Category: holidays

What a lovely 4th of July. Still my favorite holiday by many leagues. A hearty day of flag counting with friends, lunch at the fabulously old world Fenton’s Creamery, a screening of Koyaanisqatsi (oddly appropriate) followed by dinner with my friend Tara. As usual, I concluded the day by listening to “Washington’s Day” by the Hooters which contains the following lyrics.

“Did you think I could ever forget?
The night by the Arlington Flame.
In the silence I heard it
Through streets so deserted
You whispered and called me by name.

Did you think I could ever forget?
That powerful look in your eyes
Where Lincoln stood strong
and you held me so long
There that night on the 4th of July.”

I’ve done this every 4th since 1993. So about an hour ago, I went up to the roof of our apartment building and in the fog, listened to the song and watched the last of the fireworks explode over downtown San Francisco. Good times.

It’s the last night of Chanukah. All 8 candles are lit. I remember this day many years ago when my Aunt Nora came to our house for the last night. I remember being very sad that Chanukah was over and yet very moved to see my aunt’s regal stern face glowing in the light of the candles. When my whole family was asleep, I came downstairs. The menorah was still glowing like a star fallen from the sky.

I had a whole speech prepared about Yom Kippur and what I did, what it meant, how I didn’t eat for 24 hours etc. But I’ll have to get to that tomorrow. Fasting makes for one tired pup.