New York, I Love You

Shoulders sun burnt. Finished some morning Maple and Brown Sugar. Been having some eggs and bacon of late. Not a real cereal guy and the work to make pancakes and waffles is really more than I am up for. So boiled water,a dry package Maple and Brown Sugar, and more swimming under the summer sun. 

Haven’t written for some time. Not that there hasn’t been adventure. Not that there hasn’t been anything to say or discuss. Just now is time for a quiet moment. Listening to the desert winds blow outside and its time. 

Watching a muted movie. Movie is called “New York, I Love You.” It’s a great movie. Several vignettes of New York residents in love. There is an old couple taking a walk on the pier. Another a one night stand. An obsessed artist falls for Chinese medicine herbalist. A husband and wife role playing as if strangers. So on and so forth. It’s themes are about Love. 

Couple days ago. Saw this FB profile of a friend of a friend. It was a new picture. It was her and I assume it was her boyfriend. Surprised me a little. It marked a time of change. A time of growth of development. A landmark in one’s life. A graduation. When one life ends. Another begins. Without these moments of celebration, we would be amiss of so many of life’s special and precious instances. Too often they become common and we forget to cherish.

A picture here. A journal entry there. These deposits of our memories that makeup who we are and who we become. Shared moments with family, friends, enemies, acquaintances, and single-serving friends. We dismiss these cherished seconds and we think we have so many more.  I hope we do.

Still, as I watch, the muted movie. I am reminded of the necessity of Love. The necessity of Storytelling. The necessity of Sharing and Communicating. So much is said with a picture. A glance, a facial expression, a background. Clothes they wear. How the hair is cut. Shaved, coiffed, styled. Is there action? Is there stillness? Fast, slow, measured. In the medium of film, pictures say much. Add sound. The rise and fall of one’s voice. Is it confident, unsure? What is the rhythm the pacing? Bring music to the mix and each word said and unsaid touches one on an emotional level.

Haven’t written much late because I needed to re-fuel my wellspring. It hasn’t runneth over.

I enjoy this movie so. But I am not experiencing it fully. Sound is off and I am missing a richness. Its like knowing Love and not being in Love with someone. Watching the many vignettes of New Yorkers in love, I am reminded my times falling in love and experiencing love. From a romantic tryst to high school firsts. From awkwardness of infatuation to bold, pretend bravado to impressing a potential. This multitude of precious moments that fills our lives. I’ve seen it many times and I should save it to my library.  

Its like a new profile picture on FB with a new beau. Moments in time, in between. A captured moment for all the world to see to share. A time which holds true, then must morph through. We grow, we change, we develop. We share these moments. We share our insights, our pleasure. We share what troubles us and announce to the world a birth and new discovery. Its in these moments of what is and what could be. . .and what could be again.

So here I end. . .to begin again. . .and more importantly, to finish New York, I Love You. With sound.

Descano (Part 2 of 3)

(Cont)

It's a Journey
Got there and I am glad that I did. Spent a few hours there. It is a beautiful place. Sitting in the parking lot doing some reading and writing. Got a call from cousin Jason and asked where I was. Figuring I’d be here an hour or two. Said let's, "Hook up before the graduation party."

Many Things For the Senses
Well, it was an adventure at the Gardens. Koi, turtles, almost breaking my ankles, Japanese tea garden, Lilac lots, redwood trees, walk up hill to the Boddy house, getting lost, off trail, trams, trains, wedding parties, bonsais, chips, class on bonsai pruning, herons, jumping fish, waterfall, lots and lots of pictures (648 for the day). It was cool. Couple are not enough.

Listening to shuffled songs on the blackberry as I was on my journey. Thought of my Dad. This must be  where his inspiration may have manifested.

Altitude Equals Attitude
Sitting atop of the stone bench above his house. It was an adventure. Met up with Jay and we took a tram. Was not going to do the walk again around the place. It was tiring. Plus, the Salmon/ spinach crepes were escaping my digestive tract. Went to the bird observation and took some photos.

Remembering Special Moments
Don’t like to take too many pictures of people because that feels like an invasion of privacy. If they are far off and can’t get a good picture of the face, I am less troubled. If you noticed, don’t have too many pictures of my family. Just those things are private and special to me.

Rebirth, Renewals, and Wet Willies
The rest of the day was marking things to do on life list. Finally went to Vromans to get that Phoenix. Hung out with the family. Discovered that Cathy, Marn’s ex, got married that day.

Messed with Jillian. Gave her wet willies. (Jillian, It wasn’t coke. Just joking with you.) People don’t laugh and smile a lot. Some much tension around. Wet willies to all.

Sabbath and Serra
Went Saturday Mass in this huge church in Pasadena. Fourteen multi-colored columns. Pictures of saints. Father Serra statue was in the parking lot. (Forgot to take his picture) Church was huge. Had to be at least five stories high. I think a Filipino priest. Could tell by the slight accident. Notice atop of one of the arches that there was this gold mylar balloon overhead.

Feel My Flow
Got me thinking there is so much out there. If we just notice the signs. Would not have gone to the Descano Gardens if I didn’t notice the signs. Some stuff is in our mental hopper just percolating. At the right time, things begin to flow. You will remember some obscure factoid and you will be somewhere you are supposed to be. Don't forget to take pictures.

(Cont)

Descano (Part 1 of 3)

Back Again
Haven’t been posting for a bit. Been writing a little, but nothing I want to put out in the internet universe yet. Let’s call it first draft. Been busy. Yesterday, found me in the Descano Gardens. 168 acres or place to recharge. Green, green, and more green. Lots of colors.

Signs Overhead
What drew me to this place were signs on the road. First sign was tents on the overhead of a bridge. (Balloon in church—I’ll get back to this)

Free Food, Okay?
Anyways,  headed to my cousin’s graduation party in Pasadena. Got up early and was out the door. Anyways on the 210 freeway, saw these tents overhead. Thought it was a 5k and thought. "Free food, healthy giveaways, lets get off the freeway and go. Lots of time before the party" (There was a run on North Sierra Highway early in the morning)

Go This Way
Wanted to explore anyways. Some things on the fly are the best. Anyways, the sign on the fence, as I was getting off the 210 Freeway said, “Descano Gardens.” It piqued my curiosity. Must have read about it somewhere and it was in the hopper of things to do. 

Not a 5k Run, Just Vegetables
Back to the tents. It was a 5k. It was a farmers market on a deserted section of parking lots. Growers were bringing their wares. Vegetables, fruits, pastries, flowers, and there were a few restaurateurs.

Flower Power
Had a salmon, spinach crepes. My first. Took some photos of some flowers. Actually lots of flowers. Don’t know what it has been lately, but flowers have been motif for me. Perhaps it was the orange poppy fields. Perhaps, it was the Getty Smell Garden?

Minutes Away
Whatever, it was I started asking about the vendors about the Descano Gardens. No one knew what I was talking about. Going to say, just go to the graduation party. Walking to my car, almost bumped into a person was fumbling with his wallet. He glowed, a bit. I asked if he knew about the Descano Garden. He looked at me startled, as if I was an old high school buddy that forgot his name. In an excited, exasperated enthusiasm he told me about this local treasure.  He was quite descriptive. His glow and zeal fired me up. Guess, this is where I need to be. He said, "I must go and it was only a few minutes away."

(Cont)