flowers with crimson stamens, sweet-pulp pods eaten by cattle, and the wood is used in carving. Samuel L. Clemons (aka Mark Twain) relatively unknown at the time planted a Monkeypod tree over 150 years ago while on a brief visit to Hawaii as a reporter for the Sacramento Weekly Union.

Lyla Feeding the Japanese Koi Fish & Flying a Balsa Wood Glider at the Maui Marriott Ocean Club

"The bright colors of the fish, the hypnotic swimming patterns, and their eager cheery disposition can charm adults and children alike."

Before taking her scheduled ceramic fish bank painting class with Michelle, I took Lyla on the blanket of green grass in front of the Marriott Ocean Club to fly a light weight Balsa wood Jet Fire Glider reminiscent of my youth. It was Lyla’s first time and she was really into it. Even when it broke after ten throws, she struck an optimistic tone. “We can still fly it Papa,” she said. So we repeatedly threw the parts of the broken segments into the air only to see them flutter to the ground as she giggled joyfully.

Afterwards I strolled her to the kids activity desk to pick up food in a paper cup to feed the Koi fish in the open air main lobby that has several ponds to choose from. This was Lyla’s second outing. Cecile and Michelle and I had taken her the other day. Koi is a Japanese word meaning “carp.” Carp were raised and are known for their bright color patterns in Japan in the 1920s. By the twentieth century, ornamental varieties were favorites all over the world. Koi were first exported to Hawaii in 1947. Because of their large size, beautiful colors, friendly personalities, longevity and high value, koi are one of the most likely fish pets. They are the universal symbol of peace. People all over the world are attracted by its’ peaceful and friendly characteristics. Watching them swim is very therapeutic, melodic, and relaxing.