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“I love Tannat! I’ve never tasted wine from this grape before,” I excitedly commented to Jennifer McInnis, General Manager at Bending Branch Winery in historic Comfort, Texas. But I wasn’t at the bar with a tasting flight before me. I was at home taking part in a Zoom webinar about off-the-radar winemaking in the Lone Star State that’s turning heads and winning international awards. Each webinar participant received a wine from a member of Texas Fine Wine (our host) and shared our impressions of the fabulous vintages. Covid times has corralled travelers temporarily, but wine consumption has not waned with virtual wine tastings as popular as curbside pick-up. During the program I learned from wine educator Denise Clarke that Texas is the country’s fifth largest wine producing state after California, Washington, New York, and Oregon and the fifth largest in number of wineries with more than 400. Clarke is also director at Texas Fine Wine, a private group comprised of Texas’ five most esteemed wineries – Bending Branch Winery, Brennan Vineyards, Pedernales Cellars, Duchman Family Winery, and Spicewood Vineyards, who were also at the webinar. Hearing it “straight from the horse’s mouth” was almost as good as being in Texas. Texas is larger than France and graced with landscapes formed by plains, plateaus, mountains, and hills. The diversity of soils and climates explain why Texas can cultivate over 50 grape varietals, including those less commonly known – such as Tannat. Texas has eight AVAs (American Viticultural Area), but the webinar focused on the two largest: The High Plains in the north near Lubbock, and Hill Country in the south 30 minutes from San Antonio. “Eighty percent of Texas wine grape production comes from the vast High Plains,” Clarke said. At 4,000 – 5,000 feet above sea level this region has alkaline-rich red sand and clay, and the continental semi-arid climate provides warm weather so the grapes can ripen during the day and rest during cool nights. Spring freezes were once a challenge, but investments have been made in hail netting and innovative wind fan technology to protect the vines against frost. Texas Hill Country is hilly and lush with trees. Elevation is between 400 and 2,400 feet, and soil types range from limestone, granite, and clay to gravel, alluvial soil, and sandstone. Summers are hot, winters are cold, and humidity is this region’s challenge. This wide-open viticultural playground of creative possibilities has even inspired some California winemakers to resettle here and create anew their craft with a Texas twang, so to speak. When a question popped up about how so many varietals can grow in the terroir and semi-arid climate of the High Plains, Julie Kuhlken, sixth-generation co-owner of Pedernales Cellars where she and her brother produce Spanish and Rhone-style wines, explained Texas’ out-of-the-box way of thinking. “One of the misperceptions of Texas,” said Kuhlken, “…is limited climate for growing grapes.” But Texas has enormous geographic diversity. Rather than relying on rain, the High Plains has made investments in innovative irrigation technology to ensure that the plants get enough water. Also, because people already know the popular international varietals like cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and pinot grigio, Texas winegrowers decided to stop growing things that people already know the names of -- but that don’t grow well here -- and instead, grow lesser-known Mediterranean varietals from France, Italy, Spain, and Greece that grow well in Texas and get wine-drinkers to learn their names. Such as tannat, grenache, mourvèdre, tempranillo, touriga nacional, and many more. Another difference between the two largest AVAs? “Tourism is in Hill Country, and the High Plains is all about winemaking,” said Dave Reilly, winemaker at Duchman Family Winery in Hill Country. With a strong focus on Italian varieties, a majority of Duchman’s grapes are sourced in the High Plains. Duchman’s flight wines are made from vermentino, trebbiano, montepulciano, and aglianico. Rebecca Conley, head of operations at Brennan Vineyards in the 1860s frontier town of Comanche between Hill Country and the High Plains, introduced Ella’s Pine, a new white wine. “This is the first time in 16 years of making wine to bring Semillon to bottle at 100% Semillon,” Conley said. Typically used for blending with viognier, the grape is now a special line for Brennan Vineyards, thanks to this pet project of vineyards manager Travis Conley (Rebecca’s husband). I was curious about sparkling wines, which a few Texas wineries make. But what’s taking off here are pet-nats, a naturally sparkling wine. Short for “petillant naturel,” it’s a rustic version of champagne and other sparkling wines because it’s bottled during the first fermentation (whereas champagne goes through two). Petillant naturel is an ancient minimal intervention method practiced in France and rediscovered in the 1990s. Born in Austin, Ron Yates, owner of Spicewood Vineyards, grew up in the Hill Country “before it was cool.” One of the oldest estate vineyards in this AVA, Spicewood specializes in growing the Spanish tempranillo grape – a result of Yates living in Spain with a winemaking family during his college years and unexpectedly developing an expertise in growing tempranillo. Leaving behind careers in law and music, he followed his winemaking instincts. Now, tempranillo thrives all over the state. In his eyes, “Tempranillo is the grape of Texas.” And while Texas winemaking dates back to the Spanish missionaries, Texas sells its wine almost exclusively within the state. After all, it is the size of a country. WHEN YOU GO: Texas Fine Wines: www.TexasFineWine.com Texas Hill Country: www.hill-country-visitor.com/ Texas High Plains: www.highplainswinegrowers.org/high_plains_vineyards Visit Texas: www.traveltexas.com/ See the published version at: https://www.creators.com/read/travel-and-adventure/02/21/fine-wine-is-the-pride-of-texas PHOTO GALLERY

WE’RE VACCINATED! It’s the fourth day since getting our life-changing second Covid-19 vaccinations. After the 15-minute required wait period at the hospital, we jumped into our car and gave each other heartfelt high fives. Being a senior in the time of coronavirus has its advantages. Our vulnerable age group is a high-priority category able to receive the vaccine in the early distribution stages. It was surreal as unexpected emotions of joy and gratitude overcame us. A new beginning, indeed. So far, so good. We have not experienced significant side effects other than expected soreness in the areas where we got our shots. The next day I had mild chills and we both felt mild fatigue, which went away by the following morning. Let’s hope it stays that way. Others have had delayed reactions or have gotten flu-like side effects that have lasted for days. In two to three weeks, we should be ALMOST fully-protected from getting Covid-19 – after having played it safe since last March by avoiding crowds, masking up, social distancing, and constantly washing our hands – not only to protect ourselves, but others. Dining out, our favorite pastime, has been put on hold as we opt to cook at home or buy take-out. The greatest takeaway from this is that Louie fearlessly accepted the shelter-at-home challenge to up his culinary game, which he did in spades. Like an exquisite and potent pesto only achieved by using the freshest basil that he bought at the farmer’s market. Then there was the trout he bought from a fishmonger that he cooked stove-top with herbs – that happened to catch Lola’s undivided attention. Along with relatives and friends who have also received their second shots, we couldn’t help sharing excitement at the thought of being able to get together again. On the other hand, I learned that because the vaccines do not protect us 100%, we can still get the virus or silently transmit Covid-19 or more contagious mutations to others who are not vaccinated. The virus can hang out in nasal passageways and spread by breathing, talking, and sneezing. There is still so much to learn about the virus, the variants, and the vaccines. For that reason, we still need to protect one another by practicing what has already become second nature: wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing hands. The morals to this story? First: Better to be safe than sorry. Second: If everyone is vaccinated, the chances of spreading the virus could be – ZERO. We will get there. One day. https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/03/health/after-covid-19-vaccine-safety-wellness/index.html This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

It’s three days after Valentine’s Day. Spring flowers are blooming, warmth is in the air -- and hearts are wide open. Because our favorite sushi restaurant in downtown Los Angeles is closed on Sundays, we decided to celebrate the holiday with sushi take-out a day ahead. I volunteered to make the trek to Sushi Gen, a modest family-owned gem hidden in a mini-mall in Little Tokyo. When I got off the 210 Freeway to work my way to the 110 Freeway to downtown, I saw a man and a woman standing on two corners of the freeway exit in Pasadena selling armloads of fresh Valentine bouquets. It would be dark soon, and I happened to have cash in my wallet. I wanted to buy all of their flowers. But a green light and a line of cars kept me moving. If they are still there on my return home, I said to myself, I will buy what flowers they have left. But they were not there. Yesterday, Louie was speaking to our friend Jackie on his cell phone with the speaker on. She shared the lovely Valentine’s Day she had with her daughter, Tania, who had torn her hard-working mom away from her desk to spend quiet mother-daughter time together at a secluded beach. So lovely, I thought, as I continued eavesdropping. Then Jackie shared an unexpected event while at the gas station filling up before leaving on their outing. They saw a woman and a young boy with a cartful of Valentine’s Day flowers to sell. It was cold and Jackie wouldn’t have it. In an instant she had Tania pull $250 from the ATM. They approached the lady to let her know they wished to buy all of the flowers. “You should be enjoying Valentine’s Day!” Jackie said as the sweet lady stood speechless. “Jackie!” I chimed in. “You picked up where I left off…I wanted to do the same thing yesterday but couldn’t because I was at a freeway off-ramp.” Then I asked her what she did with all of the flowers (20 bouquets). They drove to the parking lots at Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Ralph’s – even the park where Tania used to play soccer – and randomly offered other women the beautiful flowers, wishing them “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Leaving them speechless. PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE’S DAY AROUND THE WORLD! IT’S TIME TO SPREAD SOME LOVE On a recent walk, the letters spelling “LOVE” on a curbside a few blocks from my home made me stop and walk backwards to take a closer look. Small whimsical characters and figurines were thoughtfully placed in this precious “forest.” I took my time looking at each and every one with the joy of a child. The moment was magical. Someone took a lot of time to do this random act of kindness for the enjoyment of passersby. Then today, I came across a simple poem that is so fitting for this Garden of Love. Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden And keep out the weeds, Fill it with sunshine Kind words and kind deeds. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

Whenever I step out the door, I automatically grab one of several masks hanging like necklaces from my favorite mask chains. Which one should I wear this time -- double-ply cotton or the KN95? If cloth, what color and pattern suits my mood? This ritual is as second nature as locking the door behind me. But now there’s another layer to remember. Literally. With the quick rise in cases of new and highly-transmissible variants of Covid-19, health experts are stressing double protection by wearing two masks – or upgrading to K95 or KN95 masks that don’t require a second layer. Word has certainly gotten around because just about everyone I see when I’m out and about are already heeding the advice. But double masking must be done correctly in order to be effective – like wearing a hat protects your face from the direct line of harmful UV rays, staying in the shade pretty much does the trick. One mask is a filter, explains Dr. Anita Gupta at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Wearing a mask is better than no mask. And if you put a second mask on over the first, it will increase the strength of the filter and help prevent the virus from entering your airway. In addition to double protection, two masks help by providing a more secure fit, which I realized right away. And the World Health Organization says that the best first layer is an absorbent fabric like cotton topped with a middle layer of non-absorbent polypropylene, and a polyester outer layer. So, to double-mask or not is the question. No, it’s the answer – until we’re all safely protected by the vaccine. https://www.travelandleisure.com/syndication/double-masking-to-prevent-covid?utm_medium=browser&utm_source=travelandleisure.com&utm_content=20210201&utm_campaign=795184 This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

Our coach rolled through the Kent countryside 62 miles southeast of London towards the English Channel. Our destination: Sissinghurst Castle Garden, one of Britain’s most famous gardens and among the most influential plant collections in the world. Combined with its history as a Saxon pig farm, an aristocratic manor house, and a prison for French sailors during the Seven Years War (1756-1763), my visit here with my Aunt Magdalena went beyond my expectations. When author-poet-garden designer Vita Sackville-West and her author-diplomat husband Harold Nicolson purchased the abandoned 460-acre estate in 1930, their vision to restore the neglected land and romantic Tudor buildings turned into a 30-year labor of love. Vita fell for the 16th century tower, which would become her private sanctuary. When our tour guide reminded us that the coach would return for us in four hours, it seemed like an eternity. But it didn’t take long for us to get into the rhythm of unrushed time to explore the expansive grounds freely. First, we climbed the spiral staircase of the tower leading to Vita’s private writing room. Each night by candlelight she wrote her novels, poetry, designed the gardens, and her newspaper column about gardening. The room was left exactly as it was when she died at the age of 70 in 1962 – her desk, rugs, paintings, books galore, and portraits of Harold – and Virginia Woolf with whom she shared a secret lesbian liaison discovered by her son after her death. Descriptive placards describe the transformation of the tower, Vita’s Writing Room, and “A Confession,” the discovery of Vita’s manuscripts by her son Nigel Nicolson. A patch of the original wall was left exposed, showing French inmates’ barely visible graffiti of the merchant vessels that they had likely sailed. They occupied the tower and called it Chateau de Sissinghurst, French for Sissinghurst Castle. (The spiral stairs ascended clockwise, which was a typical design for medieval towers that exposed the bodies of sword-wielding enemies.) The tower set the mood as we continued to the rooftop and looked out to the 10 garden “rooms” designed by Vita. On the other side, we overlooked the South House containing Harold’s office including his expansive book collection and the couple’s bedrooms. Steps away, the Priest’s House was where their two sons had their rooms. It was also where the family ate meals together. Views beyond went as far as the eye could see. We got lost in Vita’s garden rooms separated by hedges or brick walls. Scattered benches invited us to immerse our minds in the tranquility of the “secret” patches. Vita’s taste for natural and wild (she did the planting) and Harold’s keen eye for geometry (he oversaw the architectural planning) is a remarkable display of the love they shared for nature. Each garden was created with a theme. The White Garden, within view of Vita’s office, overflows with white irises, white gladioli, white pompom dahlias and white Japanese anemones adored by Vita and Harold. The Rose Garden, among the world’s finest collection of roses, includes the Rondel, the circular-shaped hedge Harold designed. The South Cottage Garden outside Harold’s office is a bright summer display of reds, oranges, and yellows. The climbing rose Mme. Alfred Carriere against the wall of the cottage was Vita and Harold’s first planting when their offer for the property was accepted. The Herb Garden is best described by Adam Nicolson, grandson of Vita and Harold: “Only the beautiful, the pungent and the elegant are allowed here.” The Nuttery was an ancient nut path and a big attraction for Harold. The Kentish cobnuts are a special variety of hazelnut cultivated only in the Kent region. The Lime Walk was designed by Harold, including colorful plantings and pleached limes uniformly lining the York stone walkway. He kept 16 years of notebooks detailing plantings, flowering times, and the quality of the plants throughout each year. Delos pays homage to the Greek island, which Vita and Harold had visited together. Their vision was to capture the Mediterranean mood with stones, columns, and plants from the region. Unfortunately, the original garden did not survive due to England’s northern climate. But the couple’s vision for Delos has been recently reimagined with new plantings of Greek origin that are conducive to cooler climes. The Delos re-do will open in Spring 2021. The Moat Walk that stretches along the remains of the Elizabethan wall is filled with white wisteria and yellow azaleas planted by Vita in 1946 with the winnings from her poem, “The Garden.” The Orchard, designed to be wilder than the other gardens, thrives with long grasses, old apple trees, and walking paths mown through the long grasses. Busy bees make honey from the apple blossoms. And in 1969 the gazebo was erected here in Harold’s memory. The Purple Border thrives with not only purple, but also blue, lilac, and pink plantings. After hours of meandering and ready for a coffee and a light bite, we found a window table at The Granary Restaurant a few yards from the Tower. Everything on the menu is made fresh and gorgeous vegetables come from the state-of-the-art year-round garden outside. If that’s not enough, there’s always Sunday roast or High Tea. Vita and Harold had never envisioned their residence to become a public garden. If they could see the fruits of their labor now. And just as Vita had her love affairs, so, too, did Harold. They respected their private lives. The secret to their lasting marriage and partnership was respect for each other and their common love for Sissinghurst Castle. WHEN YOU GO: Learn more about Sissinghurst Castle Garden at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden PUBLISHED VERSION: https://www.creators.com/read/travel-and-adventure/01/21/the-sissinghurst-castle-garden-was-cultivated-with-love PHOTO GALLERY

No sooner did I wrap up things on my end (my enema adventure), than we switched gears to Lola’s dangerously low white blood cell count. Her lymphoma has been in remission for several months now; however, her recent check-ups have shown consistently low levels. Her wonderful doctor at Veterinary Cancer Group had previously mentioned to us that after a long period on low-dose chemo, Lola’s low white blood cell count would work its way to normal levels, but that it could take six months or so. But because Lola’s counts are moving lower rather than higher is of great concern. Could lymphoma -- or another cancer -- be lurking around? The doctor wanted to get her in for testing ASAP. Oh, my goodness. Lola, almost 11 years old, has been going through so much medically in the last few months – her eye ulcer surgery that required four weeks of meds (now healed), then a skin infection under her chin that resulted from wearing her protective e-collar after her eye surgery, which is almost healed. Lucky for us and her doctors, Lola is a calm patient who doesn’t resist picking and probing, eye drops galore – even me dabbing ointment inside her lower eye lid. (And if there is something for which we are grateful, it’s investing in Trupanion Pet Insurance that has been a godsend for us with unexpected medical situations such as Lola’s cancer.) We drove 45 minutes to Culver City three times in 24 hours. On Thursday, an ultrasound of her abdomen was done to look for any abnormalities. None were found. Then yesterday, we left her at the cancer clinic all day for more tests, which still showed nothing. Finally, a bone marrow aspirate was performed that required anesthesia to draw bone marrow cells from her shoulder bones in search of any cancer. But after three attempts, there were no cells to be drawn (a result of low white blood cells). Nonetheless, the samples will be sent to pathology with the hope that the pathologist’s exploration might be able to detect something. We won’t know the results until Monday or Tuesday. After Lola finally woke up from the anesthesia, she came limping out the door with the technician. But as soon as she saw Louie, she made a limp-run to her best friend – a sight for sore eyes. And without hesitation, disregarding Lola’s weight, Louie bent down to pick up Lola to put her into the back of our SUV. “Be careful, Louie,” she’s so heavy,” I cautioned him. But like a father caring for his child, he carefully lifted his girl and placed her gently on her bed in the car. We were forewarned that Lola would probably be low energy, without an appetite, and sleepy the rest of the evening, and that she should drink only small amounts of water and eat food in small amounts. After arriving home (around 7:30 p.m.), Louie carried Lola to the front lawn and we carefully watched her walk. Surprisingly, her limp was less so, and within a few minutes there was no limp. Perhaps she was simply happy to be home. Even her sassiness came back when she licked a small amount of water in her bowl. She stared down at the bowl as if saying, “Is that ALL….? This morning after hearing me prepare her breakfast, Lola got up slowly and walked into the kitchen, gobbled her meal, and slurped a bowlful of water -- music to my ears. Then, ignoring her bed, Lola plopped herself on the red flannel sheet-covered air bed in the living room. Now we just have to wait. This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

Last Sunday was not a good day. The Friday before, Louie and I had gotten our first shots of our Covid-19 vaccines. It was a pain-free experience in every way – short waiting time and friendly health professionals. “You’re already done? I didn’t feel a thing!” I told the doctor incredulously. Then the doc said with smiling eyes, “It all depends on who is giving it to you!” It felt like a rite of passage getting our first shots. Our second shots are in mid-February. By Saturday evening, the worst we were feeling was the expected tenderness on our arms where we got the shots. Then came Sunday morning. I woke up perky as usual. But I also felt a bit constipated. Well, I tried “to go” all morning to no avail. And I was beginning to feel really full. I finally mentioned it to Louie as I was beginning to feel frustrated and tired. I decided to take a nap. I woke up feeling rested. Louie wanted to be sure I was feeling okay before running an errand. We wondered if it was a side effect of the vaccine. “Go,” I told him. I’ll be fine. Ah, home alone. I will try again with no distractions. Surely it will be fine. It HAS to. Time passed as I sat on the throne. Soon, a hot flush overcame me. Still, no action. Then, I started trembling and my hands, including my wrists, started feeling tingly – something I’ve never experienced before. I imagined myself passing out. I have high pain tolerance. I quickly wondered how long I could carry on this bravery. Then, a text came in on my phone. It was Jacqueline asking how I was feeling. Not good, Babe. I decided to give it another “try” before putting out an SOS. By this time, I was a basket case and physically exhausted, barely able to lift my head. I tried to text her back (silly me), but I couldn’t even grab the phone as it dropped onto the rug in front of my feet. I really felt like I was losing it and pressed the one key to call her. Thoughts rushed through my mind: my poor daughter is about to hear her mother in distress for the first time. She answered. I was barely able to say, “Can you come home? I feel really bad…” Calm as a clam, she said she was only a few minutes away. She kept me on the phone so that I could keep talking. In my misery, I was so proud of her taking full control of the situation. Meantime, she could hear me heave a couple of times, although nothing came up. Nice. She walked through the door, came straight to the bathroom, and comforted me, feeling my sweaty back. I need to take you to urgent care, Mom. She instructed me to stay sitting as she put out calls, first to her Telehealth contact, then my general doctor that went into voice mail, and finally urgent care. Then she called Louie to tell him that we were leaving for urgent care that was a few minutes away. He said he would meet us there. Jacqueline moved stealth-like gathering together blankets, my cell phone, my purse, which she put in the car before coming for me. As she helped me onto my feet in the bathroom, I said, I need to brush my hair! She took one look at me, grabbed a baseball cap from the hat rack and plopped it onto my head. It’s your good luck hat, she told me. I didn’t argue. I laid in the back seat of the car underneath the comfort of two blankets. At urgent care, my vitals were taken in the parking lot. No fever and my blood pressure was normal. By then, I was feeling more coherent. But they told me I would have to go to ER at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. Crowded ER? Oh no! But we had no choice. It was blissful stepping through the ER doors, if such a thought is possible. Only one person was sitting in the large waiting area that was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Outside was a row of white tents with hospital staff in full PPE at the ready for arriving Covid patients. But I was directed through the doors for non-Covid individuals. My vitals were immediately taken, and I waited just a few minutes before seeing a doctor. A CT scan was considered to check for possible blockage, but when they saw I had no abdominal pain and that my stomach was soft (not hard), it appeared an enema might do the job. The nurse said that I could do the enema at home for more privacy; however, if I wanted immediate relief, it could be done right there at the hospital. It took no time for me to reply, “I have no shame,” let’s do it! Within a few minutes another nurse came in with the enema kit, that is, a soft plastic bottle filled with clear liquid topped with a cap designed with a long tip. She offered to assist, but said I could do it myself, if I wished. “It’s really easy,” the young nurse said.” You have to lay on your right side with your left knee bent. “…And it’s best to hold the enema in for at least 15 minutes so that the liquid can have time to soften the stool.” Easy for you to say, were my thoughts. I decided to try my hand at it myself in case I need to do this at home in the future. If I needed help, “Just press the red button.” So, I glanced at the clock before inserting the enema. This is interesting… Three minutes had barely passed, and it was beginning to feel like an eternity. I kept squeezing the bottle of liquid but couldn’t tell how “well” I was doing. Oh well. I’ll just keep squeezing the bottle and watch the clock. As soon as 15 minutes passed, I took to the portable throne next to my bed. Let’s just say that within minutes I felt like a million dollars. Wow, I could have done this at home. The Dulcolax I had taken at home wasn’t working fast enough and I didn’t have Miralax that I used during my December colonoscopy prep. How I wished that I had bought more Miralax. What started off as a terrible ordeal ended up being a surprisingly worthwhile couple of hours at Huntington Memorial ER. If I learned another new thing during Covid times, it’s that if there’s ever a good time to go to ER, it is now. Thankfully, my condition turned out to be an easy fix. But before walking out the door and short of being overly confident, I snatched the leftover dispersible wipes on the bedside table. Just in case. This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

My photo essay of President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ swearing in yesterday morning. Inauguration Morning January 20, 2021 “Reflection, Hope, Optimism” This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

I will never forget the days when we used to babysit Max when he was younger. We would pick him up from school and as soon as we arrived at our house, the first thing little Max would ask was, “Athena, can I please have apples and cheese?” My signature snack plate of thinly sliced apples with cheese slices was a hit. Max would carefully hold his plate, walk down the steps to the front lawn and sit quietly at the table under the oak tree picking one apple slice and one cheese slice at a time. I came across an article this morning reminding me about something I’ve known for a long time but have become lax about a practice that I often preach. Apples are a superfood. The title of the piece is “11 Side Effects of Eating Apples Every Day.” Is “Side Effects” a pun during Covid times? Sheltering at home tempts us to reach for tasty snacks more often than we should throughout the day. As I write about the generous health benefits of the powerful fruit, I’m munching on my own plate of sliced apples and cheese. You could lose weight. Because apples are packed with fiber and water, you will stay fuller longer. You’ll improve your neurological health. A 2019 study shows that quercetin in apples help neurons in the brain to stay alive and continue functioning. You’ll boost your immune system. And we all need this during the pandemic. Thank the fruit’s quercetin that is contained in the skin. It may also reduce inflammation. You can lower your risk of heart disease. The flavonoids in apples have been linked to lowering risk of stroke. You’ll help with your overall gut health. Apples contain the probiotic pectin that aids in keeping your digestive system healthy. They can help to prevent cancer. Phytochemicals and fiber in apples have antioxidant effects that could help to protect against lung cancer, especially for smokers. You’ll lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Wow. Eating an apple every day can reduce this risk by 28%! A note of caution: You could have an allergic reaction. While not common, eating a lot of apples could cause hives, rashes, or itchy tongue or throat. You could lower your cholesterol. According to scientists, the soluble fiber in apples can play an important role in lowering cholesterol. You can improve asthmatic symptoms. Studies have shown that people who eat apples have shown improvement in asthmatic symptoms. You’ll make your teeth whiter. Chewing on apples helps with plaque removal, which can lead to whiter teeth. This is something to smile about! Indeed, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” https://www.eatthis.com/side-effects-eating-apples/ This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

While running errands in East Los Angeles the other day, I yelled out to Louie, “There’s Robert Hill Lane School!” as we passed the small elementary school across the street from East Los Angeles College on Avenida Cesar Chavez (formerly Brooklyn Avenue). I attended kindergarten at Robert Hill Lane because the school in my brand-new neighborhood of Monterey Hills above the college had not yet been built. Robert Hill Lane looked exactly the way I remembered it. At five years old, I walked the half-mile route down the hill to school each day with my classmate, Calvin. I vaguely recall my big brother and Calvin’s big brother seeing us off at the top of the hill. We walked four blocks before crossing Floral Drive, then walked through the college’s large open parking lot, and passed the playing field before reaching the front of the college on Brooklyn Avenue, a busy thoroughfare that we had to cross. I also remember the day I had walked well ahead of Calvin in the parking lot. Suddenly I was met eye-to-eye with a German Shepherd dog that appeared out of nowhere. I was startled but didn’t feel threatened. I did, however, yell at the top of my lungs, “CALVIN!” Those were the days when children wandered the streets freely roaming the neighborhood going to friends’ homes, playing at the park for hours, then returning home in time for dinner. Adult supervision was never a thought. Then Louie recalled when he went to camp for the first time. He was eight years old when he signed himself up for overnight camp at Cabrillo Beach. He went to the corner where a bus would pick up kids going to the camp. Alone with his suitcase, Louie thought he was at the wrong place because no one else was at the bus stop. As he looked for his paperwork to make sure he had the date right, a yellow school bus rolled up. “Cabrillo Beach?” the bus driver yelled out as he opened the doors. Louie nodded yes and the bus driver told him to hop in. No one was on the bus. There he was all by himself. Louie wondered where all the kids were. Slowly, as the bus moved through the East Los Angeles “barrios,” groups of kids were picked up one stop at a time, and the bus filled up. Fast forward to the era of Covid-19, I see masked kindergartners each morning arriving at the elementary school across the street. One at a time, each student, accompanied by an adult, is checked in by an attendant with a protective face shield and mask underneath who takes the children’s temperatures before they can proceed to their classrooms. We had grown up in an innocent time of total independence and fending for ourselves. But those days are gone. When today’s kids grow up, I wonder how they will remember their childhoods during the time of the novel coronavirus. And I wonder what ever became of Calvin. This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

As vaccines roll out around the world, people itching to travel again might realize their hopes in 2021, myself included. It will be bittersweet relief to feel somewhat safer going about our days, boarding planes, trains, or ships, and navigating our way through crowded airports and train stations. Every day I think about the places I’ve seen and the people who have proudly introduced me to the culture of their cities and countries and with whom I have shared wonderful meals. In short, inspiring memories. The global travel industry is hard at work to help set free the wanderlust in all of us. But it’s not an easy feat developing necessary international testing protocols for Covid-19, the coronavirus that may never go away. Industry experts are looking at eliminating quarantines as well as ways for travelers to show proof of vaccination in order for people to be more willing and feel safer about crossing borders. It will be a step-by-step process before the world gets it right. So, until further notice, we have to continue playing it safe: wear a mask, social distance, and wash, wash, wash your hands. In the end, as Dr. Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, stresses, the majority of people – 70% to 85% -- must be vaccinated to “crush” Covid-19. If we can reach those numbers, it will be a game-changer. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/international-trips-2021-pandemic/index.html?utm_term=16103651140995cef54574197&utm_source=cnn_Five+Things+for+Monday%2C+January+11%2C+2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1610365114102&bt_ee=Yru9942jbQTYA9dX6QRRdqASaFyr%2FYjcanUQz7xRUo%2Fh5JmWBpdYkZJOa0uHtn3i&bt_ts=1610365114102 https://www.eatthis.com/news-fauci-covid-danger/ This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

It was only a matter of time that we would learn the all-important low-down about how to maintain a Covid-19 bubble. In an article I read this morning, medical experts say that as the coronavirus rages at its worst, people can still enjoy small social circles outside family units – but only if it’s done correctly. We often hear people talk about their bubbles, that is, friends and family with whom they regularly get together and share meals without masks. But with the current climate of Covid-19 closing in on just about all of us these days as we see more friends and more family infected, carelessly structured bubbles can make the difference between life and death. Dr. Sadiya Khan, epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University of Feinberg School of Medicine, stresses that bubbles should be kept small. “Your bubble consists of everybody that your entire bubble is in contact with. So even if you’re only including one other person in your bubble, but that person has 10 people in their bubble, you’ve now got 11 people in your bubble. In order for bubbles to be safe, everyone in the bubble must be on the same page and follow the same rules: Don’t socialize with anyone outside the bubble – especially not indoors. Wear a mask around anyone outside your bubble if you’re outdoors. Always wear a mask in public – whether you are indoors or outdoors. Set rules on risky activities such as restaurant dining or going to the gym. The safest bubble says Dr. Khan? “…just the people you live with and need to interact with for ongoing care,” like a babysitter. We’re with Dr. Khan. Our bubble will continue to be our immediate family. Sooner than later, we hope, the time will come when we can gather more freely and safely. But until then – we should all know this by now -- people can spread the virus even if they don’t show symptoms. What’s that saying? Better safe than sorry. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/health/covid-19-bubble-explainer-wellness/index.html?utm_term=1609849913687b7a740db25d8&utm_source=Coronavirus+Update+-+January+5%2C+2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=271347_1609849913693&bt_ee=KvzW4UL9xgUUEawEVYfojl8W1asZL8ufrrkK25ON1TW%2BDmFBaNKOyo1RRTyUuyhs&bt_ts=1609849913693 This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

I was sickened yesterday as I watched on television the violent mob attack on and desecration of the United States Capitol – incited by our current president. As world leaders watched the chaos, the words of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said it all when he compared it to the Nazis burning the Reichstag parliament building in 1933. Our country has been the beacon of democracy. But yesterday’s assault reminded us how fragile it is. This is a huge wake-up call. This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY

Our friend Petra not only makes great face masks, but she is also a tamale master, and makes a most exquisite pozole (pronounced po-SO-leh), Mexican soup made with hominy. Both dishes date back to indigenous Mesoamerica and are extra special during Christmas. So unadulterated, so outrageously delicious! And this season, we have been grateful beneficiaries of Petra’s comfort dishes – so welcome during Covid times. Yesterday, Petra made a gigantic pot of pozole, a special request for her son’s birthday. Louie joined Petra’s adult children who, at separate social distancing times (no big family gathering this year), arrived with empty soup pots in hand to be filled with Mom’s pozole to take to their own homes. (When Louie picked up Christmas tamales the week before, he had left our soup pot to be first in line for “pozole day.” But before Louie left home, I reminded him that the soup will slosh around in the car. “So, be sure the lid is tightly secured…” We should have known that Petra had this covered. When Louie called to say he was on his way back with the soup, he said, “You should see how Petra made the pot spill-proof! She even used a bungee cord. No soup will spill with what she did!” When Louie arrived home, I immediately took a photo of the “armored” pot. Before Petra put the lid on, she lined the top of the pot with a tight layer of foil. On went the lid that closed tightly onto the foil and held shut with a bungee cord. Genius! Petra didn’t skip a beat – she made sure to include a bag of cabbage, limes, and chile sauce -- garnishments for the pozole. By dinner time, we were biting at the bit to slurp the piping hot soup that also had small chunks of tender pork. Shredded cabbage offered a crunchy texture and a squeeze of lime added zing. Petra, you are golden-hearted and a saint. How could we ever get through Covid without you? Thank you! This is your country, and it’s up to you to save it.” – English translation of a saying in Taiwan Washing Hands + Wearing a Mask + Social Distancing = Saving Lives PREVIOUS ENTRY NEXT ENTRY