History's Echoes in a Garage

I spent most of today helping other friends clean out boxes and boxes of papers from my late friend Raul's garage in Berkeley. It was a sobering experience, as I have been trying to get rid of my stuff for years now, and have succeeded in reducing the pure volume of material by maybe 25 percent.

But what should be saved? And who should decide?

Pack-rats like Raul and me save all sorts of things, some trivial, some no doubt important from some perspectives.

A century from now all of this would be invaluable. Now?

Among the things I found was an old rolodex from the '80s. My home number was in there from where I lived at the time -- in the Haight.

I also found a paper written by one of Raul's students at SF State 28 years ago. She is now a senior editor at the station.

Plus a copy of "Raising Hell," the textbook Dan Noyes and I wrote 32 years ago. Raul had it marked for use in the classes he was already teaching three decades ago at SF State.

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Visualize the Wind

Look at this very cool wind map of our planet. It is mesmerizing.

I have always been fascinated by the very basics of things around me: the air, the sky, the moon, the sun, the soil, flowers, trees, animals, birds, the light, and sounds, and the strange feelings all of these elements evoke inside us.

This one is about the wind.

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Day After Christmas

Merry Christmas

Spot the tiny helicopter in the last photo, flying off into the sunset. Hint: Click on photo to enlarge...

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Christmas Eve Post

The kids and I went to our favorite brunch place today, and then Julia and I finished up our Christmas shopping. It's a lovely afternoon here with temps in the 70s. I was able to buy my children and their children many more presents this year now that I'm employed.

What a blessing that is!

Recently we celebrated pie day at KQED (above).

Tonight I plan on going to a party for a little while. Tomorrow, Christams, across the Bay to gather with the family.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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From My Neighborhood to Yours

This is always an odd time of year, with time suddenly hard to measure -- did it speed up or slow down? --, nostalgia in the air, and people on the move.

There is no time like Christmas in American culture.

In my neighborhood tonight, as I walked home after dark, I noticed for the first time since I started working at KQED, that there was abundant parking everywhere. Many residents are traveling and many people who work around here, including at KQED, are not coming to work these days.

So it is a different feeling in this place tonight. Much like during Burning Man, the local equivalent of Christmas.

There are lights in some of the windows around here, and trees in some houses. Not in mine; the kids and I just didn't get to it this year, which I regret. Too much homework, too many college applications and too many conflicts with their jobs, parties, and other commitments.

So my house remains undecorated. Maybe tomorrow, Christmas Eve, I'll make an effort to dress up the place a bit.

Time is running out, obviously, on the year. As I look back on it, it was a great year. I got my financial house in order. My kids are all fine.

But there were tragedies. My sweet middle daughter's marriage collapsed. I lost two sweet friends, Raul and Michael.

So as I mourn these losses and celebrate these successes, I wish everyone and anyone who reads these words a very merry Christmas! Who know whether we will have any more together, so let's enjoy this one, best that we can.

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