2018

Another year has flown by--with a few unpleasantries such as repairing gas leaks, replacement of clothes dryer and water heater, and other domestic annoyances, (“What a bore,” as some of my English friends would have said.)

But the year had more pleasant highlights too. A few Metropolitan Opera “Live in HD” simulcasts and a few movies (the most fun being “Paddington II”). Several lecture series, two on Biblical topics by a semi-retired professor of Comparative Religion & Philosophy. Another series on topics by speakers in different fields, including one about a favorite American humorist, S.J. Perelman, whose writings I’ve greatly enjoyed. Now I’ve learned that he’d also done pieces for the Broadway stage and films.

In March I made my annual trek to San Francisco/Palo Alto for the tax preparer appointment, followed by lunch with a few colleagues from my days in Stanford Medical Center’s Cardiology Department.

That trip also included an elegant tea given by the San Francisco Opera for the Bel Canto Society. Beautiful décor (the invitations, place cards and menus all depicting the same floral and leaf arrangement which was “live” on the tables). Oceans of champagne, tea and hors d’oeuvres-type snacks (not the general little English mini-sandwiches), and fancy pastries. An opera official gave a talk on past and future productions, and two young singers rendered some arias for us.

At the end of this party a friend and I stayed at our table a while, waiting for the crowd to thin out so that we could get taxis at the entrance. One of the Opera’s lady officials came over to chat with us, and then treated me to a ride with “Lyft” -- showing me how the system works, ordering on the phone, seeing the driver and vehicle identification, and watching it move through the streets on the phone screen. I had never done this before, since I don’t  have an i-phone. I thought it was a fascinating process, and I enjoyed the ride back to my hotel. This sort of thing is a real asset in a city where it’s hard to catch an ordinary taxi.

In June I chanced upon the TV broadcast of the Royal Ascot Races in England, and what a magnificent show that was! The Queen and entourage arriving in horse-drawn carriages (and Her Majesty presenting one of the prize cups). Everyone in fabulous attire--ladies in beautiful dresses and fabulous hats, gentlemen in top hats and tails, etc. (There is a Dress Code!) A happy, enthusiastic crowd, interviews with owners, trainers, jockeys and celebrities etc. Many races, and you also heard heart-warming histories of some of the horses. I happened to catch just the last two days of this five-day event. It’s well worth getting up before dawn for such an enjoyable event. I’ve marked my calendar for next year-- NBCTV is going to continue producing the simulcasts.

I’ve also seen a few of the major American horse races. (Even just watching on TV one gets caught up in the vigorous enthusiasm of New Yorkers attending the Belmont Stakes!)

I took a short trip to Santa Barbara in July, which included a free concert (a master class in cello -- three young performers) at the Music Academy of the West. (Free because my friend who lives in S.B. is a volunteer usher for some of the Academy’s many music festival events that run all summer).

Went to Santa Barbara again over the Labor Day weekend for the Pacific Coast Open Final polo match, always fun. This time we had to book ahead (at greater cost) in order to get our good seats in the shaded grandstand. Previously all seats were the same price and on a “first arrive, first serve” basis.

In November I gave a talk for the local chapter of the AAUW (American Assn. of University Women), along with Marti Lindholm, who is the program chair. Her topic was her Middle East trip earlier this year, with emphasis on the “Palestinian situation.” I spoke about my Middle East trip in (gasp!) 1963, which focused on history and archaeology. In my talk I covered mostly experiences in Syria, because obviously she did not go there. I also touched on a few aspects  of Palestinian matters and a bit on my adventures in Petra and Aqaba (Jordan).

We displayed some photos and memorabilia on side tables, and Marti also showed some photos from her computer on a large TV screen. We had a full house and a responsive audience, and I garnered some very nice compliments!

My fellow speaker wants us to repeat our program for the parishioners of St. Peter’s (Episcopal) Church sometime in the New Year, so you could say we’re “taking our show on the road,” so to speak -- albeit in the same meeting room, the Church’s social hall. OK by me!

NATURE NOTES: As I wrote last year, my beloved cats Jazz and BB died in 2017, and I’m desolated without them. I was so exhausted by almost a year of being BB’s private duty nurse round the clock (feeding prescription diet every 2 hours, cleaning up multiple “accidents” every day, etc., that I was not ready to take on a new cat yet. But I hope to get one after the holidays.

Some time after departure of the cats, I acquired a Resident Mouse, who I think may possibly have invited a friend or relative or two as well, to share the great cuisine he finds here. He has gnawed away at avocados and fruit in the fruit bowls, so I had to put heavy covers on the bowls. He has also gnawed into the wrappers of chocolate bars (now secured in a heavily-covered bowl). I never know where he will strike next. I have even seen him scampering in the living room, hoping I’ll leave snacks near the TV set. (I’ve also seen a mouse inside the outdoor garbage can--probably a relative of the Indoor Resident.) I don’t want to use traps and poison, so I trust that my next cat will be professional and take care of any rodent invaders--Nature’s Way.

I have intermittent plagues of ants, too. They swarm in the thousands -- some for general food scraps before I get them into the garbage -- some preferring greasy things (esp. chicken) and some seeking sweets (even getting into a tightly secured screw-top jaw of sugar -- how on earth do they squeeze through that?)

Ants also seek water -- showing up occasionally in the bathroom (no food there)--and even in the ironing and dryer room (no food there either)-- where they invaded the steam iron! So I have to plug that with a rag when not in use. I may have boiled a few ants when I first turned on the iron, but at any rate it still works.

I’m amazed at how such tiny creatures as mice and ants know exactly where they’re going and why, and how to get there -- to obtain food and water.

Even though I have no cat at present, I still put a bowl of drinking water outdoors for such wildlife as turns up (whom I never actually see.) I know I have a skunk who sleeps in the crawl space under the house, because occasionally when some other animal disturbs him, he deploys his terrible scent (his “weapon of mass stinktion,” to coin a phrase?). I think I get visits from a raccoon, or a possum as well--or all of these. They drink most of the water and leave a bit of dirt in the bowl, rubbed off their low-lying fur:

I can’t begrudge these creatures a drink of water.

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A few Christmas parties have started off the holiday season, and I’ve received a lovely arrangement of evergreen foliage for my front door; hand-made by a friend from Washington State. I added my own big red ribbon bow to its top, and it looks splendid--just right for this architecture.

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That’s about all for now. Hope all is well with you and yours, and I look forward to hearing your news. Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and New Year!