Mushroom's-Blog

Happy Holidays and a Bountiful 2012

2011-12-31T16:54:00.000-08:00

Denise, Celeste and Mushroom

Wish you Happy Holidays and

a Bountiful New Year.

This photo is in memory ofDenise's 84 year old mom, Eda Bea who died in January. She retiredfrom teaching, and became a LBFD Fire Ambassador. This photo is fromher favorite fire station No. 17.

After three years of taking care of EdaBea, we finally got to go on a real vacation this year. Denise flewup to San Francisco to meet our friend, Debi. They drove down toLong Beach. I joined them on the next leg to Albuquerque. We wentto Santa Fe, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon where Denise got upclose and personal with a crow.

We continued our journey throughArizona and took a detour through the Land of the Giants, and Canyonde Chelly while listening to a Tony Hillerman book on CD. We got toa hotel in Springdale, Utah, the entrance to Zion National Park. Wehiked the following days with Jim, Jenny and their kids. We alsovisited with Aunt Dolores and Adrian. After a couple of days, weheaded north, enjoyed a tasty meal with cousin Audra, and spent thenight in Bountiful, Utah at Aunt Mickey's. We got up early, Mickeymade breakfast for us. Thanks Mickey.

We traversed the highways through Utahand Idaho making our way to Washington where we got to see our newestgrandson, Keegan Eric Valentino Montoya for the first time.

He was born on Valentine's day. Helooks the way Orlando and I did when we were babies.

My brother John and I went on a 90 milebicycle ride from Costa Mesa to San Diego. It took us nine hours,with breaks for coffee, lunch and other stuff. I rode Jeremy's bike. Jeremy would've been 42 years old this year.

Denise and I went to the Sedona and theGrand Canyon with Nanc and Ed. Denise got off the

trailto take some photos.

Formany years Denise has dreamed of being the Bride of Frankenstein forHalloween. She and Bonnie did an amazing makeup job. She lookedterrifyingly real.

Celeste,Denise and I helped Barbara test the ski patrolers on their rescueand first aid skills. In this photo Denise simulated having a brokenarm.

The Yoons came to visitfrom Korea. We all had fun burying grandchildren Edan & Isis upto their necks in the sand.

We honor our wonderful friend, DonnaClauss (shown here with daughter SooJee and son, Joshua) in thisseason's letter. Donna, former Director of Rainbow House, Int., hasmade it possible for hundreds of orphaned children to have their“forever families”. We will be forever grateful forDonna's expertise and support during the adoption processes of ourdaughters, Bonnie and Celeste. Our hearts go out to the Claussfamily, who recently lost their son, Joshua. We pray that theirfaith and love of family and friends will sustain them as they grievetheir loss.

We wish you Joy filled 2012,

surrounded bythose who love you.

Denise,Mushroom & Celeste

Return To Sender from 1985

2011-12-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday,18 December 2011, I opened a box and found a letter that I wrote on 3March1985. A red hand with the words "return to sender"was stamped on the envelope. I had addressed it to Gardy and Isabel,in Fort Worth, Texas. The pointing hand with its “return tosender” message caught my eye. Wondering what I had written, Iopened the letter and found a photo next to it. The photo shows,Denise, Orlando and me standing in the Bosque del Apache naturepreserve with our son, Jeremy. He was 14 years old in the photo. Hedied when he was 22. Yesterday was his 42nd birthday. That redpointing hand was an omen, directing me to open the letter and seethat it was Jeremy's way of saying hi. I sure do miss him.

Autumn is the season for shedding

2011-12-04T15:10:00.001-08:00

Autumnis the season for shedding. Mother Nature changes out of her summergreens and brilliant blooming colors into her autumn wardrobe ofbrowns, yellows, oranges and reds. She offers up the last fruits ofher bountiful harvest. We picked oranges and squeezed fresh juicefor this morning's breakfast. Our guava tree gifted us with anabundance of sweet fruit. The sunny days sneak out early, leaving abrisk darkness which urges me indoors to make hot chocolate.

Autumnis the season for shedding metaphorically as well. It is the timewhen I slow down and take an inventory of things that no longer suitme.

Itis a time to:

Shed old habits that deprive me of living fully in the moment.
Shed old thought patterns than dampen my ability to see life as wonder filled.
Shed my persona of "clothing" that is too tight to hold that which is divine with me.
Shed the “clothing” of being hyper responsible, and give myself permission to play more.
Shed the “clothing”of being overly frugal, and give myself permission to spend a little more.

Itis a time to be grateful for not only all that I have, but for allthat I don't.

Iam grateful for:

All those people who enhance my life.
The good fortune to live in a house with electricity and running water.
A healthy body that swims and bikes each day.
A voice that allows me to tell people that I love them.
Ears that allow me to hear music, and the laughter of my grandchildren.
Those painful moments that, in time, expand my capacity to give and receive joy.

Autumnis a time to shed those things to no longer serve us and to begrateful for what life has given us.

2011-11-21T18:54:00.001-08:00

Webecome what we repeatedly say we are. Our "I am" statement-recreates who we are each day.

Expressinggratitude helps define our daily “I am” statement.

Gratitudefor what we have helps us to see how blessed we really are.

Everymorning, I say the following prayer. I may modify it slightly,according to circumstance and need. Some of my friends have asked meto share it. You may use it, modify it and share it as you wish.

Mushroom'sMorning Prayer

GoodMorning, Creatorof all that there is,Creator of me.

Thankyou for my awareness, Thank you for my life.

Thankyou Spiritsof the East,awakener of the day. Come and awaken all that is wonderful within metoday. Help me be a blessing.

Thankyou air spirit, giver of life. Thank you for my ability to speak, tosing, to hear music, and to smell. Help my words to be loving words,healing words and wise words.

Thankyou Spiritsof the South,spirits of all the plants and animals that feed me and inspire me.Thank you cow, pig, lamb, chicken and turkey. Thank of your giving meyour life. Thank you rice, wheat, tomato, beans, corn and broccoli.Thank you for giving me your life.

Thankyou body spirits, thank you heart, lungs, bones and muscles. Come andhelp my physical presence to be a blessing presence.

Thankyou Spiritsof the West,water spirit, salmon spirit, water snake, trout, dolphin, whale, clamand sea weed. Thank your for your life energy. Come and help me befluid and flexible in my dealings with people and with my self. Comeand help me be a blessing.

Thankyou Spiritsof the North,Fire spirit, mountain spirits, spirit of music and creativity. Comefire spirit, come and fill me with energy and power. Fill me withlove and laughter so that I may be a blessing.

Thankyou FatherSky,protector of the earth, spreader of the light, bringer of the sun,the rain, the snow and the wind. Come and help me be an enlightenedbeing. Help me be a blessing to all those I meet.

Thankyou MotherEarth,grower of all things, grower of me.

Comeand help me be your steward, help me be a blessing to all of yourchildren. Help me to be nurturing and loving.

Thankyou spirit of my center, spirit of my core, spirit of who I truly am.Come and help me be a blessing to all those I meet.

Iam a blessing.

Halloween and the Bride of Frankenstein

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Deniseoutdid herself this Halloween. For years she has dreamed of dressingup as the Bride of Frankenstein. Bonnie added her artistic talent,helping Denise with makeup.The Bride of Frankenstein scared her Grandchildren.

Tigerboy seems more like he's having fun rather than feeling that he is about to be eaten by the Bride of Frankenstein.

The Bride of Frankenstein intimidates the Cat in the Hat.

The Cats in the Hats join forces and the Bride of Frankenstein is overcome.

90 mile Bike Ride in Memory of Jeremy

2011-10-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Arriving at the Amtrak Station parking lot in San Diego

A few weeks ago, I took Jeremy's biketo have it tuned up. We've had his bike hanging in the garage sinceJeremy died in 1992. I would dust it off every now and then, but Inever got around to riding it. When we lived in Kent, Washington, Ibought fenders for it so that I could ride it in the Seattle's normalwetness. I don't know why, but I didn't ride Jeremy's newly fenderedbicycle. It stayed hanging in the garage, as a memorial, of sorts,to our dead son.

I have been riding an old Schwinn tenspeed that I've had for nearly 30 years. It works well, although, bytoday's standards, it is a very heavy antique.

At the end of September, my youngerbrother, John, and my cousin, Anthony, rode their bikes from John andWinnie's house in Costa Mesa to San Diego. It took them over twelvehours. About a week after their ride, John asked me if I thought Iwas strong enough to ride to San Diego with him. He expressed hisconcern for my heart condition. The distance from his house to theAmtrak station in San Diego was 90 miles. The longest I had everridden a bicycle was in 1990 when I rode 22 miles from downtown LosAngeles to Long Beach. 90 miles was a distance I had difficultyimagining myself riding on a bicycle. The furthest I had ridden a bicyclein the last year was to Seal Beach and back. That was only fourteenmiles round trip. I rode my bicycle to the university pool eachweekday morning, but that was only a mile and a half each way.

I thought about it for a day or twoand told my brother that I would join him in a ride. He called andrecommended that I get an odometer for my bike, a tune up and a snackto eat on the way. He told me that he would give me his old bicycleseat which was a better seat than the current one on Jeremy's bike. He suggested that I buy padded bicycle riding gloves because thehandlebars would hurt my wrists after riding for several hours. Itook his advice and went one step further, wrapping the fronthandlebars with soft rubber pipe insulation.

I took a 37 mile practice ride from myhouse in Long Beach to Newport Beach about a week before our plannedSan Diego ride. The wind picked up when I turned around from NewportBeach. I struggled to pedal downhill against the wind. I rodeagainst the wind for about ten miles. It was a good practice ride.

The night before our ride I loadedJeremy's bike into the van. Looking at it, I felt a tear slide downmy cheek. The next day's ride would fall on the eve of theanniversary of Jeremy's death. Denise and Celeste drove me to Johnand Winnie's house in Costa Mesa. Denise gave me a heartfelt hug andreturned home to Long Beach with Celeste.

The alarm sounded at 5:30 AM. The sunhad not awakened yet. John and Winnie still slept. I got up, took ashower and put on the new bicycle jersey that Denise bought for me. I pulled on Jeremy's bicycle pants. I felt awkward walking in thembecause of the extra padding in the crotch. I walked into thekitchen and ate a bowl of cereal. When I finished eating, John askedme if I wanted anything before we left. I wanted Jeremy to be ridingwith us. I wanted my son to be alive.

We turned on the bike lights, mountedour bicycles and headed west to the river trail. I felt good, wideawake and magically at peace. Turning south onto the river trail, I said, “GoodMorning,” as I passed an older gentleman who was taking an earlymorning walk. The bike trail terminated at PacificCoast Highway. I could hear the waves crashing on the sand when weturned east onto the main road. Thoughts of Jeremy pedaled into myheart as we approached the far end of Newport Beach. We had floatedJeremy's ashes off that beach so many years ago.

I asked John, “What happens when weget to the Marine base?”

There was a moment of silence beforeJohn replied, “Oh no. I forgot my wallet. We'll have to show ourID when we get to the base. I'll have to call Winnie to bring it tome. I'll tell her to meet me at Dover Street.”

I rode passed Dover and waited forJohn at the gas station on the other side of the bridge. Looking atthe water I noticed the empty dock where a river boat had been mooredin the 1970s. I remembered listening to Jason, a friend from highschool, sing and play guitar in its restaurant. Jason died,driving off a cliff in Big Sur when in his twenties. John finallycame over the bridge.

A morning mist kept us cool, while ourstrides kept us warm. Newport Beach has no designated bike lane onthe highway. Cars passed uncomfortably close to us. We reached ourfirst hill as we approached Newport Center Drive. Reaching down, Ishifted gears for the first time that day. I looked ahead to see thesunshine paint the clouds in shades of gray and the grass and treesin shades of green. Up and down we pedaled, through Laguna Beachtowards Dana Point. The restaurant that John wanted us to stop atfor coffee was closed, out of business. We continued a littlefurther until we reached Stacks Pancake House. We ordered coffee andwe tried to figure out why my new odometer wasn't working. The clockworked fine, but it wouldn't track the miles. We assumed that itmust be a dead battery in the wheel's sensor.

When we reached Califia Park, near thesouth end of San Clemente, we were stopped because of an accident onthe bike trail. John and I waited for about 30 minutes with agrowing number of bicyclists who were doing the Multiple Sclerosisride. The fire department paramedics eventually sent off theambulance. They let us continue as a huge pack. We passed a redemergency truck and saw a paramedic busy working on a bicyclist.

As we passed the San Onofre Nuclearpower plant, I thought of Homer Simpson and my friend, Tom, who worksthere. I've known him since elementary school. I also thought about the tsunami disaster in Japan. I rode eagerly passed the powerplant. I smiled when I saw a sign that read, “No Nudity Allowed”as we entered the San Onofre State Park. After we passed the park,the bike trail went under the freeway. We continued south until wereached an MS bike ride rest stop at Las Pulgas Road. They offeredus bananas, orange slices, candy and drinks. Jax Bike shop set up asmall repair station there. I asked them to look at my odometer,since Denise bought it for me at a Jax Bike shop in Long Beach, the day before. Thebattery was fine. I had installed the wheel receptor incorrectly.Now I could see how fast I was traveling.

We followed the MS bikers under thebridge and into the marine base. I started to dismount to show myID, when the guard told me that I didn't need to stop. There was aperson behind me, however, who he asked if he was part of the MSgroup. The guard assumed that John and I were.

Riding through the marine base, Iremembered that Jeremy chose to be a hospital corpsman who worked asa medic for the marines. He said that the marines think ofthemselves as invincible. He got to fix them when Mother Natureproved them wrong. A small slice of pride swelled for our son. Aswe were leaving the base, I heard a pop and a slow fizzle as the reartire of the bike ahead of me flattened out. I followed the MS ridersunder the freeway and onto Pacific Street in Oceanside. John said,“By now you have ridden further than you ever have.”

I had never seen this pretty side ofOceanside. I liked it. People sat along the sidewalk encouragingus, along with the MS riders. The residential streets were not busyand we could see the ocean between the houses. We climbed a smallhill from sea level on the highway into Carlsbad. The clouds teasedthe sun by opening little blue holes every now and then. John and Istopped and shared a large ahi tuna sandwich in a restaurant at theend of the business district. John called Winnie to tell her that wewould reach San Diego in about four hours. I talked to Denise whoexpressed her surprise that were already in Carlsbad.

Replenished, John and I hopped on ourbikes and rode along the bluff, overlooking the beach below. Johntold me that there would be three more beaches before we reached thehard climb at Torrey Pines. The waves crashed and surfers carriedtheir boards to and from their cars. The salt air filled mynostrils, while memories of Jeremy warmed my heart. The road throughLeucadia brought us back in competition with the cars and trucks asthey whizzed by, inches away, at times.

When we were about to ride down thelast hill, along the last beach before Torrey Pines, John told me togo ahead. I picked up speed in an effort to gain as much ground aspossible for the long climb. As I climbed, I shifted gears and keptlooking at the ground. Up ahead I could see a turn. My kneesstarted to burn, my breathing labored. “Keep pushing, don't lookup.” I kept telling myself. When the burning in my knees reached apoint where a small voice said, “Don't overdo it,” I dismountedand walked. I looked down the hill, but I could not see John. Iwalked a bit, allowing my knees to cool down. The Torrey Pines hillshielded the ocean breeze, making the climb all the hotter. Iclimbed back on the bike and pedaled until I reached the top. Iparked my bike and waited about ten minutes for John to reach me. Hedismounted and called Winnie, giving her an update.

When we passed the UC San Diego, Johnstopped and pulled out Winnie's phone to access the GPS. He couldn'tremember how to get to get to Gillman Drive. I saw a woman ridingher bike and yelled out to her, “Do you know where Gillman Driveis?”

“Follow me,” she said. She waitedfor John to put away the phone and catch up with her. She led usdown a steep hill. We went under the freeway and onto a bike trail. When we came off the bike trial and onto the city streets, Johnmentioned that there was another bike trail along a river. But hedidn't know where it was. When he reached a busy intersection, anolder man on a bike was talking to a younger woman telling her to goon without him. John asked him if he knew where the river trail was. It was directly across the street. Without this gentleman's beingthere to ask, we wouldn't have found it. John told me that the rivertrail saved us a lot of grief riding in heavy traffic. The rivertrail terminated in Mission Bay. John and I stopped there to take abreak and eat a Payday candy bar.

As I nibbled on my candy bar, Ithought that Jeremy would have loved to have taken this ride with thelittle Russian sister that he never met. He died two years before weadopted her. When we finished our break, we hopped on our bikes andpedaled through town. We had to stop and cross a busy street infront of the U.S. Marine Processing Center. Again, I thought ofJeremy.

“See those tall glass high risebuilding ahead of us?” John asked. “The train station is rightnext to them. I bet you can't wait to get there.”

“Actually, I'm doing fine. I amgetting thirsty though.”

We rode into the Amtrak parking lotand walked our bikes to Starbucks to wait for Winnie and Denise toarrive. It had taken us a little more than nine hours. Sipping mylatte and looking out the Starbucks window, I thanked Jeremy forriding 90 miles with me.

Loading up the bikes onto the Jeep at the San Diego train station

White Rose

2011-10-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

WhiteRose

Sunny mornings arerare in October, in the Great Northwest. Thirty miles southeast ofSeattle, clouds drizzle millions of water droplets on a normal autumnday. The seventeenth of October, 1992 turned out to be an abnormallywarm and sunny day. The brown and yellow leaves of the alder treeslittered our backyard lawn. The lingering water droplets from theprevious night's rain glittered on the leaves, reflecting the unusualOctober sunshine. A flock of geese flew overhead, reminding me ofthe autumn migration of cranes in New Mexico, the Land ofEnchantment.

After my morningrun, my neighbor came over to chat about the roses that were stillblooming. When she told me that her white rose bush was in fullbloom, I told her that white roses symbolize death. They representour own mortality with their lack of pigment without which they can'tcolor our world.

On that unusuallysunny seventeenth of October, 1992, we received a phone call that allparents dread when their children are away. Our son, Jeremy, was aUniversity of New Mexico student, living fourteen hundred miles fromhome. A nurse from the University of New Mexico Hospital trauma unitwas on the other end of the phone asking for permission to providemedical care for our son. He had sustained a severe head injuryfrom a motorcycle accident.

We grantedpermission and immediately made arrangements to fly to Albuquerque. Our plane landed in the early morning hours. Having spent the day atthe hospital, we made our way to a friend's house that evening. Shetold us that we could stay with her as long as we needed.

Leaving for thehospital, the following morning, I walked out of her front door andnoticed a beautiful white rose bush in full bloom, growing in frontof friend's home. The pit of my stomach dropped when I saw a fewpetals at the base of the rose bush. I stopped and stared at therose and its petals, as much for its beauty, as for its message. Therose was telling me that our first born child would die from hisinjuries. I walked to the car, not wanting to see or think about thewhite rose bush anymore.

I drove to thehospital, a little too fast, trying to erase the image of the whiterose bush from my mind. I wished it had not been growing at theentrance of our friend's home. Butevery morning, on our way out the door, on our way to the hospital, Iwould see the white rose bush. Each morning morewhite petals collected at its base. Their whiteness blemished brownand yellow as their vibrancy bled out into the dry New Mexico air. Istopped each day, acknowledging the rose and silently pleading withit to stop dropping its petals. I didn't want to see its warningsigns that were telling me that our son was dying. Every morningfewer petals lived in the bloom and more lay dead and dying on theground.

On theseventh day, as I walked out of the front door, I tried not to look. But I couldn't stop myself. My shoulder slumped as tears began toflow over my cheeks. All of the white petals had fallen on theground and the flowers were no more.

Myfeet felt heavy as I walked to the car. My mind's eye could only seethe white rose petals decaying on the ground. We drove in silence tothe hospital. A little before midnight, Jeremy, our first born son,died. The white rose petals gave their life, showing me whatmy ears were too terrified to hear.

Likethe handsome white rose blossom, our handsome grown son spent hislast days giving us a last chance to admire him and say good-bye. Jeremy died, leaving behind his body, that was still beautiful andstill vital. And like the white rose bush, Jeremy had otherbranches, his organs. We honored Jeremy's wish to donate his organsthereby giving a new lease on life to many people.

Thewhite rose no longer serves as a warning, telling me of impendingdoom. Rather it reminds me of the gift of life that our son gave toso many. And yet, when I see a white rose, I cry a few tears forJeremy.

Roses for Denise

2011-06-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

Soon after Denise and I met on June 2^nd, 1973, she invited me over to dinner. She had driven to her mother's house, in Long Beach, to pick up her mail when she saw me, Getting into her light blue car, she asked me to follow her to her apartment in Seal Beach. I hopped onto my motorcycle and followed her. While waiting for the traffic light at the intersection of 2^nd Street and Pacific Coast Highway, I noticed a young man selling roses on the left turn median. I tried to get his attention. Since I was on a motorcycle, he appeared to be ignoring me. When I finally succeeded in getting him to talk to me, I told him that I wanted to buy some roses for my girlfriend.

He asked, “How are you going to carry the roses on our motorcycle?”

“I’m not.” I replied with a smile.

“I want you to give the roses to that woman in the car in front of me.”

There was a minivan, in the lane next to me, that was full of young girls who squealed with excitement as they watched the encounter.

We got married 14 months later.

New Grandson: Keegan Eric (Valentino) Montoya

2011-05-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

We have a new grandson! ! ! He was born on Valentine's day. Orlando and Tara had not picked out a middle name for him by the time he was born. I suggested Valentino and I told everyone. Then they gave him the middle name, Eric.
Eric was Jeremy's middle name.

Denise got to see him this month. I hope I get to see him before he grows up and moves out of the house.

His name is Keegan Eric Montoya.

April Fool's Day Flood

2011-05-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

On April Fool's Day my son called me to tell me that our basement flooded. I was hoping it was an April Fool's joke. Nope. I hired a concrete core drilling company to bore a hole into the foundation to ensure that the basement won't flood again.

This is what we found in the crawl space next to the flooded basement.

Core drilling a hole into the foundation should do the trick.

My dilemma was determining how far to dig so that the hole in the foundation wall was lower than the basement floor.

We put that pipe in that trench and covered it up, again.

I owe a great thank you to Mark for all the help he provided me. He crawled under the house, , with me, and helped to replace the sump pump.
The water was sooooooo cold.
He even picked me up at the airport and presented me with a Coca Cola. Thanks, Mark.

Retirement Quilt

2011-05-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

I retired on Halloween 2008 from GSA. I just received a most marvelous gift: a retirement quilt. Several of my former coworkers contributed. Joy put it together. I am so lucky to have such good friends.

Christmas Letter 2010

2010-12-19T21:57:00.000-08:00

It’s already December??? Yikes, where’d 2010 go?!!!

Holiday news from Mushroom, Denise,
Celeste and Grandma Eda Bea

Denise at Seaport Village-Long Beach

We’ve been in Long Beach for nearly 2 years, and no longer have legs as white as snow. In fact, Mushroom has more freckles on his hands than Denise!

Celeste (photo below) still works at JC Penney fitting kids for shoes in the Kid’s Shoe Dept. She worked 1:30 p.m.-1:00a.m. on Black Friday, and then returned to work at 9 a.m. on Saturday! Retail…what a job! She has a side job as a pool cleaner too!

Celeste wearing and Elmo T-shirt while posing with Pluto at Disneyland

Great Grandma Eda Bea has been a hospice patient here at the house since last July. Breathing has been a significant challenge, so the quality of her life is in a gradual decline. We are all very grateful for each day she’s still with us. She thanks you for your cards, gifts, goodies and visits!

Mushroom has been writing a book about his naval war time experiences in Vietnam. He inserts fiction in order to tell a more complete story. Members of his weekly writer’s group commend him highly for his creative writing style and his ability to express his feelings about a truly dark time in his life.

Denise has continued to manage 4 houses, with not one, but two hands tied behind her back! In addition to being Great Grandma’s primary caregiver, she took on Banker’s Life long term care insurance, and successfully fought to secure additional care benefits for her mom. Denise relaxes by teaching her grandkids (grandson Edan below) how to cook, and by going to San Diego with Mushroom once in awhile.

Gifts

Our greatest gifts this year have been:

Denise said, “This is one of the best Thanksgivings – ever! Dinner was a tad late, but everyone had a wonderful time, and the food was delish.

Celeste, Holly, Cass, Dana, Bonnie and Jiho have stayed with Great Grandma Eda Bea while we’ve been able to attend social events and to get some respite!

Ten of us, Montoyas and Yoons, went to Disneyland in Sept. and had a terrific time! We were accused by the little grandkids of taking them on some “scary rides.” We were a real team! We also got into Knott’s Berry Farm for a substantial discount, due to the reduced fees on Veterans Day!

We wish you Happy Holidays and a love-filled New Year with lots of opportunities to be silly.

Denise & Mushroom & Celeste & Eda Bea & Sugar & Ginger
Denise put our annual Christmas letter together. I posted it here.

Celeste Gets Her First Business Cards

2010-12-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

Celeste finally got her first business cards after working at JC Pennys for a couple of years. Yesterday, she gave me one. I put in on the kitchen counter to show Denise.

A short while later, Denise said to our grandson, "Edan, what do you have in your mouth? Spit it out."

Now you know why Celeste's business card is warped.

'Tis the month of December, and all through the land:

2010-12-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

'Tis the month of December, and all through the land,
Mamas and Papas, with store flyers in hand,
Turn page after page hunting for that prize
Of a Xmas present that will brighten their children's eyes.
Poo poo, I say, the "real" point is missing,
What a child needs most is you to go playing.
This Xmas give your loved one TIME.
Time to play, time to talk, time to share laughing and reading and cuddling
Time to share what you both can give:
Love.

Plucking Uncle Tony's Turkeys

2010-11-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, when Uncle Tony owned his little grocery store in Bernalillo, New Mexico, USA, he hired a high school boy to help out in the store. A few days before Thanksgiving, as the customers flowed into the store, Uncle Tony was becoming overwhelmed. He asked the young boy to go in the back, behind the store and take over for Uncle Ray.

“Tell Ray that I need him up here and that you are to take over for him,” Uncle Tony told the boy.

The boy went out back, behind the store. He heard turkey's gobbing. Looking up, he saw where Uncle Ray plucking a turkey. After telling Uncle Ray what he was there to do, Uncle Ray asked, “Have you ever plucked a turkey?”

“No, I never have,” the boy said, “But I was watching you. It can't be that hard. I'm sure I can do it.”

“Good. Work as fast as you can. We are going to sell a lot of turkeys today. When I get a break, I will come back here and get the turkeys that you've plucked.”

Uncle Ray left the boy with the live turkeys and went into the store, carrying the two turkeys he had just plucked. As he and Uncle Tony worked with the customers, they both noticed a tremendous racket out back. They could hear the turkeys gobbling and screaming.

“What is going on back there in the turkey pen?” Uncle Tony asked Ray.

“I am as curious as you are, Tony. I will go and see when I get a chance.”

When the line of customers dwindled down, Uncle Ray walked out the back door to the turkey pen.

Arriving at his destination he burst out laughing. He laughed so hard, that he could hardly stand up. He immediately turned and ran into the store.

Grabbing Uncle Tony by his sleeve and laughing all the while, he said, “I'll take over the cash register. You've got to go to the turkey pen.”

Uncle Tony was now more curious than ever. What could be going on in the turkey pen that made Uncle Ray laugh uncontrollably? When Uncle Tony reached the turkey pen, he saw the boy, nearly in tears, bloody with scratch marks all over his arms and face. The boy was frantically fighting with a live turkey, trying, with all of his might to pluck it.

Uncle Tony could not believe his eyes, as he too, burst into uncontrollable laughter. “No, no,” he yelled to the boy, “You have to kill the turkey before you pluck it.” Uncle Tony had to grab hold of the post to hold himself up from laughing so hard.

Thanksgiving Trickster

2010-11-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 1974 was suppose to be a day in which Denise and I were going to get fat on four Thanksgiving feasts. My mother invited us for dinner at 2:00 PM, Denise's mom invited for dinner at 4:00 PM. Imagining our pants to be very tight, we could waddle onto the plane the Thanksgiving meal that the airline had prepared. Upon disembarking, in Salt Lake City, we would rent a car, and drive to Tia Lucia's to top off the day with left overs and desert.

Coyote spirit had different plans.

My mother was really late, which was no surprise because my mother was always late. She told us to go to Denise's parents house. We walked out the front door, trekked across the street and ambled eastward to the fourth house. Denise's mom greeted us and asked us to help. Looking at the clock, after we had been helping Eda Bea prepare the feast, we realized that we needed to leave to catch out flight. The smell of roasting turkey made our mouths water, but to no avail. We had to leave without eating. Peanuts and Coke was the airline's idea of Thanksgiving dinner. Our stomachs growled angrily.

We didn't mind, because we "knew" that Aunt Lucy would stuff us like turkey's with Thanksgiving leftovers.

Ha, ha, the joke was on us, because Aunt Lucy had Thanksgiving dinner at someone else's house, affording Denise and I with NO leftovers. Aunt Lucy feeling sorry for us, fried some potatoes in the skillet.

The final score: Coyote 4, Mushroom & Denise a big ZERO.

I told Coyote Spirit that he was just being mean.

“Mean?” he asked, “I gave you a gift that you can keep forever.”

“A growling stomach is not a gift, Coyote!” I said.

Coyote rolled over on his back, laughing at me. He chuckled as he said, “Look for the silver lining. This is a story that will always make you laugh. And you can't loose it.

I love Coyote Spirit, even if he is a big stinker.

Gift of the Heart

2010-10-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

Gift of the Heart

I Knocked on the door to Robert's house, hoping I would have the courage to ask the question, hoping that this time, the lump of grief that had taken permanent residence at the base of my throat would not interfere and choke my opportunity to make my request. I had tried so many times before. And so many times before, that dreaded lump of grief stole my voice, denying me a means with which to make my request. Waiting outside the door, I could feel my palms getting wet as my knee caps began a little frenetic dance of their own. Standing in the warm Albuquerque sunshine, I practiced, in my head, what I would say when he opened the door. And I worried,“What if Robert didn't open the door?” Taking big gulps of air, I told myself to relax. Hearing footsteps, my heart skipped a beat. The door opened and smiling widely, Robert greeted me.

My hands outstretched, I embraced Robert in a big hug. “Ask Now, Now, Now!”rang in my head. Gulping the air once more, I blurted, “Robert, can I listen to Jeremy's heart?”On previous visits, I had wanted to make this request. I always choked up at the thought and those words I could not muster.

Still smiling, he replied, “I'm surprised, Mushroom, that you hadn't asked before. Of course you can listen to this most marvelous gift that your family gave me. Would you like to use your ear, a glass or the stethoscope?”

My ear was the only choice I would consider. I wanted to feel my son, hug my son, hold my son. I told Robert that if I cried that it was OK. Sitting in his big easy chair, Robert pointed to his chest. Leaning over the arm of his chair, I put my ear to his chest and listened to the “gift”thumping happily in Robert's chest. Beating with the strength and vigor of a 22 year old, Jeremy's heart let me know that life was good.

Robert, along with his wife and two teenage children, chatted with me for a while. Robert told me how grateful he was for the gift of Jeremy's heart. The doctor told him that his new heart was healthy and strong and that it should last him a long time. I expressed my gratitude for the news. It was news from the heart, so to speak. Our conversation moved on to talk of work, family and future plans only interrupted by sips of soda and an occasional laugh. When our conversation came to its natural conclusion, I got up to leave.

As Robert opened the door he offered me one more opportunity to listen to the gift we had given him. Standing, I put my arms around him, sunk my ear into his chest and whispered inaudibly, “Jeremy, I miss you. I love you and will forever.” Tears began to flow once again. Releasing the hold I had on Robert, I regained my composure. Tears were flowing out of Robert's eyes as he said, “Ya know, Mushroom, I am not a touchy, feely kind of guy, but when you were hugging me, I have never felt so loved in all of my life.” The lump in my throat prevented any reply. I gave Robert one more hug and walked out the door.

Robert didn't realize what a heartfelt gift his last words have given me.

Olya's Night Visitors

2010-10-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

About nine months before we found out that little six year old Olya, (Celeste) was available for adoption, I went on a shamanic journey to see what what our new daughter looked like. Listen to the story that I wrote for Celeste about the process. This is a true story. Bear in mind, that as a story teller, I don't let the facts get in the way of the truth ;-).

Riding the Thunder Mountain train at Disneyland

2010-09-22T22:13:00.000-07:00

Orlando, Tara and Dallin came down from Auburn Washington to visit and play. We had a wonderful time playing in Disneyland. We thoroughly enjoyed riding the Thunder Mountain train.

Orlando took videos and photos of the day's events.

We started the day full of energy

We ended the day happily exhausted.

It is jack o lantern season

Dallin was shy around Mini Mouse

We all had fun on Mr Toad's wild ride

Isis said Alice in Wonderland was scary

Orlando and Jiho could not pull out the magic sword, try as they might.

Denise became a big kid riding the merry go round

Flying on an elephant is silly

I think that this little family should have a car like this.

So does the Celestial Being

Denise, along with everyone else enjoyed taking me on It's a Small World

Dancing with Dust Devil

2010-09-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Driving my motorcycle, with Denise wrapping her arms around me, I began to unwind from the stress of doing the presentation at the university. Winding down the road, with the wind blowing in my face, I wound my way down the off ramp onto Rio Bravo Boulevard. Up ahead, across the Rio Grande, a glowing orange sunset welcomed us homeward. Tapping Denise's leg, I pointed up ahead to the desert landscape on our left. Whirling and twirling its dance, a dust devil dug up the dirt, dressing itself with dingy debris. She danced towards the East, about 100 yards to our left, as we rode our mechanical horse to the West.

Mesmerized by her dance, I called to her, “Come. Oh windy Lady of the West, venga y baile con migo. Come and dance with me.”

To my surprise and delight she accepted my invitation, and turned 90 degrees. We joined her in her dance as we rumbled across the railroad tracks. Enveloping us in her gossamer skirt, she tossed and twirled tumbleweed twigs to and fro. Tipping and twisting, she bantered us about as she twirled around and around us kicking up the hem of her desert skirt. Bidding us, adios, she kissed our cheeks with sandy lips, as she danced away, giggling like a little girl holding her hand over her mouth.

Throwing her arms up in the air, Denise yelled out, “Wow! What a wild and windy dance that was!”

Transforming an old, donated Fiat into a gem

2010-07-06T18:21:00.000-07:00

When I was a student in a seminary, preparing for the priesthood, in 1966, I had the chore of washing the priest's cars. I didn't mind because it gave me an opportunity to drive.

Fr. Martinez, who wasn't Irish, like all of the other priests (or so it seemed) had been given an old 1959 Fiat. Its paint had weathered to a very faded light green with an equally faded yellowish trim.

I decided to wash it with Ajax and scrub off the top of overly weathered paint. Generously applying Classic Car Wax, I transformed that old "left over" into a sparkling gem.
With its new lease on life, I drove it into the school's dining hall before dinner.

Fr. Martinez was taking his turn, sitting at the head table along with the assistant dean. He asked the students, who were sitting closest to him, who's car was parked in the school's dining hall. Observing the interrogation, I got up from my assigned table and told Fr. Martinez that the Fiat, in question, was his car.

He adamantly denied that it was his car, stating that he had an old beat up, Fiat. He wanted to know whose shiny Fiat was parked in the school's dinning hall. I requested him to follow me. Looking inside the car, his face expressed confusion and delight.

God played the trickster after dinner. Fr. Martinez was unable to drive his newly polished Fiat out of the school's dining hall because one of its tires went flat.

American Eye Test?

2010-06-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

Take a look at these photos:Taking Denise to the eye doctor can be a weired experience not only for Denise but for anyone who witnessed the eye dryness test. They actually had those pieces of paper in her eyes.

The Gift in the Trauma Center October 1992

2010-06-24T20:59:00.003-07:00

Gift in the Trauma Center

La Noche, the night had cast her dark blue blanket across the sky leaving only the moon to quiet the University of New Mexico Trauma center's hustle and bustle. I Waited until everyone had disappeared from my son's private intensive care room before I entered, walking slowly not wanting to draw attention to myself. I wanted to be alone with my 22 year old son. I needed to be alone to give my dying son one last gift.

Unzipping my backpack, I withdrew the sheet music of “Memories”, from the musical play, “Cats.” The cat's yellow eyes on the black cover of the sheet music foretold dark moments ahead.

The song's words, “Memory, all alone in the moonlight”, took a bite out of my heart as I turned the page.

“Jeremy,” I called to him, from the side of his bed. “I'm going to sing a song for you that I've been working on in my voice class.”

Being in a coma, unable to make a response, my first born son could not refuse the gift of my voice. I began my song, soft and low, almost a whisper; “Midnight, not a sound from the pavement.”

The instruments in his room were quiet.

Has the moon lost her memory, She is smiling alone, in the lamplight, the withered leaves collect at my feet and the wind begins to moan.”

A moonbeam shined on Jeremy's face as he lied motionless in his bed. My heart moaned as I continued to sing. Increasing my volume, the song took on a life of it own.

“Memory all alone in the moonlight, I can smile at the old days, It was beautiful then, I remember the time I knew what happiness was, let the memory live again.”

No response came from Jeremy as he lay in his coma. It's as if he had descended into Hades. I was no Orpheus and had no instrument other than my voice to persuade the God of the Underworld to release my son. I made a slight modification as I sang to him.

“Touch me, its so easy to leave me all alone with the memory of my days with my son. If you touch me, you'll understand what happiness is. Look, a new day has begun.”

Tears flowed down my cheeks as Denise wrapped her arms around me from behind making me aware that the room had filled with family and hospital staff. My gift had been shared with all those who heard my melodic gift.

Kita

2010-05-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Soon after we moved to Kent, Washington, the Great NorthWET, we adopted Kita. She was part wolf, German Shepard and Akita. She was my running partner. She ran as far as 16 miles with me on one of my practice runs. She loved playing and sitting in the snow. She was our family protector and playmate. We all miss her. She grew old and happy.

Kita was Celeste's constant companion and protector.

She even had her own Xmas stocking.

Camping at Doheney Beach

2010-05-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

We went camping at Doheney Beach at Dana Point with Dana, Sun Hong, Max, Bonnie, Jiho, Tigerboy, Isis, Celeste and me. Denise stayed home to take care of her mom, Eda Bea. The next day, Celeste went to work and I went home to take care of Eda Bea. Denise took her turn and got to go camping too.

Celeste built the fire. She loves building fires.

That allows us to keep warm

Sun Hong cooked yummy Korean Food.

Dana & Jiho told stories

Isis relaxed in Imo Celeste's lap

Camping doesn't seem real without roasting marshmallows.

The Following morning Dana talked Celeste and Mushroom into going into the water

Uncle Dana tries to talk his niece, Celeste into going in first.

Then uncle Dana calls for Mushroom to come in.

So Mushroom comes down to the beach in his "Peace" Speedos.

OK, Now who is going to go in first?

Let's all go together!

Good Grief ! ! ! Brrrrr the water is freezing!

Who's dumb idea was this, Dana?

After we warmed up, we played baseball with a stick and a ball that Dana made with napkins wrapped in duct tape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSmqPEHhhIs

It was cloudy and wet, pretending to be Seattle, then Dolphins came to play on the second day. Watch the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYv91Pr9r9Q

Fashion and Cupcakes

2010-05-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

Bonnie Before

Bonnie After

Isis wanted to look pretty too, albeit with a beard and mustasche

Celeste got a make over. I love our little Ruski

Tigerboy was busy decorating a cupcake

Isis wanted to decorate a cupcake too Then Tigerboy got to eat his creation!

Uncle George Dies

2010-05-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

Uncle George died last night on the 10th day of May 2010. He was surrounded by those who loved him.
They came from near (all around Salt Lake City, Utah) and from far away.
Brenda, his daughter, along with many others attended to her dad. Uncle George was 73 years old. He was my mother's little brother.

I flew to Salt Lake City to wish my Uncle Farewell and to assist him on his last journey. When I saw him laying in his bed, those who were gathered around told me that he could hear everything, even if he seemed to be sleeping. I smiled broadly, exclaiming, "Hey! Uncle George, You look like Mahatma Gandhi!" There was a laughter and someone jokingly asked George, if he should punch me. But he did look my Mahatma Gandhi. And, to me, that was a good sign.

Uncle George lived with us for a short while when I was in grammar school. He was my little league baseball coach.;-) My mother loved her little George very much. She was connected to him on a soul level. One day, when I was about 12 years old, my mother exclaimed, "O Dios Mio! Something happened to George!" We were living in our little house on Spaulding Street in Long Beach, California. Her brow was furrowed with little gullies filled with worry. She made a long distance call to Salt Lake City. To her surprise, George answered the phone. "George! Are you OK?", she pleaded! She knew something was wrong. George replied, "I'm OK, but I just watched Florinda get hit by a bus across the street." My mother instantly felt her little brother's shock 830 miles away.

I helped Uncle George cross over "into the Light". I did what can be called, a pyschopomp journey. The term Psychopomp come from Ancient Greek mythology: As a crosser of boundaries, Hermes Psychopompos' ("conductor of the soul") was a psychopomp, meaning he brought newly-dead souls to the Underworld and Hades.

I entered into a shamanic trance, while riding the sounds of my didgeridoo, and entered the lower world. I went to the place where souls of the dead and dying wait. Uncle George was happy to see me as I entered the cave. He opened a 3 panel map and pointed to different locations on the map. Then he folded it and placed it into my shirt pocket. He directed me to give it to Brenda. While I was pondering how I was going to accomplish his request, George, told me to tell his sister, Elsie, that he loved her tortillas and the way that she always looked after him.

George shrunk small enough to jump on my back and tell me he was ready. I took my cloak and hid him from view. As I passed through the cave's opening, I gave the gate keeper a crystal. With great haste, I passed the Gate Keeper and entered a boat. The boat sailed across the canal. I jumped out and climbed the wall on the other side. Once we were safely on the other side, I flew into the Upper World. The flight was long and fast. During my flight, I called on George's parents to meet him on the other side. After they agreed, I made the same request to "CALL" (his sisters: Cleo, Amy, Lucia and Lourdes). We arrived at the gateway. I watched it open. To my delight and surprise, it was my son who was opening the gateway. A very bright light illuminated everything as the gateway revealed those inside. George climbed off of my back and walked into the hugs of those that awaited him. He was uncontainably happy. The gateway closed. I turned around, contemplating and enjoying what had just taken place. George was in his heaven with his parents and older sisters (except for Elsie). His great nephew, Jeremy, opened the gateway for him. Yes, George is happy and he is "home".

Somewhere Out There - An American Tail

2010-04-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

When Denise & I were in the process of adopting Olga (Celeste) this movie came out. It always makes me cry happy tears.

Celeste just walked in to the room and I was too choked up to talk. We are so lucky to have our very own "Celestial Being."
Ya tibia lu blu, Mia Olinka

Arizona Senate Bill 1070

2010-04-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

Arizona Senate Bill 1070 "demands that police officers inquire about the immigration status of every person they have an interaction with whom they believe to be undocumented."

Watch the video to see who is behind the bill and who was involved in writing the bill. Is this who you want writing our state and national laws?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilKUxWbGQj4&feature=player_embedded

The video starts with the anchor talking about what appears, at first, to be unrelated to the Arizona law. It ties in. So keep watching.
After watching the video, let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

Soccer & Volleyball at Mile Square Park

2010-04-24T22:22:00.001-07:00

We met at Mile Square Park today to watch Jiho play soccer. When Isis saw me, she ran and grabbed my legs, giving me a look that melts my heart.
Bonnie's look says, Grandma is having way too much fun torturing her grandson.
Tigerboy was having way too much fun to be concerned about omah's look. Isis and Bonnie were styling in their sunglasses.
Isis found a toy baby stroller and sat in it. "Look grandpa, take a picture of me!"
If I were a rock star, this is what I would look like. Aren't I cool!
I love Popcicles and I can get half all the way into my mouth. Watch me!
If you look closely you will see grandpa in my sunglasses. He loves taking photos of me. You can't blame him, I'm just too cute to resist. ;-)

The Boy's team

The pre-game huddle

Jiho & Tu

Sai was filming the game. See Jiho on the other side of the field.

Jiho was number 8.
Tigerboy and Grandma practiced volleyball.

I'm ready Grandma.

Hey look! Grandma and I have the same stance while the ball is in the air.

Sai saves the ball! Way to go, Sai!

Now Sai's sister saves the ball as she flies into the air. Wow!
These are the women who played volleyball and those who supported them.

Saturday Morning Hike with Winnie &John

2010-04-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

Denise and I went on a hike with Winnie & John to El Moro Canyon, just North of Laguna Beach.

It was a cloud covered morning. It was great for a mildly strenuous hike up and down the hills.

After we left El Moro Canyon, we ate breakfast and hiked around Crystal cove along the beach.

John delighted in showing me the bottom of his shoes.

Winnie & John searched the tide pools for hermit crabs and other sea creatures.

I love nasturtiums.

Denise loves to take photographs.

La Mare working in concert with the wind created this beautiful sculpture. Click on it and see the figures that will bring you delight.

Looking out at the ocean is wonderfully refreshing.

Winged messengers herald the day's secrets.

Mushroom took a break after the 2 hour hike.

Mushroom Hat

2010-03-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

My dear friends, Fred & Leila, gifted me with a special birthday hat. I wore all day today.

When I went to visit Eda Bea in the hospital, her nurse, smiled and said, "oh, now it makes sense. Eda Bea said that she was waiting for Mushroom to take her home. We thought she was hallucinating. Now that we see you in your hat, we understand that she was serious."

This hat has made so many people smile today. I might have to wear it in public more often. ;-)

Tigerboy goes to soccer practice

2010-03-02T21:47:00.001-08:00

Tigerboy listens to the coaches instructions along with his parents.Time to control the ball

The coach says, "Everyone stop the ball with your foot!"

Everyone runs and kicks the ball.

Tigerboy scores ! ! !

Click here to see Isis play Mustache-Beard game with Mushroom

2010-03-02T21:18:00.001-08:00

Isis was having such a fun time playing with her abuelito (grandfather) Mushroom, that she hugged his thigh really tight. When I have been picking her up, she rubs her finger across my mustache and beard and says, Mushtache. Beeeeeard. This time she got carried away. It was so much fun.
Click on the title to see the YouTube video of our little word game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwuKJmn8kWo

Viet Nam Meditation

2010-02-01T22:20:00.000-08:00

"Hey Man, are you meditating? Wow, that is cool, man. I've never seen anyone meditating before. Wow."

We were on our way back to replenishment station; on our way back to take on

more arms,

more bombs,

more destruction

to throw at the Vietnamese.

Daily, I would find a place, a secluded place, where I could escape the cruelty, the ever present, oppressive weight of killing.

1972 is

only a thought away,

only a glance away,

only a sting away from today.

Viet Nam beckons me to return. "I forgive you. I will help you forgive yourself," she whispers.
"Come, I await your return to how you should have come in the first place.
Come, I have forgiven you." I hear her call.

For now, I feel the sting, I look for a secluded place, away from the memories

of the bombs,

of the killing,

of the cries.

Ave Maria plays on my headphones, pulling out the splinter of Viet Nam from my heart.

Tears well.

Throat tightens.

I sit. Quiet. Quiet. Quiet.

I ponder, I wonder, Will the ghost of Viet Nam, release me before I return. No?

"I forgive you. I will help you forgive yourself.", she whispers.
"Come, I await your return, to how you should have come in the first place.
Come, I have forgiven you." I hear her call.

Flag over the US Capitol 18 December 2009

2010-01-14T14:51:00.000-08:00

Today, I received a gift. It came in the form of a flag and a certificate. Denise had contacted Senator Dianne Feinstein requesting the flag that would hang over the capitol on Jeremy's 40th Birthday, 18 December 2009. The flag came from the Architect of the Capitol.

When I opened the box from the U.S. Senate, its contents brought tears from my eyes. I am grateful for our son, Jeremy. I am grateful for the gifts he brought into this life and for the gifts that he left behind.

One of his kidneys lasted 17 years. That is amazing. Denise and I were conflicted with our emotions when we found out. We were amazed that it lasted 17 years and we were disappointed that its time was done. It is a little sting of death and its associated grief that cruelly reminded us that Jeremy is dead. I miss him, terribly.

Xmas Letter 2009

2009-12-12T16:20:00.000-08:00

Moving Boxes

Or Xmas Presents

Take your pick of either boxes, we have plenty of each.
Mary & Raymond, Do you remember these xmas presents from 2004? We should get together again for another humongus xmas party. You two were stinkers for leaving all 8 kids with us, while you guys relaxed in a hotel. But hey, it was so much fun to reunite with all of the nieces (7) and nephew (1).

We’ve moved from The Great North WET (Washington) to Sunny California with lots and lots of boxes!

Our new contact info. is: 7114 El Paseo St., Long Beach, CA 90815, ph. 562-596-2280.

Celeste got the drive of her life as she drove a 26 foot diesel Penske moving truck along highway 99 near Fresno. She was helping her dad drive one of 3 loads of furniture from Kent, Washington to Long Beach, Sunny California.

Celeste is working fulltime at JC Penney, and they love her! She enjoyed going to the beach this summer and is getting to know cousins again. She’s bee a vigilant caregiver to her Grandma, when both parents are out of the house!

Great Grandma Eda Bea has reconnected to many friends, and retired, after 18 yrs., with the Long Beach Fire Ambassadors. She was recognized by the City Council for her many years of service and received a certificate from the Mayor.

Mushroom has reconnected with family and old friends. He continues to conduct his shamanism healing practice. Mushroom volunteers at the VA, where he works in the Hospice Unit.

Mushroom took Denise to Avalon on Catalina Island for their 35^th anniversary this summer!

Denise is putting forth effort to allow the universe to express her skills in the workforce. Until she becomes employed, she’s learning how to manage 3 rental properties in 2 states and is helping all of the above family members to make Great Grandma’s house a home. She took Mushroom for a weekend getaway in Carlsbad, CA, while brother Cass filled in at home caring for Eda Bea.

Bonnie and Jiho moved to Los Angeles where Bonnie is working and Jiho is going to school to learn acupuncture. They came over to help decorate the house for xmas.

Gifts

Our greatest gifts this year have been:

* The going-away parties given by coworkers and friends!

* The visits by faraway friends, who didn’t want to let us leave in the first place!

* The welcoming we received from our Southern CA families & friends, who helped us to move in and had us over for dinner.

We wish for you Happy Holidays and a love-filled New Year.

Denise & Mushroom & Celeste & Eda Bea & Sugar & Ginger

After Thanksgiving

2009-12-05T22:10:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is a holiday in which families can take the opportunity to get together to express their gratitude.
Gratitude reawakens our awareness of just how good it is to be alive. All of our life experiences have brought us gifts for which we should give thanks. Granted, some of our life experiences have been bitter and painful. Yet, they, too, have contributed to making us who we are. They have contributed by tempering us with wisdom. They stretch the boundaries of our experience which, then allows us to feel joy and laughter far deeper, maybe even deep enough to awaken our awareness of how closely we are connected to everyone and everything around us.
I am grateful, on this Autumn day, to be alive and aware of just how lucky I am.
I am grateful for the opportunities I am given to be a blessing to all those whom I meet.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, Brett & Jessica brought Baby Olivia to visit her Great Grandmother, Eda Bea, and her Great Aunt, Denise and her Great Uncle Mushroom. She had a great time on her walk to El Dorado Park, where her dad used to play when he was little. Oh wait, Brett was never little. ;-)
Isis took the reins to get Sugar to the park.

Eda Bea was recovering from hand surgery when we all went to the park.

Eda Bea's great grand daughter, Olivia took a nap in the park.

While Tigerboy climbed the tree, sort of.

Jiho, Bonnie, Jessica and Brett enjoyed playing show and tell with their kids.

Brett asks, "Is Uncle Mushroom really a hobbit?"

Bonnie shots a photo while Mushroom shoots her.

Eda leads us all home

Brett, Olivia and Great Grandma Eda Bea rest after going to the park.

Isis was happy washing her hands before dinner. Playing in the water is
F U N ! ! !Dipping cookies in milk is fun and healthy, isn't it!

See mom, now I am being good, can I have my cookie now?

Our 2009 "Red Chili" Xmas tree, wheeeee!!!

Xmas Lighting at El Paseo

Beauty Abounds

2009-09-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Beauty abounds. Just take a look.
I mean really look. Beauty abounds around you.
Under foot, over head, side to side.
Awe. Such splendor is gifted upon us. Beauty abounds.
Look. The fairy hides, hidden in his wooden cloak.
He brings us awareness of the beauty all around.
"Look!" He shouts into our minds.
"Down here!
Deprive thyself not of the wondrous glory.
Your awareness I have beckoned.
Take heed.
Beauty abounds all around you."

I Am Aware Of My Existence.

2009-09-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

I am aware of my existence.
My fingers touch my skin
and they become aware of what they are touching
and what is touching them.
I am aware of my existence. My existence is aware of me.
I step forward.
The air caresses my skin with soft kisses that awaken more of my skin and the muscles underneath.
I twirl on my foot and the dance begins.
My arms caress the muse that has entered my chamber.
Music wells up from within.
Joy enters the dance, kissing my lips as they gift a smile.
I am aware of my existence and my existence dances its awareness of me.

Denise & Mushroom go to Carlsbad

2009-09-16T22:05:00.001-07:00

The beach was warm and inviting. It soothed my tired bones.

Denise just can't resist playing in the sand.

I looked down and to my amazement, the sand took on a life of its own as the mermaid shampoo receded.

Mother Nature loves to play in the sand too.

After we found a place to park we found this beautiful tree that had bright yellow mushrooms.

Edan loves spending time with Grandma

2009-09-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

There is such a loving bond between Edan and Grandma. Edan just adores her.
Me too.

Isis Comes to Play

2009-09-16T21:03:00.001-07:00

Omah and daughter, pretty in pink.

Tigerboy decided to give his little sister a kiss.

Tigerboy was so gentle with his little sister.

Blowing your nose can be so much fun!

Jiho is playing with Sugar. That furry ball is a dog.

Poor little Isis wore herself out. Daddy cradles her on his shoulder, as only a daddy can.

Isis was so tired that not even Bonnie's laughter could wake her.

Tigerboy comes to play

2009-09-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

In Korea, my brothers would be little grandfathers to my grandchildren. Raymond took the opportunity to be a little grandfather and delighted Tigerboy into a playful smile.

Tigerboy was having so much fun stealing his abuelito's hat. He would grab the hat off of his abuelito's head and run. I would chase him and retrieve my hat. Then is abuelito turned him topsy turvy, while he gleefully giggled all the while.

1944 Letter from Lt. Allen Ditzler

2009-08-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning the upstairs bedroom when I noticed a piece of paper flutter off the table and onto the carpet. As I picked it up, I noticed that is was a copy from a newspaper article. I read the title: Lt. Allen Ditzler Visits Belfast, Ireland. Denise's dad, served in England during WWII. Although I have only known him as Raymond Ditzler, his "legal" fist name is Allen. His middle name is Raymond.

I took Eda Bea (Denise's mom) to Starbucks for a tall mocha. I ordered a grande soy latte with dolce cinnamon syrup at 139 degrees. Eda Bea motioned that she wanted to sit on the soft lounge chairs outside, where we could enjoy the fresh air and the sound of speeding cars from the street and freeway. As we sipped our hot libations, I leaned towards her, smiling widely and with a loud voice to challenge the rustle and tussle of the traffic, I blurted, "Hey mom, I found a copy of a newspaper article from 1944 signed by Ditz." Her eyes widened and filled with tears. Stutteringly, she spurted out, "He was my husband." She searched in her purse for a tissue with which to wipe her tearing eyes as she repeated, "He was my husband." The tears flowed as her lips quivered. She tried to apologize for crying. I patted her knee and explained, "You are entitled to cry for those you love mom. Heaven knows I cry for Jeremy." She breathed out a big sigh and requested a regular coffee.

Flashing lights from a police car returned her composure. She took a few sips and requested that I drive her home. As we drove past the flashing lights I noticed the motorcycle cop writing out a traffic citation. She smiled, being grateful for the distraction. I will take her out again today. I will read the letter in a place that is more conducive to heartfelt listening.

Sawdust Festival

2009-08-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mary Michelle Denise at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach, California

House above the Festival Grounds with a view of the ocean.

Denise, Mary, Michelle and I enjoyed a day at the Sawdust (Art) Festival.

Abuelito with all 3 grandkids

2009-06-27T20:07:00.001-07:00

Isis, Tigerboy and Dallin were giggling and wiggling while I held all of them. I look like a Southwestern story teller ;-)
Click on the image to get a larger view
Click

Time is our noticing changes

2009-06-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

Nothing is permanent. Life is changing. I am changing. I am not the same as I was as a child, although I am the same person who had those experiences. I do not remember every detail of my childhood. Yet, I am still here. My awareness of self is still intact.

The Earth, the stars, everything is in motion and everything is changing form. Energy changes to matter and matter changes to energy.

Only this moment exists. And in this moment change is taking place. Our bodies are not the bodies of our youth. Every cell has changed with whatever our body had eaten and absorbed. Thus it is with every thing that exists. It is so obvious and so simple. Everything is changing. Time is our noticing changes. A flower blooms. The petals change and fall. The flower blooms again and again and again and it changes again, and again and again.

Everything is changing. When we suffer, we hold on to a moment, a still photo of that moment and we forget that we are in motion. “This too shall pass” goes unnoticed. Change is still taking place, whether we notice it or not. It is just that our awareness has been stilted as we focus on a past moment or a perceived future which we base on a no longer existing past moment.

Awck! Words can’t convey the way music, or swimming or being in the immediate present can. When I move my awareness to the immediate present and intend joy, I become aware of only the immediate present and I can not suffer then.

Waiting in the rain was normal?

2009-06-22T22:13:00.001-07:00

I shot this photo of Celeste when I was picking her up after her class at Green River Community College. Imagine that this scene is the norm in the Great North WET. I am so glad to be in sunny Long Beach again.

Trevor's graduation from UC Santa Barbara

2009-06-20T22:01:00.000-07:00

Our nephew, Trevor, graduated from UC Santa BarbaraIf you click on the photograph you will see his smile.

Mushroom, Jessica, Brett, Celeste, Grant, Trevor, Denise

Brett, Grant, Trevor, Shari

Denise and Celeste at the graduation ceremony
Grant and Trevor at the graduation dinner in old town Santa Barbara

He sang the national anthem, a Capella.
I included a short 14 second clip.

We are all very proud of Trevor.

Joseph is a photographer

2009-06-08T16:30:00.001-07:00

My nephew, Joseph is turning out to be a good photographer. He took a good photo of me recently and posted it on his MySpace.

Morning Sun Beams

2009-06-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning to the sweet warmth of the sun beams tenderly kissing my face as they slithered through the window blinds. “Awaken to a new day, Brother Mushroom”, they whispered. “You are safe, you are loved, you too will shine today. Awaken to a new day, Brother Mushroom. Awaken and continue to be a blessing to all those you meet today.
One of my first thoughts was, “Hey, I'm not on the ship.” During the Viet Nam war, it was so delightful to wake up knowing I was not on the ship. The ship had no windows in the berthing compartments (sleeping rooms). When the sun shine woke me up, I delightfully knew I was out of harm's way, far away from the guns, the rockets and the killing.
I am grateful for the sweet gift that I received this morning from Brother Sun.

College Graduation

2009-05-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

My niece, Sandra is celebrating her graduation from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, formally called Adams State Normal School. My niece is anything but normal. She is fabulous. She has worked long and hard to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. We are all so proud of her.

Her parents gave her a camera for a graduation gift. If she looks at her gift metaphorically, she will discover that it is an invitation to look at her world differently, now that she has reached this threshold.

And sometimes, she will find beauty right underneath, she just has to look at life a little differently.

April Fool’s is a wonderful, albeit weird, holiday

2009-04-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

April Fool’s is a wonderful, albeit weird, holiday

It affords us the opportunity to express a delightful aspect of our authentic selves. We take life far too seriously. We think we can control those things that affect our life. Ha, Ha, Ha. Now that is a joke for any day. April Fool’s Day is not so much about setting up pranks, as much as it is, letting go of everyday worries that burden us with the need to be serious. Listen to any elementary school playground. What you will hear is gleeful squealing and laughter. Why? Because we are really just a bunch of squealing, laughing kids in bigger bodies. We have succumbed to the illusion that we are adults that need to be serious most of the time.

I spent time with my daughter this morning at Costco, We ate breakfast there. We ate a combo pizza, while wearing gleeful grins. Later that evening, we met up with my son and grandson at a different Costco. I joined my grandson was we climbed into a wicker box that was a “coffee table” of sorts. We played hide and seek. Now that is what I call living life to the fullest. We play life and play with it.

So get off of your buttocks, and go moon someone.

Blanket for Dallin

2009-02-25T21:08:00.001-08:00

I crocheted this blanket for my grandson, Dallin.

I want a complete separation of church and state.

2009-02-21T11:25:00.000-08:00

A friend asked me to send an anti-abortion letter to President Obama. This is my response:

When I was in the seminary, preparing to be a Catholic priest, we had a discussion concerning the need to baptize a fetus that was naturally aborted by the body and the need to baptize a still born baby. The discussion centered around the question, " when does the soul enter the body?" There was no clear answer in 1965. This is before abortion became a Catholic issue. At that time, the Church had no definitive answer. So the consensus was that the soul did not enter the body until that time that the fetus could live on its own without mechanical help. A few years later, the Church chose conception as the time that the soul entered the body. It was easier to choose that point in time.

A few years ago I was at a car wash, paying the cashier. I started a little conversation about my dad being a Catholic priest. A young man overheard us and came over to talk to me. He told me a very fascinating story. He said that his mother had 2 abortions before he was born. She was considering getting a 3rd abortion. However, in a dream, this young man came to her and told her that this was going to be his 3rd and last time he was going to try to come into this life with her as his mother. Thus, she chose to go to full term and give birth.

I found this story very interesting because it gave an answer, of sorts, to the question we had in the seminary. The soul does not enter the body until it is ready.

I have a great distrust of government passing laws based on religious beliefs. Even if I hold those belief dear to my heart. If we start letting the government pass faith based laws, then we might eventually find our grandchildren praying to Allah, bowing and facing East. Women may be required to cover their heads and give up their jobs. That has already happened in countries that were not Muslim countries that long ago.

The Catholic abortion issue is a belief that the zygote, at conception, has a soul. Women have many natural abortions of the zygote. Should a Catholic female, ask a priest to come to the house and baptize every period she has after having unprotected intercourse, especially if her period is late? If the zygote has a soul, shouldn't a priest be baptizing it?

Now let's move on to legal considerations. If the zygote is a living baby, fully human, we should be able to get tax benefits such as a tax deduction for every time a female has a late period after unprotected sexual intercourse. We should be able to buy life insurance for a zygote. The incidence of natural abortion is high enough that insurance companies would fight tooth and nail to prevent a law that would give human rights to a zygote.

I do not like the idea of abortion. But I do not like the idea of government passing faith based laws even more. There is too much danger in that.

When religious people find that they can not make the non-believers or even their own believers to do or act in the ways that they want them to, they turn to government in an attempt to force everyone to complying with their wishes.

It is a matter of control. Jesus did not tell the Roman soldier, "No, I will not heal the person you are wanting to help, because you believe in Roman gods." Jesus taught us to love unconditionally and to serve everyone equally. He did not go to the political powers and demand that they change their laws to suit his beliefs. He did not tell his followers to change laws to eliminate human rights abuses such as slavery.

I am writing this note to you to tell you why I would never send an anti-abortion letter to a government legislator or policy maker. I do not want to legally require all residents of the US to adhere to my religious beliefs. Nor do I want to be required to adhere to other's religious beliefs. I want a complete separation of church and state.

Tigerboy & Bonnie's birthday celebration

2009-02-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

Grandma is telling scary 3 headed dragon stories,
even great grandma Eda Bea is scared.

Whew! I'm glad that story is done, now that Grandma made my eyes glow red too.

Grandma and Dallin getting ready for the party

Grandma and Dallin playing in the mirror Prepare to blow!

Thar they blow!

Blown away!

Bonnie & Tigerboy celebrate their birthdays by biting into the cake.
Fun is the name of the game.
Click on the photos to get a better look.

Hope

2009-02-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

I am posting two links to different versions of the same video. One has the voice of Willy Whitefearther talking about the video. The other is as he intended it, without voice. Both are worth the 8 minutes to watch.

Why Seattle Men Wear Kilts

2009-01-18T09:06:00.001-08:00

Why men wear kilts in Seattle

Men wear kilts because Seattlites need sunlight. Now, I realize that may sound peculiar. But it is true. Just take a good look at the situation. Seattle gets so little sunlight that the weather predictors speak in terms, not of sunny days or cloudy days, rather, they speak in terms of sun breaks. Sun breaks are those rare holes in the perpetual Seattle cloud cover that remind Seattlites that they need to buy more sunglasses, (having forgotten where they put their last pair.)

Because the cloud cover is so thick, men's legs loose all of their natural color and turn white. This is a terrible predicament because white is not a manly color for men's legs. In response, the manly masculine men of Seattle have taken it upon themselves to expose their white colorless legs and thus reflect what little sunlight might happen to penetrate through the thick winter cloud layer in hopes of further brightening the otherwise depressing sunless days. Seattlites can be so altruistic.

This does have one drawback, however. It appears that wearing kilts adds to global warming.

Basement Flood in the Great North WET

2009-01-12T14:18:00.001-08:00

The rain melted the snow and the rain kept soaking the ground until the water had no where to go except up.
Up into our basement from the crawl space.

I put a rented sump pump into the crawl space.
We pumped for 22 hours.

After all those hours, we still had lots of water.

Laguna Beach Tide Pools

2009-01-10T13:15:00.001-08:00

Sandra & Juan take the nieces & nephews to Laguna Beach

Looking for tide pool critters

Sea anemones

Mushroom's reflection among the sea anemones

Juan wonders, "What could we do now?"

Let's throw Sandra in the ocean!Yeah!!!

No, Let's throw Juan in to the ocean.

Sandra runs away while the boys try to throw Juan into the sea

This niece prefers to build sand castles.These nieces prefer to play in the water.

The sun sets, the air cools and the day is done.

Southern California Winter Fun

2009-01-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

I had not seen Robert since 1967. He lived in Kent way before I did. Now he lives in Texas. I lived in Texas way before he did. It was great seeing him again.

Fred knew Denise and I before we knew each other. Leila met us after she stole Fred's heart.

Daile gets teased by her dad, a lot!

The Mission Viejo Ditzlers converge on the docks

Hey! Look at that Heron! Hmmm? Maybe Sun Hong doesn't like heron.

Montoya 2008 Xmas Holidays

2009-01-07T21:39:00.000-08:00

Sandra prepares for the feast by baking cookies.

Alli gets a haircut from Sue

"Who's coming?" the dogs wonder as they wag away

Dogs make Eda feel right at home

Denise is sporting the latest in snowman earings

Sue & Alli settle in for the festivities

We all enjoyed feasting for the holiday

Raymond and Sandra are at it again.

Smiles and more smiles

Daile is rudely awakened from her snooze by the camera's flash

Relaxing and snoozing after the feast

The dogs say goodbye as Sandra & Juan return home

14 December is the first snowy day this winter.

2008-12-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

Ginger is thinking with her eyes closed, "Sugar is so embarrassing when he makes his eyes match the Xmas tree lights." Click on the photo for a better view.

Sunday Morning Snow

View Looking South from in front of our house

The Front of our house covered in cold white powder

Backyard winter whiteness

Photo Shoot

2008-11-27T12:43:00.001-08:00

Dallin, Tara, Orlando, Bonnie, Isis, Tigerboy, Jiho, Roger, Celeste
Mushroom, Eda Bea, Denise

Attack of the KISS

2008-11-27T09:34:00.000-08:00

2008-11-26T14:23:00.001-08:00

Sitting for a photo shoot can be very challenging when we are dealing with tiny and very young humans.

Mushroom Retires from 30 Years of Goverment Service

2008-11-02T20:08:00.001-08:00

Retirement Kilt
When I Left, I left with Delight!

Colorful Farewell to the Auburn Crew

Farewell to the wild WSC Crew

Auburn Crew Listening to Vista

Retirement Cake- Who is that Fun Gi?

Orlando Turns 31 on 2 November

2008-11-02T19:36:00.000-08:00

1977 Doesn't Seem Like So Very Long Ago

He Is Soooo Good Looking At 31

Getting a Decent Birthday Beating 31 Times

Ouch ! ! !

Mom and Grandma Celebrate Orlando's 31st Birthday

Edan, Tara and Dallin Celebrate Orlando's 31st Birthday

Roger Celebrate's Orlando's 31st Birthday

Beautiful Isis as Piglet

2008-11-02T18:47:00.001-08:00

Beautiful Isis Playing the Role Of Piglet

Abuelito Is In the Pink with Isis

Mushroom's-Blog

Happy Holidays and a Bountiful 2012

Return To Sender from 1985

Autumn is the season for shedding

Halloween and the Bride of Frankenstein

90 mile Bike Ride in Memory of Jeremy

White Rose

Roses for Denise

New Grandson: Keegan Eric (Valentino) Montoya

April Fool's Day Flood

Retirement Quilt

Christmas Letter 2010

Celeste Gets Her First Business Cards

Celeste finally got her first business cards after working at JC Pennys for a couple of years. Yesterday, she gave me one. I put in on the kitchen counter to show Denise.

A short while later, Denise said to our grandson, "Edan, what do you have in your mouth? Spit it out."

Now you know why Celeste's business card is warped.

'Tis the month of December, and all through the land:

Plucking Uncle Tony's Turkeys

Thanksgiving Trickster

Gift of the Heart

Olya's Night Visitors

Riding the Thunder Mountain train at Disneyland

Dancing with Dust Devil

Transforming an old, donated Fiat into a gem

American Eye Test?

The Gift in the Trauma Center October 1992

Kita

Camping at Doheney Beach

Fashion and Cupcakes

Uncle George Dies

Somewhere Out There - An American Tail

When Denise & I were in the process of adopting Olga (Celeste) this movie came out. It always makes me cry happy tears.

Celeste just walked in to the room and I was too choked up to talk. We are so lucky to have our very own "Celestial Being."Ya tibia lu blu, Mia Olinka

Arizona Senate Bill 1070

Soccer & Volleyball at Mile Square Park

Saturday Morning Hike with Winnie &John

Mushroom Hat

Tigerboy goes to soccer practice

Click here to see Isis play Mustache-Beard game with Mushroom

Viet Nam Meditation

Flag over the US Capitol 18 December 2009

Xmas Letter 2009

After Thanksgiving

Beauty Abounds

I Am Aware Of My Existence.

Denise & Mushroom go to Carlsbad

Edan loves spending time with Grandma

Isis Comes to Play

Tigerboy comes to play

1944 Letter from Lt. Allen Ditzler

Sawdust Festival

Abuelito with all 3 grandkids

Time is our noticing changes

Waiting in the rain was normal?

Trevor's graduation from UC Santa Barbara

Joseph is a photographer

Morning Sun Beams

College Graduation

April Fool’s is a wonderful, albeit weird, holiday

April Fool’s is a wonderful, albeit weird, holiday

Blanket for Dallin

I want a complete separation of church and state.

Tigerboy & Bonnie's birthday celebration

Hope

Why Seattle Men Wear Kilts

Basement Flood in the Great North WET

Laguna Beach Tide Pools

Southern California Winter Fun

Montoya 2008 Xmas Holidays

14 December is the first snowy day this winter.

Photo Shoot

Attack of the KISS

Mushroom Retires from 30 Years of Goverment Service

Orlando Turns 31 on 2 November

Beautiful Isis as Piglet

Celeste just walked in to the room and I was too choked up to talk. We are so lucky to have our very own "Celestial Being."
Ya tibia lu blu, Mia Olinka