Denise & Mushroom go to Carlsbad

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

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

Isis Comes to Play

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

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

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

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

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
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Time is our noticing changes

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?

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

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

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

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

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.