End of summer--what summer?!?

The first year we were here it was a sweltering hot summer. Not all the time, but at times. Our poor little been-in-Monterey-too-long constitutions were no match for temps over 100. Then last summer was milder--still some spikes over 100, but only for a few days at a time and then back down to the merciful 80's. This summer was easy easy. Being in our new house, with its great insulation and big shade trees helped. But mainly it was the mild temps and occasional showers that made it not even feel like summer. And then suddenly it was September. We made it! No heat stroke! And every day I worked I rode my bike. I'm so danged proud.




Towards the end of August Aaron's friend Simon (from Eugene) came to spend the night.




That was a very good thing. Simon is a very cool kid--great to have around and good buddy for Aaron. They are a matched pair (of what, I don't know) and have lots of laughs together.




Aaron tends to spend alot of time in front of the computer, emailing his friends and playing games, and watching seasons of Friends or Seinfeld or Scrubs or Simpsons...you see why I was glad to have a live friend here for him.

Speaking of friends, Courtney and I went to the coast to see his ever-since-college friend Phil and his family, as we'd done the last two years. They are only in Oregon for the month of August, so we have to take advantage of the time when they're nearby.

Here we are on a hike with them, through a forest of old growth trees, and then out to the cliffs, with a view of forever. It was so so beautiful and a wonderfully comfortable day. Just perfect for a long walk and talk with friends.




Then back to their house, also with an amazing view, for a long leisurely meal out on the deck. Just enough sun and just enough breeze to be comfortable. Wonderful food, good stories, stimulating conversation.




Phil's father-in-law, Gunter, was visiting from Germany and he's a very charming man, intelligent with a great sense of humor, and a twinkle in his eyes. The conversation, sometimes needing translation and other times not, was especially lively because Sarah Palin had just arrived on the national scene as John McCain's running mate. There was no lack of speculation (and fear) as to what this nomination means. (Especially with the recent circulation of Sinclair Lewis' quote, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and wearing a cross.")

Gunter told us about Obama's trip to Germany this summer. Since I don't know the German landmarks he was referring to I couldn't quite imagine the magnitude, but he took great pains to explain just how enormous the crowd was (200,000 people) that turned out to see Obama speak. The crowd stretched from there to there and back to there, and the most astonishing note to it all was that there was little or no visible security. Just thousands of people cheering and waiving American flags.

On the other hand, Gunter told us, when George Bush visited Germany the security was so tight, there was so much secrecy, the police were out in full riot gear, concrete barriers were erected everywhere he was to go, and the German people were so angered by it all. I thought about trying to explain to him how some people here, especially on the Left, feel that there's no difference (or very little) between Obama and McCain, but abandoned that idea. Too much to translate and I didn't want to spoil his good story.

Meanwhile, I was reading a book that was scaring the beejesus out of me, The Fifth Sacred Thing, by Starhawk. It's the story of California in 2048, twenty years since San Francisco's Uprising, a rebellion sparked by women when the corrupt government, doing the bidding of corrupt corporations, canceled elections and declared martial law. It tells the parallel stories of the best and the worst possible futures as they are poised to clash. Needless to say, my sleep patterns were greatly disrupted while reading this book, and yet I'd still recommend it.

That was August, and there's more just around the corner. Thanks for reading and hope you're out there registering those young voters, as one activist here says, 'til you walk your sox off. This is not a time for complacency. Every day I feel more urgently that we all need to be doing all we can. If not for ourselves, then for our kids and their kids.

On that happy note, I'll say good night,

Valori