The photo sent out with this edition pretty much tells the story of where I’m at, health-wise and otherwise. It was taken at the finish line of the San Francisco Marathon, and I’m wearing a medal I earned for running the second half, a distance of 13 miles. Inspiration for this test of endurance and shoes came with the news that the National Brain Tumor Foundation was sponsoring a team. Did I mention the limited edition "brain tumor survivor" T-shirt? (I have the only copy.) I made my own, since the team shirt had no artwork on the front. The event was a total blast...like a scaled-down Bay to Breakers that lasted twice as long. There were quite a few bands on the route, which wound through Golden Gate Park and down Haight Street, through South of Market, skirting Potrero Hill and towards the Ferry Building via the water side of SBC Park. Somehow, I made it to the finish in reasonable good shape, where Ellen spotted me immediately and took me home for a nap. Nonetheless, my several weeks of training paid off, and I’m thinking of training for a full marathon by next year...seems like a worthy goal and I’ll have much more time to train. I’m already looking forward to it, as the NTBF people want me to design shirts for next year’s race.
Musically, this has been an interesting and active period. In October, I put together a benefit show for Kerry (that seems like such a long time ago, doesn’t it?) that featured sets by The Vanilla Extract and two of its members: Anne Zesiger and myself. I opened the show solo, armed with only a guitar, a harmonica and a few songs, some original and some not. Anne contributed a fine set, and TVE ended the night with the premiere of its Groovy Light Show. We also raised some cash for the Kerry campaign, but alas, not enough to put him over the top.
The following month, I performed my first show for Bread & Roses, the Bay Area organization that brings music to those who can’t get out to concerts on their own. My audience was a tiny group of psychiatric patients at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Although attention spans (as well as actual bodies) tended to wander in and out of the small room throughout my performance, it was well-received and I felt honored to have them as an audience. I’ll always remember that show...from the enthusiastic gentleman in front who wanted to take me to his apartment and give me one of the 34 books he claimed to have written, to the man in back who seemed to be sleeping until halfway into my set, when he bolted upright, exclaimed, "muy bonita!" and went back to sleep.
Well, enough about me (although being "What’s Up With Dan," this can be as much about me as I like). Ginger continues her remarkable recovery from cancer a year after her vet had written her off. We’re near the end of a major kitchen/family room remodeling project that has taken on a life of its own, not to mention getting further into the rainy season than we might like. But the reconfigured space is beautiful and I’m sure the results will be worth the mornings when I had to boil water for coffee on a camp stove in the lanai. It’s been a series of interesting experiences, from trips to granite supply warehouses full of slabs as beautiful as abstract paintings to the process of arriving at just the right cabinet pulls and color for the stain. Ellen has done an amazing job of pulling together various elements to create a "dream kitchen" that reflects her taste and eye for color.
Sometimes it’s the small things that remind me of the wonder that is life. Amid all the bustle that the holidays bring, I try to savor things that others find mundane or tedious. Today, as I got stamps at the Post Office, the line froze for many minutes. The woman behind me began to sigh audibly, and the man in front of me started muttering "bullshit." I chose to rock slowly from side to side, something I have learned in Chi Gung class, and feel the energy redistribute itself throughout my body. It’s much easier than getting upset.
As always, I’m grateful for the love, support, and prayers of all of you. Ellen has taken stellar care of me, the kids have been great, we almost have a kitchen and we’re looking forward to cooking, hanging out in, and sharing our new family area again. We sincerely hope that the season and the coming year are happy and fulfilling, and that during this time of new beginnings, good things will be awakened in your lives. Here’s to a bright future!
Peace and love,
Dan
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