Warming the Hearth

We had our very first fire in our fireplace a few weeks ago.  I have always loved fireplaces, and dreamed of a house where I could build cozy fires, and curl up and gaze at the flames.  My husband, though, grew up in a home with two fireplaces, which were never used, a single time.  He deeply mistrusted the concept of building a fire in the living room, and really didn’t want to use ours.  

When I was little, though, some of the best, most exciting, loving and joyful of family times revolved around Dad building a roaring fire in the huge brick fireplace in our living room.  At least, it seemed huge to me then.  I would sit on the bricks, chin in hand, and ponder why the fire was blue as it emerged from the log, turning to the classic yellow orange fire color.  And of course, the desire to poke. prod and put things in the fire was just about irresistable to the four of us.  One of my brothers even grabbed my Donald Duck bath bubbles bottle, the empty one my Mom had saved to let me play with, and threw it in the fire to see what would happen.  I screamed, as Donald melted, bowed forward in one last, deep, gracious departure, my brother making agonized Donald Duck melting sounds to add to the drama of Donald bowing, then melting, then bursting into vile smelling flame.  This story did not reassure my husband that having fires would actually be good for the family.

But I promised to carefully supervise all fires, and finally called a chimney sweep, who turned out to be someone I knew a long time ago, who won over my husband’s trust.    He swept the chimney, certified it was safe to use, and I bought firewood and laid the fire.  Our children knew exactly what to do–they pulled pillows and blankets up to the hearth, and spent the evening gazing dreamily into the flames, their little cheeks rosy, until they fell asleep.  I know the smoke from a fire is pollution, I know it’s an inefficient way to heat the house, but the pure, primal pleasure of warming your face at the hearth of your home is beyond compare. 

We have made three fires, now– each time, we have repeated the ritual of cuddling in front of the fire, talking softly, falling into deep sleep. As people have done, through the ages.

Saddam’s Hanging

That night, we were at my father in law’s house in LA.  I saw a streaming headline on the TV that said the hanging would take place, but I was still shocked when I went out to the living room to check on my DH, who had fallen asleep on the couch, and glanced up at the tv screen to see Saddam being fitted with the rope around his neck. 

Shia people danced in the street.  Sunnis rioted.  What will it all mean for Iraq?  For us?  I think that some likely hope that without Saddam, the violence will subside.  Others think the civil war was inevitable, anyway, so why not rid the world of him.  After all, the only reason Bush the first did not remove Saddam from power when he had the chance, was that nobody else on the horizon looked even remotely capable of holding that country together. And in the years since, Saddam was dead clever about murdering anybody who looked as though they could possibly lay claim to leadership, so he could keep it that way.   

 So now, by default, someone else will have to figure out what to do to hold Iraq together.  And the most astute comment I have read on that subject was from a San Diego barber who was being interviewed about troop deployment– there’s going to be another Saddam, or someone worse. 

Madeline Allbright and Bill Clinton knew that Iraq would fall apart into civil war without Saddam Hussein.  He was the devil we knew.  He was bad, but untold chaos was in store without him.  They chose not to go after him militarily, but sought to bring him to heel with the pressure of economic sanctions, which took a terrible toll on Iraq, but which kept the Iraqi military within its own borders.  But they understood very well what would happen without Saddam. 

Now, courtesy of George W., who conveniently ignored everyone who told him Iraq would devolve into chaos without Saddam, we will have the devil we don’t know.  Tony Blair once said about 500,000 people had been murdered or tortured to death by Saddam.  For all the people who suffered because of Saddam, I hope the hanging brings some sense of peace and the ability to move on in peace and dignity.   Saddam’s crimes were of historic proportion, and however chaotic the trial looked to our American eyes (although, with Judge Judy and her ilk, maybe it didn’t seem so odd)  the resulting sentence was predictable but fair.  And we shouldn’t be so shocked that the execution lacked decorum.  This hanging looked like the wild west because these people are living under wild west conditions.  At least they had the trial.   

But now how many more have suffered or died miserably because of Bush’s misadventure?  Has all our own sacrifice served to accomplish nothing more than to compound Saddam’s crimes?   And now, we face a new era of nuclear proliferation among Islamist nations.  We face the proliferation of incredibly nihilistic religious thought.   I know a lot of people who supported this war thought it would result in something good.  But that goal, if it ever was in reach, seems to have slipped from our grasp. Because the devil we don’t know may just actually have what Saddam lacked– real, functioning WMD’s, courtesy of Iran’s “peaceful and legitimate” nuclear program. 

Shopping While Living

For a long time, I have been wanting to publish an article about shopping– how to keep it local,  how to benefit the community and how to keep it painless.  My last post sort of flowed from that idea– I dearly love taking my children to the Fire on the Mountain craft shows in Auburn and Sonora.  But there are some great small businesses in O akland, and I have made it my habit to shop as locally as possible.  So, here goes– I’m going to start publishing local  shopping recommendations.  Potpourri got us started– here are a couple more for your consideration:

 Some places have an unexpected array of merchandise.  For example, if you go downtown to old Oakland, a couple doors down from Ratto’s Italian grocery store, you find Legogo– it’s a small shop, unassuming on the outside, but on the inside, you can find a few surprises.  They carry Kirkland brand cashmere sweaters; cotton pajamas; undies; Prada handbags;  Waterford crystal goblets; Coach bags; Lalique perfume bottles; Levi’s jeans.  Huge bags of dog food.  Tables; chairs; desks and garden statuary.  Dishes.  Cooking ware.  Sometimes, a washer/dryer combo will show up at a bargain price.  It isn’t Macy’s– lord, it isn’t even Costco, but you can get some fancy stuff without having to brave BART or the downtown SF pickpocket brigades.  Then, you can sit down in Cafe 817 for some refreshment.  You may even sit in the same chair where I saw Bono sitting one morning. (I thought– that guy is sure handsome.  Why does he look so familiar?  He’s smiling at me!  No wait, he’s smiling at everybody.) I was halfway back to the office before I realized who he was.  He was probably waiting for Jerry Brown.  Anyway–

After coffee at 817, you can go next door to Ratto’s and put together gift baskets.  They have a nice little selection of things from Morocco– you can make a boudoir basket of slippers, a leather pouf, and tea glasses on a silver plated tray.  Or the standard pasta, wine cheese and sauce gift basket.  They have spices in bulk, so you can put together glass jars layered with peppercorns and rosebuds, or your own special spice blends.  Or a ravioli making kit.  You can stock up your supply of pesto and pasta sauce- you know it’s as good as you can make at home!  The point is, you can shop for everyone who likes food, and give them something special and unique from a little, woman-owned, family business in downtown Oakland.  And yes, Elena is the great- grand-daughter of the man who founded the store.  Hurray for her, for keeping such a wonderful family business alive.  If you get hungry, I highly recommend the Jenny sandwich– fresh mozzarella, tomato, pesto and onion on crunchy fresh french bread.  Yum.

I’ll give you some more shopping recommendations next time– Lakeshore and Grand Avenue await!

Shalom to us all.

Craft Show Weekend

We went to Sonora for the Thanksgiving weekend craft show put on by the wonderful, wonderful Fire on the Mountain folks.  This show is always rich with music, magic and the best crafts people of Northern California and beyond.  The kids loved Magic Mike. My daughter loved the freedom of wandering around the marketplace– the sweet, generous merchants gifted her with samples of their wares, like the rich chocolate English toffee, and she felt rich and grown-up.  My boy was fascinated with the juggling sticks sold by a nice man who patiently took a long time to help him get started, and actually took a hack- saw and cut one down to the right size for five-year old fingers.  This is the way to go shopping– delights for all senses.  The maker of the product before you.  The sky above, even if it starts to rain, and fresh air for all.  Even though I grew up in mall country, they frighten me now= plus, they have so little to offer in comparison.

Here in Oakland, we are lucky to have a number of  farmer’s markets featuring craft artisans, as well as local shops where you can find beautiful hand-made items.  The very best shop, in my book, is Potpourri, at the Lincoln shopping center.  They sell the very best Japanese incense sticks, Shoyeido, in different blends all calculated to stir, open, or soothe the mind and heart.  Right now, they have the most gorgeous handmade lamps and lamp shades I have ever seen– they look like something out of Alice in Wonderland, fanciful glass vase lamp bases and elongated, twinkling shades.  They have a wondrous collection of porcelains and ceramics, hand crafted pens and pencils– even a pencil, all in graphite, sculpted into a feather.  And jewel-bright suede leather pencil and drawing pad holders!  You can also find chimes in all price ranges, from a single, zen, mindfulness chime to a rich array of deep throated bells.  And loads of glittering jewelry– each piece unique, each piece lovely.  And, to get there, all you have to do is park in the FREE parking lot, and wander up the steps– or go around to the flat access in front of Long’s and wheel yourself right over.   They always play good music, and treat you to coffee and cookies.  You can shop for everyone, relax and have a good time, and never have a moment’s hassle. 

 So there you have it– my recommendations for holiday shopping.  Fire on the Mountain is over for this year, but next year, go to Auburn or Sonora, have a delicious Gold Country weekend, and do your shopping the old fashioned, marketplace way.  This year, you can almost re-create that experience with one stop at Potpourri, just off Highway 13 at Redwood Road, the Lincoln Shopping Center, tucked into a glittering shop to the right of the Safeway and Long’s.  I’m not affiliated with either, by the way.  Just wanted to share.  And don’t forget your neighborhood Farmer’s Market– a basket of fresh fruit and nuts is a holiday treasure, too!

San Francisco Values

It’s the latest Republican attack dog call– “We don’t want San Francisco values leading the way, etc.!”

Well, no kidding.  I’m sure they don’t.  It’s much easier to be complacent and always convinced you are right, than to engage in the rigorous practice of tolerance.    The solid San Francisco values of respect, tolerance and hospitality are just plain hard work.  It’s much easier to deliver stupid put-downs, than it is to build up common ground.  San Francisco values are not for the weak or lazy-minded.  They take constant work.  I don’t meant to set myself up as a perfect example, because I’m not.  But here are a few of the San Francisco values I have picked up over the last 30 years or so, and hold, oh so dear:

Value Number 1:  Feed and clothe and care for the homeless.  No matter how hard it is.  No matter how many of them.  Even though the work is endless.  Even though people disagree over how best to take care of them.  Keep trying.

Value Number 2:   Respect other people.  Even though they look different.  Even though they strike you as odd.  They are people, they have dignity, and you can learn something from each of them. Respect leads to diversity, and diversity is good. 

Value Number 3:  Speak up for what you believe.  It may seem that no one is listening, but you may do more good than you will ever know.

Value Number 4:  Love is good. 

Value Number 5:  Parks are good.

Value Number 6:  Walking and taking the bus are good ways to get to where you’re going.

Value Number 7:   Whatever happens, if we help each other, we can rebuild better than ever. 

And those are only a few San Francisco values.  Can you think of any more?  Yes, it’s a crazy place.  No, it isn’t perfect.  But there are reasons why everyone wants to be there.