Three Years of Joy

This is my wife. Her name is Nita, but I call her Tita Bella, Tita, Wife or Weef, depending on the moment.  Those are the bikes we rented in Calistoga for our five hour wine tasting tour to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. We love to ride bikes together. As a matter of fact the very first date we went on was on bikes five years ago right here in Santa Monica and not far from where we live now... some of the most amazing times we have spent together have been on our bikes.  Three years ago we rode our bikes on our honeymoon in Sonoma for five days over mountains and rivers, to the sea, and through the trees and up the hills and down them too. Two years ago we rode our bikes all over Colorado for 543 miles during Ride the Rockies where we rode up mountain passes of 11,500 feet and down them freezing our butts off, sleeping in tents and eating mexican food galore.  We have ridden countless miles together and I am willing to bet the miles would add up to crossing the united states together on two wheels...so as you know, for me, that is a lucky thing since I have ridden my bike almost all my life and to think that I somehow managed to marry a woman who also loves to ride is beyond me.  Today is July 11 or 7-11...the day we were married three years ago in Kauai with all of our close friends and family together in the sand in a circle standing in awe at the love and support all around.  It's wild to think that was already three years ago!  Time has a funny way of just flying by and whenever we have a chance to just ride our bikes together like we did, it brings it all back to a simple moment of existence where two people find each other in this wildly complex and complicated life.

People often ask, "How is married life?", like it's a dangerous way to live or something...i am here to tell you its better than an African Safari.  Better than bacon wrapped dates.  Better than sledding.  Better than the 5th coffee of the day.  Better than wind in your hair. Better than a warm fire on a cold day. Better than brown sugar in oatmeal. Better than shaving your legs and then getting in fresh sheets. Better than Raging Waters. Better than Disneyland. Better than chocolate covered nuts. Better than cheeseburgers. Better than stand up comedy. Better than soap operas. Better than winning the lottery. Better than garlic and butter. Better than jumping rope. Better than being tan. Better than opening night.  Better than a sunrise. Better than a sunset. Better than ice cream.

As of today I have lived for 3 years with my wife, or 36 months, or 168 weeks, or 1095 days, or 26,280 hours, or 630,720 hours...but it seems like only the first bike ride....which to this day seemed like an eternity...I love you wife.

Sunflowers, Van Gogh and Hogwarts.

I got to visit my wife this weekend for our 3 year anniversary up in Sacramento, where she is attending an intensive month long program for her teaching certification at the Rudolph Steiner College. The picture above is of their biodynamic sustainable gardens right on campus and it was an incredible place.  I am amazed at the magical spirit of my wife and the wonder of her experience up there and for me it was so fun to share just a quick moment of time in a place that seriously reminded me of Hogwarts. You may think that is funny but its true! The Waldorf school to me is the magic that one would find only in books and since the imagination is fostered so incredibly it makes sense, but this was different. It was different because instead of a bunch of young kids running around, it was all the teachers who all seem a little like magic wizards, especially my wife since we all know she is a magical good witch. There is an energy of calm and caring up there that is quite amazing and after sitting quietly under a big friendly oak tree and staring off into the garden with beautiful sunflowers, I realized that I had to capture the moment I am sure Van Gogh would have painted.  He gravitated towards the simplicity of the outdoor gardens and life under trees and, as some of you know, my fascination with Van Gogh has always been one of great wonder and importance in my life. I found it interesting that at that very moment I was more content than I have been in a while, listening to the wind rustle the gentle leaves of the oak above me, hearing the birds sing and feeling the heat of the day even though I was in the shade.  It was all so perfectly quiet and gentle, and calming, and it was easy to just be. Something to remember for sure.

My wife's magical journey has been, and is amazing, to watch and as I get to play a small role in it I feel lucky to know that I am in the inner circle of magic. There are many things changing in my life and growing (as they should be), but remembering to quiet down for a moment and just listen to the world is something to not forget. I am again embarking on a path that will take me to places unseen and as I trust the process and journey I can't help but feel a little anxious of course. This is all part of life and giving into the moment and decision can sometimes take a while, but letting go of the control and trusting the process is when the magic takes over. The journey through the secret gardens is the stuff of magic and love and simplicity....

Love and Understanding.
J

The Cage

i was having a discussion the other day about living in Los Angeles...having previously escaped the island i find myself often musing about the mountains and the open space, the slower pace, and the lack of traffic. I took the above picture while walking to work and it wasn't until later that i saw it for what it was...a cage of cages. Motorcycle riders call cars "cages" and the fence sums up the rest of the idea. The Rat Race is a common one that comes to mind and this picture sums that up a bit. i often ride or walk over this bridge and sigh with relief that i am not down there in the shark tank swimming in one direction, but it also reminds me that i am very close to it and living in this life trying to not fall in is for sure a challenge. Blade Runner comes to mind also. The darkness of the pic conjures up all sorts of depressing thoughts, not to say that i am necessarily depressed today, but it makes me a little sad i think to imagine that this is the world, or at least parts of it. Walking in it on paths that are not traveled by most can be scary and fun and full of doubt and insecurity and wonder. Remembering to stop and breathe for a moment is the key and making sure to get away from it all is a gift to give oneself each day. In this particular world model of cages and concrete and metal, we must remember to find the life and love otherwise we may forget it exists at all.

Love and Understanding

J