Memorial Day

"Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue"...we are all dreaming of the end to the Pandemic, but please be careful in the meantime! Safety and care now will keep a later re-infestation (Palo Alto view May 17, 2020, 2 months into "sheltering in place."



“Doing what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy — that’s how little kids think,” he said during a prime time special for high school seniors. “Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way — which is why things are so screwed up. I hope that instead, you decide to ground yourself in values that last, like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity, respect for others.” (Barack Obama, May 16, 2020) in a virtual commencement address).
And the following is horrifying. How can we stop this tragedy?

2. The U.S. is deporting children

American authorities have deported hundreds of migrant children and teenagers, without giving them the opportunity to speak to a social worker or to plead for asylum, The Times’s Caitlin Dickerson reports. Some children are being deported in the middle of night, without their families being notified.

In expelling the children, the Trump administration is abandoning protections that both Democratic and Republican presidents have granted to young migrants for decades. Federal officials are justifying the practices under a 1944 law that grants the president broad power to prevent the “serious threat” of a dangerous disease.  If you do not feel connected to these children I recommend Isabel Allende's In the Midst of Winter, partly about orphaned children in Guatemala and other refugees.

The below view from the Oakland LDS temple with Oakland in foreground, San Francisco behind. It feels hard to wait until we see these vibrant cities return to life...but it will happen, hopefully in a smart and timely manner.

I am so thrilled to see the construction of the Quito, Ecuador Temple progressing. I well remember all the wonderful  faithful members...usually entire families... who made the arduous 12-15 hour bus rides (sometimes even partly by boat) to attend the Guayaquil Temple. 

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, we long to have our temples re-open to renew our covenants and to perform sacred ordinances.

"Keeping the covenants we make when we participate in ordinances is evidence of our growing faith in God. By the same token, as we keep our promises to God, He can entrust us with greater and greater knowledge, capacity and responsibility."

“Every covenant with God is an opportunity to draw closer to him. To anyone who reflects for a moment on what they have already felt of the love of God, to have that bond made stronger and that relationship closer is an irresistible offer.” (Henry B. Eyring; “Making Covenants with God,” September 08, 1996 BYU Fireside.)

For many years I used to cross the bay to teach in the city of Fremont, just below those hills, now I would just like to cross to attend the temple. In the meantime, I enjoy the sights and smells on my walks. There are many water birds nesting and enjoying life! And many masked humans as well.

This duck and sometimes its mate spend time in my yard.
I met this bunny chasing its friend at the Baylands, too.

All kinds of interesting things happen during the Pandemic. Here a homeless person is being tested. We hope for more tests and a vaccine. Thank you to all working so hard to develop these.

May we remember and honor, on this Memorial Day, the millions of men and women who have served in the military and all who are generously giving their time, expertise and effort, and risking their own health this year to serve us during the Pandemic.

a yard sign for the Pandemic

Miranda Wiener (below left) is graduating from high school this month, but like most graduates there will be no formal ceremony. Some ceremonies are postponed, others drive by the homes of students. June 3 at 5:30 PM we are to all honk our horns. We hope these special young people feel our admiration for their accomplishments nonetheless! Congrats, Miranda, and all other graduates!

 While playgrounds are closed, some dance (my daughter Julie and her daughters help Phoebe celebrate her second birthday). And look at the amazing table made by my son-in-law Peter from the felled pine tree in their Salt Lake yard!