Stairways: Hearts

My sister sent me this photo today.  "Christmas is Coming!" she says.  We are sitting at the top of the stairs per tradition, per ritual, on Christmas morning, waiting for our photo to be taken and waiting to come down to tree and presents and croissants.  Usually, we are feigning sleep at the top of the stairs; I think Buddy was interrupting that part.  

Santa, I miss that dog.  

hekyll and jyde

"Cancer Strength (Ace of Pentacles) To affect change in the world, we must first make that change in ourselves. It’s easy to profess what’s right and wrong, but not so easy to be an example of these convictions. There are periods in life when you must account for your behavior, and, even more importantly, your contradictions. A frustrating situation is currently offering you this opportunity. Refrain from controlling things and you’ll uncover an area of vulnerability. This area is asking to be developed, so “walk your talk” and be proactive in your efforts to change."

My initial response to this horoscope was "screw you!" followed by "sigh" and then a memory. When I was at summer camp, I tie-dyed this shirt I had that was old and tattered, a real favorite. The shirt said, written every which way in the funky early nineties fashion, "To really make change, you must first change your mind." At the time, 8th grade me considered myself enlightened and profound, thoughtful and deep. Now, in photos, it just looks like a slightly idealistic baggy tshirt.

That summer at camp, we would sneak through the fence to the creek, and Teddy would have his guitar (he played so incredibly well). A group of us would hang out by the barely flowing water, not really doing anything aside from being together, and I lay there, staring up at the waving leaves of cottonwood. The sound of the leaves, all blowing and rustling, was poignant and drifted in and out of the guitar sound. Me to myself: "Remember this."

(remembering)

Update:

A sad thing. A sign of the times.

I just got off the phone with Bill Laube, manager and previous owner of the Pleasanton Hotel. I was trying to schedule a 40th wedding anniversary dinner for my parents on the 3rd of January; Mare and Gare LOVE the Pleasanton Hotel. The building is such a fixture in Pleasanton, and while the old fashioned yellow was much more appealing to me, it remains a historic part of the town complete with that renowned underground tunnel to Gay Nineties Pizza.

The hotel is closing. The news made me want to cry. If his voice on the phone was any giveaway, Bill Laube is pretty distraught as well -- he has been at the hotel for 25 years. As of Janurary 1st, in her quest to sell the business and building in the declining market, the current landlord is closing it's doors. Permanently.

I know a lot of us don't go to the Pleasanton Hotel. There are many more "hip" places in Pleasanton to have a drink. I just ask you, at some point before 2008 bids adieu, to pop in, have a drink, and give a kind word to Bill and the staff. This really is a sad thing.

(for more info on the history of the Pleasanton hotel and current staff, go here.)