One thing that lifts me up (when things seem hopelessly bleak) is kids. I sure hope there's something left of this world for them to experience. Anyway, children. (No, not "childrens") Brand-new to annoyingly adolescent to grown and gone, I think they're pretty alright. Especially compared to various older humans. Today I looked after three ten-year-old boys. We spent the afternoon down the street at the beach, where we ran from waves and constructed driftwood "stuff." Such a cool age. Right at the brink of it all. In three years or less they'll pretend they don't know me. Younger daughter had her day planned in advance, and it did not include indulging in such folly. Those days are gone now. Like a streak of blazing fire. I have been replaced... as it should be.
Playing at the beach reminded me of fine times with my nephew, back in Santa Cruz. At four, he was ring bearer at my (ill-fated) wedding. He was born five years before my firstborn, and we enjoyed having that little guy around. He was a biracial kid, born into a really white family. Not a particularly simple path to walk. He blazed that path, and many paths since then. Fast forward a quarter-century, and he's thirty and married. He'll be a new dad in January. Besides that, he's played AA Minor League Baseball for about a decade. These days he lives and plays ball on the east coast. Below are photos of this now all-grown-up child. He'll always be that sweet kid, to me.
April, 1983~Blowing bubbles at Aptos Park. My son's first-ever birthday party. Young nephew still had his dreadlocks.
This one's from 1983 too. Taken at Aiko Jim's place in Castro Valley, following a Dead show. Jim's sister watched the young ones, while we silly deadheads went off and had fun. We all look young. (That's Jimmy, grinning in the back. Also, my ex in the specs and another old pal, Rickey Bewa.)
A favorite of mine. April 1989, in Ben Lomond. Then-11-year-old nephew with his cousins in our hot tub. This was also taken on my son's birthday. (His seventh) That doll-face in the background is my older daughter, who turns twenty-one on October 17th.
His Bowie Baysox card, from last year.
With his love, after the AA championship game.
