End of Year Thoughts

The three younger kids and I had brunch at Boogaloos today, perhaps for the last time, as it is reported to be about to close. We've been going there for a decade, so this will be a loss for us.

It was misting here today (I refuse to call that rain), and my staff and I celebrated the New Year a bit at work before most of them head off to Lake Tahoe or New Years Eve parties.

This has been a good year for me. I have been able to handle the financial challenges and support my family. My group at work won lots of awards and is increasingly recognized as a key to the future of KQED.

The kids and grandchildren are all beautiful and engaged with what they are doing.

Who could ask for anything else?

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Holidays, Continued

Am hoping to see the younger three kids tomorrow and have lunch with them. I'm working this week and we are posting lots of stories. It is cold (for us) here, so we all wear big jackets and sweatshirts at KQED.

At home, I'm trying to make my cache of Scottish meat pies last, as these are by far the biggest attraction in my flat right now. Especially at a time of year when I am nostalgic about my family and our heritage.

I found a place that issues them -- 8 for $30, delivered frozen. When you do the math, that is a pretty good price for dinner for one, but not as cheap as grocery store food. So I am trying to figure out whether to order some more soon.

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Merry Christmas Plus One: Live Like an Artist

Big extended family gathering of 17 of us yesterday in El Cerrito. Laila baked our family recipe of shortbread, which Dylan loves, and Sarah found me a box of frozen Scottish meat pies, one of which I had for breakfast today. So peppery, just as I remember from over 60 years ago in Royal Oak.

Meanwhile, Loic's Mom made us pork roast, potatoes au gratin, and ratatouille, followed by the French tradition of 13 desserts, which we figured out dates to the last meal of Christ.

The most amazing thing about dinner was Dylan eating up the ratatouille, because he claims to hate vegetables.

As I grow older, and sit watching my six children and six grandchildren (to date) interact, I am struck by the richness of their inter-relationships. And how unique every one of us turns out to be, on this planet.

Nothing lasts, certainly no person lasts. All we have are these special moments, while we are here. Life is so precious, yet we take it for granted. Maybe that is a survival skill in and of itself. If we thought too hard about our inevitable demise, we might act in impetuous and dangerous ways.

Like an artist.

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Reflecting

It's Christmas Eve and I am busy wrapping presents for my six children and six grandchildren. We had some much needed rain overnight and I am hoping more is on the way, here in thirsty California.

Life is far too short. Another old friend of mine died this morning, in Berkeley.

As I package up these gifts, which I hope will bring some joy to the 12, I am also thinking about how to best pass on family legacies, such as the things my parents left me.

I do not want it to seem odd but I think I would like to give each of my kids a piece of woodwork tomorrow from my Dad. They are boxes and candlesticks.

What do you think?

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More Homecomings

Aidan and Zaira came home late last night, so most of the gang is here now. Peter planning to drive up Tuesday or so. Hope to see him tomorrow for brunch.

At work I am once again in charge of supervising the weekly TV news show, which is something I like being a part of. I'm not really a TV person per se but I learn a lot being around the crew in the control room and talking with the guests in the Green Room and after the show.

It's chilly here with the rain looking to be on the way. the good news this month is we have gotten a lot of snow in the northern Sierra, which is the most important source of our water throughout the year (Inot rain or groundwater.

The snows melt in spring and summer and flow down into reservoirs -- this is how California channels its water from, in San Francisco's case, the Hetch Hetchy all the way to the coast. It looks like the next storm may be Sunday or sooner.

Got almost all my Christmas shopping to do still, and feeling the pressure. But also looking forward to being with family and celebrating the holiday. I intent to work a light schedule the next two weeks -- only 7 of the 10 days with shortened hours. Hope to oredr gifts this weekend!

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Homecomings

This morning, I drove back up to Napa for the second time in the past week and the fourth time in the past two months to bring Julia home. Her term at the Oxbow School for the Arts has finished. She said the past 48 hours have been emotional, with lots of tears, as everyone said their good-byes, but she actually seemed more composed than I had expected.

We loaded up all of her stuff, but then realized neither she nor I knew how to configure the bike rack so we could also bring back her bike. Luckily, two other parents who were also there picking up their daughters helped us out and we got the sucker tied down and ready to do. A nice reminder to always ask others for help when you do not know what to do.

One of them told me, "You could go all the way to Florida with that," which brought up lots of memories.

Traffic was heavy. Finally back in the Mission we stopped by El Matate to get lunch for both of us and Dylan. Four of my KQED staff arrived there the same time we did. I stayed in the car (illegal parking) while Julia handled the order. It sounds like they were all too shy to talk, which is regrettable.

Then we drove to Bernal, where Dylan helped us unload Julia's bags, and we ate that lunch.

After that, I drove home and worked from here. The whole time I have been thinking about how we raise our kids, have dreams for them, and how we are among the lucky. Julia's experience at Oxbow has been amazing.

I also realized that I had blown off a phone message by Jeffry Toobin.

Oops.

He and I will reconnect tomorrow.

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More From Napa

Today reminded me of the central role art plays in all of our lives, whether we realize or choose to value it or not.

These teenagers pushed themselves well out of their comfort zones to create these pieces. And that is what art is all about.

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Art Show in Napa

Drove up to Napa early this morning to watch Julia and her fellow students present their final projects at the Oxbow School of the Arts. She gave a compelling explanation of the research and thought that went into her healing quilt, and was very articulate and composed. In heals (above) she is eye to eye with me.

Such a strong, lovely, talented young woman and has spent the fall among so many other impressive people from all over the world at her school. I talked with many of her friends and fellow students, all of whom also made impressive presentations about their projects.

One young woman from China told how she built two interlocking three-legged chairs to illustrate the relationship of siblings. As a person born during China's one-child policy, she has no siblings.

Others explored depression and mental illness among artists, body image issues, surveillance and AI, and many other substantive issues.

What a day!

Afterwards we went with friends to one of the Napa area's many great restaurants. A great day!

All Okay Here

A nice long talk with Aidan in Missoula today about an essay he is writing about a recent Margaret Atwood novel about the dystopian future for our species. I love the way he thinks about fiction. He is a very good writer.

I also appreciate the intellectual development that happens for our kids during a college education at a quality state institution. I can tell he is in good hands. He is growing and changing.

It is cloudy and a bit rainy here today. We keep hearing that a record El Nino is on the way, which would change the dynamics here during this historic dry period. I love the rain -- hell, all Californians love the rain at this point.

I'm just doing the laundry and about to cook myself an omelette. A very quiet Sunday here in S.F.

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Christmas Lights

So there is this house across the street and a couple paces to the south with white lights strung over their door and down their stairs. From here is loots like a prefect replica of the state of California.

Of course that is only from this angle...

Thanksgiving 2.0

At Aquatic Park in Berkeley we all saw the big Monarch butterfly migration in a tree there...