March 26th, 1996

Cozy Shack: The Damage Done

That links to a post I wrote four years ago, exactly. I wrote it to honor my pal Tim, gone 17 years today. Life goes on... but I remember.

Way Back

Carmel Beach
A March afternoon in 1982
Eight months pregnant
That dude is
Rickey Bewa from Chickasaw
My husband took the photo
When we were nuts
for black and white
Or just nuts

News From Tahiti

I received an email from my expat Aiko sister today, with the above attachment. It read:

"Last night Oscar Temaru, the President of Tahiti ,
got up on stage and sang Redemption Song with Alpha Blondie!"

Who are you - Alpha Blondie

Whistle Through Your Teeth And Spit

My brother and my son at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley~May 15, 1983

"Aaron's First Show"

Set List:
Touch of Grey
New Minglewood Blues
Ramble on Rose
Cassidy
Brown Eyed Women
Hell in a Bucket
Althea
Looks Like Rain
Deal

Help on the Way
Slipknot!
Franklin's Tower
Samson and Delilah
He's Gone
drums
Truckin'
Stella Blue
Throwin' Stones
Not Fade Away
Encore:
Baby Blue

Grateful Dead/Greek Theatre/Sunday,May 15th 1983

The Damage Done

Today marks 13 years since our pal Tim died. He's gotten plenty of press here-with good reason. Here is a picture of his name, engraved in the Circle Of Friends in Golden Gate Park.

The Needle and the Damage Done [Live] - Neil Young

Hey Now

An undersea volcano erupts off the coast of Tonga on March 18, 2009. (Dana Stephenson/Getty Images) *Note: You simply MUST click on it to view it's awesomeness.

Thanks to the sheer wonder of it all, I was chatting with my Aiko sister this afternoon via F.B. (Wondrous because she lives on Moorea.)

She told me to go and look at these photos. So I did. Holy shit!

He Would Not Encumber Me

Charles Surrendorf

Friendships seem to evolve or deteriorate by this time in one's lifespan. When they've lasted almost thirty years, they are bound to hit a bump along the road once in a while. The fact remains, this is no time to be casting off any true compadres. He ain't heavy, he's my brother.

Looks Like Rain (Hooray!)

May 29th, 1971~Winterland

Aiko Jim comes through with another from the archives. Isn't Bobby pretty? Click on him for a better look. The subject of my girlhood dreams for years and years. Jim says that color shots of the early days are tough to find, and that the red hue is due to the light show. Oh, and it's raining here!!

Looks Like Rain - Bob Weir

The Bus Came By

Young Jerry~Golden Gate Park 1967

Aiko brother found another great photo. I'd bet you dimes to dollars that my dad was in the crowd this day. Not that he'd readily admit to it.

Maybe he feels guilty for inadvertently introducing me to an affliction that never went away. It has ebbed and flowed at times, but remains embedded...deep-down. As if that were not glaringly obvious!

Thats It For The Other One - Grateful Dead

He's Gone

Grateful Dead promo shots for a teen mag/1967
(Click for optimal viewing)

My pal Aiko Jim sent me this gem. Mickey Hart was on the news last evening, discussing The Dead's recent invitation. They're playing an inaugural ball on Tuesday. Not surprising, since they did play two benefit concerts for Obama. And yet, if you were a Dead fan way back when some were embarrassed to admit to it... this is news.

I can't help thinking how Jerry would feel about all of this, if he were here now. But nothin's gonna bring him back...


Jimmy and I were THERE for this 'He's Gone.' Recorded on December 26th, 1979 at the Oakland Auditorium. Opening night of the New Year's run, and a benefit for SEVA. What a night that was. Right Jimmy?

Hes Gone - Grateful Dead

Gator Integration

Another great shot from Aiko Jim at the Academy Of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. He took this after noting that they napped this way for over two hours. I hesitate to use the word 'cute' for alligators -- but it's pretty cool-looking.

Rainforest Man

Here's my buddy at his workplace on Friday. It makes sense that he works at the Academy of Sciences. Click to see the detail. Much less gory than my daughter's look below, eh? Halloween was jumpin'. We had lots of adorable trick or treaters, now that we are 'townies' again.

I am attempting Nanowrimo for the first time. We'll see how that shakes down. The man and I saw 'Religulous' yesterday. I thought it was really well done, and I got to watch Bill smoke a joint on the big screen. Simple pleasures, I know.

Later, I made mushroom bolognese sauce with fresh oyster mushrooms foraged by a work chum. Mushrooms, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, red wine, fresh thyme, and rosemary. Like that.

One more day! We await vindication, after our involuntary eight year exile.

Another World

The guy in the left-hand corner (orange coat) is my lifelong pal, Aiko Jim. He is employed by the California Academy of Sciences. Looks like a fun place to put in a 40-hour work week. The photo made the Chronicle about a week ago. Needless to say, I'm thrilled at my friend's good fortune in the working world. He deserves it.

C.A.S. re-opened in it's original spot in Golden Gate Park last weekend. The San Francisco landmark underwent an extensive makeover, which took about 4 years. That dome with portholes is part of the roof garden. This place is beyond description. Do see it if you are so-inclined. Meanwhile, the above link is well worth your time.

Quest to Burn

Sunday Confessional:
I've wanted to go to B u r n i n g M a n for at least 20 years. I remember when it all began, at Baker Beach. One teeny speed bump has been that the man I share my life with does not share in my great quest to burn. Especially because it means massive crowds and the cruel Nevada desert. He'd be perfectly fine if I went without him. He knows how much it means to me, whether he comprehends my vision or not. Most of my formerly adventurous friends are wrapped up in their day-to-day. They wouldn't be likely to consider this sort of pilgrimage. I am also wrapped-up. Doesn't matter. I must participate in this powerful human experiment at least once before I slip into darkness. The playa is mercilessly hot. There are windstorms. It's a week of dirt camping with thousands of crazies. It isn't hard to understand why many I know and love would take a pass. I can't. And now that my children are nearly full-grown, it feels like the perfect time to go.

One of my all-time favorite gal pals from Santa Cruz attends, so I am 'in talks' with her about being part of her crew in 2009. It takes (at least) a year to plan it right. One must be fit, both physically and emotionally. No small undertaking, this quest of mine. I'm game.

'When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.'
Hunter S. Thompson

Still Life

Dearest Aiko Jim paid us a visit last weekend. We cooked and laughed, drank and danced, and walked about town. Watched a couple of movies, including 'There Will Be Blood'. (Excellent!)

We even found time to make fools of ourselves. Just a little. What the hell. We're allowed to be fools together, because we go back thirty years. Back in the days of wine and doses.

Things are different now. Our lives in no way resemble the wild days of being twenty-somethings. Wait-maybe a few things are the same. Luckily.This friendship is the rarest sort. It evolves. There have been emotional speed bumps, but we always end up buddies. Forever.

I changed my accompanying song yet again. This time it got mysteriously nixed by imeem. Which is alright, because I found our signature song from the night of foolish behavior. Let's just say that our hardwood floors are most excellent for sock dancing.

July 19th, 1987

Baby M and I were at this show together twenty-one summers ago. My pal Gem had passes for us, so we went in style. Comfort is good-- especially with a nine month old in tow. My buddy Aiko Tim was there as well.

Later on, we relaxed at best pal Gem's in Eugene. Miss M enjoys her sink bath, whilst our (sweet departed) Tim assists me. The goofy way he is looking at me makes me grin through tears. We were never romantically intertwined, but I loved him more dearly than I can say. Life has since pushed on, as it tends to do. As for that baby girl in the sink, she's 21.5 now, and living quite contentedly in the city of my birth.


There were days between....

Shadoobie

Better days~ Aiko Timmy schmoozing with Mickey Hart
Greek Theatre~ Berkeley, California

He was our personal Neal Cassady. Born and bred behind the redwood curtain, he came of age at Winterland. He was hooked on life, music, and drugs . When everyone else decided to try and grow up, he scoffed. And stayed a boy, forever.

It's now twelve years to the day. The day my ex met me at the door with those two words. Tim died. Like being hit in the face with a baseball bat. A year after the funeral, we had his name engraved in the Circle of Friends in Golden Gate Park.I miss him still. His life counted, even if it only lasted thirty-nine years.

A Tim memory: In 1980 I lived in the heart of San Rafael, above the mission. Tim planned a visit to trade music and get out of Humboldt for a few days. I had met him about a year before, through mutual G.D. friends.I was at home after work on the day he was due to show up, waiting. The waiting went on and on. I was thinking that I might give up and make other plans when the phone rang. It was Tim, telling me that he hadn't left Eureka yet!(Five hours away)I lit into him about his inconsiderate ways, and hung up the phone. About five minutes later, someone rang the bell. It was smiling Tim. He decided he'd stop at a phone booth near my place,(before the cellphone age) and call-just to get a reaction. Which he did, of course. I opened that door and we laughed a long time.

Daydream

Hauula, Hawaii

It's cold in California. Clear, sunny, and icy cold. Nothing like the ice storms across the country, but chilly just the same. My Aiko sister sent me a few photos of her locale. This one warmed me right up. Whenever it all overwhelms, I imagine being in the islands again. I miss it terribly. 2.5 years to go, and we can leave California. There are few Californians left here. Everyone is from someplace else. We may as well jump on the transplant bandwagon and go be outsiders in Hawaii. People smile more there. Come on, 2010!

Tumbledown Shack

For Jim, who gave me that Iko Iko license plate a few weeks ago. He asked only that I display it on the barn with the other artifacts. Done.

Peter Max 2007

Here is a close-up of the banner on stage, taken by my Aiko brother's wonder-son. The performer is Essra Mohawk, who had the good fortune to play music with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in the late 1960's.