Saturday, July 25, 2015
Happy Birthdays #6 and #7
Happy Outing
julia is back from the Grand Canyon, where she had a great time, making new friends from all over. She, Dylan and I plan to attend a family birthday party for the little guys this afternoon.
Aidan has to work but may join us later. He and Zaira were also at last night's game.
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Thursday, July 23, 2015
The Problem and Solution Connection
Today I attended, by conference call, my latest board meeting for GreatNonProfits, a group I helped start many years ago. Due to new rules in this state, I will be cycling off the board after the next meeting, in October.
In many ways, though I have probably mentioned GNP rarely here, my history with it parallels the origins of this blog. That's because one of my main preoccupations ~ten years ago was the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the journalistic work I did on that subject helped stimulate the creation of GNP.
It is funny to contemplate how much of my work has led to non-profits. The Pesticide Action Network after Circle of Poison.
The Rainforest Action Network, based on PAN.
And, of course, CIR, probably my biggest personal contribution to the non-profit world.
Journalists have a variety of motivations for doing our work but impact is certainly one. Since we are always exposing problems, it is nice when what we do helps motivates others to seek solutions.
-30-
In many ways, though I have probably mentioned GNP rarely here, my history with it parallels the origins of this blog. That's because one of my main preoccupations ~ten years ago was the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the journalistic work I did on that subject helped stimulate the creation of GNP.
It is funny to contemplate how much of my work has led to non-profits. The Pesticide Action Network after Circle of Poison.
The Rainforest Action Network, based on PAN.
And, of course, CIR, probably my biggest personal contribution to the non-profit world.
Journalists have a variety of motivations for doing our work but impact is certainly one. Since we are always exposing problems, it is nice when what we do helps motivates others to seek solutions.
-30-
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Memories of Place
As you grow earlier, it is natural to think back on the place(s) you grew up, possibly romanticizing them, and to grow nostalgic.
As much as I recall my 22.5 years in Michigan fondly, I have rarely been tempted to move back there. The reasons to do so are compelling -- to see my family members there and to live in a far more affordable place -- I have built my own family here on the West Coast.
I have been here all but one of the past 44.5 years. All six of my kids were born in San Francisco, and four of my six grandchildren were born in the Bay Area or Sacramento.
But through the wizardly of cable TV packages, I have been able to see my childhood baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, a bunch recently and they mention the cities and universities around the state -- Lapeer, Eastern Michigan U., and old memories get stirred up.
-30-
As much as I recall my 22.5 years in Michigan fondly, I have rarely been tempted to move back there. The reasons to do so are compelling -- to see my family members there and to live in a far more affordable place -- I have built my own family here on the West Coast.
I have been here all but one of the past 44.5 years. All six of my kids were born in San Francisco, and four of my six grandchildren were born in the Bay Area or Sacramento.
But through the wizardly of cable TV packages, I have been able to see my childhood baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, a bunch recently and they mention the cities and universities around the state -- Lapeer, Eastern Michigan U., and old memories get stirred up.
-30-
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
A Day When It Becomes Real
Anticipating Friday when my youngest gets home from the Grand Canyon. Cannot wait to hear her stories. Meanwhile, today I mailed off a very big check to The Oxbow School in Napa, where she will be moving next month.
That simple act made concrete for me that my "baby" is growing up and will be moving away very soon. But it was a pleasure to be able to have saved enough resources to support this opportunity for her, just like I did for her Grand Canyon trip.
She is going places and doing things at the age of 16 I certainly never had the opportunity to do. That is one definition of success, right? If your kids can somehow have a richer experience of life than yours.
I think we parents all strive for that.
-30-
That simple act made concrete for me that my "baby" is growing up and will be moving away very soon. But it was a pleasure to be able to have saved enough resources to support this opportunity for her, just like I did for her Grand Canyon trip.
She is going places and doing things at the age of 16 I certainly never had the opportunity to do. That is one definition of success, right? If your kids can somehow have a richer experience of life than yours.
I think we parents all strive for that.
-30-
Monday, July 20, 2015
Grandchildren & Baseball
Two of my Grandsons -- Luca and Leif -- the only two to share the first initial of their name, have birthdays this week, on Thursday and Friday.
Their Moms cooked up an idea that going to a Giants baseball game would be one nice way to celebrate.
A n old friend of mine is a season ticket holder. I contacted him and he said, 'Sure, I've got four tickets you can have.'
So on Friday night it will be off to the old ballgame they will go, with Leif's older brother, James, and one of the parents.
I should be watching from home on TV. And welcoming Julia back from her Grand Canyon adventure.
Those not into baseball miss one of the central aspects of American culture, although there are many other aspects -- literature, ballet, theater, movies, TV, music of all sorts, and all manner of other stuff.
But in some ways that may be unique, baseball is inter-generational. I can toss a whiffle ball to my grandchildren in ways I did to their parents decades ago and my Dad did for me decades before that.
My Dad saw Babe Ruth and Hank Greenberg. I saw Al Kaline and Rocky Colavito. My older kids saw Will Clark and Matt Williams. They and my younger kids saw the great Barry Bonds.
These days, they all see Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner.
Folk heroes, all.
-30-
Their Moms cooked up an idea that going to a Giants baseball game would be one nice way to celebrate.
A n old friend of mine is a season ticket holder. I contacted him and he said, 'Sure, I've got four tickets you can have.'
So on Friday night it will be off to the old ballgame they will go, with Leif's older brother, James, and one of the parents.
I should be watching from home on TV. And welcoming Julia back from her Grand Canyon adventure.
Those not into baseball miss one of the central aspects of American culture, although there are many other aspects -- literature, ballet, theater, movies, TV, music of all sorts, and all manner of other stuff.
But in some ways that may be unique, baseball is inter-generational. I can toss a whiffle ball to my grandchildren in ways I did to their parents decades ago and my Dad did for me decades before that.
My Dad saw Babe Ruth and Hank Greenberg. I saw Al Kaline and Rocky Colavito. My older kids saw Will Clark and Matt Williams. They and my younger kids saw the great Barry Bonds.
These days, they all see Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner.
Folk heroes, all.
-30-
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Backyard Stroll
The confinement of human culture never slows down in amazing me. I have felt confined my whole life. How to live freely the way I want to live? And yet this is supposedly the most free of free places. A large jet just rose over head, heading somewhere or another.
My backyard is a free place, that is for sure. I can do whatever I want to do back there. It turns out what I want to do most these days is just capture the natural beauty around me. That's all. A very modest goal.
And don't those young artichokes look yummy?
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