An OB sunset

Dusk descends on La Jolla

Canto

Last night we saw a La Jolla Symphony Concert, “Un Canto á México”.

The poetry of Alberto Blanco, “like those fish at the bottom of the sea that are their own light,” was translated into music by Jeff Nevin, the conductor and lead trumpet player of La Jolla Symphony. Jeff has long been enamored of Mexican music, especially mariachi music which he incorporated into original cantos, performed in front of an audience for the first time last night.

Jeff had searched for Blanco heroically through the southwest for 7 years until one day, in a bookstore in Chula Vista, while thumbing through a book of Alberto’s poetry, he mentioned to the cashier that he would love to meet Alberto Blanco.

She responded, “Hey, I know him. He’s my dad’s best friend!”

Thus was born this collaboration between words and musical sound. The music while classical would veer off into Latin rhythms that made me feel as if I were in a convertible cruising down a tropical esplanade, sun shining, senoritas smiling, and street vendors plying. Jeff wore a mariachi outfit while conducting, Alberto Blanco sat in the front row clapping enthusiastically, and Mónica Abrego sang the words with haunting beauty. I was honored to see this first performance of two men’s dreams. There was magic in the auditorium last night.

Viva México! Viva la gente que trae su propia luz!

Autumn light

WHEN SUMMER COLLIDES WITH WINTER. I SEE AUTUMN.

Rainy Day Friends

For more than 30 years we grow together.

School at 50

School has been a struggle this past week. When I was last in college (some 25 years ago) I was always top of my class. Now I'd feel lucky to be assessed in the bottom third. Has my mind really slowed down that much? Are my study habits rusty? Or are today's young people leap years ahead of my generation?

None of the above.

I am just too smart for myself. A friend at work had given me the videotape for the class in the summer. To get ahead I began to watch the video before school started. Since it was already in my DVD, I haven't opened the one that came with the book.

This past week it became apparent that I was on a different page than the rest of the students. They were fluent in all these signs that I barely recognized and I had a repertoire of neat signs they didn't seem to understand.

What was going on?


This weekend, I broke open the video that came with the textbook. Sure enough, the free video I had been watching was an older version and the lessons were not synchronous with what the rest of the class was watching.

I spent this weekend catching up.

October Sunday

October is a changeling month. Yesterday predicted winter and today remembers summer. A combination swell hits the San Diego coast. I relish the crisp morning air and mourn the waning light.