Los Lobos rock....
Hearts of Stone
(David Hidalgo/Louie Pérez)
I travel down this lonely road
To see if I can pick me a rose
But all I find is a handful of thorns
In a place where blossoms should grow
Some hearts are made of stone
Some are cold, made of ice
Some beat all alone
Then there's those made of steel
Ones that don't even feel
Where are those hearts,
Those hearts made of gold?
I wandered down this lonely trail
Some twenty seven hours a day
But all I see are prints in the dirt
Where others tried to find their way
How far will I go,
To leave these fears behind?
Oh, let those tears go dry
Yeah, won't stop until I can find
Oh, that heart of gold
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Walking down Broadway in Uptown Oakland, past dozens of empty storefronts, shuttered department stores, and buildings that have certainty seen better days, I felt uneasy. Why? Because I don't like to stand out. I never do. And here I was, one of the only non-African American people in the neighborhood. To make matters more awkward I had to constantly snap pictures with my digital camera, which yells to people passing by..."look at me, I'm a tourist!" I don't like that. It took me years to get comfortable taking pictures in Mountain View.
So as I'm walking down Broadway... I see this older African-American woman in a wheelchair ahead of me. She didn't appear to be all there mentally...but I couldn't really tell. My urge was to walk right past her and continue on my way. But as I approached her she quietly said, "Excuse me Sir, Sir...can you help me?"
I responded..."What's That?"
And she said, "Can you help me Sir? I'm thirsty. Can you get me a Coke?"
"A Coke? Umm. Where from?"
"Over there down the street, the Chinese Restaurant. A Coke in a bottle, please."
And I thought about it, looked at the restaurant, and looked at her.
Maybe she was homeless. Maybe she wasn't. Maybe she had the money to get the Coke herself, and just thought she could take advantage of this obviously suburban outsider timidly walking in her neighborhood. Maybe she had no money, and just really wanted a Coke.
So....I said that ya, I would get her a Coke. I went to that Chinese Restaurant and bought one. I walked back to the lady in the wheelchair, and gave her the Coke. She said, "Thank you Sir, God Bless You Today."
And I continued on my way.
So as I'm walking down Broadway... I see this older African-American woman in a wheelchair ahead of me. She didn't appear to be all there mentally...but I couldn't really tell. My urge was to walk right past her and continue on my way. But as I approached her she quietly said, "Excuse me Sir, Sir...can you help me?"
I responded..."What's That?"
And she said, "Can you help me Sir? I'm thirsty. Can you get me a Coke?"
"A Coke? Umm. Where from?"
"Over there down the street, the Chinese Restaurant. A Coke in a bottle, please."
And I thought about it, looked at the restaurant, and looked at her.
Maybe she was homeless. Maybe she wasn't. Maybe she had the money to get the Coke herself, and just thought she could take advantage of this obviously suburban outsider timidly walking in her neighborhood. Maybe she had no money, and just really wanted a Coke.
So....I said that ya, I would get her a Coke. I went to that Chinese Restaurant and bought one. I walked back to the lady in the wheelchair, and gave her the Coke. She said, "Thank you Sir, God Bless You Today."
And I continued on my way.
Tuesday, April 08, 2003
Sunday, April 06, 2003
No longer homeless next year!
What a relief. We were choosen out of at least five other groups who wanted it just as bad as us. Saw the house, and got the house within the same day because the landlord liked our group and "wants us to rent there." Great job everyone at the interview, we all said the right things and gave the right impression. The house is almost ours now. I can't wait to make it our home...or second home (mtn view will always be home...hehe)
Negative stuff first: 15 minute walk from campus, we're up in the hills.
Good stuff: It's all downhilll to campus in the morning! Awesome views of the Bay, one room with a view of the Golden Gate and the city. A large back yard and a deck. Good sized rooms, Dining Room, Large Kitchen, 3 baths, possibly a Living Room depending on how many singles, a unique spiral staircase to a double on first floor, scenic quiet neighborhood with little old men that say "Good Evening" to you as you walk by, around the corner from the Rose Garden and a large park with playing fields, basketball court, tennis courts, and picnic areas.
Woohoo!
Some other notes about yesterday:
Alumni Leadership Scholarship Interiviews were fun. It's so cool to talk to potential freshman about going to Cal, and remember being in their position two years ago. Sign me up to be a tour guide! Hehe.
My preservation organization (Mtn. View Pres. Alliance) is on the road to become an official non-profit, which is really exciting. We now have a pr-bono lawyer from one of the biggest law firms in the South Bay. The entire steering committee met today in Downtown Mtn. View and the meeting went really well. Things are rolling.
Today was my Uncle Mike's birthday, what an amazing year for him.....it's so amazing and wonderful that he's here with us alive and well. How blessed we are. We brought my Grandma and him over for the entire day, took them to Berkeley, and threw a surprise party in MV at night. After calling them only this morning, almost all my mom's siblings and their families who live in Mountain View came over to celebrate my Uncle Mike, even though he's my dad's brother. A very touching evening that was enjoyed by all.
What an excellent day.
What a relief. We were choosen out of at least five other groups who wanted it just as bad as us. Saw the house, and got the house within the same day because the landlord liked our group and "wants us to rent there." Great job everyone at the interview, we all said the right things and gave the right impression. The house is almost ours now. I can't wait to make it our home...or second home (mtn view will always be home...hehe)
Negative stuff first: 15 minute walk from campus, we're up in the hills.
Good stuff: It's all downhilll to campus in the morning! Awesome views of the Bay, one room with a view of the Golden Gate and the city. A large back yard and a deck. Good sized rooms, Dining Room, Large Kitchen, 3 baths, possibly a Living Room depending on how many singles, a unique spiral staircase to a double on first floor, scenic quiet neighborhood with little old men that say "Good Evening" to you as you walk by, around the corner from the Rose Garden and a large park with playing fields, basketball court, tennis courts, and picnic areas.
Woohoo!
Some other notes about yesterday:
Alumni Leadership Scholarship Interiviews were fun. It's so cool to talk to potential freshman about going to Cal, and remember being in their position two years ago. Sign me up to be a tour guide! Hehe.
My preservation organization (Mtn. View Pres. Alliance) is on the road to become an official non-profit, which is really exciting. We now have a pr-bono lawyer from one of the biggest law firms in the South Bay. The entire steering committee met today in Downtown Mtn. View and the meeting went really well. Things are rolling.
Today was my Uncle Mike's birthday, what an amazing year for him.....it's so amazing and wonderful that he's here with us alive and well. How blessed we are. We brought my Grandma and him over for the entire day, took them to Berkeley, and threw a surprise party in MV at night. After calling them only this morning, almost all my mom's siblings and their families who live in Mountain View came over to celebrate my Uncle Mike, even though he's my dad's brother. A very touching evening that was enjoyed by all.
What an excellent day.