Year 2011

View from the studio

It's here.  2010 is gone and 2011 is here....a clean slate (albeit with a bit of junk in the trunk from previous years), an opportunity to try again.

We humans are fortunate in that!  It seems we're given several tomorrows to work with....lots of second chances.  Somebody out there likes us, eh?

Last night Jack and I went to the store and got a few last minute supplies...milk, eggs, bread and a little "nippy" for ringing in the New Year.

On the way home, we stopped by some of the places we used to live at when we were in the bus.  China Basin sure has changed!  For the better, I think....although it would have been nice to find a compromise where vehicularly housed San Franciscans could have continued living their lives.  We sure tried!  Even had a Working Group.  We met with S.F. Board of Supervisors members, tried to make it happen.

Apparently the city had other ideas for the property.

Anyway....While we were out, we stopped to watch the sun set on the last day of 2010 before making our way home.  Once home we got comfortable and picked up our music....stopping briefly to wish friends well for  the New Year. 

I wanted to stay up and write through the first full night of the New Year...that's been my custom for a very long time.  But this cold has me operating on less than full strength, so I was asleep by 2 a.m.

This morning we woke in plenty of time to watch the Rose Parade, another tradition since I can remember.
I felt more hopeful this morning than I have in a long time, and hope the feeling sticks.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Year 2010...let's hope, pray and work together to make our country, and our world, a safer, better place to live.

Page

We're watching 2010 come to an end. 
I don't feel much like partying, per se...this cold has me blowing my nose every few minutes.  So we're just going to celebrate at home, just the two of us.  We're going to call a few friends, but for the most part it will be just us, and that's perfectly fine.

Jack and Randi in the studio

There seems to be a bit of optimism lately; people are open to the possibility that our country's problems can be worked on....which is a big difference from just a few weeks ago, prior to the election, when most folks thought we were going to hell in a hand basket.  I think there was a very clear message sent in November, and am so glad of it.  However, there is still WAAAAAAAY to much political gaming going on in Washington D.C. for government to operate correctly. 

We'll see what happens.

For our New Year's Eve, we'll be making some music, watching the ball drop on t.v. like millions of others, and whispering little prayers that our species survives, moves on to our next best selves, and that peace can find a place in our lives.

So for tonight, Fifty Five Is The New Page....as we turn it, we pray that tomorrow really does bring a better day.

Grateful Reflection

Our friends are visiting so I won't be writing much of a post until around tonight or tomorrow morning, but wanted to write a little something.

Labyrinth at Santa Fe NM Native American Museum

Being grateful for what one has is important; it keeps self pity away but even more....it reminds us just how very fortunate we really are.  Especially when times are tough.

Some people think that sounds ridiculous, being grateful when things are difficult, but it really can work.  We've been going through a few things-as has everybody-and there are two ways to handle it all; constructive or destructive. Pro-active or De-active.

I prefer the former, positive spin. Although to deny a few days on the pity pot would be an outright lie.
I'm very good at it, self pity.  I'm probably some sort of world record holder for being able to climbing into a martyr jag. And I can really hang on to it, too!  But it never got me anywhere.

Looking back, something was watching over me...but otherwise my life wasn't really progressing until that day when it started to change.  No, I'm not going to go into one of those 12 stepper stories about this, that and the other thing....anybody who's been reading this blog knows some of the excuses I used for my binge days.

Suffice to say....one booze-hazed early morning I saw myself in the mirror and was not impressed at the sallow faced, empty-eyed being that stared back at me.  I've never been one for make-up, mirrors or anything but have always tried to be presentable; but the creature's reflection in the glass looked like one of those red nosed, bloated, weathered wino I'd seen in the alleys and slums of San Fancisco and Los Angeles....not to mention Philly and all other cities of personal note.

For some reason, at that moment I was ready to climb up out of that ditch.  It wasn't easy and I still sometimes have to fight those urges to overindulge when the going gets too tough.  I can drink socially, and even have the occasional sip-like when I was baking with bourbon for the holidays, but I know not to let it get out of hand. There are rules of the road like do not drink when depressed and, as luck would have it my stomach isn't so forgiving anymore and forces me to stop after only 2 or 3 shots of bourbon, and I don't like anything else.  Even wine gives me headaches these days, though in the thrilling days of yesteryear I must have helped keep them in business.

These days it's more about faith than fifths.  I am grateful for all things, good and difficult in this life. Including the ability to feel the strain of the climb....I know the view at the top will be incredible!

So for today, Fifty Five is all about Grateful Reflection...the person in the mirror and what lies underneath, just waiting to be discovered. I am grateful for having the opportunity to make that discovery new each day.

Happy Camper

On the Road circa 2009

Going through a few more photos....stumbled across this one.  Jack and I went on a great road trip in 2009.....we meandered about and stopped by for a visit with our friends Jan and Vincent up in Shasta. 

We love to cruise, especially dirt roads and new places.  Sometimes it gets a little scary, looking over the side of a cliff as our car winds its way around in the gravel and clay.  I'll confess to a couple of moments when things got a little hairy, but if a person doesn't raise their pulse rate once in a while, how do they even know if they've lived?!!  Jack is an excellent driver and has always gotten us home safe, no matter how intricate the maneuvers!

We also like to camp, so our kind of a road trip is perfect!  We don't go to "campsite" camps....we prefer to rough it as much as possible.  We have a few favorite spots, Mendocino National Forest is top of the list for "local" fare.   Dirt roads,  no blacktop parking lots or check-in desks.  To us, heaven is a nice, private spot under the trees near the creek.  If it has a fire pit, fine.  If not, we make one by digging a round hole and lining it with rocks.

Camping is in my blood.  My family did it a lot when we were growing up....between childhood, scouting and a stint or two of homelessness,  I've had a pretty good education on how to get along in the "wild."  Jack's done a fair amount of camping too through his life, so we make a real good team on the road.


We're hoping to get out there again soon....a little weekend away would be nice.  When we do, we'll make sure to take plenty of pictures and videos.  Sometime I hope to do some winter camping, but at the same time I'm realistic....arthritis doesn't like the cold, at least mine doesn't.


Anyway, for today, Fifty Five Is The New Happy Camper...looking back on past adventures and looking forward to the next!




  

Anniversary

Well, it's going on the one year anniversary of this blog and although I haven't written every day, I've done my best to write often.  As my friend and beat poet Philip Hackett says, "A writer writes." and he's so right. Right? So Write!

Life as Landscape....fractal by rcw

Writing has always been important to me.  I used to keep journals, well actually thought books. My favorites were the old black and white "marble" print cover copy books like school kids use.  I still like them today...sturdy, good paper quality and handy in every setting. For some reason, when people are using them it looks like they mean business....and in my case, I do!

So far, doing this blog has forced me to slow down and really look at life. You know, give it more than lip service and a pat on the head.  It's been a real examination of not only conscience, but of purpose too. I've had to be critical; after all there are a lot of goals not yet achieved and time's a wasting! 

This blog will continue through to my Fifty Sixth birthday, April 14, 2011.  After that, I'll probably find something else to blog about...or just continue on the journey already started, expanding the field beyond age fifty five.  To be sorted out when the time comes.

For now, Fifty Five Is The New Anniversary....one year and counting for Fifty Five Is The New!

Celebration

Soul Flight  by rcw

Woke up with a cold...ugh!  Sick in bed, too wrung out to do much but wanted to write a few lines.

New Year's eve is coming...lots of people are planning parties, buying noise makers and funny hats.  My folks used to host New Year's eve parties when we were growing up.  The neighbors and a few family friends would come over around seven and sit around playing games, eating finger food and partaking of various liquid libations.

I was too young for the drinking part, although I will confess to a few "sneak-sips" while clearing the table.  As long as we kids were busy playing in the basement we were allowed to stay up until midnight.

Some of the other kids would fall asleep, but not me! Insomniac since forever, I'd keep myself amused or help clear the table....which was amusing too....until it was time to ring in the New Year!

They'd pull out noise makers, I was more of a purist.  Mom had this great aluminum pan lid that sounded like a gong when hit with a wooden spoon.  Between that combination and a few paper bags to pop, I was good to go!

Once the excitement died down, Mom would send us off to bed.  She didn't know that I'd sit at the top of the steps and watch through the banister as the adults got comfy with a few final nite caps.

New Years are more sedate these days for me...usually spent with Jack and once he goes to sleep I sit and write for a while.  And that's perfectly fine for me.  So we'll ring in 2011 on Friday night peacefully and happily.  And I'll hopefully be over my cold by then!

For today, Fifty Five Is The New Celebration, a little more quiet than days of yore...but at least no hang-overs!