Ode to Babette

When my beau resolved to part with Babette,
I was the one to fluster and fret.
She was his first - the first bass he owned,
Over 17 years, their fellowship had grown.

Her chest-thumping rifts caused many hands to raise,
With him, her sole purpose was devoted to Praise.
How could he release her bright crimson torso,
To a complete stranger for a coupla Benjies,...o.b.o.?

(Bridge)
She headlined as "Hohner B2A Headless Bass" on Craigslist,
His narrative for her specs I found quite impressive:
Solid American maple body; smooth 24-fret rosewood fingerboard over maple neck; Steinberger licensed hardware; 2 Select pickups designed by EMG; Active Bass Boost switch; soft case included.

Mr. Short Red Beard who took her away,
Look after her well, we may meet again some day
On a another stage, in a more secular venue,
Until then, sweet Babette, we will certainly miss you.

Dismantling Maxtor

I'm recalling my first intro to blogs, years ago... I was peering over my guy's shoulder at his monitor, grinning in amusement over his shaking head. Our cellist friend had posted a series of photos she had taken while dismantling her toaster. Or was it a VCR...? Anyway, here's our version -- a tribute if you will -- to commemorate that moment, seemingly eons ago, and to bid farewell to our defunct harddrive.

Pausing for Veterans

As we pause to honor the veterans of this country, surviving and fallen, on this day, I'm also reflecting on war and the reason for it; and the shifting demographic that now includes an influx of young veterans returning to an economically-challenged society, with PTSD and other assimilation problems of their own.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2007...

• There are 23.6 million military veterans in the U.S. 9.3 million of them are 65 and older. 1.9 million are younger than 35.
• Five states have at least 1 million veterans -- California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1.1 million), and Pennsylvania (1.1 million).
• Six million veterans have a service-related disability.
• In 2006, government spending for veterans benefits ($72.8 billion total) went to compensation and pensions (48%), medical programs (46%), and other programs like vocational rehabilitation and education.
• The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimates that at least 1/3 of the nation's homeless are veterans.
  

Regardless of my views on war, I respect and appreciate all of you for your sacrifice and service. For those of you who are already home, I wish you the best care; and may the ones who are still away return to us safely.

"The time has come," the walrus said...

..."to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings." -- from The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll.

On a recent mission to augment my beau's wardrobe, we poked into an eclectic store in Berkeley that featured very cool and original hoodies, t-shirts, and caps. Founded by Oakland native Matt Revelli, the line was created "to fill the fashion void between culture-based brands of clothing...with the belief that numerous social influences such as art, music, skateboarding, basketball, and street life could be combined into one brand of clothing that celebrates contemporary urban lifestyle without excluding anyone." (DrJays.com)

Will probably check out the rotating exhibits at their San Francisco gallery, Fifty24SF, currently featuring the "visceral" artwork of Paul Insect.

The Power of Gratefulness

Here's a condensed version of an "inspiring speech" that I delivered over the weekend at my Toastmasters club's multipurpose extravaganza (i.e., Speak-A-Thon / Fundraiser / Pre-Holiday Celebration). May you be inspired...

*****

Would you describe yourself as someone who “lives gratefully”? Do you take some time, once in a while, to pause and think about all the things that you’re grateful for? In recent years, I’ve discovered that this practice is good for me.

In looking back on those hurricane relief trips we took to Louisiana and Mississippi, the life lessons that the survivors of the Storm taught me were far more significant than any physical help we gave them. In the midst of a huge jumble of emotions, the one that emerged from this disaster as a source of strength for many of the residents we talked to was…the feeling of gratefulness that they even survived. Even though they had lost all of their worldly possessions and everything seemed out of their control, they were humbled and grateful for what they did have left. It may not have been much, but it was what they could cling on to, as an anchor so that they could look ahead at getting their lives back in order. What a humbling perspective that was for me.

I caught another glimpse of the "power of gratefulness" in my friend, Ms. R, whose mother has pancreatic cancer. When her mom was diagnosed earlier this year, the doctors had predicted that she probably wouldn’t survive more than 4 to 6 months. It was Month 10 when Ms. R gave me this update. I was struck by how Ms. R calmly described how grateful she was to have these extra months with her mother – “bonus months”, she called them. I marveled at how she seemed so at peace and grateful, while facing the reality that her mother won’t be around for much longer.

Making it a habit to be conscious of the things we're grateful for in life has been shown to have a positive impact in many ways. The Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving, for example, suggests that you can increase your sense of well-being and create positive social effects just from counting your blessings. Living gratefully and living simply also seem to go hand-in-hand. When we are grateful for what we have, we tend to appreciate “the simple things” more – e.g., the kindness of others, the beauty of nature, etc. And when tough times hit, we may be more ready to remember and cling on to those things that we’re grateful for, in order to endure the challenge.

So I ask you, "What are YOU grateful for?"

We Asians...

...can be so weird.


And brilliant!

Life goes on...

...with a restrained skip and a jump. While I've long outgrown the naive expectation that epic events -- such the election of Barack Obama as this nation's 44th President -- will be able to "change everything", I am still basking in the ray of hope that is emanating from the outcome of this Election.

Granted, after the glow fades and we give our last round congratulatory hugs, we will each return to life as usual, digging in to face the realities and challenges of everyday life. Granted, after the President-Elect took a couple of deep breaths (if that) to savor his victory, he hunkered down with his camp to start devising a strategy to bushwhack our way out of a fairly thick mess.

But despite the bumps (and boulders) in our personal and the nation's political roads, I, for one, am forging ahead with an extra spring in my step, optimistic that the hope for change he has been speaking and writing about is not all that audacious.

Congratulations, Mr. President-Elect

OMG!!! Enuf said.

It's a Beautiful Day to VOTE!

My first Election Day as a U.S. citizen and registered voter began with a bleary-eyed peek through our bedroom curtains at a brightening clear day. Like any other day, we climbed into our exercise clothes and headed out for an early morning workout. Unlike other days, though, we made a couple of extra turns to scope out our neighborhood polling place en route to the Y. The lights in the community center poured out onto the dim street, but otherwise, all was quiet 45 minutes before the polls were to open.

We took another detour past the building on our way home. This time, the venue was a little "livelier" with a couple of volunteer greeters flanking the doorway and a lone picketer pumping his triceps with a "Vote No on 8" sign outside the property perimeter.

Two hours later -- after a regular breakfast, a couple of conference calls, folding laundry, and "freshening up" -- we finally returned to the polling place for its primary purpose. There were noticeably more people, but not the lines or fanfare seen at other locations around the country. But I didn't mind. While enjoying my own mental voting party and the company of my voter buddy, I appreciated being outnumbered by friendly volunteers who efficiently directed me to the check-in desk and then to the eSlate polling booth.

Those 6 minutes in that black-curtained booth were among the most empowering of my life.

An estimated 13.6 million California voters are expected to cast ballots today.
As of 4:30PM, Pacific time, 4,031,535 people on Facebook had voted.

This is certainly an incredible day...to change the world.

'Twas the Day Before Elections...

Some images and voices that are characterizing this Election Day eve for me:

• Dueling day-laborers on opposite street corners, gyrating wildly while carrying large signs with the names of rival local candidates.
• Surge of e-mails from friends and family, in the U.S. and abroad, advising me on my Presidential pick based on excerpts from "unbiased sources" and self-proclaimed pastor prophets.
• Radio and TV news talk shows asking the same question, "Are you approaching this year's election differently from other ones?"
• YMCA locker room conversations among retirees who will be volunteering at the polls tomorrow, excitedly quipping about their much earlier-than-usual start to Election Day and the expected overwhelming turnout.
• Joining my co-worker in casting damp eyes to the ground and nonchalantly rubbing reddened noses as she recounted powerful emotions when she and her long-time partner received their marriage license at San Francisco City Hall last week. "We are officially part of each other's families now."
  

I'm probably pausing longer than most to savor each and every moment associated with this Election, seeing as this will be my first voting experience. But considering a black man is a major party nominee for the U.S. Presidency, and gay marriage is on the State ballot,... My guess is that, regardless of the outcome of these and other socially significant contests, the historic nature of this Election will no doubt be burned into the memories of all Americans, and perhaps even the world.

R.I.P, Studs

Studs Terkel, the father of oral histories, left us with thousands of personal accounts of "life of the common folk" when he passed away on Friday. He had inspired me and others (like NPR and its Story Corps) to follow in his footsteps in collecting recorded glimpses of everyday life. An oral time capsule, created by just taking the time to listen.