A Rabbi’s Unbridled Optimism in the Face of Tragedy: Helping to Rebuild a San Jose Synagogue Destroyed by Fire

“It is axiomatic of Jewish psyche and tradition that rather than allow tragedy and destruction to demoralize us, we use

it as a springboard to achieve greater heights.”

—Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld

Optimism and courage in the face of tragedy best defines Brooklyn born Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld, founder/director of Chabad House in the Almaden neighborhood of San Jose as expressed in his quote I cited above. He no doubt took his lead from his Rebbe [spiritual teacher], the late great Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Considered to be one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the twentieth century, the Rebbe once said: “Imagine you could open your eyes to see only the good in every person, the positive in every circumstance, and the opportunity in every challenge.”

After moving to the area Mendel and his wife Mussi held gatherings and Jewish holiday services at their home for over a year before the grand opening celebration of the Chabad House on Rosh Hashanah in September 2021. Little did they know three months later on December 22, 2021, a devastating fire set by a troubled individual would consume the synagogue. Fortunately, the Torah scrolls and other sacred books were spared from the fire by firemen on the scene. After hearing about the fire, we made our first donation on January, 18 to help rebuild the synagogue. We decided to give in memory of Cecile’s late great grandfather David Pretula, an orthodox Jew who used to walk to his synagogue in Chicago to pray every day. Grandpa Dave, as he was affectionately called and Cecile’s great grandmother Dora had escaped religious persecution in a small village outside of Kiev, formerly a part of the Soviet Empire in the early 1900s.

Rabbi Weinfeld paid us a visit recently, and brought Cecile and I a gift box of special Ukrainian Matzah (handmade version of unleavened bread with the consistency of a cracker preferred by observant Jews for Passover). It was imported from Dnipro, a city in eastern Ukraine which has the largest Chabad Center in the world. It also houses the largest Holocaust museum in the former Soviet State that has been under missile fire by Putin’s military invasion. It came with a booklet about Passover.

Since our first donation toward the rebuilding of the synagogue, Rabbi Weinfeld’s congregation received such overwhelming support that he and his congregation members and advisors were inspired to launch an Emergency Recovery & Capital Campaign called “Rise from the Ashes,” with the intention of raising enough money to purchase their own facility more than double the size of the space they were renting and provide a permanent home for congregants to “embrace their heritage and celebrate it openly.” Cecile and I are so impressed with Weinfeld’s unbridled optimism, we decided to match our previous donation by 100%.

"In the Divine scheme of things,” wrote Mendel Kalmenson, Rabbi of Beit Baruch in London and author of Time to Heal, "…disaster can be seen to pave the way for even greater regeneration and blessing than before. This is especially true when it comes to the ability to transform…disaster [darkness]…not as an entity or force unto itself, rather it is itself an agent of light.” Sometimes there are people in our midst who are able to visualize through their faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel that others can’t see. Rabbi Weinfeld appears to me to be one of those people.

Postscript: For those inclined to help the San Jose Synagogue RISE FROM THE ASHES here is the link: Chabadfire.com

Also see link below for this sad but inspiring story: San Jose Jewish community attempts to rebuild after destructive synagogue fire by Maggie Angst published January 24, 2022.

https://www.mercurynews.com/.../unanswered-questions-and.../

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Hunter S. Thompson

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://vimeo.com/695513655/e45a91524e

Encountering A Mourning Cloak Butterfly: A Symbol of Transformation

“Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.”

—Author Unknown

“Butterflies…live most of their lives completely ordinary…then one day, the unexpected happens. They burst from their cocoon in a blaze of colors and become extraordinary…It shows us how empowering change can be.”

—Kelsyleigh Reber

While taking our granddaughter Emmy for a stroll around the perimeter of Rinconada Lake where Cecile and I live, I spotted a mourning cloak butterfly.

Though it can be seen in forests, along streams, parks, and fields throughout the United States and Canada, this was the second time I have encountered one.

It gently zigged and zagged until settling on the edge of a rock. As I gently approached it folded its wings tightly together and was completely still. I found out after my first encounter of a mourning cloak a couple of years ago that it is their attempt to camouflage themselves from predators. After a few minutes it opened its’ wings again, long enough for me to capture its’ beauty before flying off again. Though I wished it could have stayed a bit longer, I felt so fortunate to have seen this beautiful creature for a brief moment in all its glory and beauty.

Postscript: The mourning cloak is a unique butterfly, with special markings that do not match those of any other type, making it easily distinguishable. It has a wingspan of up to four inches. The dorsal or top part of wing is dark maroon, with a black band with bright iridescent blue spots and a ragged pale-yellow edge. It is powerful flier with a life span of 11 to 12 months, one of the longest lifespan for any butterfly that appears in the early spring. The mourning cloak is so called because it resembles the cloak worn by people who mourn the loss of a loved one. Other older names for this species include grand surprise and white petticoat.

A Solo Windy Bike Ride Before the Recent Rain

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

—Justin Coulson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Audrey Hepburn

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

—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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

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

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

Dearest Cecile,

Our Wedding Anniversary is a time to look back,

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

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

The joy, the tears, the doubts, the fears

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

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

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

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

With the full understanding that in the years to come

Our love will always last.

Happy Anniversary,

sealed with a kiss,

Dennis

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

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

—Paola Gianotti

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

Witnessing Firemen Battling a Four-Alarm Fire at a Three-Story Commercial Building From My Bike

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” —Thucydides

My wife Cecile and I made plans to have lunch at Santana Row. When I opened the garage I smelled smoke but wasn’t sure where it was coming from. When we got home later in the afternoon, I retrieved my phone which I had forgotten to take with me earlier and noticed that my biking buddy Bill had been trying

to reach me to join him for a bike ride. His text indicated that a fire had broken out near the entrance of the Los Gatos Creek Trail that we ride frequently on located at Knowles Drive and Dell Avenue in Campbell, near the Los Gatos border and less than a mile from Netflix headquarters.

I decided to take an evening ride about 6 PM and saw Bill walking his dogs. He told me the fire was still burning and encouraged me to take a look. I decided to approach the area from the Hacienda entrance to the creek trail near Kaiser Permanente. I could see the smoke billowing over the trees from a distance. I was on the scene in about twenty minutes. There were teams of firemen from the Santa Clara Fire Department and from Santa Cruz still working to put out remaining flames, but for the most part it looked liked they had it mostly contained. Street access was taped off and cars had to take a detour to their destination. Having a bike made it easier to get around offering me a vantage point to take these series of photos without being in harms way. Bill took the photo of a fireman hosing down the flames inside the cyclone fence.

I discovered that the catastrophic four-alarm fire sparked at a familiar, vacant 50,000-square foot building at about 10AM. The firemen were fighting the fire from the exterior since conditions were such that the building had deteriorated rather quickly. There were an abundance of emergency vehicles including one from the Governor’s office and several battalion chiefs. The blaze was still belching smoke over a large area. Fire hose water was flooding the streets and sidewalks around the perimeter. Crews were expected to remain at the scene overnight and operations could continue over several days.

Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities. No evacuation orders were given, but the Los Gatos Creek Trail was closed in both directions. The building itself collapsed in the middle of the afternoon hours before I arrived on the scene. See video Clip!

Proscript: The morning after! While I slept in, Bill rode his bike to the scene earlier this morning to beat the expected rain. He texted me the last two photos, one of him, and the other clearly showing the massive building reduced to a smoldering and smoking pile of rubble. The last photo is what the building looked like before the fire. Ironically, it was scheduled to be demolished next week to make room for a new development project.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Responding to the Call for Humanitarian Relief in Ukraine: A Personal Connection Through My Wife's Russian Jewish Ancestry

Responding to the Call for Humanitarian Relief in Ukraine: A Personal Connection Through My Wife's Russian Jewish Ancestry

Cecile and I have recently donated $500 to CARE’s Ukraine Crisis Fund, in memory of Cecile’s Russian Jewish grandparents David and Dora who escaped religious and ethnic persecution in a small town in Kiev (Russian spelling) vs Kyiv, (in the Ukrainian language) in the early 1900s. The decision opened up some old ancestral wounds, but we felt compelled to relieve some of the human suffering going on in Ukraine who have been caught in the crossfire, especially women and innocent children. Our son Jason’s middle name was given to him in honor of his great grandpa David (Dawid, in Hebrew).

Like so many, we have been transfixed by Putin’s invasion against Ukraine and horrified by the barbaric onslaught of its’ people, especially the mothers and their innocent children. I wanted to help in some way and discussed it with Cecile who agreed. Her grandparents lived in a small village called Ladyzhinka near Kiev, which in 1793 became part of the Russian Empire. By the end of the nineteenth century Jews accounted for around 32% of the population. This soon changed. During the pogroms (an organized massacre of the Jewish people) in Ladyzhinka around 1905 Jews were forced to flee. Needless to say, Ukraine has a long history of not being good to the Jews. Seeing the writing on the wall her great grandparents fled to Chicago, around the same period that Sholem Aleichem, author of “Fiddler on the Roof," who also grew up outside Kyiv fled to New York.

Fast forward to 1941, Nazi forces captured Kyiv, and promptly posted notices for Jews to gather near a place known as “Grandmother’s Ravine,” also known as "Babyn Yar.” On September 29-30, 1941, the SS-led forces gunned down 34,000 Jews, not including children who in many cases were buried alive as Nazi policy forbade wasting bullets on them. They were dumped in the ravine. By the end of the war, 100,000 were killed including Ukrainians, that lay in a mass grave at Babyn Yar, the site of the Holocaust memorial in Kyiv, World War ll’s deadliest massacre, recently bombed by the Russian military.

Prior to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, 2021 was shaping up to be a banner year for Ukraine’s Jews—a long overdue embrace of a long-suffering minority elected a Jew, Volodymyr Zelenskyy for president in 2019. Zelenskyy's grandfather fought the Nazis in World War ll and he lost members of his family in the Holocaust. At the same time, Volodymyr Groysman, also Jewish became prime minister. In May of last year, Ukraine’s top rabbi inaugurated a new synagogue at Babyn Bar. Several months prior the government approved plans for a $100 million, two-museum memorial at Babyn Yar that was slated to become the world’s largest Holocaust shrine, which Zelenskyy’s seemingly made a top priority. The year after Zelenskyy and Groysman took office, Pew Research Center study found that that 83% of Ukranians had a favorable opinion of Jews, compared to only 5% the year before thanks to government that unites people rather than divides.

This would make the late Israel ben Eliezer, or Baal Shem Tov, a Jewish mystic and healer, and, the father of Hasidic Judaism that has a center in Ukraine very happy.

The ongoing war with Russia beginning in 2014, including the current Russian invasion has given Ukraine’s Jews a renewed sense of patriotism. Their national identity is no longer tied to their ethnicity but rather their citizenship. Unlike the years Cecile’s grandparents experienced persecution and felt compelled to leave the country, due to positive political developments mentioned earlier, Ukraine’s Jews are more accepted today than any other time in its history. “Thanks to Putin, there are now Ukrainian Jews,” the chief rabbi of Kyiv was quoted as saying in 2016. Unfortunately, as the aggressive and deadly invasion by the Russian military continues against Ukraine the top priority now is sheer survival of a sovereign nation of Jews and non-Jews alike.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the most famous man in the world at this moment in history is drawing from a deep well within himself, demonstrating to the entire world what true courage, leadership, and commitment look like. The former comedian, turned president is leading the Ukrainian people through an existential crisis with a heartless dictator. He has proven himself to be a skillful and credible communicator that makes headlines and lights up social media platforms. He has a deep sense of humanity and empathy, rarely seen in the political leaders. He is resolute in the midst of adversity yet down to earth and accessible. He has given people hope in what appears to be a hopeless situation amid a refugee crisis that Europe hasn’t seen since 1945. We pray this will be enough. With several attempts made against his life by would be assassins, the country and supporters main fear is he may become a martyr to the cause.

In the meantime, our donation is intended to ease the suffering of people caught in the crossfire and is dedicated to the memory of Cecile’s late grandparents, David and Dora whose choice to escape the tyranny made it possible for Cecile and I to meet and raise a beloved family. They had two children, Cecile's nana Esther (her mother Marge's mother) and her uncled Joe. The second photo is Esther taken in Chicago (second photo).

"Only the Brave”—a poem for Ukraine

To kneel before a tank

Prepared to perish

And picks up arms

Their arms have never held

To hold fast to the freedom

That they cherish,

Unyielding faith

The giants can be quelled

With dropping jaws, we marvel

At the Courage of Ukraine

A hero named Zelenskyy at its head

Committed to survival of his country,

He stays to fight

When others would have fled

We pray that David triumphs

Over Goliath

A dream with fruition yet unknown

But in an age-old fight

Of good v. evil,

The world has told Ukraine,

“You’re not alone.”

—By Lainie Wachter, Rancho Mirage

Appeared in the Palm Springs Desert Sun

March 1, 2022

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

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

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

—Anthony Bourdain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Apollo M.

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

Emmy.

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

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

Dearest Emmy:

Your heart-melting smile is so divine

Everything you do makes our lives worthwhile

Your untouched innocence is so sweet

Your magical charms can’t be beat

Your eyes are blue as the sky above

That look at us with trusting love.

Your chubby cheeks and rosy lips

And dainty little finger tips

Every unfathomable word you say

Touches our lives in a heartfelt way.

Your actions are beyond being cute

They lift our spirts like a parachute

It’s hard to believe how time has flown,

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

From rolling to sitting and a quick little crawl.

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

You’ve conquered it all.

We wish you a very Happy First Birthday

Papa and Nonnie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Oprah Winfrey

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Our Love’

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

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

V is for ‘value’ of being my best friend

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

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

Visiting Bubba the Celebrated Wood Carved Bear After our Stevens Creek Reservoir Bike Ride

“Art gives joy to the artist; that it pleases others is pure gravy.”

—Larry E. Santucci

After making our descent from the Stevens Creek Reservoir, Bill and I visited Bubba the Wood Carved Bear on the corner of Bubb Road and Yorkshire Drive in Cupertino. It has become somewhat of a ritual especially during the holidays and special events. Let me explain! Bubba, once a tree that didn’t survive the drought is the artistic creation of Sarah Kopy, who has lived at her one-story house since the age of 12. Instead of getting rid of the tree, after getting permission of the City of Cupertino she hired a carver from Humboldt County. When the carver asked which way Kopy wanted the bear to face, she said toward the crosswalk on Bubb Road so it can watch the children. Bubba was conceived or should I say reincarnated on October 10, 2015. Since its’ unveiling to the public, Bubba has become a local attraction to the community and beyond. Children and biking enthusiasts like ourselves will sometimes go out of their way to see Bubba, the Bubb Road Bear. Why? Because Kopy dresses Bubba up for major holidays like the Fourth of July, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day and currently the Lunar New Year 2022 (Year of the Tiger) which after a 15 day celebration ends tomorrow. Tigers are particularly auspicious as they represent stength, boldness, fearlessness and dominance

The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant celebrations of the year among east and southeast Asian cultures.

People may know the holiday as Chinese New Year, Vietnamese Tet Nguyen Dan or South Korea Seollal.

The United States is also home to some celebrations. 1.5 billion people across the world will partake in the festivities.

Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of the 12 zodiac animals.

The animals consist of the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

While last year the Year of the Ox, this year is the year of the tiger that represents strength, assertiveness, generosity, courage and the clearing away of evil. Celebrities who were born in the year of the Tiger are Queen Elizabeth II, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Bill Murray, Martin Short, Garth Brooks, Tom Cruise, Jon Bon Jovi, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jimmy Fallon, Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and many more.

Yours Truly is a Tiger (born in 1950), as is my daughter Michelle (born in 1986).

Postscript: Kopi’s artistic holiday celebrations reminds me of our neighbors near our former home in Saratoga who celebrated the holidays or special events in a similar way, by decorating a 300 year old tree in front their home. I didn’t realize how much joy it brought to our neighborhood and to me personally until they moved.

Background Credit for the story of Bubba: Kalpana Gopalkrishnan and Avni Prasad, elEstoque, Monta Vista High School, February 8, 1917

Capturing this Gorgeous and Freaky Sunset with Striated Cloud Formations

“Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.”

—Paulo Coelho

During my many bike rides I have had the opportunity to pause and photograph hundreds of sunsets. However, I have never seen anything as beautiful and as mysterious as this. It was taken yesterday during an early evening ride in the neighborhood where we live.

Striated clouds are a pattern of gray or bluish cloud sheets or layers that totally or partially covers the sky that are translucent enough to regularly reveal the sun or moon. But in this sunset a big part of sun also shone through without any of the cloud striations running through it except around the periphery creating the perception of a serrated edge.

What do the striations mean? Grooves or channels in cloud formation, arranged parallel to the flow of air and therefore depicting the airflow relative to a parent cloud. Part of the cloud nomenclature is the word Translucidus. It’s derived from the latin root, translucere which means to shine through or become transparent.

After Being Fully Vaccinated I Had a Breakthrough COVID Infection & The Awesome News that Followed

“People that say, ‘Oh, the vaccine’s no good, people are still getting infected.' Well, that’s actually not the real benefit of the vaccine. It’s preventing hospitalizations and serious illness..."

—Dr. John Bradley, medical director of Infectious Diseases at Rady Children’s Hospital in San
Diego and Distinguished Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine

After being double vaccinated and getting jabbed with a booster and flu shot about a year ago, I recently experienced a “breakthrough" infection. Like many thousands of others who chose to get vaccinated I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, only to come to realize that the light I saw was a train of highly infectious Covid-19 variants coming our way. While taking all the shots that were recommended by the CDC still resulted in my becoming infected with the virus, I have a problem with the word ‘breakthrough.’ It implies a failure of the vaccine to provide a viral shield or even a cure. But as Dr, Bradley and other medical experts have said, it did its job. It kept me and many others in my age group (65 and up) from being hospitalized and possibly dying on a ventilator. According to the CDC the risk of being hospitalized is 10 times lower if you're vaccinated. This is not a political statement. According to medical experts it's a medical fact. As a former health care provider, I like those odds.

How serious are the symptoms from breakthrough infections? Well, we all know by now that one may have no symptoms and may not even be aware they have the virus. For those who do feel sick, the symptoms are usually mild and last a few days to one or two weeks. In my case I had excessive fatigue on a Sunday night after riding my bike for an hour and then meeting a friend for a walk around a local park. The next day, on January 17 (Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday), following two consecutive negative Covid tests after returning from Maui with our family and again on January 5 of the New Year for cold-like symptoms, I tested positive for Covid. I quickly alerted my family and contacted my friend to let him know and isolated myself from family for over 10 days. Fortunately, my friend got tested five days later and tested negative which was a relief for both of us. He too was fully vaccinated and happened to be wearing a mask during our walk. Fortunately, none of my family got infected with the virus. The most difficult thing about getting the virus was not being able to babysit our granddaughter who will be a year old later this month or see our granddaughter Lyla, now three years old. Getting together with them, Cecile, Michelle and Jason again was cause to celebrate.

Several days later I had a video conference call with my doctor who had already emailed me the recommended protocol. I told her I had no shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat or fever. I did report I experienced three days of headaches which dissipated the afternoon after talking to my her. I wore a KN95 mask every time Cecile announced she was coming to the bedroom or my home office to bring me my meals. She took great care of me. I did have a runny nose, an occasional tight cough, clogged ears, and raspy throat. It felt more like a bad cold. Oddly enough my appetite and energy were good. I postponed a bike trip in Santa Cruz with friends by a week. A week after that which was well after the isolation period of 10 days, I rode 28 miles with some friends in SF. I never felt better.

What was amazing about my experience is that I felt like there was a tug of war between my immune system and the virus and my immune system won. The vaccine did what it was intended to do: Once, the immune system detected the disease it dispatched cells and molecules to memorize its features so it could be fought off more swiftly in the future. Once delivered to the upper arm, the vaccine instructs the body’s own cells to produce a coronavirus protein called spike—a molecule that elicits powerful, infection-fighting antibody response in people battling COVID-19.

Postscript: Though I read and watch many news sources with diverse opinions, it is noteworthy to mention that CNN reported that after battling Covid-19 for almost a month, and spending 28 days on a ventilator and heart monitor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, graphic artist Richard Soliz returned to the hospital, not for treatment but to apologize to doctors and staff for their great care. He realized that choosing not to be vaccinated nearly cost him his life. According to Soliz’s pulmonologist, and director of ICU at Harborview, about 99 out of 100 patients admitted to the hospital had not been vaccinated when Soliz was admitted.

Crossing the Teakwood U Bein Bridge on the Outskirts of Mandalay To Witness the "Mother of All Sunsets"

“The World is a book and those who do not travel it read only a page.”—St. Augustine

After visiting more monasteries containing bigger than life statues of the Buddha and other legendary deities, I crossed the historic U Bein Bridge with Maybelle’s daughter, Michelle MhuMadii who I have haven’t seen in eight years. She has grown into a respectful, pretty and delightful young lady.

The U Bein bridge was built over 150 year ago and is believed to be the largest teakwood bridge in the world. It stretches out to 1.2 kilometers across the Taungthaman Lake in the ancient capital of Amarapura on the outskirts of Mandalay. It is one of Myanmar’s favorite adventures for fun-loving tourists from around the world. U Bein Bridge was named after a mayor who had it built. It is supported by over 1000 teakwood poles is an Important part of everyday life in the community. It makes it possible for villagers to get their kids to school, fisherman to catch their fish and for locals to reach religious sites and food markets. Like many people present, we were there to experience the magnificent golden yellow sunset together. When we got to the end of the bridge, I hired out a boat so Michelle and I could obtain a better vantage point to see the sun gradually melt below the horizon. Afterwards our oarsman took us to shore with a colorful flotilla of boats where we met Maybelle for the drive back to the hotel.

What’s interesting about bridges is they symbolize hope. If you can just get over that bridge, you just may find yourself in a better place. Some bridges are harder to cross than others. If you are afraid of heights they can be scary. If feeling the bridge shakes beneath your feet—as it did mine—makes you unsettled, then crossing can pose a challenge. If a bridge is narrow and has no guard rails like U Bein, it can make you pause. On the other hand, the prospect of better things to come on the distant shore gives one hope. In this case the reward was the sunset for all those who were present. As actor, director and producer Woody Allen said: “The secret of success is showing up.”

Postscript: There are so many monastery dogs that sadly look malnourished. I took a photo of these two cute puppies that appeared to be from the same litter cuddling one another. There is also a photo of a group of young monks who appear to be making a getaway with a cart, but in fact they are really doing their chores—sweeping the monastery grounds—which is a meditation in and of itself.

Postscript: This post was originally posted on Facebook by me on January 29, 2018, during a visit to Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) with my wfe Cecile. We spent a week visiting Maybelle and her daughter Michelle MhuMadii prior to a tour of Southeast Asia. Michelle is now living with her aunt in Allentown, PA, and working for Amazon. Myanmar was recently taken over by a military junta during a brutal and barbaric coup-d’ E’tat.