Holidays

Everyone is squeezing as much in as possible - feel the frenzy! So easy to get caught in the moment and not remember to go even faster - to see what you are made of. Let's all ramp it up until something blows and pops. Stroke out in your 30's - why wait til you you are elderly. Drive more, don't question low gas prices, trample people on your way to great deals, drink and smoke more, zoom zoom zoom!

out of California

Born Here, From Here-- who cares! There is life out of California, different to be sure, but life indeed. Recently, spent time in New Mexico and in Oregon and was remembering John Steinbeck words from "Travels with Charley" reminding us that: "there is no life on the interstate." During a cross state sojourn he drove Rocinante (his cool truck) and met people (real Americans) as he drove and stopped at back road spots. During his time, the box super-stores and McMansions were not a pervasive and insidious blight on the fluorescent saturated landscape. What he could easily find by slowing down is still available. Try it, "How one thing is done is how all is done."
We live in paradise and in the best of times- feel and know that.
It is an honor to be here now. Easy? Hell no, but what are viable alternatives? Difficult can be fine....

amongst the frenzy!

How is everyone's mental health? I am maintaining sanity by focusing on the beauty of night skies, melodic tunes, breaking a sweat, children's laughter and hugs from patients.... So much noise and confusion can distract from all the intense beauty, really too much beauty to absorb. Sure, I am keeping up with most of the environmental unrest, political upheaval, and intense angst found even here in the Bubble of the Carmel. I am also paying attention to the happiness from my young boys, and my wife's musical groove and the changing of the seasons.... Way more impressive than the frenetic noise. I was watching Once (again) and my eyes swelled with tears as the earnest musical stylings effused from the music makers-- very nice and JOYFUL! Don't we all want to sing,pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano and participate in the universe song? Let it out, and when you feel great -- shout it out!

fast track

If you want to get to know your neighbors the easy (though traumatic way) wait for an Earthquake, Tornado or a 100,000 + acre fire. Though dramatic, devastating and nerve wracking--disasters do serve another purpose: bringing people together. It is easy to isolate yourselves into a never ending commute between vocation and avocation and escapism to your yon pod (read : home) and life therein. This Basin Complex Fire enabled us to meet and greet our neighbors for the first time and reengage us with our known neighbors and established allies.
If you want to appreciate your home and all its lovely amenities, a near disaster can also facilitate this. If you want to appreciate your family being under the same roof safely sleeping, apply the same situation. Are you complacent in your daily routines; are you lazy in your general appreciation; have you taken your routine for granted, are ye bored? Watch out what you ask for, the universe is listening....
For a while our newly built home stood as a reminder of our transitory nature and our fragile hold on our possessions. I envisioned our home being transformed into ash flying into the ethos. Alas, our home still stands and our connection to our community has improved.
I do not wish for a repeat anytime soon but I am glad for the reminder of what truly has import.