Category Archives: Blogs

And there’s nothing you can do about it.

In November 1990, I was a month away from my 19th birthday. I had graduated from high school five months earlier. I was working part time at the pizza joint. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to take ONE class at the local community college. I was spending all my free time partying with my friends and surfing in Santa Cruz. I was mostly staying up all night and sleeping past noon. I was restless and directionless.

Also during this time, Saddam Hussein had invaded a little Persian Gulf country called Kuwait. The US was officially at war with Iraq. And my friends were joining the various branches of the military.

My buddy Brian talked me into going down to the US Navy recruiting station. And the sailors down there told me all their best stories of travelling and seeing the world.

I was sold. I signed up. I spent the entire day at the recruiting station. That night I came home to my unhappy parents.

“Where have you been?” my father asked, angry that I’d been gone all day and didn’t tell anyone where I was.

“Mom…Dad…I just joined the Navy…and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

I went to my room with a smug smile on my face, thinking about all the freedom I’d have once I was out of my parent’s house. Later I found out that my parents spent the entire night, awake in bed, unable to sleep, worrying about their son about to go to war.

I went to boot camp weeks later.

Well, today is Veterans Day. And I am a veteran of the first Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991.

So happy Veterans Day to me.

Metallica vs. Led Zeppelin

I was driving to work this morning, listening to 98.5 FM radio. In the Central Valley, where I live, that station plays mostly metal. This morning they were playing some Metallica.

As I got near the top of the Altamont Pass the Bay Area’s 98.5 FM radio station started to interfere with the signal. They play mostly classic rock. This morning they were playing Led Zeppelin.

So there I was, driving up and over the Altamont Pass, with Metallica and Led Zeppelin fighting each other. The signal cutting back and forth. Each band trading riffs. I like both bands so I didn’t mind.

I thought about my own life, and about the old and the older, about the two different areas of California, how these two are constantly fighting each other, pushing and pulling each other in different directions.

Much like my own life. Constantly being pushed and pulled in different directions.

Yosemite Valley, Curry Village, and Snow

Spent the night in Yosemite Valley last weekend with Yum. It was very cold! At night it got below freezing, and in the morning everything was frosty and frozen. We stayed in one of those little tent cabins (frames made of 2×4 and draped with canvas). Luckily we had a heater, which ran all night. Yum slept like a log.

My trips to Yosemite Valley are a bit bittersweet. I love going, but can’t help but feel a little sad as I think of my mom and her favorite place on Earth.

Love ya mom, see ya next time.