Multi-Generational Time

You know, there is considerable intrinsic value in spending time with relatives of generations other than yours. The varying perspectives you hear, the memories they share from times before yours, the collective remembering of shared histories; it was a good week.

One of my uncles has never stopped learning and I think he's about 87 or 88 now. In 1995 he was received the National Amateur Paleontologist Award, he amassed countless flora and fauna fossils in a museum he built. It was viewed by many of all generations as part of their learning and appreciation of all that went before. Now he is traveling as his health permits and has begun to paint. He went to Guadalajara, Mexico on an elder hostel tour where he did some painting and is going back to a slightly different area again over the Christmas holiday. I want to be just like him when I grow up.

One of the highlights of this brief trip was two of those generations taking the Rogue River jet boat from downtown Grants Pass upriver to Hellgate Canyon and back. We had people from places as far away as Hawaii, Dallas/Texas, Miami/Florida and L.A. It was great fun and I hope to get back down there for a repeat performance again soon.

There have been a number of movies filmed on the Rogue such as Rooster Cogburn with John Wayne and the River Wild with Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon. It's beautiful and full of jet boats, rubber rafts, kayaks and fisherpeople, not to mention wildlife galore. In 1968 it was one of eight rivers in the country designated by the federal government as "wild and scenic" meaning its beauty will be protected forever. Plus we saw people panning for gold who said they had found some. According to Google, over $70 million in gold has been taken from the Rogue over the years.

All in all, a great week with valuable time spent with family who seem to grow older so quickly, making each hour spent with them precious.

Good Guys and Bad Guys

In my opinion, it's all a matter of perspective, in fact that's not just my opinion, look at the last presidential election. The majority of the country had a different perspective and opinion than I did. Of course, they were all wrong but that's beside the point.


When I think of an objective journalist, I think of Edward R. Murrow. I realize his opinion entered into the picture when he got deep into the rousting of the truly evil Joe McCarthy but for the most part, he was very objective and you felt you could trust him implicitly. How many of today's newscasters do you feel you can completely trust?




Instead, I would venture a guess that they are more likely to report in such a way that it will cause some kind of reaction. That reaction may be one of outrage, sympathy, horror, sadness, frustration, anger, shock, etc... you get my point. It's the reaction they are after to obtain the highest ratings. It's not about honesty in reporting, it's about ratings. Kind of like for profit health plans are about satisfying their stockholders as much or more than they are about providing coverage.


There are all sorts of examples of this kind of behavior, Sicko is just one. But it isn't only the intentions of journalists or health insurance companies that are suspect, for- profit business in general falls into this same category. Because for the most part they are being driven by the same financial drivers. They are slaves to the stock market and their bottom line in most cases, not to their customers. Can anybody say, "Walmart"?


Give me good ol' John Stewart for my news, that's about as serious as I want to get. Actually, in his own clever way, I think he is very serious about his concerns and how he makes his points while entertaining us all the while. He's my hero!

All Things Hawaiian

Tonight we had dinner at Ohana, The Hawaiian Cafe about three blocks down the street. Now, anyone who has seen Lilo and Stitch knows that Ohana means "family" so every time we go in, the Disney music starts going through my head.

That's probably part of the reason I like it so much, oh and let's not forget the scrumptious kalua pig and cabbage...

Seriously, it's a feel good kind of place and every time we've gone there to eat, there have been native Hawaiians there, which to me is the best possible sign that it's excellent and authentic food. I realize the computer shot of this dish of food isn't the best or most appetizing you've seen so you'll just have to trust me on this.


Of course, it wasn't as authentic as the luau's we attended in Maui where they made Mike get up and do the hula after dinner but I probably liked it that much better as a result. Some exhibits are just too hard to take on a full stomach.

So all there is left to say about this lovely evening is, "Mahalo"!

Good health is one of many conditions we take for granted. Why is it that you most appreciate your good health when you're sick? My daughter was extremely ill this weekend and all I could think about was I wished I was the one who was sick instead. Once a parent, always a parent (she's on the road to recovery after three IV's in Emergency).


I warned her, she will go through the same thing with baby boy. If you could prevent all the diseases, all the injuries, all the meanness of other kids to your kids, you would. On the other hand, all those experiences create the adult you will become. It's just painful to live through for them and possibly even more painful to watch. And the mommy syndrome never leaves you. There is nothing else as wonderful or as worrisome and absolutely nothing more rewarding.

So sayeth me...