Have been in California since the 8th. My 91 year old aunt passed on the 7th. And I got here as soon as possible to help comfort my 88 year old mother. She is doing better then expected. And I am hoping there won't be a delayed reaction after I go.
This past Sunday my older sister was over. She comes once or twice a week to help with cleaning chores. Before I took her to BART so she could catch a train home, I asked my mother to tell once a again a story that she has been telling for years about my sister. But she did not remember it. Even after I told her most of it, nothing came to mind.
After I returned, I asked my mother if this meant that I was now the keeper of the family stories. She said yes. My reply was that I wasn't ready to take on this responsibility. And she told me that no matter, the task was mind.
As far back as I can remember I have listened to and lived the family stories. Now I am the keeper. This is not to say that others can't keep and tell stories. But it was my responsibility to remember all I would be told, and to repeat all the stories as often as I could.
In some ways this is an honor, but even more it needs to be done.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
A giant step forward for Alaska; The very much in love young couple on the bus
I rode the bus from work to town today. Sitting across from me and a couple of seats back was a handsome couple who as the saying goes only had eyes for each other, as they talked, cuddled and tastefully as possible touched each other. The knew I was glancing at them and they took turns returning my looks. It seemed like they were expecting me to say some red-neck hostile remark.
I have lived in Juneau for 33 years. Displays of affection by female couples is accepted and common here. But these two were part of Alaska's invisible sexual orientation; Gay men. They were so young. sweet and vulnerable. And they were so good looking, dressed in a rugged Alaskan way featuring tattered work clothes. Plastic grocery bags surrounded them. It was easy to imagine them having just having moved in together and like most every other who has taken that step they were stocking up the new place.
I didn't know what to say or even I should. A thumbs up seemed so trite and inappropriate. Yet, I think I did the right thing. Stopped glancing at them, and tried to project an attitude that there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. And actually there was nothing unusual happening. They were just another young couple so much in love enjoying each other and glorying in their happiness.
In my heart I wished them the best and continued happiness on their journey through life. May all of us be so fortunate to experience such joy!
I have lived in Juneau for 33 years. Displays of affection by female couples is accepted and common here. But these two were part of Alaska's invisible sexual orientation; Gay men. They were so young. sweet and vulnerable. And they were so good looking, dressed in a rugged Alaskan way featuring tattered work clothes. Plastic grocery bags surrounded them. It was easy to imagine them having just having moved in together and like most every other who has taken that step they were stocking up the new place.
I didn't know what to say or even I should. A thumbs up seemed so trite and inappropriate. Yet, I think I did the right thing. Stopped glancing at them, and tried to project an attitude that there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. And actually there was nothing unusual happening. They were just another young couple so much in love enjoying each other and glorying in their happiness.
In my heart I wished them the best and continued happiness on their journey through life. May all of us be so fortunate to experience such joy!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Is the Post Office trying to die and bury its self or what?
The Post Office is crying for mercy. The internet has done away with a serious chunk of 1st class letters and even the dreaded junk mail! So what is it to do? Concentrate on what is does better then anyone else and at a cheaper price, packages. Check it out:
The Post Office delivers anywhere. Even to PO Boxes!
It will pickup packages just like UPS and FedEx do. All you have to do is call them!
Plus you can track and insure packages.
Now there are those nifty flat rate express mail boxes.
And their rates are much less then anyone else.
As most Alaskan's know, forget about UPS. Often the rate for UPS is often more then the cost of the item. Just about anyone in the last Frontier has pleaded to no avail, just mail it!
Put me in charge of promotion and I you can take it to the bank that in a few years the Post Office will be making a profit. Of course other carriers might be hurting. But that is the way it goes.
So to the PO stop crying and get to work. If I can do it, you can to. And if you're not up to it, just give me a call!
The Post Office delivers anywhere. Even to PO Boxes!
It will pickup packages just like UPS and FedEx do. All you have to do is call them!
Plus you can track and insure packages.
Now there are those nifty flat rate express mail boxes.
And their rates are much less then anyone else.
As most Alaskan's know, forget about UPS. Often the rate for UPS is often more then the cost of the item. Just about anyone in the last Frontier has pleaded to no avail, just mail it!
Put me in charge of promotion and I you can take it to the bank that in a few years the Post Office will be making a profit. Of course other carriers might be hurting. But that is the way it goes.
So to the PO stop crying and get to work. If I can do it, you can to. And if you're not up to it, just give me a call!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Legalize/illegal
A couple of weeks ago a friend of mind said something to me I haven't heard in a while. "Alaska would be a better place if drugs were legalized." I replied, "Yeah, and if pull tabs were outlawed!"
What do you think?
What do you think?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Dr. Fred Chu
Dr. Fred Chu of Juneau, Alaska passed away this past Saturday at 8:15 PM. Due to illness it has been about 5 years since he practiced at the SEARHC clinic in Juneau. At the clinic he was well thought of and a favorite doctor of clients.
I didn't know Dr. Chu very well. My wife, Joni, who had worked at the clinic for a number of years only had good things to say about him. I first met Dr. Chu when he came into Joni's room at the Bartlett Hospital, which is just up the hill from SEARHC. This was on October 17, 2000. Joni was in labor with out first and only child. Dr Chu did some centering exercises with Joni. He stretched out her legs so the baby would have an easy path to follow. Then our regular Dr. Bob Urata came into the room. Bob and Fred joked about Fred stepping in on his patient. Dr. Urata was missing one of the World Series games to deliver our baby, but he was in a good mood.
In August of 2002, our little family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. We moved so our daughter could grow up in a larger Jewish Community the Juneau offered. In our hearts though Juneau would always be our home.
We were never completely comfortable in Minneapolis. Then in April, of 2005, Joni learned that Dr. Chu had stopped practicing due to something unknown and unrecognized that affected his brain. There was a dinner being held in honor of Dr. Chu. Joni flew back to Juneau for the dinner and to visit Dr. Chu along with some other friends.
In the Summer of 2005 we trickled up to Juneau for a long visit. We knew we probably wouldn't being going back to Minneapolis. The family settled back into our Juneau life. We found a small apartment, and soon cracks in our relationship began to appear. We separated in January of 2006. Joni began to care more and more for Fred. Then in November of 2006 Sasha and Joni moved in with Fred so Joni could devoted herself to his care.
What little I heard Dr. Chu's condition was not good. His time was getting short, but no one expected him to leave this past Saturday.
It almost surprises me the sadness I feel. Many times I am close to tears, and sometimes they flow. I'm concerned about my daughter and her mother. And I feel their pain. In someway it feels like I have lost a member of my extended family.
While Joni and I were still together she took me to see Dr. Chu. I have health issues of my own. He had me lie on his massage table and he rubbed my back. His examination complete, he suggested I talk to a tree and then come back. I knew what he meant. Go talk to a tree and get in touch with my inner self, and the world around me.
I never did go talk to a tree. When Sasha's grief begins to ebb, I will take her to talk to a tree. It will be our way of remembering Dr. Chu. I have the feeling that we will do a lot of tree talking. I am sorry that I didn't get to know Dr. Chu better. From everything I have heard and seen he was one of those people who have made the world a better place to live.
I didn't know Dr. Chu very well. My wife, Joni, who had worked at the clinic for a number of years only had good things to say about him. I first met Dr. Chu when he came into Joni's room at the Bartlett Hospital, which is just up the hill from SEARHC. This was on October 17, 2000. Joni was in labor with out first and only child. Dr Chu did some centering exercises with Joni. He stretched out her legs so the baby would have an easy path to follow. Then our regular Dr. Bob Urata came into the room. Bob and Fred joked about Fred stepping in on his patient. Dr. Urata was missing one of the World Series games to deliver our baby, but he was in a good mood.
In August of 2002, our little family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. We moved so our daughter could grow up in a larger Jewish Community the Juneau offered. In our hearts though Juneau would always be our home.
We were never completely comfortable in Minneapolis. Then in April, of 2005, Joni learned that Dr. Chu had stopped practicing due to something unknown and unrecognized that affected his brain. There was a dinner being held in honor of Dr. Chu. Joni flew back to Juneau for the dinner and to visit Dr. Chu along with some other friends.
In the Summer of 2005 we trickled up to Juneau for a long visit. We knew we probably wouldn't being going back to Minneapolis. The family settled back into our Juneau life. We found a small apartment, and soon cracks in our relationship began to appear. We separated in January of 2006. Joni began to care more and more for Fred. Then in November of 2006 Sasha and Joni moved in with Fred so Joni could devoted herself to his care.
What little I heard Dr. Chu's condition was not good. His time was getting short, but no one expected him to leave this past Saturday.
It almost surprises me the sadness I feel. Many times I am close to tears, and sometimes they flow. I'm concerned about my daughter and her mother. And I feel their pain. In someway it feels like I have lost a member of my extended family.
While Joni and I were still together she took me to see Dr. Chu. I have health issues of my own. He had me lie on his massage table and he rubbed my back. His examination complete, he suggested I talk to a tree and then come back. I knew what he meant. Go talk to a tree and get in touch with my inner self, and the world around me.
I never did go talk to a tree. When Sasha's grief begins to ebb, I will take her to talk to a tree. It will be our way of remembering Dr. Chu. I have the feeling that we will do a lot of tree talking. I am sorry that I didn't get to know Dr. Chu better. From everything I have heard and seen he was one of those people who have made the world a better place to live.
Monday, December 14, 2009
It’s that time of the year! We’re gonna play, “It is a wonderful life!!”
The game is is played just like happened to George Bailey of Bedford Falls. Only instead of what would be the world be like if you hadn’t been born, it is what would your life had been if you had made a different choice along your journey.
OK, I’ll go first. My life changed in the spring of ’65 when I wore sandals to high school. I was a junior at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, California. Although Walnut Creek to Berkeley is now rated by Goggle as a mere 15 miles apart, at that time it was a million. Walnut Creek was still in the ’50.
From sandals my life quickly went down a path to hanging out in Berkeley, being kicked out of Las Lomas, and of course there were some sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll! Self-discipline left me. I used to think of being a writer or an attorney. And then I was working in a gas station.
It has been an adventure. Maybe I would not have been happy as an attorney. But then telling lawyer jokes for a living probably would have been a great compromise!
There are changes in our society given birth to in the ‘60’s. And then there is also the pain for families and individuals. There are those like myself, who were invincible, and if anything happened there was always penicillin, which could cure any and every thing. Still as the result of a little exploration ended up chronically ill.
Tough choice, and no angel along for the ride!
OK, I’ll go first. My life changed in the spring of ’65 when I wore sandals to high school. I was a junior at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, California. Although Walnut Creek to Berkeley is now rated by Goggle as a mere 15 miles apart, at that time it was a million. Walnut Creek was still in the ’50.
From sandals my life quickly went down a path to hanging out in Berkeley, being kicked out of Las Lomas, and of course there were some sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll! Self-discipline left me. I used to think of being a writer or an attorney. And then I was working in a gas station.
It has been an adventure. Maybe I would not have been happy as an attorney. But then telling lawyer jokes for a living probably would have been a great compromise!
There are changes in our society given birth to in the ‘60’s. And then there is also the pain for families and individuals. There are those like myself, who were invincible, and if anything happened there was always penicillin, which could cure any and every thing. Still as the result of a little exploration ended up chronically ill.
Tough choice, and no angel along for the ride!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A season for all!
Lately when anyone says merry Christmas to me, I reply in a friendly way with a smile, what about Chanukah? Have gotten only smiles in return! Try it!
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