Holiday Saturday

A great day, as they go. The kids all here and we did some Christmas shopping and then (photo above) went to a movie late this afternoon in Daly City. I love the way the three of them enjoy doing things together -- just like their older siblings.

Within families there are competitions, of course, and sometimes negative consequences. But overall I have to say both of my wives (and I hope I) have done a pretty good job of raising six wonderful kids who love and appreciate each other.

Overall, it felt like a special day to me.

It's chilly in San Francisco. Christmas lights adorn many of the houses around here. Everyone's buying presents for each other.

There are many dark things and sad things and unfair things all around, but tonight I'm focused on the more hopeful lights in our lives.

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The Ups and the Downs

I apologize to anyone who checks this blog as I no longer have the energy to update it very often. I'm working very long hours at KQED, where we once again today broke an investigative story online.

Also, today brought a call from my youngest child nearly in tears. She'd lost her cellphone. I told her it was okay, and to use her friend's phone to dial her lost phone, just in case someone nice had found it, here in this mixed neighborhood, of rich, poor, and desperate people, the Mission.

She did and guess what? A store owner answered. Someone had found her phone and turned it in.

One of my holiday gifts for Julia is a new phone case for that lost and now found phone.

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With the Angels

At the memorial service for Michael Goodman in San Anselmo this afternoon, as she was singing a traditional prayer, it struck me what a beautiful voice the rabbi has. People talked about Michael; I was one of them. They talked about his kind face, his warm smile, his generous nature.

This is how we remember each other. We remember the good that is in each of us.

Michael's oldest son, Elliott, spoke for a bit. He seemed so grown up, eloquent and so much his father's son.

Many of us in that little chapel were in the same room for the first, and probably only time of our lives. Michael brought us together -- grieving for him.

I miss my friend, his warm nature, the way he was always so supportive of me and my challenges.

Elliott said his father is an angel now, with the other angels.

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