Pandas... "Redemption!" (National Zoo, Washington D.C.)
k, lots of great news to share when time/energy allow, but let me start,
with a few minutes to spare, with
THE PANDA STORIES!
* fell in LOVE with pandas in elementary school. remember, and can recall with great detail, this very moment a book i checked out from the school library
in it, pandas sitting, pandas eating bamboo, pandas playing with a multi-color beach ball..
adorable! so cuddly looking..
who wouldn't want one of the very own!?! -write.
-so broken hearted to learn they are -bears- not pets; aggressive to humans..
this did not stop me from collecting pandas.. patches, stickers, blankets, pins..
and strongly remember when i ran for office, in elementary school
Sandy Harrison for President
was written on paper circles i cut out, with a panda sticker in the center
with a safety pin you could attach it to your backpack or shirt or jacket
-fast forward... how many years?!?
pandas at the san diego zoo
san diego! where we visit every summer..
crazy excited to see these pandas..
a rare opportunity!
and i waited in a loooooooong line
for... ever!
and did we pay extra?
in any case, i remember a door, with a small window cut out..
and i moved toward the window,
looked left, looked write.. stood on my tip toes..
searching... hoping... hoping... searching
nothing but bamboo!
and a zoo employee pushing us along..
"lots of people waiting... keep it movin'" -kind of thing...
and i was like, ...but, but... i haven't seen the panda...
"sorry... keep it moving..."
******
fast forward again
2023
National Zoo, Washington D.C.
and big "thank you's!" here to leslie for coordinating the occasion
and deborah and carmela for capturing pictures
and for graciously allowing me extra time at the panda exhibit..
honestly..
aren't they just the most cuddly, adorable, precious creatures
and a blessed, rare window, because they head back to china very soon..
Praise God, Thank You Jesus, Hallelujah & Amen..
-worth the wait. -great experience; great memories
you know what i say...
make a wild wish and chase it with a prayer
#vellumdays cont. return to the scene of great times! cont.. Praise God & Thank YOU!
my heart is all a-flutter anytime i have a mother/daughter day on the calendar to look forward to..
here, you can see why..
and especially enjoyed visiting barnes & noble, which -of course- CH's to: a creative non-fiction book i started when she was just 8 years old.. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
writing wise; i captured a great more detail when time/energy allowed; when i was inspired to do so
and, most grateful now, in 2023, to have these details!
*****
simultaneously, but independently/separately -both, my best mom ever, and my best dad ever
required surgeries. both recovering; both getting stronger.. both receiving much love, support from healthcare providers, spouses, sister, family, friends.. many answered prayers along the healing path
Thank You Jesus! Amen
return to the scene of great times! koa petaluma 5 star camping experience again!
helps to have awesome friends, cutest dogs, amazing bbq, perfect climate, redwood trees..
a pool, hot tub, tv for the football games, -and new, clean, spacious bathroom/showers just across from your campsite -plus a general store... 'glamping' i believe some people call it
glamourous + camping -but we have sebastian & valerie to thank for these great memories
love you!
Q: are we italian? -nope -have we ever been to italy? -nope
can either of us speak italian? -nope
but none of that stops us from hosting an italian dinner party
and thank here our in-the-spirit friends for their fresh & delicious italian dinner contributions:
richard/fresh homemade baked bread; valerie/fresh & fabulous italian salad; elva/delious italian dessert.
all paired perfectly with roberts amazing spaghetti & meatballs, and all that paired well with the variety of italian wines & spirits everyone brought; and all that paired extremely well with awesome friends and fun conversations..
* fun to learn, with oppenheimer movie currently out, that valeries father, a scientist/author crossed paths with oppenheimer, and a friend of karl's tutored his children..
direct connections
and, write after celebrating all things italian, we celebrated all things chinese! Public "Thank You!" here to kansen & daisy chu for the invitation; to the george's for driving; to beautiful, fancy nancy for lending me a dress for the special occasion [did i write about her lending me green boots for st patricks party?!? -winner! for most spectacular wardrobe and fashions ever! (also, worth noting: former model.. deserves her own fashion magazine...) -anyway,
i am enormously grateful i got to be in the audience for this show! 3 hours of back to back mesmerizing performances. just glorious! -and didn't understand the language when a host or hostess would introduce an upcoming number, but didn't need to either... live music, dance, costumes, choreography, cinematography; all universal languages ENCORE!
and will close with a picture i took of robert and i, -just because.
i had glanced at our reflection on the sideview mirror of our truck as we returned to get in, and something about the number of, and framing of the palm trees; couldn't resist
sent it to my children.. like, doesnt it look like we are on a tropical vacation? or at venice beach..
-we are in the parking lot of kohls at the great mall in milpitas. LOVE taking pictures... that's forever, i'm pretty sure..
it's all Praise God, Thank You Jesus, Hallelujah & Amen! xoxo
#vellumdays -return to the scene of great times!
#vellumdays
dear
BCAC, loved the 50th anniversary celebration!
and, for the record, we do not let gift cards go to waste! no sooner did we win raffles, -than we were cashing in on the winnings. smile and say "cheesecake factory!"
plus, a 94 degree day here in san jose, was the perfect day to cash in our fandango gift cards. double feature [havent done that in a hundred years..] air conditioning, electric recliners, buttery popcorn and two great movies too.. educational/entertaining.. cinemark century at the great mall in milpitas, with olive garden lunch in between...
oppenheimer brought a memory for me..
and validated one..
when i was elementary school age, when anyone used the word 'communist', i knew that meant something very bad; awful...
but without any idea of what it really meant.
in this movie.. it presumes there is already a clear understanding of what communism is/means
-the word gets dropped, like a bomb itself
i think if you do not already understand, -this same thing happens: you know it's evil, by the way, the tone, the context it is used; but without knowing what it actually is.. and WHY it should be stopped at all cost
a movie called, first they killed my father, served for me, as communism explained -at least i felt i gained a better understanding..
CH thoughts/memories/addendums:
not that i speak the names often, but over the years, -how often i gave credit, just in my mind, and/or out loud in conversation; gave credit to oppenheimer for the uncertainty principle -when it's heisenberg. and i couldn't figure out why, because their names don't even sound alike.. ah! but it is theoretical physics they have in common.. in any case, without revisiting the scientific meaning behind uncertainty principle, i'll share here the spiritual one: every human being, being mortal, will die a physical death. no human being KNOWS when.. -some human beings will live long lives, despite a great deal of self-inflicted life threatening habits -some will die young, despite taking every conceivable step toward longevity -and vice versa, with a plethora of variables between..
some may be given 3 months to live, and live 3 decades more..; some may be on track to live 3 decades easy, but -killed just crossing the street; out of nowhere...
this truth about 'the human condition' is not accidental, circumstantial, or random
this 'uncertainty' is purposeful, meaningful, spiritual. it is what comes to my heart and mind when i hear those words together: the uncertainty principle. this poem also comes to mind
and this post too
and speaking of theoretical physicists...
post to robbert dijkgraaf
and
physicist and the poet
also -didn't catch it myself, but Robert pointed out for me, the Lawrence in Oppenheimer, is THE Lawrence of Lawrence Livermore Labs...
****
my freshman year of high school, and i can see his face in my imagination, but cant remember his name, but one of my teachers shared with the class
"we (the U.S., the world at large) already have the power to blow up our planet 3x over..."
and speaking on behalf of myself, and my generation in a generic way.. we live each day with the understanding this is true, but without any means for un-doing it.
and we live on... we work on... we carry on... we keep going...
Christians (soldiers, each of us) fight the good fight of faith; walk on in love.. believing in eternal salvation. Thank God, huh...
*****
more later..
amen.
HTLC Community. These are my people...
i particularly like this HTLC Community because it is very inclusive! You can be of any or no faith system, any political affiliation, a fan of any sport, any team.. You can be young, old, male, female; any ethnicity.. You can be an artist, a singer-song writer; blue-collar, white-collar.. you can be single, you can be married.. you can be a CEO, you can be a stay-at-home parent...
-the HTLC Community...
It has mostly to do with having (taking pride in; cultivating, recognizing, honoring) a strong work ethic, respecting law and order, and being a contributor (vs. a do-nothing-er, or taker)
and what inspired me to come up with this, -very similar to when i was inspired to add 'tvgp' after my name on my business card from years ago....
hallelujah & amen.
Exciting News! Kansen Chu is running for SJ City Council, District 4
Dear Awesome Neighbors, Kansen Chu, one of our very own neighbors and fellow "NOTonNOBLE" warriors is running for city council; District 4: OUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Kansen fought along side us, appearing in person and speaking up at city council as a neighbor, and as a Board of Trustees Member of the Berryessa Union School District. Kansen and his lovely wife, Daisy, share our values, have become our friends and have our vote.
Blessings Everyone, Robert & Sandra
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