GATI HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2021
HOLIDAY GREETINGS to all of you
A difficult year that we’ve all been through.
Nevertheless one thing remains the same
It’s my end-of-year poem, and it may be mundane
But it helps us when we need a reminder
It then serves as a written fact-finder.
Join me in all that I remember
0f 2020, from January to December.
Politics, family, special recollections.
Often a few of my interjections.
Photos I took to make these words better
This is our rhyming holiday letter.
LOTS OF POLITICKING 
First thing this past year in 2020
Election fever and fervor a-plenty.
Bernie, Biden, Bloomberg, Buttigieg,
Elizabeth, Steyer, Yang and Amy on the edge.
Dems had their debates; they battled by voice,
Caucuses and delegates, voted their choice.
Bernie’s revolution to give people power
Health care for all, wages15/hour.
School loans forgiven, college for free,
Consideration of DACA; Let immigrants be.
Biden in the middle with his “Don’t-shake-up-too-much”.
His folksy, back-to-Obama, I’m-with-you touch.
Vied for the lead to get to the convention
It was hard-fought and bitter, not to mention
All of the money spent on each campaign
And all of the hard feelings that still remain.
Then came the COVID19 virus scare,
This world-wide deadly respiratory disease where
All we could do is take our cue
From common-sense folks and health pros who
Gave this advice, “Just wash your hands.
If you’re sick, stay at home.” These were the commands:
Cover your cough with an elbow, ol’ chump,
And when greeting, don’t kiss. Do a fist bump.
Use sanitizers. Don’t touch your nose.
Sneezing is deadly. Keep your mouth closed.
Airlines and cruise ships - vulnerable places
Subways and senior homes, hospital spaces,
Childcare centers, even at schools
Restaurants, theaters, and public pools.
Is there a place that is really risk free?
Only a place where you alone can be.
The phrase was “Social distancing”
6 feet away or you will bring
Your germs and mix them with anybody who
Happened to get too close to you.
If you feel sick, self-quarantine.
No movies, museums, or concert-scene
Sports competitions, even schools were closed
Personal prison, self-imposed.
On Donald Trump we couldn’t depend
‘cause his only worry was trying to end
the free-fall of stocks as they went down
And oil prices fell; small benefit found.
Bobblehead PENCE was there and he tried
To make things sound better while trying to hide
They should have been planning; they were not quick.
Slow reactions to this world pandemic.
Trump and his circle of friends and family
Many tested positive; and who else but he
Went to the hospital for first-class care?
Not everyone’s so lucky, and it is unfair.
Worldwide the poor and most vulnerable did die
And that’s why the numbers of deaths are so high.
People were dying in China, Japan
In Europe, the Middle East, Spain, and Iran,
Italy, South Korea, it globally hit
In our own country, all talk was of it.
Fear of cruises and planes. Small businesses lost
Workers and farmers, this damn-virus caused
Lots of disruption, people died and were sick
The solution - much harder than blowin’ out a wick.
Purell was used even in gas stations.
Life slowed down. People made cancellations
For weddings and any future events.
Bank accounts emptied of dollars and cents.
From Florida, Texas, to Washington state
From New York to California - we all had to wait.
When finally a means to test people who
Had certain symptoms were told what to do.
Animated movie from 2001
Warned of this problem and it was no fun
Bill Murray was Frank in Osmosis Jones
Not eating carefully, moans and groans,
Got sick from food and didn’t know why.
Moral of this story: Be careful or you die.
Lesson for all of us, coast to coast,
Country to country, or it’s “Virus con Díos!”
This was how we started the year
Uncertain, disturbed, and full of fear.
We thought things would get better no doubt
But here is how it all turned out.
Gowns and gloves, and of course masks,
A crisis on the forefront of healthcare tasks.
We’re waiting for a vaccine so we can know
“positive” or “negative”, then we can go
Outside and mingle or isolate inside.
It’s a social game of seek and hide.
Trump was insistent, said, “Just be rebellious.
Be proud. Be selfish. Think me, me, not us.”
The death toll, off the charts, for Covid 19
The numbers of people who’ve died are obscene,
And not enough testing, so the numbers lied.
Yet for certain in the U.S., over 260,000 died.
NOW 2020 REALITY
COVID is Corona Virus Disease
It’s the new normal, and it does displease.
No meeting of friends; wear masks when outside.
Seems we feel safer so inside we hide.
Schools and sports are on hold; movies streaming
Travel is only for Internet dreaming.
Restaurants are open but eat out with caution.
Before this, we ate out, but really not often.
Nevertheless, we loved the live shows -
Ballet and symphony and films but who goes
To crowded venues like theaters and such.
We do miss them but not oh so much
We have been watching YouTube or TV
Seems at the moment the best way to see
All of the cultural shows that are nice
PBS, Shine Global, Kanopy suffice.
The world is waiting for a vaccine.
To give assurance and that will mean
We will be able to feel more at ease
When we can control this horrible disease.
It was late May, and a black life was lost
This time GEORGE FLOYD in Minneapolis.
A video showed a white cop with his knee
Cut off the breath of a black detainee.
Unrest erupted; protestors went mad,
Burning and looting, it really was bad
In cities all over this country, here too,
In San Francisco, there was a curfew.
BREONNA TAYLOR, a young EMT
shot in her apartment in Kentucky
because she was black, BLM takes this stand:
No-knock police warrants should be banned
Racism brings out the worst in all men.
Yes, we have been through this, and yet again.
Action is needed and not just talk,
So peaceful protesters walked the walk
In the name of oppression and police abuse,
Discrimination. They have no excuse.
“Black Lives Matter” vs the police:
The message delivered is basic in the least.
A word need be said about looters and unrest,
Destruction and violence, no way is the best.
Solutions like this get the public’s attention
But really go nowhere, plain and simple aggression.
Just to destroy is no excuse.
And others come in and just abuse.
By burning and breaking windows to loot
Is not a solution when the police shoot.
We certainly know what is the cause
Now it’s up to us to change the laws,
We got rid of the “Law-&-Order Pres.”
Sowing seeds of division in all of our heads.
CLIMATE-RELATED TRAGEDIES
In Bangladesh, a cyclone came.
80 died. Each one a name.
No electricity, for 10 million folks
Not good news. Real facts. No hoax.
In Michigan, a dam was no good.
Devastating damage from a flood that ensued.
Floods and destruction in the Philippines.
Guatemala and Nicaragua were devastating scenes.
Tragedies from fires on the West Coast
No way to calculate the loss for many folks.
BITCHING SESSION
I hate the company AT&T.
I wrote this while waiting for them to help me.
Who has the most patience? The person who
Can deal with people who phone repairs do.
Try reconnecting your needed land line
and all at AT&T, say, “It’s fine.”
When they transfer you from woman to man
And you think for sure the next one can
Re-connect your broken land line
But NEVER, NO NEVER, can they make it fine.
Intermittent music and constantly on hold
Makes a person even more bold.
I’m great at yelling, even broke down and cried.
So after three weeks, Frank even tried.
Nothing was resolved at the end of the day
AT&T is so huge that they
Can’t make this happen, it’s such a small thing,
Lordy, I just want to hear my telephone ring!
Believe it or not at one month’s end
Finally they made me sign up again
With a new account number, the phone stayed the same
They own the line, so we play their game.
No matter what company I’ve chosen in the past,
It’s always AT&T! I’m aghast!
MCI, we had, then ’twas SBC.
Who buys these up? but AT&T.
Then we got YAHOO and again, sure enough
AT&T once more. Yeegawds, this is tough!
No matter what company we choose, it’s their will.
We’re still paying AT&T our phone bill.
POLITICS BEFORE THE ELECTION
We are separate and alone, sometimes we feel
Does one person count? Is that what is real?
JESSE JACKSON said this line
That sounds quite common but it is sublime.
It’s got a little punch and a lot of wow!
“We may not have come on the same boat,
But we’re in the same boat now”
The wish list is long, but that’s why we vote.
Ladies and Gentlemen, climb on the boat.
We’re in this together. There’s much to reform.
Which one to start with? I am just torn.
Health for us older folks does top the list.
For comprehensive, single-payer, I lift my fist.
Control over big Pharma, low cost for drugs,
Good pay for caregivers, plus many thanks and hugs.
Immigration reform, first for DACA kids,
Asylum seekers and all with legit bids,
Climate change policies with an EPA that’s real
With leadership that comes from “the Green New Deal”.
Workers in factories and meat packing plants
Need reformed policies: “WE CAN”s, not “We can’t”s.
Wage equality - women and men.
Do we need to say this again?
Voting made easier, even mandatory
Preparation, no glitches in the primary.
Do it by mail and at voting places, plan!
The democratic right for each woman and man.
Social Security and Medicare
Works for us seniors, so please don’t you dare
Not protect them, expand them if so,
Make certain they’re funded for those you don’t know.
Gun violence legislation for sure.
How many more senseless killings to endure?
Tell those folks at the NRA
Keep hunting if you must, but guns’er not for play
‘cause what always happens is tragedy
And people get killed and that really saddens me.
Roe v Wade is as it should be
Don’t weaken the law; follow RBG.
Women should have the right to choose
Or physical and mental health they will lose.
Financial reform for campaigns - overdue.
Citizens United should be overturned, too.
Prison reform is another big prize
For private corporations to capitalize,
They make such big money, the more folks that’re there.
Studies all tell us: that they care is rare.
The public schools are still in need
Classes at home, distance learning? What speed?
And now even more than it was before.
How do you test and evaluate the score?
For all the changes, the teachers sure know
Education at high levels and even low
Was tough before the corona set in,
And now it’s hard to know where to begin
Especially when needing to move in space
From class discussions or important interface.
A Student Loan rethink is also now due
And tuition for state schools should be rethought anew.
Why do the wealthy keep getting tax cuts?
Stop this immediately! No “if”s, “and”s, or “but”s.
Support infrastructure, fund our National Parks.
The Dems have a platform that should get high marks.
They know where they’re going. They are NOT lost.
And the goal was to STOP TRUMP at any cost!!
TRUMP is a loser. He tried to claim fraud.
Recount and fire folks, while his sides applaud.
But we want nothing more than decency
A confirmation on the side of democracy.
We won. You lost, TRUMP. Now step aside.
And as you leave the White House, take all your dumb pride.
Let your followers follow you out the door.
Get far from Washington. Come back NO MORE!
Lots to talk about political affairs
Some say, “Hell yes!”; others say, “Who cares?”
It’s been a long four years with DONALD J. TRUMP.
Counted the days for the big chance to dump.
His lying, scheming, and stupid ways
Paying attention to a constant maze
Of deliberate confusion, in the name of change,
Yes we need new ideas, but not his, so strange,
What he offered - a power-hungry man
A negative MAGA vs. “Yes, we can.”
We know there are no perfect political solutions,
But his was a presidency of negative conclusions.
His method of “fixing” our economy
Was give to the corporations, a lot of money.
Do it in tax breaks; screw the poor,
Ignore infrastructure, gullibility for sure
He thought would yield a second term,
But in this case, the votes were firm,
The popular counts: BIDEN - seven million strong
TRUMP couldn’t admit his calculations were wrong.
Oh yes, he got 73 million votes
And that is scary ‘cause when making notes
We know the country is both blue and red.
But TRUMP is hardly politically dead.
He connected evangelicals to the alt-rights
Hoping to do his best for these whites.
They all share a certain hostility
To politically liberal democracy.
To Muslims, Mexicans, also to women
He’s been insulting to nativism.
Constant attacking of the independent press,
Reproductive rights and with guns obsessed.
Political appointees all loyal and packed
In government offices - “yes-men” or sacked.
One thing they managed to finally fix
The Supreme Court’s bias, now 3 to six.
AMY CONEY BARRETT, Republicans for her,
MITCH McCONNELL parrot - he made it for sure
That Trump got another Supreme Court Judge
Before he left office, seals the GARLAND grudge.
Young white Catholic conservative, AND
We already know where she plans to stand.
HOORAY for BIDEN and HARRIS, they won,
But the work of the party has just begun.
Even when Trump could not concede,
Still holding on, thinking he could proceed
To a second term, WHOA, STOP THE TRAIN.
Get off, buddy. Don’t come back again.
It’s hard to be a loser, especially at his age
His stages of grief: denial to rage
BIDEN and HARRIS won fair and square
Trump was laughed out of court, saying, “Not fair!”
But great to see his losing face.
Now get out of the place. You lost the race.
His chronic lying, fear-mongering, corruption,
Racism, sexism, philandering, disruption.
Always mocking; no talk of equity,
Nor of inclusion or diversity.
I am still puzzled how fooled are so many
Who wanted to re-elect this Henny Penny.
The country’s in good hands now, But so much to do
All that was promised may not go through.
We’ve still got the COVID; our numbers are up.
The vaccine is coming but not soon enough.
There’s health care, the economy, attention to immigration,
Police reform, a re-look at taxation,
The Daca kids, LGBTQ cases
Roe V Wade and the Senate races
Hong Kong protests, China, Iran,
The EU and Brexit, Afghanistan,
Venezuela, Syria, Russia, Ukraine,
Across the world and from California to Maine
Tornados, cyclones, hurricanes, floods, fires
earthquakes, tsunamis, fallen trees and wires.
No electricity, houses destroyed,
Poverty, homelessness, we can’t avoid
All of these problems, the deaths, sorrow, too.
Those who survive, with help, will come through.
Health care, education, housing, jobs, climate change
What’s necessary is a re-think, to re-arrange
Priorities for people, new policies
Together we’ll do it - for justice and peace!
Quite lucky we are, both FRANK and I
We are retired, got our piece of the pie
But we are aware that not everyone can
Many a woman and not every man
Has a good job, has coverage and care
When a health need comes out of nowhere.
The things that are missing some others don’t get
Some sleep on the streets, shouldn’t be for a vet.
We must have laws guaranteeing a living wage
So no need to work past retirement age
Or forced to work many more hours each week
Just to pay bills that have risen to a peak.
Prescription drugs are a problem for some
Prices do not affordable come
Those who give birth should get family paid leave.
It should be part of a job, you receive.
Big business is favored over family farms
Small business owners should be up in arms
The wealthiest nation on earth, the U.S.
Should attend to this as political business.
The American people want security
Their rights and human dignity.
EXCITING MOON NEWS 
On December 1st, from the moon, live,
We could see the spacecraft, China’s Chang’e 5,
Touched down on the surface at 10:30 a.m.,
Robots collecting rocks and dust, bringing to Earth again.
 |
| California Poppies |
SALLY, SALLY, it’s about time
Now tell ABOUT THE FAMILY, this part of the rhyme.
FRANK
FRANK 82, still has good head sense
Despite this past year’s serious health events.
After a routine bladder inspection,
contracted a urinary tract infection
Ecoli is there, and it grows causing trouble,
’s not like face hair, just shave off the stubble.
He still has this; it won’t go away.
Monitoring by blood tests; momentarily OK.
Thanksgiving 2019 in LA
with SHIRLEY and DANIEL, our plan for that day
Was a dinner at SHIRLEY’s but just before,
Frank had a stomach pain; furthermore,
I took him to Kaiser, the ER station.
The docs they kept him for observation.
Diagnosis: Gastritis or some such thing.
Discharged with prescriptions home to bring.
A few days later, Mom had some pain.
So off to Kaiser I went again.
This time, she never came back home.
On December 3rd, I came home alone.
What about FRANK and his year overview
With major health problems that he’s been through?
Diabetis, high blood pressure, cholesterol,
Chronic Kidney Disease - I think that’s all.
Stage Four; but too old for a transplant to get
He remains stable, no dialysis yet.
But all these together is a recipe
For a heart attack, an NSTEMI,
On August 15th, one of these had he,
Dr. Gaji put a stent in his left artery.
So far so good his recovery.
And every day’s a discovery.
Watches his diet, eats very little salt,
Is a vegetarian, and that is my fault.
Multiple classes on writing he’s taken
Personal stories he does enjoy makin’
Now like a meeting, they do it on Zoom
Sits at the computer in his own room.
Biographical journals he does and they’re fun.
This year, 15 segments he’s done.
Childhood memories from 1943
Brought back the war years in Hungary.
We used to travel extensively.
In 1991, to Egypt went we.
He’s written about our adventures then
My journals jog his memory and the trip lives again.
Facebook’s very much a part of his day.
Says we can give our TV away.
Watches all the Hungarian news.
Our headlines they report, but pick ’n choose.
His oldest friends from Hungary,
George and Nick, he didn’t see
In person, that is, but talked on the phone
Emails regularly to them at home.
This business of Facebook he also enjoys,
Keeps up with STEPHANIE, ALAN and the boys.
KALEB who’s 6 and TROY’s in 4th grade.
Pictures are shared, so connections are made.
He really appreciates all those who read
And regularly respond to his Facebook feed.
With Barry in Vegas, kin in Hungary,
Keeps close to friends and family.
Obsessed by chess and all Trump views.
but says he doesn't pay attention to the news.
Walks to West Portal, buys his coffee,
Shops for fresh bread, almost daily.
Loves to make quiche and also bake pies
Not James Beard, but he gets my prize.
We try to walk locally every day
Around the neighborhood or to Safeway.
The GREAT HIGHWAY, sometimes he craves
And there we can see the Pacific Ocean waves.
We watch the birds and the sunset
What better beauty is there to get!
DAVID
DAVID 47, still lives in LA.
We keep in touch on the phone every day.
For the Testing Group, he worked at home
The pandemic hardly let him roam.
He has food delivered; picks up take-out meals.
Knows isolation and how lockdown feels.
Receivers, computer and tapes has he
For DVDs, Blu-Rays, he’s the best QC.
The company stopped renting their office space
Fired the employees who thus have no case.
They said he’s unemployed, so no health care
But still he was working as a contractor there.
Then mid-November, work stopped for real
The company’s bosses said, “This is the deal.
Until the year ends, you’ve been laid off.”
This is that business and it sure is tough.
They do keep on calling , but it sure is strange.
This on-and-off working; there’s been a change.
He’s told that he’s needed, so then time is spent
But it’s playing havoc with his unemployment.
Sometimes he’s glad for this given time off
Sometimes does laundry, cleans and throws out stuff
Sometimes checks out podcasts, writes or reads,
Plays everything by ear; takes care of his needs.
These times have brought great tension and worry
And “normal” is not coming back in a hurry.
A well-written short tale of our times wrote he.
DAVE entitled it: “Remember Me”.
Two people meet in a real-life story.
Seems like just now it is mandatory:
A fight for life, an imaginative plot.
The feelings his words effectively caught.
BEN LOUIS and gang made the movie STOKER HILLS.
Dave was involved though low pay for his skills.
As Associate Producer, he gets credit.
Took about a year for the final edit.
Was also the Post Production Supervisor
And behind the scenes, was Ben’s adviser.
Got a premier showing in a fest in Spain
TerrorMolins online streaming, no blame,
All movie festivals, this way films are seen
As long as we’re still plagued by COVID 19
Some really good news, a print publisher
Is working with us. Their name is Schiffer.
Dave signed his contract and we’re very proud
“We’d love to do it”, they told him out loud.
The captions, images, permissions, and text.
It’s a game of Get-it-Done and What’s next?
We’re working together, but he’s my boss.
No time to stop now or take a pause.
The title is KEVIN SMITH: HIS FILMS AND FANS
It’s in the works but not out of our hands.
Of course there’s more work and oh so much!
When it comes out in print, we’ll keep you in touch.
How great it was for us and DAVE
He drove up to visit and spent his birthday.
A week’s vacation, stayed in his old bed.
We worked on the book, then took walks instead.
Instead of traveling which nobody can do
We took some great walks; there were a few.
Our first view, a mask and above it his eyes.
He’d grown a beard, so what a surprise.
But even as scruffy as he let it go.
He’s still quite good-looking, and he’s letting it grow.
He manages well the Faris duplex.
His own front door, he had someone fix.
He keeps up the garden, the neighbors admire.
This corner property is his empire.
Musical cars, have you heard of that game?
It’s when you have three cars and then you exchange.
DAVE got our Prius 2017
DAN got DAVE’s 2007, quite clean.
We bought an Insight, a Honda hybrid
And that’s how the game goes; that’s what we did.
DANIEL
DAN 75, now has time for himself
Trying to make more room on every shelf.
Box by box, his life reassessing.
His storage space he’s now addressing
For work instead of just piles of stuff.
Electronic gadgets, tools, that’s enough.
paintings, drawings, art supplies
Taking up space. Each box a surprise;
Papers. books, catalogues, and magazines
accumulations important it seems
But as you get older, the importance gets less
And the airport space looks more like a mess.
So this is a problem he’s trying to remedy.
From such an expense, he’d like to be free.
Before the shutdown he had a tight bond
with 12-step members of Alanon.
Now over Zoom they discuss and meet
No masks needed as they stay in their seat.
He’s a good leader. This seems to help
To keep him connected to them and himself.
He pays attention to the work being done
On the Canyon house. He does a car run.
He checks on the problems when the tenants call,
When opinion is needed, he’s on the ball.
He lives in a HUD house, like MOM used to do
Follows the directives; he says he has to.
He wears a mask all the time, so he’s well
But a slip of the tongue, said, “In my hotel. . .
Correction, in my building. . .” so said he,
“Everyone’s paranoid, everybody.”
Hoping for a vaccine, so all of us can
Relax a little, and so can DAN.
LANA, TONY, & RILEY
LANA 55 TONY six-o
FRANK’s daughter and son-in-law live in PLANO.
High school graduation for RILEY 18
Wasn’t the usual hip-hooray routine.
Social distancing, choreographed well.
Ceremonies took place, got notes on email.
We couldn’t be there; COVID restrictions,
But pictures we got; sent our benedictions.
After graduation, to make pocket money,
RILEY worked like the Energizer Bunny
Cutting cloth daily at 5 a.m.
Getting it ready at Anna’s Linen.
Also scooped ice cream at a frozen yogurt shop
Lost these jobs and had to stop.
Got unemployment checks, these helped his grief.
The CARES Act passed for financial relief.
Then all in the country got a stimulus check.
Coronavirus crisis, got help by heck!
Empty-nesters now ‘cause RILEY’s off at school.
Is in his first year at college. How cool!
Lives in a shared space with a roommate
Taking a full load at Texas State
In San Marcos, far enough away
Giving him room to grow, so that he may
Do things his parents don’t want him to
Yet like all the others, does what he wants to do.
As long as he studies and ends up with passes
In his half online, half face-to-face classes.
TONY’s the Manager, Fairfield Inn in Plano
The hotel business is open but slow.
Had a few Coronavirus scares.
Quarantined and goes to work when he dares.
LANA was working at the HILTON chain
Working fewer hours in sales in the main.
No hours by year end, laid off and was free.
Yet a job defines us, totally.
TONY & LANA . . .with more leisure hours
Able to enjoy their garden, birds, ‘n flowers.
They also find that on Netflix.
Many programs are in the mix.
TONY likes to read and golf he plays
On weekends or when he has free days.
On Facebook, LANA keeps current and close
We pay attention to her every post.
STEPHANIE, ALAN, TROY & KALEB
STEPHANIE had an exciting year.
The pandemic also affected her.
Laid off from Stitchfix, to Dallas could have moved
But her interview skills showed that she'd improved.
And so she got a manager’s spot
At the same company. They like her a lot.
ALAN still has a job at Gallo.
The family is staying in Modesto.
SALLY
SALLY this year was 79,
Holding it together, is still doing fine.
I’ll write in first person so in that way
You’ll know they’re all my thoughts in the words that I say.
This odd pandemic has affected me
Like all of you, I’m not as carefree.
I loved my ceramics class got there by bus
Aquatic Park Senior Center, it was a must.
Just getting the hang of the ceramicist’s wheel
Did a few pieces. It was a big deal.
I do miss Per, John, Steve, Alan and Sue,
Janice and Francis, Jane ’n’ her mom, too.
But I don’t see people, I’ve been restrained
As are we all, I’ve been self-trained
To be creative, email or the phone.
I contact people when I am alone.
Ever since March, we have stayed inside.
By COVID restrictions, we (on the whole) abide.
Frank likes to buy meals; I make them instead.
Baked cookies, made zucchini, banana ’n corn bread.
Tried to toss closets of magazines and clothes,
But I am a hoarder of memories, it shows.
This stuff of our lives, not so easy to release.
Things don’t get fewer; in fact, they increase.
When the fog lifts and the sun does shine.
I rake up the leaves and tend to what’s mine.
A garden of cactus and succulents alive,
My transplanted plants from Faris Drive.
And now I’ve put into the ground
Hoping and praying it will be around
As a memory to MOM, whose name was SHIRLEY.
Her last name was CYTRON, and thus this lemon tree.
Another job, taxes, it’s a year-long chore.
Keeping the papers and bills, I abhor
This work but to do it, I know that I must
Keep track of expenses for the Matilda Cytron Trust
And for our own house and Faris Drive, too.
When property is involved, there’s a whole lot to do.
Up in Benedict Canyon, there always seems to be
Things that need attention and the cost is NEVER free.
Finding able folks to come and do repairs
Following up, paying them, oh yes the “landlord” cares.
Wooden beams were all replaced, a new dryer installed,
I always check with DAN and LEN each time the tenants called.
The bridge was rebuilt, for a century it should last.
We paid a small fortune, you would be aghast
at what electricians and plumbers now charge
And how much to clear the hill and cut the yard.
I would have ushered for my 9th year
For the Jewish Film Fest as a volunteer,
But due to the virus, films were online
For Q&As, features, shorts - streaming was fine.
I did miss the people who come back each summer
Yet we have to dismiss things this year with, “Bummer!”
One thing I did, took my slide scanner out
And went through old outs I’d forgotten about.
Haven’t yet done all nor organized or filed
But what surprises! Dave as a child,
We as our much younger selves, Frank and I
Soon I will make more books on Shutterfly.
I now use my Phone, its camera especially
Like everybody, it always accompanies me.
Don’t think this poem gets written in a day.
This doggerel - it’s a word game I play
When a good thing happens or I get upset
At something in the news off my chest I must get.
So that is why so many times
I’m thrilled, when I come up with clever rhymes.
JUNIOR & CSUNYA [Choonia]
Our yard is host to a number of birds.
Daily they tweet to us instead of words.
Fox, White- and Golden- crowned sparrows, chickadees,
Humming birds, Scrub Jays, and the Towhees.
Many-a-story accompanies this craze,
The Adventures of the Gati’s Two Scrub Jays:
JUNIOR is the male; he’s the son of BLUE.
CSUNYA’s his mate, and she’s always here, too.
When JUNIOR ’s flown away, we carry out our plan
He has to be out of sight, then she can
Pick up her peanut that I’ve thrown
On the table for her alone.
JUNIOR, the opposite, comes when I call,
Lands on my hand, not afraid at all.
Even to my second-story window flies up,
On the neighbor’s roof, he waits like a pup.
I call him over; he takes from my hand
And keeps coming back like a wave on the sand.
When I’ve had enough, I just close the window.
I tell him in English, “That’s all; there’s no - mo.”
OUR NEIGHBORS
FRANKIE and I love the family of four
KATIE, MICHELLE and their two kids next door.
SAMMY is 4 and as smart as he’s cute
Loves Mozart’s opera, “The Magic Flute”.
He makes mud meals while I sweep and clean.
JAY’s only one, and he smiles at the scene.
Their own grandparents, too far for seeing,
So FRANK and I are substitutes, for the time being.
CLOSE-TO-HOME DAY TRIPS
No trips to LA; no trips or travel
We’d rather stay near home than our health unravel.
We try to do it daily, a little walk together
But sometimes we don’t do it, depending on the weather.
Once a week at least, we plan and what a pleasure.
Found some nearby places - each one such a treasure.
The closest in our neighborhood, MOUNT DAVIDSON
Cross Portola, up the hill; that part’s not so fun.
But when you reach the top, an overview
Of San Francisco downtown, out to Twin Peaks, too.
The cross is there; it stands quite high
Above the trees, peaks out to the sky.
Butterflies unique to this green space.
How great it is to live near this place!
GLEN CANYON PARK, my oh my
For over 40 years we have driven by
And never taken a walk, so nifty,
It takes you back to perhaps 1850
Where the rocks and the trees hide all that is urban
And coyotes can come. That could be disturbin’.
For over an hour, we walked; ‘twas amazing.
This loop trail was, invigorating.
GOLDEN GATE PARK, is just a short ride,
Inside are places we residents hide.
STOW LAKE with ducks, swans, herons, egrets
Looks so great when it’s seen at sunsets.
The ROSE GARDEN blooms and the many blooms show
Colors you can’t believe, like the rainbow.
Another lake, close to the buffalo
A family of raccoons right there, don’t ya know!
A blue jay and crows, duck families so pretty
Keep us asking, “Is this a city?”
BOTANICAL GARDENS huge space with trees
Divided into sections of plant species.
In the small lake there, waterfowl spend their days
Canadian Geese on the grass like to graze.
Free for those living in San Francisco,
So more than once there, we did go.
JOHN MCLAREN PARK; there a walk did we take.
Huge space with trails and ducks in a lake. 
He flew in the tree, screeching, “YAWK, YAWK, YAWK
In San Mateo, DEVIL’S SLIDE, a walk to do.
We loved the wildflowers and the Pacific Ocean view.
Also on the Peninsula, they call it CRYSTAL SPRINGS.
Saw some birds and a big hawk, swooped with its wide wings.
We went to Marin, RING MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE
This was our first time to go to this place.
Crossed Golden Gate Bridge to Corte Madera
Seemed like we were in the pioneer era.
Viewed from the top, Turtle Rock, looking down,
Sausalito, San Pablo Bay, and Tiburon.
DON EDWARDS NWR, S.F. Bay
Drove to Fremont, was a Sunday
Ducks and egrets in the estuary
Panoramic views, fall’s beautiful, very.
Dark clouds and rain came, so we had to go
Yet we were treated to a glorious rainbow.
Near UCSF, there is MT. SUTRO
No place to park; we chanced it, though.
A woodsy area walked around and about
Frankie said, that one tired him out.
Near the Cliff House is SUTRO HEIGHTS,
We could look down on familiar sights -
Sutro baths, just a memory
Popular pools, end of 19th Century.
Lands End rocks with all the birds,
Playland of the Pacific, ‘bout which you have heard
But long gone amusement park condos now there
We walked to the top and then down the long stair.
Very close to where we live is lovely LAKE MERCED.
Many runners go around, but we walk there instead.
We’ve seen many water birds, a big raccoon once, too
Ducks and geese are always there; it’s an outdoor zoo.
If the day is sunny and the wind is low
THE GREAT HIGHWAY is the place, that we like to go.
Once we walked from mill to mill, the windmills, I mean.
All along an inside trail that we had never seen.
Then back along the Pacific Highway.
One time we also walked close to the sea,
Waves rolling back and forth beautifully.
Dog, shoe, and footprints, right, left in the sand
Sunset on the horizon, really was grand.
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Sandpipers in the hundreds, waiting for each wave
Dinner of sand crabs they really crave.
We walked to FORT FUNSTON from OCEAN BEACH.
No sky divers that day; was tough to reach.
The sun went down. Families, kids, dogs, and we
Walked along the sand dunes and looked out at the sea.
TREASURE ISLAND, wonderful walk we took.
A picture-perfect place, straight out of a travel book.
The gulls flew overhead; one cormorant flew high
Out of the water and into the sky.
The City view fantastic, in silhouetted gray.
All the islands were in sight from the middle of the Bay.
Both of our bridges - the Bay and Golden Gate,
Just before sunset, we weren’t too late
To see Angel Island, Alcatraz - an uplift,
Berkeley and Oakland - what a gift!
When DAVE came up we went on three
Outings together. We did see beauty.
The CALIFORNIA TRAIL starts at LANDS END
You can see the Bridge, something we tend
To take for granted ‘cause it’s always here,
But people in their cars came to clap and cheer
When they saw the sun go into the sea,
We, too, were impressed, immensely.
FRANK waited at the top, DAVE ’n I with backpacks
Walked down to ONE-MILE ROCK tide pools, sea stacks,
Anemones and starfish, crashing waves of foam
Was like being far, far from our home.
Past Pacifica, FITZGERALD MARINE RESERVE
Lines of Cypress trees, thrilling to observe.
The view from the cliffs to the tide pools below
Special site in evening light, the sun-on-water glow.
STERN GROVE the PINE LAKE site when DAVID was small
Years ago for summer camp; this walk, a recall.
We did the trail around the lake, reflections magnifique,
Lifted our spirits; was an afternoon unique.
BUENA VISTA PARK in the Haight-Ashbury
Past the Victorians; you can’t be in a hurry
‘cause the trails go up the crest, to the top of the hill
From there you can see the Bay and all of hippie-ville.
These COVID times , one thing they’re good for
We might have never gone to explore
We’re certain to continue on these special walks
It gives us time together (we avoid political talks.)
I‘ll take my phone, capture what I see
Pictures of our outings are what can remind me
Of all these super places, that are not so far
It gets us into nature, a short drive by car.
OBITUARIES
A few good men and women passed away
Their names I’ll mention in a cursory way.
Actors KIRK DOUGLAS, SEAN CONNERY,
MAX VON SYDOW, ENNIO MORRICONE,
RUTH BADER GINSBURG, RBG,
Supreme Court Justice, rock star she.
NBA’s KOBE BRYANT, Jeopardy’s ALEX TREBEK,
Black Panther and Wakanda - BOSEMAN, CHADWICK.
KENNY ROGERS, singer; EDDIE VAN HALEN, guitar
In his own field, each a music star.
CARL REINER, the comedian - the dancer, JEANMAIRE,
At Carmelita’s, the French girl with short hair.
DIEGO MARADONA was a soccer star
Played for Argentina, known both near and far.
Of course there were many more that I have not listed.
I’m not the final word on this; so I have resisted.
But to all who’ve died, close to you or not.
Each one will be missed and. . . should not be forgot.
We’re done with the Trump folks and his administration.
Imagine it as a high-school graduation
A change of guard, some, yes, we’ve seen before
But lay the red carpet down, sweep up the floor.
Look at 2021 - a NEW YEAR!
With hope in our hearts. Let’s start from right here.
Like taking the essence from college courses
Here is some wisdom from various sources:
EXERCISE regularly. Watch what you EAT.
CHERISH all that you have. Be KIND to all you meet.
“Life’s about courage, going into the unknown”
As Walter Mitty in his secret life was shown.
Get in touch with yourself; have mind-fantasies.
Daydreams can come true. It’s YOU that they’ll please.
Give positive vibes; think only good thoughts;
Stay healthy and safe, ‘cause we love you lots.
One thing more, don’t forget to have fun
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