Harvest Moon

Early this morning, I wake up from dozens of dreams. I can't remember any of them. Oh well. They might come to me later. These autumn mornings differ from those of summer. It feels darker than it is because the sun takes a while to show its face. Lowly it hangs over Berkeley while Oakland-bound jets graze a few of its rays. It hasn't yet kissed the buildings on the west side of the street, making mine appear on their paint, as a shadow. Hovering in the sky during descent, where did passengers spend their weeks, their days, their last-night. I was sleeping.

I wake up and open the blinds, first thing. No sun, not yet. I make coffee and, when it's ready, I pour it into my new favorite mug from an apple orchard in Maine. My Dad got it for me on his last visit. The light greets the west and says hello. They better get to know each other. It will be setting there, as we surely know.

Neil Young makes a good soundtrack for mornings like this. It reminds me of that graceful film from a few years ago, "Away From Her." Julie Christie plays a woman with Alzheimer's. She struggles as the disease fails her, as does her loving husband. Against the Canadian landscape of winter and memory, Neil Young songs play. They evoke heart break, heart ache, heart warmth. The whole time, we know, she is losing something. At the same time, she is so full of beauty. She is full of many springs, summers, falls and winters, as she cross-country skies though the snow.

Our Best Idea (Thank You, National Parks)

Liz runs around the mounds of kelp at Limantour Beach.
Our day of spontaneity at Point Reyes National Seashore (and more)!

You think you're going to lounge around your apartment on Sunday morning, reading the paper with a cup of coffee in hand, and then leisurely stroll down to yoga followed by brunch. But then you feel that itch. You hear a bell ring from a distant land. It beckons to you: "come hither." Well, sometimes you have to scratch that itch and open the door when your favorite national seashore rings its bell. Or fog horn.

Okay, stop beating around the bush, you say! Alright, alright. Clearly,
Point Reyes called and we answered. After stashing the New York Times and 2 crazy creeks in a bag, Liz and I headed up the coast, blasting Lady Gaga along the way. I really liked meandering through the quiet, shady landscape of Samuel P. Taylor State Park while Gaga sang, "Don't want no paper gangster."

First, we stopped at Point Reyes Station. This town (is it even a town? a village? a hamlet? a street?) is a beacon for those on route to and from the seashore. There's just no sense in not stopping in. Who would want to resist sweets at the Bovine Bakery? Or the cheeses of Cowgirl Creamery? Or that barn-turned-general store that boasts a farmer's market, art gallery, coffee kiosk, yoga classes AND a nursery? No one, that's who!



Always the curious seekers, we tried something new with breakfast at the Pine Cone Diner. With its walls adorned with quaint plates and adorable mugs hanging from hooks, this was the perfect place to start our adventure. Even the bathroom was cute! Also, we knew the place was legit because the local firemen were eating breakfast there too.

Reading the front page while we wait for a table. My breakfast sandwich came with a side of hash browns that were as good as lattkes.

My dose of yoga for the day!
(I didn't go even though I wanted to. But I did enjoy the sign.)

On route to the seashore, we go out of focus through the Pine-lined roads. We don't think, "when will we get there?" because there becomes us as presently as here.



The beach is our resting place, for the day at least. Settled between the dunes, we watch as Sand Pipers play games with the waves and each other. I absorb each drop of inspiration, from the phases of sky to the patterns of water and sand. A beautiful place surrounds me, and continues to.

A leopard print ocean waves us goodbye, but the ebb and flow suggests we will be back.

Never Say "Too Late"

Fall is for firsts: first falling leaf, first day of school, first pear of perfection. For me, this fall marks my first visit to the San Francisco Zen Center. About 2 weeks ago, I joined Denise and her daughter, Eva, for a Saturday morning lecture at the City Center on Page and Laguna. After we respectfully slipped off our shoes, we went into the sun-filled room to find our seats. The seating options were as follows: sitting on a chair, on a bench, or zazen on a cushion (closest to the front of the room, hence closest to the lecturer). Being my first time and all, I let my timidity get the best of me and chose the bench. Denise and Eva took zazen and I immediately wished I had too! Mostly because I'm trying more and more to meditate properly and I think it would have been good practice--to sit in that position (cross legged, straight back and still) while listening to somebody speak, rather than in silence. Oh well, next time right?
Right.

The speaker was Yvonne Rand. Thoughtful and kind in tone, she is a meditation teacher and lay householder priest in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition. She spoke of compassion, specifically the compassion of her teacher Susuki Roshi. She told stories with lessons, some of them fable-like, some of them present and modern. As I assumed they would, these teachings stuck with me. For example: to have no regrets. Never say never, we all know. But she advised, as did Susuki Roshi, to never say "to late." It's never too late to do anything. I liked that a lot. I also liked hearing her speak of compassion--a feeling we often feel for others but not for ourselves. Whenever things aren't going right, I trust that I have forgotten something. And that something is compassion for myself. Lacking compassion for oneself makes it more difficult to act compassionately towards others. She said it most articulately and all of it off the top of her head, I might add.

I recommend taking 30 minutes of your day to listen to Yvonne's lecture from that beautiful morning. I will most certainly be going back for another one. Maybe I will sit zazen. Or maybe not. But I definitely don't regret sitting on the bench. From my seat, I had a full view of the space. I saw everyone come and go through the doors, bowing gracefully upon each quiet move.

Another picture from Woodside on the Djerassi property. I cannot get enough of that place.

Jokerman

This past Saturday, I saw folk poet of my life, Bob Dylan, perform at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. At 7:30, on a chilly east bay night, he crept behind his keyboard and onto the stage. Obviously, I will share a few thoughts on the show:

1.

Bob is forward thinking and doesn't live in the past. When he could so easily perform a greatest hits show, he picks his latest, less familiar songs to play. I really liked the songs he chose from his new album, Together Through Life. To me, the songs prove he hasn't lost his touch and isn't planning to any time soon. As the story goes, Bob doesn't look back. He takes the risk of playing brand new music with a new sound, new inspiration and new language. His innovations are commendable as they thrive within the boundaries of folk. And despite the expectations, the pressures, to continually fulfill his ongoing status as a legend--he continues to produce music that challenges and interrogates the realities and the thoughts we have.

2.

We all are familiar with Bob as the serious entertainer who doesn't utter a word between song breaks. True this is, but last weekend I saw, dare I say, another side of Bob Dylan. He was funny! He was mischievous! There were instances when Bob was even charming the audience. Topped with a black Bolero hat, he smiled and danced in place, shimmying bent-legged towards the floor. His band mates watched as he rocked out with the music. And what music it was...

3.

I know I went on and on about this incorporation of newer, lesser known tracks, but I must say something about the old stuff. And speaking of the old stuff, and its relationship to me, his songs flow freely and frequently through my moments and my memories. They are played on guitars around campfires in my heart. His words are with me always, which is why it's such a pleasure, an urgent desire, to hear him live. He played:

"Mama, You've Been On My Mind"
"I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)"
"The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" (my personal favorite)
"Highway 61 Revisited"
"Ballad of a Thin Man"
"Like a Rolling Stone"
and "All Along the Watchtower."
Not bad.

No, not bad at all!
I love singing along to the chorus of, what might possibly be his greatest hit, and asking the iconic question:

How does it feel???

A Thing of Beauty

"Bright Star"

I would walk through the world of this film any day.

Jubilee

Congratulations Gaby!

Today is Monday, October 5th, 2009, and it was on this day that Garrison Keillor, on his daily radio presentation of The Writer's Almanac, read the poem "Jubilee." Not only is it a powerhouse of a poem that sends shivers down my spine, but it is written by my fabulous mentor, teacher and friend, Gabrielle Calvocoressi. Her latest book, Apocalyptic Swing, is a beautiful collection of poems and is finally, after much anticipation, available to buy!

Even though a fretful traffic delay over the Bay Bridge made me a little late getting to Berkeley this morning, it yielded me a few extra minutes to hear Garrison read my dear friend's poem live on KALW!

Click here to listen, read and enjoy for yourselves.

p.s. There will be an opportunity to hear Gabrielle read from her work live in San Francisco, one week from today. As part of Litquake, Gabrielle (along with many other amazing poets) will be reading at Grace Cathedral, Monday, October 12th at 7:30. I'll be there, obvi...

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Saddle up on bikes with friends, wrap up in some red wool blankets, put your clogs on those dancing feet: it's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass! Falling on the first weekend of October, this festival is the reason to flock to Golden Gate Park and drape yourself on its meadows. As usual, it's a weekend of thigh-slappin' and kettle corn-a-munchin' to some great tunes, with people-watching, and at one great fare--aka, it's free! This year, my not-to-be-missed acts were Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show and Emmylou Harris (all played at the Banjo Stage); Richie Havens, Tom Morello, Dar Williams, and Boz Scaggs (all played at the Rooster Stage); and Neko Case and the Chieftans (the Star Stage).

Gillian Welch delighted with "I'll Fly Away." She brought on special guests Old Crow Medicine Show and Emmylou Harris and they stopped the show with the Band's "The Weight." The audience sings along, of course.

Photo courtesy of...



...these nice people!

Richie Havens took us back to another time with his bejeweled hands, each finger adorned with a massive, Turquoise ring. He told the story of when he first met Bob Dylan. And then he played "All Along the Watchtower." And then he played "Freedom." We weren't at Woodstock, but he was.

The sun sets for the Banjo stage.

It gets chilly at night and look how smart these 2 strangers-turned-neighbors were: hot chocolate in little camping cups!

Even on the ride home eastward, the show goes on. This was a moon!

Back home, the wind began to howl, and so it goes: hot cocoa.

Spandex gives you

Cycling freedom!

First ride with my very 1st pair of spandex bike shorts.

Cruising out to Rodeo Beach and back,

I had the road to all myself! No one heard me

when I "whooooohooooooo'd" down the hill.

Except for horses and coyotes.

No Gnomes Here

Always seeking poetry, sometimes I head north for it. Saturday, being a special day and all, gave me inspiration in the form of a village, a bakery, a garden and its little creatures, nestled in the flora. The day began on the Bohemian Highway, at the Wild Flour Bread Bakery, also known as the ultimate getaway from the city. They feature organic, piping hot breads, straight from a wood fired oven. My birthday crew and I enjoyed the Fougasse (potato, garlic, rosemary, jack, chedder and swiss) and the Green Goat (green onion and goat cheese). Yes, you heard me.

The sweets are good and all (understatement), but what I really cherish is the wildflower garden out back. While enjoying treats and coffee, you can stroll through the magical greens and watch bees and butterflies do their thing. I was especially excited to see sunflowers taller-than-me and pumpkins ready-for-carving. I'm going to hold back on posting those pictures (of which I have many) so you can see for yourself when you venture there next weekend (wink wink). Today I'm more enchanted by the different kinds of creatures I found hidden in the landscape.

Check out these last creatures...how'd they get in there?

Skinny Love

Saw Bon Iver at the Fillmore.

I imagine he wrote all his songs

to accompany this sunset.

Concert was in San Francisco,

last night. Sunset was in Woodside,

forever ago.