Helping kids move forward, one issue at a time,

                 with Heart, Humor & Optimism (H20 to Go! )

        *View From The Paw! Every Friday (at right)                     

           *Daily* Heart, Humor or Optimism 

 Sunday March 7

Day 61/365.

 Humor: Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin hosting the Academy Awards (I hope!)

Saturday March 6

 60/365

Optimist: Day-dreamer more elegantly spelled.

Well, I thought I’d be able to write on Friday-what was I thinking?  I arrived in Berkeley and was going non-stop from the minute I landed.

Berkeley-what can I say? If Los Angeles was the Land of Avatar gone Hollywood,then Berkeley is the Land of Avatar gone 60’s. I am of the original 60’s. The tie-dye, long haired, flower power generation who spent hours debating politics and social issues, and when some were not demonstrating against the Vietnam War, were at Woodstock or listening to rock, jazz, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley, That was my era, although truth be known, I did not like crowds so demonstrations and rock concerts were not part of my bio. I also grew up, and out, worked, married, became a mom and an Independent.

But, I arrive in the Land of Avatar-Berkeley and am immediately transported back. It is not as if I see that many aging hippies-but, it's rather that I see any, and enough to notice! There is something almost eerie about an aging hippie. It’s like looking at the male version of an aging blond who still wants to go “Barbarella”. I want to say-No! Go get new clothes.  We’re not there anymore.  That was then and it was great in real time. Now, you just look like a relic in a museum.

Also, everything is dramatically “green”. If heaven forbid I were rushed, or simply wanted the thrill of engaging in banned behavior, and put trash in the wrong receptacle I would be in fear of sirens going off, a Green Patrol swooping down on me, and greenies demanding to see my environmental credentials!

My childhood friend lives not five minutes from here.  She is an excellent homeopath. And, I love visiting her. I always eat so well when I am out here. I do truly love the food in California.  And I also realize that as an ex-New Yorker, and 24 year Washingtonian, it’s really important to get out of East Coastdum and be amongst other lifestyles and patterns. I am sitting in a local cafe waiting for her to finish up with a client. So, I get to look around.  At first glance, the people in the café look no different from anyone I might see in Washington, at a local Starbucks, except- no business attire on anyone. no sense of rushed purpose in expression or walk. I look at the older faces and wonder where they were back then? I look at the younger faces and wonder what they think of Washington? I wonder what they would think of me?

Sitting in a café in Berkeley, in the Land of Avatar gone mellow. Can I deal with that? Absolutely.  I shall be returning to the other side of mellow none too soon.
Stayed tuned!

Friday March 5

59/365

Heart: My little dog -- a heartbeat at my feet.
--Edith Wharton.

Thursday March 4  

58/365

Humor: Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window!
-- Steve Bluestone

Wednesday March 3-From California

Time Change in the Land of Avatar
I get back to the hotel after taking 4 of my son's friends to dinner. What fun to watch kids eat like they are on a perpetual economic fast that gets broken only when a parent arrives to force feed them with the bribe of lots of free food! Once fed, they are so much fun to be around--so full of purpose and drive, and humor!

Tuesday March 2

Day 56/365

 Optimism: Every blade of grass has its Angel

that bends over it and whispers,

"Grow, grow."(The Talmud)