Lest old acquaintance be forgot...

I hate end of the year, holiday and christmas letters. People's lives are all so great, so accomplished, their children are so successful, their teflon lives so impenetrable. Make  the rest of us muggles feel like pishers. And yet I write a daily blog, who the hell am I to talk? Talk about self absorbed...

When I was in boarding school, I had a beautiful classmate from a rich Newport Beach family. I will never forget her getting the mimeographed, christmas form letter from her parents in Europe, the parents she hadn't seen in two years. It was pretty sad.

I was at the post office the other day and the woman next to me was yelling to a woman at the back of the line about all of the family fun and accomplishments. After an interminable wait, I couldn't help myself and blurted out, "And little Jimmy's finally out of the federal witness protection program." Had the line in stitches.

It has been a pretty good year for me and I hope for you too. We dodged that Mayan bullet, long time coming. Nobody real close to me died, Leslie and I stayed reasonably healthy. BigD's cancer went into remission. Business was pretty good. Blogging and writing was fairly enjoyable although I have been stuck in a reality rut and still yearn to write something fictional and hopefully more meaningful.

We took some kickass vacations and side trips. I thought I would go through my yet unpublished photographs and try to address some of the higher points, not in chronological order.

With BigD and Dan Flynn - Valley of Fire

Great hanging out with BigD, post chemo in Vegas. We went into the tao bar and I got to introduce him to the bar as an emissary from another world. Venusians are so hip. Hendrix's fire came on the radio at the absolutely appropriate moment as we traversed the Valley of Fire.

Up close and personal with an old bighorn sheep.

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I got deeper into the hawk nest with these year's triplets than I have ever got in the past. Still need a longer lens, for an even more intimate view, when I can afford the luxury. I have seen a very fat mother hanging near the nest this week.

One of the highest points and greatest moments this year was being with R & D and pals in the harbor on the backside of Catalina.

We had the harbor basically to ourself and I drank more wine than I have imbibed in years.

As the sun set, we put on Quicksilver Messenger Service's Who do you love and woke up every spirit on the island.

dripping moon, catalina

At one point we were corralled by a silent pod of fin whales. An experience we will never forget.

Alhambra pool

A

Another highpoint, probably the apogee of my year was southern spain.  A dream, so rich visually and culturally.

shakey hand, golden gate

There were other great moments to be sure. Death Valley, Jemez Springs, Grand Canyon, Hopi, Marin, Half Moon Bay, good old Fallbrook. The best was hanging out with my family and friends, the people I love.

Zabriskie

Wishing you all the best in the new year. Stay safe, button up. Take your vitamins.  Be happy. As far as I know, you get one go around. Might as well have a blast.

Until next year,

Robert