My grandson is three and this is my second time to have him for an extended period at night. His parents are in San Francisco, returning around 11p.m. We spend the afternoon and evening cooking, eating and reading the books I read to his father... Continue
Columnist
These are the times that try our souls. We’re watching clocks change to early night darkness and elections rocking our boats. This next round of no-light-after-5 p.m. begins soon. Why do they call it daylight savings anyway? In this spooky season of the trickster, we... Continue
Your correspondent apologizes for any typos or wine stains in this piece but he's finishing this column and trying to get his 2024 ballot read, analyzed, marked and in the mail before polls close. Those who’ve herniated a disk lifting those dense Voters Guides know... Continue
Deportees The crops are all in and the peaches are rotting, The oranges piled in their creosote dumps; They're flying 'em back to the Mexican border To pay all their money to wade back again Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye, Rosalita, Adios mis amigos, Jesús... Continue
The future of the Sonoma Developmental Center continues to hang in the balance, as a Napa developer proceeds with plans for construction of almost a thousand new living units, including a plethora of single-family homes and a row of two-and-three-story housing units lining parts of... Continue
Is the patriarchy dying? Could we be in a crescendo of change? As Clarissa Pinkola Estés (Author of Women Who Run with The Wolves) wrote, “The Black Madonna, in all her representations, is known as the healer of crippledness, the healer of harmed women, hurt... Continue
Small towns in California are an endangered species. The combination of expensive state and federal mandates and regulations, rising costs of government, internet-based consumer spending, and limited revenue opportunities poses an almost insurmountable obstacle to survival. It was not always this way. When I became... Continue
An Ancient Being ~ It was the day after his birth that I held my grandson for the first time. I remember having this tiny creature cradled in my arm, peering into his dark eyes, thinking he looked nothing like a baby, but more like... Continue
In many respects modern life in America has never been better. From healthcare to the economy, technological innovation like smart phones and handy gadgets of all kinds, people enjoy conveniences and opportunities unimaginable 25 years ago. And yet, many people are angry. Civilization has always... Continue
First sleepover (age 3) 2006 "Oma, do you wear jammies?" "Not always, but for you, I'll wear jammies." As we get tucked into bed, I give him a goodnight peck on the cheek. He side-eyes the leopard print pajamas my friend Kay Grether gave me... Continue