Introduction

Setting: Dolce & Salato Café, Laurel Heights, San Francisco.

Music playing: • Italian pop.  Is this beat tapping into my Italian heritage?

Wearing: A Vespa t-shirt my older brother • Loris got for me in Venice, during one of his extended stays in Italy.

Family, Friends, Religious settings, Music, and Art-book ideas intermingled this morning.

I'm seated at the same table • Stephanie Martin often sat & read at.  I would pop in and ask her "Are you open for business?", If yes, then we'd share and chat about all sorts of things.  What a gem of a soul she was.  Educated, sensitive, humble, a touch eccentric... I didn't appreciate her friendship enough, but then the nature of how our lifelines intersect with others is up to the skillful hand of the Artist of artists.

To be able to sit relaxed and comfortable with a friend, and to share ideas, hopes, fears, intimate and otherwise, well, it is such a blessing.  She was at least 20 years my senior, but we could connect nonetheless.  A sudden illness struck Stephanie. She hopped off the train of the living not long ago, and so I can only share the journey with the remaining passengers.  Is she still sitting here in spirit, with her New York Times and English Breakfast tea?

Earlier this morning I attended mass 1/2 way across town, at • Most Holy Redeemer.  It was a special mass, for • Sister Cleta was honored.  She is now 90, and all her work for peace and justice was remembered.  The loveable Fr. Kirk came over from St. Boniface to act as celebrant.  The faithful and warm-hearted morning • regulars were present.  A reception was held in the elegant rectory dining room.  Everything was set up by the supreme taskmaster Nick.  A delicioso heavenly chocolate mousse creation by Jerry was doled out.  ...being surrounded by such a loving group of people... it felt like I was sitting in a scene from a BBC production.

Where am I going with all of this?  Basically, I'm telling you I feel very grounded this morning as I embark on this blog-journey.  Won't you connect the dots with me as we find the meaning weaved within our days?

This blog will contain:

• Dreams

• Visions

• Notes on book and art projects

• Artistic influences and interesting creators

        Etc.

The music playing as I type away (OK, so I wrote by hand while at the café) is the symphonic poem for Bass-Baritone (I'm a baritone!), chorus & orch.: "The Execution of Stepan Razin" by Shostakovich, a piece I've had for a while but just recently started getting into.  Is this a death of the old Stepan? 

Many thanks to my roommate Jack, who encouraged me to finally put this boat in the water. 

Together, let us raise the curtain. 

     Open the Kingdom!