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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Gil Dellinger, painter

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

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

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

Happy Cinco De Mayo Weekend: It’s History and Cultural Significance

For Americans with or without Mexican ancestry, the day has become an excuse to toss back shots of tequila with salt and lime and feast on tortilla chips smothered with melted orange cheddar cheese, a custom unfamiliar to most people in Mexico. In other words, like many holidays it has become commercialized, so much so, that it will run through the weekend.

However, in the United States, the date is largely seen as a celebration of Mexican American culture stretching back to the 1800s in California. It is usually marked by parades, street food, block parties, mariachi competitions, or folkloric ballet.

Cinco de Mayo is often confused with Mexico’s Independence Day which falls on September 16. In reality the holiday commemorates Mexico’s unexpected victory over France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The conflict had begun in 1861, after Benito Juarez, then the president of Mexico, suspended the nation’s foreign debt payments, and Napoleon III responded by sending French troops to invade.

The war was fought between 6,000 Mexicans and 8,000 French forces and despite being heavily outnumbered, General Ignacio Zaragoza and his troops were able to declare victory over its adversaries. The victory in Puebla galvanized the Mexican forces but turned out to be short-lived, and France later occupied the country, installing Maximilian I, as emperor. It wasn’t until 1887 when the Mexican Republic finally expelled the French, executed Maximilian I, and regained control of the country.

He is Gone But Not Forgotten: Celebrating the Life of Longtime Friend Mark Brodsky

After valiantly battling a life-threatening illness, our dear friend Mark Brodsky died Tuesday, May 2, at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View just minutes before Cecile and I went to sit vigil at his bedside. Mark can best be described as a mensch, which in Yiddish means to be supportive, to be a friend, and to have a caring heart. He also had desire of giving back to his community. He was a former mayor of Monte Sereno, and much beloved by the Rotary for all his mitzvahs (good deeds). He was also a policy advisor for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) who advocated proposals to reduce congestion on local freeways and reshape development. When Cecile and I downsized to Rinconada Hills seven years ago, he and his beloved wife and our dear friend Marleen followed our lead by moving into our gated community. It wasn’t too long before Mark became a board member of our HOA and got involved with the Tennis group.

A graduate of San Jose University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mark worked in the semi-conductor industry for many years, before deciding to start his own business called Laser Mark’s LLC, in 1988. It became the technology leader in Laser Processing Services. He also built custom lasers. Lasers were something we had in common, as I used a carbon dioxide in my podiatric medical practice back in the day. He also once made me a laser engraved business card, and other novelty items.

Mark loved his family, and his friends. He was a social butterfly, and never turned down an opportunity to attend a party or celebration. He had an endearing smile, a positive attitude, loved ball room dancing with Marleen. He also loved his Jewish faith and tradition, and loved telling jokes and stories. We were both born in 1950, and our birthdays were two months apart, his on July 26 and mine on August 26. Our respective wedding anniversaries were a day apart, and our favorite place to go to eat Italian food was Aldo’s, and Asian food at Mint Leaf.

Our favorite group activity with our circle of friends was our annual barbecue at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz that Marleen would organize for us sometime during the Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. One of the favorite rituals Mark and the group loved was a ceremony called Tashlich. We would each take a morsel of bread and cast it into the ocean. It represents letting go of our mistakes, errors in judgement, regrets, and guilt in the hope that they will be washed away, like the bread in the current, our hearts would open to blessing and gratitude for the new year.

Rest peacefully Mark, and know your life was and is a blessing to all.

Postscript: Friends and family including our daughter Michelle and husband Kyle attended the gravesite burial service at Los Gatos Memorial Park yesterday and a repast luncheon afterwards at Rinconda Hills

Participating in the Viva Calle SJ Open Street Event From Willow Glen to the Municipal Rosegarden

Bill and I had a unique opportunity on Sunday to enjoy a day of fun connecting with other residents of all ages in the Greater San Jose Area in a whole new way by participating in the Viva Calle event. The name combines the Spanish “Viva Calles,” which can mean both “the streets live” and “long live the streets.” The route began in downtown Willow Glen where we met Bill’s cousin Del and his wife Cathy who live a few blocks away to join us for the ride.

This was not just a bicycle event, but an open street event to leisurely walk, bike, skateboard, scooter, rollerblade and explore the city like never before. Miles of San Jose were temporarily closed. It was not a race. There was no start of finish on the route. It was pure freedom. There were business, and community service booths set up on both sides of the street and business owners along the route were encouraged to place visible signs and banners to promote their services. There were bicyclists playing music, skaters were dancing in the streets. There were first aid booths, and even a rock climbing structures. The San Jose Sharks had a booth, as did Arthur, the Bike Teacher who was fine tuning bikes. There was a cotton candy booth, and many more as seen in the photos. One unexpected highlight was watching the elite BMX Freestyle team do acrobatic biking stunts on ramps. We also enjoyed the young children and adults perform traditional Mexican dance.

Afterwards, Bill and I rode to the San Pedro Square Market for lunch and enjoyed a Vietnamese Chicken salad. There were a large group of people in several sections outdoors watching the Golden State Warriors play the Sacramento Kings.

In the end the Warriors edged out the Kings 126 to 125. Steph Curry posted 36 points which I’m sure made Bill’s cousin Del—who was wearing a Curry T-shirt very happy. By the time we got home, Bill and I clocked 27 miles.

Exotic Dinner with Friends at Meso Modern Mediterranean at Santana Row

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

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

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

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

A Wonderful Dinner with Friends at Hercules Drafthouse and Cantina

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: of our granddaughters Lyla & Emmy in Mineral Wells, Texas

“Angels Fly Because They Can Take Themselves Lightly.” -G.K. Chesterton

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

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

Once again,

congratulations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

—Mark Cavendish

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

of the world around you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Dolly Parton

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

—Charles M. Crowe

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Simon Schama

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

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

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

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

Source: Haggadadot.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fabulous Dinner with Friends at Willard Hicks Steakhouse and Grill in the Heart of Downtown Campbell

Always open to try new places, Cecile thought Willard Hicks had potential and thought our friends Nelson and Susan Bye whom we have taken many trips with might enjoy it too.

As usual Nelson brought a bottle of wine from his stash. This time it was Montague: The Baron Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, a rich, luscious full-bodied wine with flavors of red and black currents, plums and mulberries.

We shared a Spoonable skillet of poblano cornbread drizzled with jalapeño honey butter, a dish of sautéed wild mushrooms, and Cecile, Susan and Nelson shared Coconut Crusted Shrimp with sweet peppers, scallions, Thai curry broth, mango, micro greens and peanut and macadamia nuts. Unfortunately, I had to abstain as I am allergic to shrimp. Nelson also had a cup of French Onion soup.

For our entrees Cecile and Nelson enjoyed a Spicy Asian Mambo: Jalapeño teriyaki marinated filet, fire roasted peppers and spring onions with fresh chopped romaine hearts inn creamy Padilla pepper dressing. Susan had Grilled Bone-in Pork Chop: topped with apricot chutney, accompanied by crispy Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes and balsamic drizzle. I devoured a rich tasting Pappardelle Pasta: served with stroganoff style braised short rib, white wine cream, demi-glace and balsamic glaze. For dessert, Susan and Nelson and Cecile and I shared a Butter Cake with fresh strawberries and vanilla bean ice cream shared, and I had a Decaf Cappuccino. The service was excellent. Our waitress Melanie was a delight and made us feel at home. The only negative critique we had was even though we were on the other side of a spacious dining room the DJ was loud and it was somewhat difficult carrying on a conversation. However, we definitely would come back on weekday nights to try more of their offerings.

About the Owners:

Willard Hicks is one of a chain of restaurants conceived by owners Molly and Marcus Adams. After years of working at high-tech companies and startups back in the day, the married couple reportedly decided they wanted a change of pace and retired from high tech to pursue food service businesses that was inspired by their love of fine dining. Marcus, who once worked at networking company by day was a former DJ at night brought his love of music into Willard Hicks with DJs perform during the weekends.

Celebrating our 46th Wedding Anniversary: Where Did the Years Go?

“I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.”

—Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Forty six years have passed us by.

Forty six years of we, not I.

Forty six years we shared our lives.

Forty six years as man and wife (plus three living together)

Forty six years of love and joy

Forty six years, one loving girl and boy

Forty six years two precious granddaughters to love and adore

Here’s wishing you and I many years more.

Dearest Cecile, according to many surveys, couples who travel together

find more satisfaction in their lives. They experience better communication and have longer-lasting relationships.

Shared experiences have deepened our connection with one another. After each trip the everyday world

we live in is subtly changed. We have been blessed to travel world wide and have passed on that love

of travel to our kids, Jason and Michelle. We linger over memories of our adventures, including overcoming

the ordinary and sometimes extraordinary obstacles that can complicate any kind of travel. In the end

we celebrate the planning and scheduling that made the trip happen and the exhilaration of giving into

the impulse to escape whether with family or friends or just ourselves. I think you’ll agree that traveling with

the one(s) we love sparks the imagination and helps us remember one of the things that drew us to one another in the first place. I am looking forward to another destination, placing another pin on the map, and more photos to relive the experience. In the meantime, enjoy the photos of our travels as a couple that accompany this post.

Happy Anniversary, my love!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

“Happy Saint Patrick’s Day,” said the little green man behind his Shiny Silver UFO. As I stared at it in disbelief he said: “I may be otherworldly but I celebrate St. Patty Day too.” Okay, I kissed the Blarney Stone one too many times. The true story-so help me God-is retired commercial airline pilot named Bob placed this on the front of his green lawn in our gated community for the neighbors to see for the sole purpose of making us smile. Thank you Bob for placing a new installation on your lawn for each holiday.

High Winds Downed Trees & Power Outages & Flooded Bike & Pedestrian Trails

“Without minimizing widespread storm damage and attending hardship, it is nice to see the hills green again…”

—Andy Gere, The Mercury News

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “Tuesday was the worse single day for Bay Area outages in almost 3 decades.” Cecile and I thought it was a good day for some savory, rich, restorative Vietnamese Noodle Soup (Pho) and after a busy morning we attempted to drive to our favorite place: Le Quay. Within minutes of driving, it was like riding an obstacle course. The 40 to 50 mpr winds (85 mph at higher elevations) wreaked havoc on the trees within our gated community as well as the next one Arroyo Rinconada in Los Gatos where a large tree facing the street was downed and practically took up the width of Pollard Avenue. This scenario was repeated several times including a tree downed near El Camino Health Los Gatos Hospital which blocked our ability to pass. Another tree was completely uprooted next to Westmont High School. It felt like the sky was falling. The howling of the winds made it all the more worrisome.

We made it to the restaurant but it was for naught, the interior was completely dark and it was forced to close. We found out later that 300,000 customers in the Bay Area were without power including many restaurants that were forced to close. We had to circle back closer to our home and finally went to our old favorite Effie’s for lunch, one of the few places open. We discovered later, that nearly 300,000 PG&E customers in the Bay Area were without power. When the winds died down by more than half later in the day, I decided to ride my bike on the Los Gatos Creek trail. The creek has continued to overflow one section of the paved trail that spanned over 200 feet. It was blocked off on either side.

Across from the trail there were other downed trees. That said, I felt far safer riding my bike on the trails than I did when Cecile and I were attempting to find a place to have lunch. Across the street from the creek trail I met a woman walking her dog and we were were checking out a tree that was downed near her condominium. Fortunately, it fell away from the building. She said her home was without power for the last five hours. Even Wednesday, there were still tens of thousand of people suffering through power outages.

I posted some photos of the flood waters and downed trees, some blocking some entrances and exits forcing me to double back and seek out alternative routes. Finally, just as I thought I had seen the most spectacular roaring waterfall from the Vasona County Park Reservoir Spillway, the near continuing rain storms since last December was a sight to see, as more lanes were open to accommodate its flow downstream.