A Very Special Halloween [2024]

Anne and I live in an older area, in which there are no street lights or sidewalks, and at Halloween, we typically have only a few trick-or-treaters. 

This year, for a strange reason I cannot explain, I walked into a supermarket and bought a gigantic bag of candy, later asking myself, "What was I thinking? There are only going to be a few kids."

But that night, when the bell rang and I opened the door, there were so many trick-or-treaters and their parents, that they filled my porch, my front patio and much of the driveway.

The Most Beautiful Orange

This morning as I was greeting people at a busy Palos Verdes intersection, a 50ish black haired, dark eyed, olive skinned Latino man stopped his truck in a lane across the traffic from me.

He stared at me, and then without speaking a word, he reached out the full length of his arm holding in his hand a beautiful orange.

A Dream Like No Other, 3/18/24

Dear Reader,

On 3/18/24 I had a dream like no other I've ever had. It was remarkably vivid, colorful and I was actively involved in using my brain to speak in my limited Spanish. Yanin's Spanish speaking mother had died two years earlier, a woman I had never met, yet as I struggled to follow her instructions, I knew it was her mother rescuing me. Regrettably, I did not writeup my notes until 4:28 am, and did not recall what she rescued me from, but it was something very strong, supernatural.

Hawaii, July 16 - July 22, 2023 -- A Trip Of A Lifetime

Because of the generosity of Kyle and Diane Kazan, Keoni 23, and Ikaika 10, Brody 18, and Gannon 15, and Anne and I spent a marvelous 6 days together at the luxurious Moana Surfrider Hotel in Waikiki.

Today was a very special day! (12/15/23)

It was the day in which we donated a substantial amount of money to uplift lives.

It was the day in which we anonymously shared our good fortune with those in need of a helping hand.

Hernia Surgery, 3/9/23

On Thursday, 3/9 I had hernia surgery that was supposed to be routine. Instead, the anesthesia put my lower organs to sleep and they did not at first awaken. This began an emergency two-day stay at Little Company of Mary, with our son Dr. Clayton very much involved and then a 2nd visit to their emergency room.

Greeting People, An Error In Spanish, 5/5/23

Dear Reader,

This morning while greeting school children and their families, commuters and workers, I struggled with some Spanish, for a Latino man who simply wanted to know my name. I felt terrible, and shared my story with my dear friend Yanin Ontiveros who kindly and humorously shared her similar experiences in English, which made me feel better. Here is what I wrote to her in reply: