Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Simpler Things



When not worrying about the state of the global environment, the rise of authoritarianism, and the existential threat posed by AI, my focus these days is often on gardening, observing my grandchildren grow up, and sorting old family photographs.

As cherry tomatoes, carrots and peppers ripen in my sun-soaked planter box, strawberries and lemons fatten in another spot nearby. These are the hottest weeks in Northern California’s harvest season. Our most plentiful crop — plums — are already done.

My three youngest grandchildren recently showed off their the-dyed T-shirts made at camp under the redwood trees. Sometimes it seems like they are growing taller while I look at them.. Their voices are like music and I can see their parents in their gestures.

And while going through some old boxes, I found a photo (below) from about 18 years ago. It’s of my six kids all together. In it, they are gathered in my kitchen in my old apartment on Hampshire Street in San Francisco.

I miss those times.Three of them are parents themselves now and it’s rare they’re all under one roof even for a moment.

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