Thanks and Thanks Again

May 29, 2006

Well, I just read my last blog from March 25. I sound like the old cranky guy that I really am.  Still, I stand by what I said.  I was concentrating on putting my Roman Blog back together so that I can reshape it as a memoir, travel, coming of age book but it is going slowly so I am back to the intermittent blog.  Several of my faithful readers have told me that the Italian blog was long.  So it was.  I will try to simplify. 

It is Memorial day weekend and we put our flag up in Sonoma.  It is not hard to remember what this day is all about.  In Lima when I was a kid the parade on Memorial Day was bigger than the Fourth of July.  I suppose that was because World War II was just over and although we were united as a country then, we lost a lot of people in that war. The marchers in that parade fought in the Civil War, the Spanish American war, and World Wars I and II.   Even though it is 60 years since WWII ended it is not hard to remember the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and now Iraq as well as the countless other actions that we have participated in.  We have much to protect and we haven’t always agreed on how to do the job.  But on this day we give thanks to the men and women who did it for us.  It is particularly affecting because it is beautiful, quiet, and peaceful in San Francisco today.  From my writing spot I can see the Bay Bridge and all of downtown in late afternoon brightness.  Thanks and thanks again.

On a lighter note, I am playing some ok but not great golf.  If I hit the ball well, I can’t putt and if I am putting I can’t hit the ball.  At least I am vertical and just returned to squash after several months of intensive rehab on a recalcitrant shoulder, the right one of course.  It felt good to be out on the court and when I play I sleep much better.  One of my golf buddies, Steve, played the front nine at our course in Sonoma one over par.  He is good but still it is fun to be with someone hitting the ball that well.  According to Steve, he had 103 the previous day at another course.  Can golf be that tough?  Way to go Steve who played the back nine in 41 for a fine 78. 

My favorite art school, the California College of the Arts, had a wonderful graduation.  Our biggest ever with over 450 degrees granted in lots of different graduate and under graduate programs.  It was a full week of festivities and a grand end to the school year.  At the same time, my interest has turned to being very active with the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.  We call it SVMA.  A super little spot with a wonderful exhibition space and lots of primo volunteers.  I am chair of the exhibition committee this year and it is a great combination of work and fun.  We have about 1000 members and the community in Sonoma seems to embrace our shows and mission.

On a heavier note, I have gained weight since our return from Italy. 
Who would have guessed living here would be tougher on the body then the great pastas and pizzas of Italy.  I must now eat less and exercise more.  The exercise is not the problem.