Hello. It's been the longest time between entries- mostly to avoid writing from a point of emotion and drama. I can testify that these past sixty days have been tense, confusing but at the end of this road, transforming. We look forward to the turn of it all. Yet everywhere there are reminders to how fortunate we are. None of these stressful days involved illness or death to those closest to us, and those closest to us are pretty cool folks.
Unquestionably the brightest moments have been witnessing a very engaged Dexter, involved in the production of his school's presentation of "Spamalot". Loving his theater tech responsibilities and super ninja troubleshooter role, belonging to a community of nutty talented peers. Although he's lacking the balance to keep his other grades up (frankly, his other grades presently make that sucking sound), we love seeing our 15 year old desiring to belong and being accepted for who he is (at least we think so!).
As for the production- incredible! From the opening overture of the band, Sota's Spamalot was great fun with excellent production values and the talent of individuals working in an rewarding collective. The Python humor smashed through and not having seen the "proper" version of the show, I would like to now, and see how it could be better than the Sota production. We are very impressed with this place.
We also loved niece Stacey's choreography of the Brentwood version of "Spamalot" in a lovely new theater watching a different version of the same play with contrasting choices made, staging (much more interaction with the audience) and providing another point of view. The holy grail was still found even if one version did it with the help of the Jews and the other, by having "stars" in their Broadway play.
Terry Mayo is our attorney, connected us to from his work with John Dempsey. He wrote to our cousins of my (father's brother) to provide us a reasonable time to move out from where we live as opposed to the deadlines we were receiving. Accommodating folks that we are, we were allowing ourselves to being pushed to where the results would be the most stressful for our children. Fortunately, reason between us, Terry, (and additionally for me- speaking to Bill Muits) had us slow down, reconsider, and to draw a line.
Thrilled was I that Maria opted to go to see Galactic with us (Dexter) at the Fillmore. Oliver got to spend a couple of nights with Kathy and Bob in Alameda, which he was thrilled to do. Not as thrilled was that Galactic turned out to be the same night as a reunion with dear old Peet's friends, Jenny, Johanna, Tim, and Lara at Jenny's place in the Avenues. I wanted a full evenings with all!
Realizing that I've seen Galactic more than I have of these companions we stayed as late as we would have with the boys anyway. Here again is where we are reminded from my days of Double Rainbow through Just Desserts to today with Peets being my longest tenured work experinece as to how fortunate I am- to have these friendships (Hey-just found out today that Rachel Walker got married; now there's a most wonderful loon!) and being with them is the easiest thing to do, to be. We float.
This was the last stop of this round of the Galactic tour and with Corey Henry of the Rebirth Brass Band along, the band drove hard and played fonky; the New Orleans lilt, clave rhythm always a presence. Grooves laid down deep, saxophone and trombone as jackhammers in perfect alliance or dissonant compliance. After the show (we were gone before) the rhythm section headed over to the Boom Boom Room across the street to play into the late hours of the morning. Stanton Moore and crew seems to always be playing music- in other bands, collaborating....
Dad told me that one day when he was gone that his brother's family would press to sell the shared property where we live on Hyde Street. Understandably as they have no involvement of it for decades. Dad was right. Since October we have attempted to purchase the building with the agreement that if our offer was not accepted we would allow it to be sold. Our counter offer to what they wanted was not accepted; I won't get into any of the differences of the opinions of the sales value of the building but more it's about, seeing the building as a financial asset that is unclaimed vs. a human asset with people living there. Depending on where you sit, all valid. I will note that my father and his brother never saw this as a way to charge anything near market rental rates so on some list , the tenants of this building might be on the top 50 greatest rent deals in SF. Us included!
The immediate task before us was an agreement to clear out the storage from the basement (decades of collections, tenant storage, family storage and junk). We invited tenants the opportunity to also add on anything from their apartments and boy, did they add on! Hawler! 415-946-2077 came in to take truckloads with three guys doing an incredible job to clear out rooms that in my lifetime have never been clear. We let go of a lot of our things!
We have bid on six homes in San Francisco and with getting all the money//loans that we are comfortable with, waving all contingencies to new inspections, etc., we often find ourselves right in the middle of the pack as this crazed market has investors paying with cash. A recent try was in a working class neighborhood just off Ocean Avenue- an old house (with great solid wood!) had 48 bids, and there we were, again in the middle. Sigh.
And now for the first time in my life I am open to leaving San Francisco-just as I thought Peets was my job for my working life, SF was to be my home all my days. These daze, however, have us looking across the bay, to Alameda.
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| coach Dexter says to Oliver, "Run!" |
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