Category: Life
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Armageddon
The orange-red sun glows in the crimson fog. Ash rains down, the smell of smoke on the air. The streets are sparse, only a few walking cautiously with black face masks, looking sinister. The setting for a futuristic dystopian scientific fiction novel? Unfortunately no, it’s now.The future of our nightmares is with us. Armageddon? Not…
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Why You Can’t Go Home Again (But Don’t Need To)
Home. We all know the meaning. But what does it really mean? To me, growing up in a nomadic Navy family with 21 different houses, home was where my mother made it. But when I left for college, I sought a new home, one of my own. But it eluded me until I had my…
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Aim For The Moon: The Space Program That Inspired a Generation of Scientists
My career, and my broad interests in science, were inspired by America’s race to the moon. Between 1961 and 1972, I grew up watching the space missions of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. The astronauts were my heroes and I loved the technology. As a kid, those were magical times and they taught me to believe…
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Dawn Patrols and Paper Routes: Swept Away by the Tides of Time
The smell of the crisp, cool dawn triggers memories of the paper routes and dawn patrols of my youth. Those dark, quiet times before first light were special; a time when life shone brightly. Before dawn’s light, anything was possible and the day was promising.
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Sugar Beaches and Stout Oaks: A Navy Life in Monterey
The recent passing of my father caused me to reflect on my life with my parents. My father devoted his life to the Navy, and unwittingly, so did my mother. In honor of Memorial Day and my father’s service, here’s a piece I wrote for his funeral.
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Sixteen Places that Honor our Connections to the Universe: the Earth, Moon, Mars Challenge
Ventures into the depths of our oceans and space portray our rapidly changing future. And as we probe the unknowns, we should pause and bask in the glory of our universe and the beauty of our unspoiled places. Herein, I present 16 challenges across the planet and our solar neighbors.
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The Fight for Gender Equality in Surfing
Surfing is amazingly free sport. It’s just me and the waves and the ocean treats everyone the same. So when I see the long history of discrimination against women in surfing I know this has nothing to do about riding waves.
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Sailing Through Life’s Waves: My Second Pass Through Dialysis
Walking into the hemodialysis dialysis clinic for the first time in 26 years was surreal. Opening the door I was met with a familiar strong chemical smell. Sitting under bright fluorescents lights I saw a tattered sign on the wall: Every Day Counts. A reminder that my life hangs by a fragile technological thread.
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Abalone: the Chase, the Lore, the Future
Abalone are definitely one of the most exquisite things to eat from the sea. Their sublime flavor is both buttery and slightly salty and tastes like a cross between a scallop and calamari. But a big part of abalone is the culture of chasing, catching and eating wild abalone.
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The Gift of Life: 25 years with a Kidney Transplant
The purpose of this post is to tell our family stories in the hope that they will answer questions, calm fears, and encourage living donor related kidney transplants. Our two family transplants have been completely successful and have enriched the lives of each of the participants. Our transplants have heightened the love that we have…