The Seal and Ollie

  Ah enough about the sinking of the Giants. Perhaps they will pull out of their dire situation. The beauty of baseball is the length and hope of a season despite how miserable parts of it can be.  And it is pretty miserable these days! I will follow up in 2 months and see where we stand.

   Even so the delights of a game at the ballpark include how often Lou Seal seems to find Oliver (and Dexter).  It's a bit uncanny and odd, really- but always very fun.  It began with a blinding thud- I thought someone had fallen into the empty seat next to Dexter.  Our vision obscured by a large image in gray and orange, recognition, soon followed by funny bits including the 'ol Giant hat switcheroo.  I like looking at Oliver and Dexter's faces in these photos.  Lou Seal is alright in my book!

Bello, Bats, Cupps

    First off, there won't be anything other than file pictures of bats; they just zoom in too quick at night to photograph.  Although it was fun watching them zoom in and nab some bugs- and flutter past.  All we could see, despite how close we were, wings and motion.  We were glad to share this visit with the Cupps for here I always imagine living in the theme of the Big Valley.

   The weekend after Dexter's graduation we went to where he wanted to go; where we've gone before but haven't for nearly two years-  Visiting Charles Bello and his 400 acres of protected redwoods forest.  Charles has gotten some press lately in the New York Times (the link is in the earlier blog about Dexter's graduation) and my feeling is that Charles was just as happy to see us again as we were to visit with him.

    Even when Dexter was just a babe in the woods, he always felt comfortable with Charles and Vanna Rae, This place is  beautiful and open. Away from the city, a feeling of freedom to breathe and lay out within the vast lushness of the trees and grass, caressed in the flow of streams and the sounds of not much but ourselves, an occasional animal, laughter, Charles on one of his machines.  Of course it's not long before I am panicked about the mosquitoes or wondering about ticks. But for every 30 minutes to an hour, I'm loving it too.  An outside shower powered by solar heating is the way to bathe, gentle cool air mixed with the warm (hot!) water.  The lizard eating the scorpion was kind of cool but I'm not liking scorpions anywhere near my shoes. A great place for Dexter to really let loose with his arrows.

   Charles has built an incredible studio to house his wood carvings; the building is a piece of art by itself. The way the light enters during the day impresses.

Ollie Ball!

    Charles took Dexter to collect wood, to run errands, to drive his vehicles (Dexter passed on driving the big tractor) and would stop by to express his concerns about keeping the foundation going- to preserve the land.  We've missed Vanna the last few times up here, knowing that her health was poor and since the last visit that she had died.  Charles told us how difficult it was to see her and his sadness about not being close to his boys these days.  It might be that part of our visit that Charles responds to too, a way for him to cross generations and in some ways to be a father again, while showing Dexter how to care and respect the land.

   Not much to do at night; but read and play cards with the Cupps. I don't have any excuse to stay up and play records, or walk to the store.  A good place to catch up on sleep beneath large panes of glass with the starlit sky in the distance behind the backdrop of night and the shadows of the ancient redwoods.

    Dexter, Oliver and I walked up the hill to the small place that Charles now lives in, behind his glass house to say goodbye.  Charles was cutting some watermelon and handed us with some slices.  Sitting in comfort in a world that he has lived in for decades, alone except when guests stay in his cabins, he gave us a warm goodbye (Oliver notes "'that was the first time he said my name") and when I say to take care, he nods and says simply, "alright".  It feels a little sad.   

State of the Snoball Rose

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how happy we are that Marcail and B-Rose have returned from Florida. While this may make return visits to Gator Land less of our reality, to have these friend near us is a much more welcome development.  May their return to San Francisco continue to be warm and joyous.

Snoball. Oliver has been playing more with this pudgy friendly fellow quite often.  Dexter has always been comfortable handling him and is Sno's primary caretaker, although I enjoy sneaking him treats late at night. He's big on nuts!

An Attitude

The last four years what my work has been is simply processing packages. Every box is special!  Let's distill Mail Services to an attitude. Also, since apparently half of the domain name is now available we push

through each day with these BOLD words in mind:

 

                    
So to my UPS, FedEx, all shipping Brethren and Sisterens:  Everyday , we must be Box Strong!! My friends and family when you see a dragging, sullen postal worker, make eye contact, raise a fist in solidarity and shout the battle cry, Box Strong!!! 

Pride, In The Name Of Dexter

   
Thursday May 30th Dexter graduated from middle school.  The ceremony was held at George Washington High School up the street from Presidio.  400 graduates passing on stage to receive their certificates.  From our balcony view, we could see Dexter applauding everyone of them.  One for all is he.  Of he, we are a proud Father and Mother, and Brother.  Fourteen years ago, if I had scripted this young man to be, I would not be disappointed.  Sure, he is sneaky watching episodes of Arrested Development or Community when he should be asleep on a school night.   I  remember that I watched the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on a little black and white TV and repeats of Sgt. Bilko (You'll Never Get Rich) and the Honeymooners.  Of course if you're reading this Dext, that does not make this right!

    The graduation was followed by lunch of his choice (Tony's Cable Car diner) where Marcail and B-Rose joined us.  A visit to the their new house, then home before Dexter's school dance.  Maria set up and helped clean up. Dexter danced! and apparently was not as sentimental as some of his friends.  Oliver and I had a date visiting the arcades of the Wharf.  Soon we will be off to a place of Dexter's choosing, the cabins of Charles Bello.  Here's a recent article of Charles profiled in the NY Times: charles bello nytimes

   And as far as Dexter is concerned (and Oliver too)- out of school! Summer is here!!