BACK FROM CALIFORNIA!
Greetings to my many millions of fans who pined while this site vegetated for a month–there are a few mixed metaphors there, no?)
Great things have happened during that time, most notably the addition of a new grandaughter, Maia Seevers Beltran, who arrived a couple of weeks ahead of schedule and caused her mom and dad, and the Canadian grandparents from William Street, to head out early (3rd inning) from a Giants-Pirates game at SBC Park. GGeoff (I am told) was so excited that the event had become imminent that he failed to notice leaving the park, or the fans in the row behind, who muttered something like, “leaving already??” The Giants were trailing 1-0 on a cool and windy evening–reminiscent of Candlestick Park in the old days–but Brent Tomko pitched hitless ball over the last 6 innings (so I am told), and the trip to Berkeley’s Alta Bates Hospital (where son David was born 41+ years ago) took a mere half hour. Should note that the mother-to-be stopped off at a concession stand to purchase an order of garlic fries (#1 food attraction, again I am told, at SBC), and presented them to her husband when he brought the van around for the efficient getaway.
Then it was the waiting game–not realizing that sooner would come rather than later. I had an inkling that the birth would not be a long time coming, and at 1:25 a.m, a mere 5 1/2 hours after departing the ballgame. The story had switched focus, completely. Mother did well, father did well, and daughter did extremely well, as attached photo attests.
Before that blessed event, we had a good visit and enjoyed the hospitality that exists with such good food and wine and people that we know in the golden state. Could not afford to live there these days, would not want to brave the traffic problem that now bedevils the Bay Area generally, would suggest that I would live somewhere in the Big Sur or Mendocino areas, or maybe up in Susanville, Grass Valley, or Arcata. But the place remains a great venue to visit, and the views are spectacular, and the weather cooperated. We had a good sightsee in SF, had lunch with brother who protects the Bay against bad people attempting to fill it — he’s an environmental lawyer for the Bay Conservation and Development Corporation (BCDC). And his office down on California Street has a view of the Bay that makes one smile. I could work there. (But of course the Republican meanies want to get rid of the BCDC because–they say–it’s not good for business. Fooey on them, I say in return. Long live BCDC!!
So then it was a short jaunt to see my son and his kids in Los Angeles, which when focusing upon pollution and population, is as good a site there is to throw up one’s hands and go, “arrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”. But that’s not constructive, so visitors to LA are advised to mellow out, find their zen zone, and–most important–when an airport security agent confiscate’s your partner’s nail scissors, explain, “she’s not a terrorist. She doesn’t look like a terrorist.” That’s not a good answer, especially when the agent responds, “So what does a terrorist look like?” At that point you know you are in over your head, no matter how bummed you feel at the absurdity of the “security” processes we now undergo at airports everywhere. For more on this point, consult “Constructive Journalism” in this site, and scroll down to “Fear and Loathing in the National Security State.”
LA was great despite its structural impediments. Went to the beach (my partner fell when she was challenged by a wave–not too wet, but wet enough), won a basketball at Santa Monica Pier (schlocky and great as all get out) when I dropped a 20 footer–there was a UCLA bball waiting for me (the last time I won a North Carolina bball). The most moving part of the beach trip was a faux monument, “Arlington West,” with more than 1500 American flags set in the sand, along with a symbolic coffin, and display suggesting that the U.S. could do better than do what it is now doing in Iraq. It was bipartisan–the book that people signed reflected all views, pro and con, but it really makes one think about the unintended consequences of the Iraq conflict.
We also saw UCLA and Pepperdine contend for the NCAA volleyball championship (men’s). A whole different ball game. Pepperdine has the US Olympic coach and a front line averaging 6-9. How to defend or attack that? UCLA, with long-time (43 years?) Al Scates as coach, did its darndest and kept the crowd of 6500 or so in Pauley Pavilion very much in the constest until the end. Pepperdine won the first, UCLA came back and won the next two, and then Pepperdine took the last two. A player for UCLA named Acosta was absolutely unstoppable, until the last game. I think that UCLA just ran out of stamina. Pepperdine was hungry, and deep.
Heard from my son that the Queen’s bball coach, good friend Chris Oliver, had quit and moved on to Windsor. Heard that in Los Angeles! I said, “No, you must be mistaken. I haven’t heard that”. Well, the news turned out to be to true, and I understand very well Chris’s frustrations here trying to get a top-notch team together. He did the best he could, and perhaps could have stayed and done better. But Queen’s entrance requirements, and even more its entrance procedures, are laughable in their sense of superiority. We are not in the ballpark with other schools, and if we are to keep people like Chris Oliver, things must change. But I have been saying this for thirty years, and no one listens….more on this later.
Other events included grandson Jake’s great ballgame for the Mustang Giants (it’s weird seeing a buch of 9 and 10 year olds wearing SF Giant caps and tops in LA and being happy about it) defeating the Yankees 14-3 and riding a 16 game winning streak. Jake got good wood all three times (3×3), and drove in three runs. He plays second base and made his grandfather proud. Jake moves well. His grandfather does not. One of his teammates and the only girl on the team is the late Marlon Brando’s grandaughter, aptly named Prudence. Prudence plays a great third base and catcher. I read in the media yesterday that she testified on behalf of the defense in the Michael Jackson abuse case in Santa Maria. That’s a lot to put on a kid’s shoulder, especially when the witness before her was Jay Leno. Oh well, only in LA….
Lots more could be said, especially about Jake’s sister, Hannah Grace, and David, Shawna, and Avery, who live in Fremont. I guess you get the idea I am a pretty good family guy after all. Avery and her parents took us to the Fremont rubber duck races on a placid day, when the fire department had to come in and use the big hose to get those ducks moving. I’ve included a photo of what 5000 rubber ducks look like–it’s not the most moving sporting event of our time, but it does raise money for good causes. Hannah Grace, meanwhile, like Avery, is quite an artist. That comes from my maternal grandmother’s side no doubt. She began to paint in her 70s, and produced quite an ouvre.
So that’s a capsule–lots more happened of course, and we praise BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) as a humane way to move people around. Would that more people left their cars at home in favour of BART or bicycles generally. The latter are becoming much more numerous in and around San Francisco. We should all think twice the next time we get in a car–could we ride a bike, or walk?
Otherwise, the world seems still in need of some force to change the trajectory of US foreign and security policy. We returned home to grandson Sammy here in Kingston, and after looking at him a few times — easy to do — I want no war at all. Off to Green Bay, Wisconsin, this weekend for a big sport history (NASSH) conference. Panel topic: Sport and Diplomacy. Why not? Makes sense. Have a great weekend and always good to be home to quiet and (some say) somnolent Kingston.
More to come, and yes, this is a political column, even if you do not recognize the fact!
