Things That Give Me Hope

Yesterday I gave modest contributions to a "walk-a-thon" competition that my two youngest grandsons, Leif and Oliver, will be competing in. They both led their grades in laps last year; Oliver in spite of injuring his ankle and limping to the finish line.

That brings me to consider the nature of true competition, as opposed to the false competition capitalism imposes on us, and which victimizes us as we age and become vulnerable. True competition is the drive to compete against ourselves -- to be the best we can be instead of something less.

The vision of little Oliver competing against himself last year inspires me. This is a little boy with a beautiful smile, an inner joy that his mother, Sarah Daisy, cultivates.

I am having a tough time at work, but I am determined to follow my youngest grandson's example and soldier on. I have always been extremely competitive -- not against others but against my weaker self.

I know I can still do better, be better, accomplish more. And I owe that to my family and society.

-30-

Old Folks

At this point in my career, it feels like I shouldn't have to prove anything.

But companies are cruel to older people.

I go in every day, do my job(s), and answer the many questions staffers, interns and others ask. I think I am still doing what I have always tried to do -- help others. After all, I am an ex-PCV. (Peace Corps Volunteer.)

Yesterday it was announced that my digital unit is being dismantled, and the remnants being assigned to other managers. The person in charge is one of the worst managers I have ever suffered under, and believe me, I have seen many bad managers.

Why is this happening? We have built a great team, won every award imaginable and done fabulous work. Because he thinks I am old and vulnerable and he is moving in for the kill.

This world simply makes no sense to me any longer.

-30-

Waiting

I feel like I did many years ago in the hours before Hurricane Katrina hit Mississippi -- a sense of dread. This time it is the Carolinas and Hurricane Florence. It looks like a bad situation but who knows?

I am working from home today and monitoring the situation via CNN, not because I have to but because I want to.

-30-

Happy 24th!

We celebrated Aidan's birthday at dinner tonight with his girlfriend, Kelsey, her parents and younger brother plus Dylan's close friend Meghan. It was a lovely time.

So this was a social weekend from my perspective. Saw everyone in the family except for Julia, who of course is back east at college.

A very satisfying weekend.

-30-

Celebration

Here are some of the grandkids at today's party -- a party that used to be called a baby shower -- at Peter and Clarie's house.

The new little girl who is to join our family is due in about five weeks.

As I have grown older, I have realized how blessed I am. I am not rich, far from it, but when it comes to the people who love me I am the richest man in the world.

-30-

Surprises

Yesterday, out of the blue, my youngest texted me that she was listening to our latest Bay Curious podcast, "East Bay Walls." I didn't know she was even aware of this work, let alone would spend time with it.

She's in college near Baltimore, starting her sophomore year. Her probable major is Peace Studies. I've been contacting friends about informational interviews she might be able to get to explore career options in that field, which are numerous in the D.C. area.

It gives me great pleasure imagining my daughter traveling the world, trying to help make it a better place.

-30-

End of Summer

When I was young, back in Michigan, Labor Day weekend was he last of the "big three" (the others being Memorial Day and the 4th of July) when our family would go camping and celebrate summertime.

Before we bought into Rolling Hills, we would often go to Ludington State Park. There, we would catch fish in Lake Hamlin and collect blueberries on the Island Trail. At Mud Lake in Rolling Hills, we would catch fish and collect blackberries and apples.

We always had enough to eat.

The thing that always struck me on Labor Day weekend was nostalgia. Summer was coming to a close and very soon we would be back in school and experiencing increasingly cold weather.

Since I arrived in San Francisco in 1971 I have become accustomed to a very different climate. Here, it is cold in summer (fog) and warm in the spring and fall. Winter is normally the rainy season but we often have droughts.

I realize all of these tendencies are threatened by climate change. Humans have altered our environment so radically that who knows what kind of places these will be in the future.

But for now, for me, Labor Day still signals the end of summer, even though here it is more the beginning of summer, actually.

-30-