#sidewalkghosts

I’ve never told you about my Las Vegas days. Born in the UK, raised in Vegas. Sort of makes me a civilized, and mostly retired, creature of the night.

For many years I had a thriving studio in “Sin City (BTW: I prefer it’s greater title of “The Entertainment Capitol of the World”).”

And from the very first day of having a driver’s license, at sixteen years old, the music scene along with its accompanying nightlife was no stranger to me.

And although I made my share of bad decision’s as well as remembered good days, what is gregariously apparent to me now, is how deeply different the life’s of today’s kids is compared to the days of my late teens and early twenties.

Things like political issues in the school system, the increase of carnage and vice in the media, and how can we overlook the social network with its bombardment of endless data.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m still the same kid that I have always been, still just as silly, able to come up with fresh ideas, and have not lost my hopeless optimism. And even though I may suffer a little more knee and back pain at a youthful fifty, I’ll still hold my own against most twenty something’s on a mountain bike.

So with the pace of living in the 2012’s running faster than I assume history had ever imagined, we must question where we are heading. A brain smack that hits me square in the face every time I look at my daughter, and a thought that impassions an undeniable shortness of breath and palpitating heart.

However, I feel there is a silver lining every time I look at today youth with a ray of light. Over the last months of 365 I’ve stopped to chat with 100’s of these bearers of the future. I’ll not paint a false picture, some truly have scared the life out of me in viewing them a inheritors of the planet, while at the same time the majority have given me a glimmer of faith in their mature perspectives of what is to come and how they are going to influence the world of tomorrow.

We all see it every day, intolerance, unsubstantiated anger, greed, lust and any order of the seven deadly sins. Conditions that are aided with the ceaseless input and ease of access to the media through entertainment and the social network.

And in a society where this intoxicating and electronic pace of day-to-day events shows no signs of slowing down, where do our teens play?

Enter David, owner of Cobalt Café, rock club, meeting place and non-alcoholic venue for the rock and rollers of our new generation.

“Richard! Don’t tell me you are about to endorse a place where I would not let my kids hang out!”

Well indulge me, perhaps I am, but with good cause.

David gets it, and after twenty-one years of perfecting his club model, may I propose that what he has established an edgy safe haven of sorts.

I queue in on this as I am speaking with him outside of the venue. Tonight has drawn quite a crowd and at an early 7:00pm the line is forming. Kids of every demographic are filing into Cobalt Café, and over the thunder of rock music, David speaks up to one of his guests, “You’ll have to throw that cup away, if you want to go in.”

“It’s only Pepsi, you can smell it if you want?” is replied.

“I’m sorry!” David responds, “… there is no alcohol allowed in the club and I’ve caught too many kids trying to sneak it in, you’ll have to toss it.”

OK, I have to step off my opinion seat for a moment. I see it as clear as day, all the street parties I attended in my teens, all unsupervised, all flowing with beer and harder drink, and all ending in troubled disaster.

Kids are kids, if they rock and roll, they will rock and roll, supervised or not. And again I am not saying that this is the path of my child or a path that I am encouraging any kid to follow. But what I am saying is David is on the right side of the fight to protect our kids.

I ask him of his council for the world, “Treat others like you would like to be treated yourself.”

The “Golden Rule.” We’ve heard it from countless friends now, friends who range in all aspects of race, gender, political views, religions, age and socio economic circumstances.

David grew up in the San Fernando Valley, right next door to my wife’s neighborhood of youth. He has seen the same changes in the culture of today’s youth as I, and many of us have, and he shares the same concerns for the kids of today and for their future.

“Kids are smart these days,” David states as he introduces me to one of his regular guests.

And in my brief conversation with said guest, I witness a kid who is not intoxicated, not rebellious, or out to chaise vice of any kind. I just chat with a good kid burning off the energy of youth. And in the way David speaks of respect towards him demonstrates to me again, that this club owner of a man, has only the best of intentions for the many teens that enter the walls of his establishment.

In David’s words, “Cobalt Café give’s the kids a creative outlet.

People need to be able to be creative and to express themselves. With the cutbacks, and politics, the schools are not doing that anymore. They are doing exactly the opposite in pulling out the arts and culture.”

The future is not looking good…” David statures, “…but on the other hand, the world is getting more aware of it.

And the way the kids are connected 24/7; they are able to communicate as never before. It’s not like when I was a kid; I remember we had answering machines. That was it. It was how we stayed in touch. If we could not meet or talk, we’d leave a message and catch up when we could.

It’s way different now, and I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing.”

The question is at hand, and the stage is set. There is no way we can ignore what our youth is up against as they grow to adulthood. But one thing is certain; we all need to whatever we can to guide them well in keeping there eyes and mind towards one another and not the addictive texting keypad.

In meeting David, I am prompted to opened my views of the youth night scene, and in doing so, have challenged myself with a question. If my daughter were to stray, would I rather have her hanging on the streets, or in the Cobalt Café?

To me the answer is revealing. For in observing the young patrons at the Cobalt doors, I know that a standard prevails. A standard that is greater than the storm of vice or even worse situations.

A standard that is set by proprietor David: No Drink, No Drugs, No Violence, and definitely no disrespect for each other.

The “Golden Rule” has scored again.

Rafael quotes Anne Rice, “While you are here nothing matters except to love and to learn.”

“Life has its ups and downs…” Rafael references as part of his outlook on life, “… I’m curious, it gets me into trouble sometimes, but it’s been a lot of fun.

As long as we are doing something we love in our life…as a job or hobbies or whatever, it not only gives us happiness, but it also tends to bring awesome people into our life that have something wonderful to teach us. And, so long as we are with great people, family and friends that inspire and support us while working on our passion…Happiness is never behind.
”

There is this little boutique that I have been curious to visit for some time, it bears no upscale address, is not stocked with designer labels, or stands large in square footage or presence.

In contrast, it is tucked away… on a lightly trafficked side street… in a not so fashionable Canoga Park district.

And although its inventory is modest, it moves merchandise more valuable than the sum whole of any highly priced outfit.

They call it “All About U”, owned by stylist/artist Ernesto and home to co-shop keep, the above-introduced friend of the day…Rafael.

Rafael talks of love and of respecting others, “We must learn acceptance in general… To everyone in our surroundings and of ourselves, without that, there is no way we can love anyone at all.”

That acceptance is core to the secret of All About U, the store emanates this welcoming voice as a beacon for community connection; a voice that Rafael carries, and a voice that Ernesto also publishes. Both are artists and advocates for the arts and a united culture.

“Are you coming to the art walk?” Ernesto asks.

It seems that every year all the local business come together in producing an Art Walk between the months of May and September to not only display their goods, but more importantly, to bring the community together.

And it is this feeling of community awareness that has drawn me into All About U this day. Its presence is as palpable as a sip of water, and this care for the world reveals itself in the attitude that fills the store.

Rafael talks of energy and of how good attracts good, “Energies fluctuate depending on the mood of a person, and I’ve noticed that similar energies attract similar energies…

… And what people do is really a reflection of who they are, a reflection of themselves.”

Rafael describes himself, “I’m a living breathing contradiction.

My likes and dislikes tend to contradict.”

As Rafael says, “I’m curious, it gets me into trouble sometimes, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

And that backed by Anne Rice’s advice on loving and to learning could possibly be a key to the fountain of unity.

Curiosity… a great genesis to listening; Love… a powerful facilitator to compassion; and Learning… the greatest catalyst to understanding.

Rafael sums it up, “In life we are all drawn to people who are similar.”

A life view that is highlighted in two of his art pieces, mannequins covered with collage and written word.

They each carry a message:

“To be or not to be… just be”

And

“What makes you different… makes you beautiful.”

I agree with Rafael’s mannequins. Seems they are asking us to be ourselves, to love who we are, and linking that to Rafael’s suggested perspective on the attractive energy emitted by every individual, may I suggest a shift in store title…

“It’s All About Us.”

And Rafael; keep living, stay breathing and by all means… don’t stop contradicting. That’s what makes you who you are… and that’s a good thing, my friend.

It’s not often that one of our new friends takes the time to promptly email us their words. And, today is just one of the instances. With that, it would be completely wrong for me to edit or rewrite in any way.

So without further delay, the written words of today’s stranger turned friend John.

“I think one of the things in life that we should seek out is a measure of balance.  Now I believe there are many different avenues to attaining balance, but what I’ve found works for me is through maintaining positivity and having an understanding that we are not perfect but we as a people, are all in this life together, therefore we are united in a manner of speaking, despite our differences.  And I think if we just make an effort to be good to each other and helping each other through this life, we can bring about many positive changes to ourselves, and everyone around us.

However, I think we should also look to bring balance not only to ourselves, but to the world, and all other forms of life that have just as much of a right to be here as we do.  We can get closer to bringing this balance by working together as opposed to competing with each other.  The ideologies of competition, war, and authority are outdated and obsolete because technology has evolved to the point where those ways of thinking are no longer necessary.  I think if we’re able to be responsible and use technology as a means to educate, create, and restore as opposed to impose and destroy, the possibilities for a brighter future for all people is a definite reality.  And when we are able to focus on creating a future for our children and their children’s children, we are that much closer to finding balance.”

“I’m talking to you because you spoke to me.” TJ greets me with a welcoming presence.

I speak often of walking the world with chin up and eyes open to the people around us. And today, the table refreshingly turns, where in a project in which nine times out of ten I am first to link eye contact with the people around me, TJ beats me to the punch when he recognizes my daughter and I within a park filled with hundreds of people.

TJ lives by a mantra of outreach, “We all need to talk to each other. Too many people are afraid to speak.” If more of us did, we would understand each other better and would probably fight less.”

But there is more to speaking than merely orating words, and by the interest TJ shows in 365, we discuss a secondary process of communication that equals the power of speech… that process… the ability to listen.

Communication, as brought to us by yesterday’s friend Linda, is the key. And no healthy rapport can ever be achieved with any one-sided narrative.

“People need to be more open,” TJ elaborates in explaining his stance on society and the oncoming years.

“I look at people and the future with and empty slate, I suppose I am an optimist.”

Optimist is almost an understatement in describing TJ, as evident in his description of the future, “It is going to be an amazing place.”

“An amazing place!” TJ calls it. What a wonderful outlook, and on a planet where there is so much strife aside all of its majesty and wonder, it is empowering to meet a man who truly sees light in every circumstance.

“What about all the contention in the world and those who say there are dark times ahead?” I inquire.

With intellectual ease TJ responds, “Yes, there are going to be people who don’t see it.”

He backs up his reply with an analogy, “’It’s like people fifty years ago could not fully predict where we are now. So to, can we not fully predict what is to come… can we?

Thousands of years ago they were saying the end of the world was near, and we are still here.

I predict that in fifty years we are going to look back and say, ‘we survived and it was a great time.’”

My hopes are with TJ, not just for myself, but more importantly, for the sake of our generations to come.

TJ, we appreciate your optimism, keep sharing, my friend.

If you read yesterday’s entry, you know where I am today. If not, here is a brief review. It’s Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and I am in Poway California at the over fifty-five apartments in which my Mum resides. Think of Mum as a busy British bee, and me, basically the token male, helping to host an honorary tea party that Mum has decided to sponsor.

In your visualization, picture a group of 90% retired ladies, all of whom have, in a way, adopted the words of my gloating 86-year-old matriarch in describing, “Her wonderful son,” and to that add my wife, who knows what I really look like standing in my underwear.

I mean no disrespect or egotistical acceptance of her pride, and being from a typical British/Jewish lineage I will admit that, at times, the peculiar pressure that arises from carrying the motherly label of  “Last son and heir to the Radstone name,” does put a bit of childlike reaction to my actions.

I remember my high school days, I could do no wrong, and to the chagrin of my two older sisters, I pressed that privilege to the limits. Perhaps that is why my wife continues to grimace upon the exultations she has to bear in witnessing the communication between my sweet Mum and her prodigal son. And cause for the look at me for the Doofus I can be desire that has always been a weird quest that I campaigned for over the years in my family dynamic.

And in another way, perhaps the driving subtext to my quest for artistic expression, that constant conflict of self-worth and self-loathing many an artist admit to as core motivation to the way they view life through exploring eyes. So Mum… cheers to the base you have imparted to me.

Yet even with the acceptance of the reasoning for my good ol Mum’s admiration, and bolstered by my wife’s humorously supporting eye-roll, “’We have two hours until the tea party, and if I have to hear one more, ‘you’re the wife of that nice boy who is helping his mother,’’’ I find it very prudent to take leave for an auto journey in seeking my friends for the day.

I have no idea of the neighborhoods that surround the area, so I just drive, looking for anything that catches my eye. And knowing from past experience that to aimlessly wander could prove to be the kiss of death in maximizing a two-hour window of time, I lock my mind into listening to the first impression it receives.

The speedometer reads 55mph as I press the edge of the speed limit in hopes that the trail of cyclists will lead me to some cycling mecca. For twenty minutes I follow my peddling strangers, and the deeper I get into the suburbs, the more I start to realize that my timeline is reaching the alarm zone. Bottom line, “I’m dead meat if I miss the tea party.”

Stress sets in, and at the instant I let go of my, I’m going to talk bicycling agenda, a small sign appears to my right, “Big Garage Sale.”

Throughout my 365 travels I have come across quite a few of these sign, but never with the pulling power that this cardboard post hits me with.

Five minutes later I find myself parked in front of the Titans, Poway High School Gymnastics fundraising yard sales.

I cannot figure out why, but I have the jitters. I approach anyway.

Blending in, I browse the many items displayed on countless folding tables. I am not alone with the others who have also been drawn by the signage placed throughout the neighborhood.

“May I help you?” enters my left ear. The time is upon me, I introduce 365.

My challenge is accepted, but even with the openness to contribute, I feel a slight trepidation in the air, so we chat for a while.

The more we talk the greater the peace, and the greater the peace the deeper the meaning of our chat becomes.

We end up talking for almost ninety-minutes, and by the end of our group discussion we are all new friends with a message that proves to me that inspiration comes in the strangest of ways. Today it has magnified itself via the handwritten call of a cutout garage sale sign.

Lisa becomes the front spokesperson for the group of volunteers of community.

With the eyes of the other ladies upon her, she shares her council.

“My outward advice…” she asks us all to consider… “What could you do for other people? You really do have time… and there is always a way to make the time.

“’Inward… I teach yoga, and I always say, ‘May the spirit within me recognize the spirit within you, Namaste’”

Lisa explains, “’It’s not about me or any selfish thought. We all need to work on ourselves constantly so that we can give to others and not become selfish.

“And we need to start now. So many say, ‘We are too busy,’ but there is no excuse.’”

Linda chimes in, “Communication is key. There is not enough of it. That is why there is so much conflict and war. We must learn to respect each other for a better future.

“I’m a little scared for the future, not so much for me, but for my grandkids.”

The girls are ramping up and I’m doing my best to take accurate notes, and as I do, I know that I am where I am supposed to be.

Rena takes the baton, “I’m not that afraid, and the secret is tolerance, not just in looking at the individual, but at the global perspective.

“Someday it will come full circle and we will have to return back to the basics and back to community.”

Listening the whole while is Alex, daughter of Lisa. I have to call her a silent gem of wisdom. At twenty years wise, Lisa gives a hint as to her maturity. “Alex has had to deal with more death than anyone her age normally experiences. I don’t know of many high school kids that have a memorial board in their bedrooms.”

Yet, Alex walks with a smile of wisdom and humanity on her face as she expresses her concerns for the society that she is growing into, “There is way too much consumerism, and the social media is messing up the pace of life. I’m only twenty and I see so many of my age group becoming numb. There is no shock factor anymore. Tomorrow you could die and what do you have left to show? — your Facebook quotes.

“I’m scared for the future.”

I tell them of the many I have spoken to, hundreds of people who are all saying the same thing as I leave the challenge to pass it on.

Lisa talks of the pride she has in her children. “I taught them early the importance of a handwritten thank you note.”

There is no way the new face of communication is going to slow. Even I have accepted it in my reach out with this blog and it’s message. But the caution is on the walls.

Today we have talked with five women of great valour, and have conversed of Namaste, communication, tolerance, community, serving others, overcoming fear and the importance of the human voice and written word.

All topics of great depth, and all reason for us to unite in one basic charge, as Rena suggests, “Someday it will come full circle and we will have to return back to the basics and back to community.”

My hope, “May that someday begin within all of us.”

The tea party is tomorrow. Not a reenactment of the Boston occurrence that led to the eventual separation of the America from its tax burdening British hierarchy, but a simple little afternoon luncheon that my Queen’s-English speaking Mum is conduction tomorrow at her San Diego residential complex, honoring Queen Elizabeth’s II sixtieth year on the throne.

My wife, daughter and I have arrived a day prior to the function in our support of her event. We are delighted by the stories of her neighbors who have come together as con-sponsors of the festivities.

The room is cute: a British flag covers the pantry at the East wall of the recreation area, fresh whipped cream is chilling in the refrigerator, and the china is set. There is one last piece of furniture that need to be set, the buffet table.

Enter “Ed,” facility engineer and today’s Master-in-Arms, overseeing the heavy lifting in his gentlemanly oversight of the women who are in-charge of the room

A gentleman to the core, and with his Southern charm, Ed expresses his outlook towards the senior citizen ladies that he is so graciously serving. “’You have to respect the mama’s. I remember my father telling me that, and it is the way I always looked at my mother. She brought me into the world and I have to respect her for that. We always have to treat them right. Also, men, don’t forget, behind every good man there is a good woman.’”

Ed reflects on life, “Life is fast. I remember as a child how slow it went; going to play ball or to the river for fishing. Now at forty-six it is going faster and it speeds up every year.

“I have a seven-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter. If there is any one big lesson that I have learned it is to give the extra five to ten minutes, to live for today and don’t worry about tomorrow.”

I ask, “Do you see any difference in the people of the Carolina’s and San Diego? — a relatively unassuming inquiry, but one that opens the doors to a conversation of global proportion.

First off Ed talks of the South, “The Carolinas are a little more old school, everything is a slower process. That’s all, but the major issues are similar.

“And there are more people in San Diego than in the whole state of Carolina.”

We transition into a topic of major perspective: the population problem.

Per Ed, “’There are a lot of people in the world. Just recently I read a statistic: 400 thousand students in the school districts of San Diego County alone. The country doesn’t even have that many jobs. I was out of work for five-years, and it has been extremely difficult for me to find employment. One recruiter even said to me that he received four thousand applications for a single position.

“We have to look at reality, and being a father of two, I have to admit to one worry, ‘What is in-store for my children’s future?’

“The population is a problem. And the government is not addressing it. Things like the way the welfare system is enabling people to not work, to the greed of big business and government as they cut workforce all the while not adjusting the compensation of their officers and high profile political positions.

“Look at the CEO of Chevron, a $25,000,000 compensation in 2011 (up 52% over 2010) and uncountable similar abuses at other corporations. No one needs that kind of income.

“There are people trying to get jobs to just support their families. The American dream is no longer alive. Now parents are putting their kids through college, and when they graduate, there are no jobs for them. And worse yet, these parents are in debt from helping their kids get an education.

“And all the while, the richer are getting richer and the poor poorer.

Money like that can be put to good use in giving people jobs.

“The government is turning a blind eye to the problem, even numbing them in support of new technology. I think that they are very much behind the social network in using it to keep the public entertained, not truly informed, and purposely diverting the citizens of America away from what they are planning.

“It makes me mad to see the Police, Fire Department, Education and Public Services take the hit from endless cutbacks and layoffs, while the Governors, Mayors and City Councils see no salary adjustments.

“We talk about the abuses of the rich and the entitlement that we are embarrassed to admit that many US residents display. We need to be working, to take any job we can that will lead to bettering our situation. America needs and it’s citizens need to become self reliant,” Ed suggests as he shares a note on a possible partial solution to the problem.

“I think an 8% pay cut across the board would be a good idea. That would open up more jobs for everyone.

“All people need to be working, to do their part to get off any government aid and become more independent in taking care of themselves and their families. I am not talking about any one group and I am not a racist. My family is mixed; my great grandfather was a Native American and my grandmother Irish, so I’m comfortable is saying this to everyone.”

Ed and I have spoken of a very sensitive topic, the right and privilege to bring children into the world and the world that they are coming into. We talked of real life conditions, politics, big business and, in a way, morality.Yet in the center of all these topics, Ed gives us the greatest of advice, with the eloquence of an impassioned seeker of peace, “Love is a powerful thing… it makes the world go round.”

Another Santa Monica shoot day in the can and the thought of stopping to again wander the coastal streets feels a little expected. The sun has dropped, my eyes are drooping, and even with the car-pooling companionship of production assistant J.C, my communication tool set is starting to shut down after a full day of studio directing.

I convince myself that the beaches will be full and route our return home along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). A disillusioned idea for sure, and one that becomes visually apparent as the sand clears of foot movement in it’s usual migration of beach goers, all of whom are content to leave the cooling wind in their auto encapsulated end of sunlit coastline exodus.

And there is no way I’m going to be the creepy walk up to car dude tonight, I just don’t have the energy for that right now. Maybe another time, someplace quite and safe, like a freeway on ramp or something of that sort.

PCH yields to Topanga Canyon for the inland trek, same thinking, “I’ll see someone.”

You got it, “Even more creepy to be accosted by the car driver wanting to take your photo and ask you a few personal questions.”

I’m telling you, “Sleep deprivation makes the mind do stupid bargaining.”

About this time, the crowds of Santa Monica are not looking that redundant anymore, and if not for the almost $5 a gallon price tag on fuel, I probably would have flipped an inter canyon U-turn, but budgetary prudence gets the best of me.

Out of the canyon I fly, actually, it’s more like a surge of swerving corrections forced upon me by my now sagging eyelids. And, through the grace of lowered window wind, I augment my awareness via the assistance of forcing a few Mr. Bean, “There is no way I’m falling asleep,” facial contortions.

I start to self-bargain one again, “No one will chasten me for missing one entry after not missing a day since the beginning of 365 way back in September.”

But I just can’t do it, and I know if I do, the recriminations that I will feel tomorrow will probably go deep into my psyche.

Almost 9pm now, and yep, the San Fernando streets are mostly clear. One option come to mind… reluctantly… The Topanga Canyon Mall.

J.C seconds my proposal with a buy in to a mall visit. Thus, prior to my dropping him off, and within two-mile of my cozy bed and a restful nights sleep, I find myself in the center of consumerism.

And again, per the tone of my 365 quest today, I have put myself in the midst of yet another exodus of fulfilled shoppers happily departing to the clangs of closing storefront gates. “I’m doomed… I’m fried… and it looks like it’s going to be an all nighter.”

The mall is echoing the still air of silence, and as it does, I spot what I hope is salvation, two figures enjoying cups of ice cream in the reclined peace of pillows and wicker.

“Hi my name is Richard, sorry to bother you… I’m a photographer and for the last 222 days I’ve been working on a project…” I engage in the usual 365 explanation.

“Sounds like a cool project, we have nothing to hide, only we are going to a movie that starts at 8:50pm, can we be done by then?” They respond.

I look at my watch, 8:40pm! “Ouch!”

Needless to say, our conversation is brief and the photo shoot even briefer, but what I find out about my two new friends, husband and wife, Travis and Cassandra is inspiring, especially for young parents.

Cassandra begins with a touch of empathy, “I used to do surveys, I know what you are going through.”

We talk about society and how too many are overly guarded in even looking at the people around them. A topic that guides us to bond with a re-confirmation as to the power we individually have in bringing people together with even the simplest of acknowledgments.

I ask Travis for his council to the world.

“’Wow! That’s a huge question, and it changes day-to-day, how about this, ‘We do things that we don’t know.’”

“Great quote,” I assure him.

“It’s not really mine…” Travis confirms, “…its Aristotle.”

He brings it home, “’Here is how I see it, ‘Know yourself, your minds workings, so you don’t get misled.’

We really can be happy with exactly what we have, like kissing your wife!”

I take that as a queue in bringing Cassandra into the conversation.

We check our watches… 8:50pm… previews are probably starting.

We speed up the pace as Cassandra responds with her wisdom. “’I worry about how much TV we watch. We have to turn off the TV and do other things. It takes us away from reality she proposes, ‘Like the Steven Wright joke about the guy lost in staring at a TV through a shop window.’”

Only minutes left, the main attracting must be screening any second; I shift to the final question regarding the days ahead of us.

Laughingly Travis stabs, “The planet going into the sun.”

He steps back from his joke and re-collects his thoughts, “I’m worried about the lack of variation. And even though I love the Internet, being able to see what other people have, and how they exist in the world, I still feel we need to keep our personal lives evolving.”

I’m a little under educated on the theories of variation, so Travis does his best to give us a sixty-second crash course, “Think about the Starbucks on every corner, sure I like my cup of coffee, but if we were all like Starbucks, there would be no evolution.

For any complex system to be robust… they must have variation.”

We have to end our talks, 8:55pm; the opening credits are about to roll. We conclude with two beats, a quick few frames of photography and a promise from Cassandra to email us her words for the future.

Those words just in as I type this entry, “Thinking about the future is different for me now that we have children. While holding a baby, I wish for a world that is kind, gentle, and simple. When out with a happy toddler waving at random strangers, it’s wonderful when people smile back and wave. How great would it be if more people smiled and waved? When I see the future there are two little boys that we are raising that will someday be out there without me and it is scary sometimes. I want the world to be peaceful for them, I want the world to respect each other and treat each other well. I hope the future will be a happy place for them and for all of our children to live in.”