Wordless Wednesday

Home again. That is our newly-harvested ginger. It has been raining like mad. A glorious thing! I'm tuckered-out, but exceedingly happy about my West Coast visit, despite some usual and unusual occurrences. All  of it grist for the mill.

They Shake Their Bones

Dia de Los Muertos mosaic art by an old pal from the Tahoe Days, who is, these days, a longtime resident of Santa Cruz. This card arrived in the p.o. box yesterday.  I still delight in receiving snail mail, aging curmudgeon that I am. It was sent by another friend in Santa Cruz.  Where my babies were born, and much, much more.  

It's been almost a year since I've seen two of my three kids. More than five months since older daughter visited us. That's nearly an eternity in mama time.  Hoping to pull off a trip to Northern California at the end of this year to see my children and loved ones.  Because the only tough part about this amazing existence in paradise is missing people that I love.  Which is something I fully expected, so not a surprise. As long as I can get to the mainland once a year, l'm good. And then, someday...

So, am looking into possibilities. Knowing that each time I return to the mainland, and my former haunts, I am reminded of what's changed.  And what remains.

Halcyon Days

November of 1979... Taken at SFO on our way to see the Grateful Dead at The Golden Hall in San Diego.

As if that weren't thrilling enough to a bunch of goofy Deadheads... Several members of the band came walking on to the very same flight, including Jerry Garcia himself. I still smile, imagining what our amazed faces must have looked like to them.

We tried so hard to remain cool, but am sure we didn't look cool! When Bill Kreutzman walked by us, he held out his arms and proclaimed sarcastically: "Heeeere we are!!"

Off To Babylon By The Bay

Long story. Adios to Jon J. Lehr. Here's an oldie that reminds me of him forever. After a while, crocodiles.

Babylon - Jo Jo Gunne

Mountain Aire 1987

The frog's expression in this artwork has always bothered me. Can't exactly say why. The frog on the steal your face lily pad was in reference to an age-old Angel's Camp tradition, the yearly Calaveras Frog Jump.

Needless to say, we weren't there for the frog jump. The weather was blazing hot, especially coming from climate-controlled Santa Cruz county. Many fine friends were in attendance. My first husband and I took a little family road trip, with our two small kids in tow. Checked into our air-co hotel in Sonora the day before and off we all went to the show on Saturday.

We headed straight for the shady spot, where lots of families were hanging out. It was a mellow afternoon for my little family. Because the rules were always different when the kids were along. This meant shade, water, and kiddie earplugs, among other things. My boy had already been to about 5 shows, so he was easily acclimated. Baby girl needed to be held and danced-with. A lot. I happily obliged her.

The line-up was cool. The Grateful Dead did not typically have opening acts on the west coast. 'Mister Dave' Lindley and El Rayo X were a blast. Carlos tore it up(of course)-then played a few songs with The Dead. 'Midnight Hour' cooks. The Dead's setlist from that day follows this blathering, and I embedded the set below that. Chills, listening to it. Nothing new there.

So, back to 1987... We headed back to our hotel and lay low for the night. Apparently, we missed the big excitement in Angel's Camp. A lost deadhead girl climbed through someone's cabin window and went to sleep. The cabin owners came home and found her there. Like some trippin' Goldilocks. That summer was the beginning of the end of our excellent scene. The secret was out. Drunken frat dudes had arrived. I had already noticed the difference at Laguna Seca and the Greek that summer. Our little subculture was heading for extinction. It sure was good while it lasted though.

A year later, my husband and I were headed for a divorce. It too was good while it lasted. I've mentioned before that I always had a far easier time being a mother than a wife.

Grateful Dead~August 22, 1987

1:Touch of Gray>Little Red Rooster, Tons Of Steel, Friend of the Devil, Brother Esau, Tennessee Jed,When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl*, Midnight Hour* 2: Hell in a Bucket, When Push Comes To Shove,Estimated Prophet> Eyes of the World> Drumz>The Other One> GDTRFB> Throwing Stones> Lovelight Encore: U. S. Blues

*with Carlos Santana last "Schoolgirl": 09-19-70-David Lindley & El Rayo-X, then Santana opened.



Grateful Dead/Calaveras County Fairgrounds/Saturday, August 22nd, 1987

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....

Happy Spring

My son at around a month and a half. On the banks of the Mokelumne River, doing his best Jimmy Cagney impression.

He'll be 26 years old in 19 days. Still my baby boy.

The youngest child and I are on a short road trip. Back in a day or so.

Back On The Chain Gang

Water Chain in the Rain

One of my host's Inuit Masks

Headed to the airport in heavy traffic. A last peek at the Space Needle.

Sing it, Chrissie...

Leaving this Town

For another one.

Back in a week.

When The Tourists Go Back Home

The town is ours again. Today was that way. No noisy hordes, no cell phone addicts, no wild hounds. Just the ocean and the sun and a couple of blissful ten-year olds. Now ready to take on the work week, and a trip to the
Emerald City.

They knew the other boy from school.

Paradise waits on the crest of a wave...

Mostly redwood driftwood

I like the patterns in the rock walls along the beach.

Sex in the Sixties

Mt.Tam in the 60's

A few things... we are scheduled to drive to the city again this weekend, for the Summer of Love concert in Golden Gate Park. It coincides with the three-day closure of the Bay Bridge. In both directions. Not since the Loma Prieta earthquake has this occurred. The reason for the closure has to do with the massive bridge overhaul, which was brought on by the aforementioned quake.( Which was now almost 20 years ago.) The project is over-budget by millions, and years behind schedule. No matter what, this will NOT be pretty. Why am I so certain and cynical? Because the bay area already deals with never-ending gridlock on the freeways. This will only add to the insanity that is a part of living there. Or any metropolis, really. It's just that people keep flocking here, to this state. In droves. No matter the cost-of-living. Why? They want their California dream, dammit! It's going to be ugly, I just know it. So... I am thinking about this trip south in a more logistical manner than usual. The time that we travel is key. I am thinking early morning on Sunday. Coming home to the coast that night, later. Three hours of drive-time each way, at least. The fact is, it will be a magical weekend in the park. Older daughter and I are scheduled to work backstage for a bit, helping to prepare food that will be served to the performers. The people-watching will be splendid! AikoJim and his son will be there. Good times are just around the bend.

Posting the above photo got me thinking. (Get your minds out of the gutter!) That picture was taken in the sixties. So those "kids" are about sixty now, right? Why is it so hard to comprehend that "seniors" (57 years and up) enjoy healthy sex lives? Look at how some of those old timers used to live---like in this photo, for example. Of course they enjoy sex. Why-the-hell- not? I guess the recent study about these findings doesn't gross me out. In fact, I find it heartening, to know that people continue to feel passionate as they age. Nothing wrong with love-forty years ago or present-day. (Except in our screwy, hung-up western culture, of course!)

Big Island Dreams

If you look through the collection of ti plants and palms, you can see the pool. The man sent this and a few more shots of Papaikou and beyond. He'll be back Monday. Check out their place. Now officially on the market. ::Sob::

Akaka Falls... G and his father hiked to this spot last week. We are pleased his dad is well enough to hike again. He informed me that they should have left for their journey earlier, to avoid the crush of tourists. "Next time." I said.

Red Rocks 1979

Red Rocks Ampitheatre... definitely one of the best venues around.

The Stubs (Check out those prices!)


The song lists, on the back of those same stubs. Things like this remind me of my dedication to the music. Clearly, I was into it.

The back story... I was listening to KSAN F.M. ("Jive 95") one afternoon. During the community bulletin board, there was an announcement by a guy looking for riders to Denver, for theRed Rocks shows.
Approximately 75 bucks bought you a spot in his V.W. van, a place to stay at his friend's home in Denver, and tickets to all three nights of the Grateful Dead. There were two other riders, besides me. I stayed in touch with only one member of that crew through the years. We four made it to Denver, after one wild trip across the country. The first night at the one and only Red Rocks Ampitheatre, some nut tried to scale the rocks. To sneak in. In street shoes. He slipped and fell to his death. Oh, and it rained and thundered. Due to the inclement weather (and probably the fatality), the next two shows were at Mc Nichols Arena. A bit of a let down, but it didn't inhibit our fun. No sirrreee. On the way back across the country, the driver and captain of our merry band of misfits informed me that he might be falling in love with me. (Drugs are bad, m'kay?!)

Anyway, that's another story.

A Scruffy Lad

It Was Twenty Years AgoToday

Photo By Herb Greene



Twenty years ago today, I was in Eugene. My best gal pal, Gem attended the University of Oregon. (Go Ducks!) I drove from my home in Aptos/Santa Cruz with my then-nine month old daughter. (My then-five year old son was on a fishing trip with his dad.) Daughter and I stopped for the night in Eureka, at the family home of my (now departed) buddy, Tim. He joined us for the last leg of the journey. My baby girl was a model traveler, considering the miles she covered with me. We arrived at Gem's in the early afternoon and settled in. Before long, other friends from other places began to call or stop by. That's because the next day, The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan were playing at Autzen Stadium. The first show of a fairly unique and very brief summer tour. That night all of us gathered at Gem's place, where we enjoyed a tasty meal and sipped good wine. All of that seems incredibly distant now. More than a few have died, divorced, or just disappeared.


Imagine our delight, when Gem's old friend from Tahoe called and told her there would be passes for we two. (With the baby girl, of course.) This made for the perfect day. We enjoyed the shade and comfort backstage, but headed out into the crowd often to soak it all up. Baby girl danced in the backpack. Somewhere there's a photo of us there, enjoying the day. Now that baby girl is almost 21, and she does all of her dancing outside of the backpack. Where does the time go? Indeed.

"Trouble Ahead-Jerry In Red"




Alone and Together



Grateful Dead Autzen Stadium 7/19/87
(Click to hear the Dead's set.)

Do The Walk Of Life

Early steps by my son during the winter of 1983~Rio Del Mar Beach, Aptos California.
This inspires me. These days, I need all the inspiration I can get. After work, I'm off on a weekend adventure. My dear friend that usually resides in Tahiti is now just north of me, in Humboldt County. She was raised there, and is visiting her old hometown for a bit. This friend turns 50 on Saturday, just a few months ahead of me. So, I am driving up there to help her celebrate this momentous occasion.

Friday Fluff

Here's a fun "Me! Me!" from Mrs. Gamely's Blog.
I craved some amusement today, in contrast to the relentless misery out there.
My son & his band band play in Milan, Italy this evening.
Youngest daughter played her electric guitar & sang "Imagine"
at the high school war protest yesterday.
Major tear-jerker.

Peace.


What is your name?


What is/was your grandmother's name?


Where were you born?


What is the first book you ever read?



Who was your worst boyfriend?



What is your favorite ride at the fair?

Which comedian always makes you laugh?


What leisure activity do you enjoy the most?


Assume you're a bad parent. What's your slogan?


What is your idea of the ultimate comfort food? (Pad Thai)

What makes you need comfort food?

What is your favorite bumper sticker?

Czech It Out

Prague, Czech Republic today! Leipzig, Germany yesterday. Nurnberg tomorrow. (Not Vienna)
Then Milan, Venice, Bologna---and more.
Above are random shots of Prague as well as another poster I spotted online, with dates and places. Here is a link to Prague information.

Just Another Brick In The Wall

Berlin and Beyond

Kopi... the Berlin club where California Love played today.


Fragments of the Berlin Wall



Here is yet another fact-packed link.