Losses of the past year

2022 - Some were personal.

 

Rebecca Wild Baxter (1946 - 2022)

Great friend, close comrade for nearly 40 years.

 

 

 

Knuckles (2009 - 2022)

Constant companion, a lover for 13 (years).

 

2002 Triumph Bonneville (2002 - 2022)?

My motor-bike kicked-out from underneath me two days ago, as we both slid on our sides across a slippery, busy intersection. Riding for over 50 years, now might be time to hang-up that jacket.

 

 

 

Edson Arantes do Nacimento (1940 - 2022)  "Pelé" of Brazilian Futebol.

In early 2021, the State of Rio de Janeiro voted to rename Maracanã Stadium after their Brazilian national soccer star, Pelé, 'O Rei' (the king).  For many years, being one of the largest stadiums in the world, and a star in it's own game, Maracanã Stadium would seat over 150,000 fans per match.  

In 1989, I covered the heated 'Copa Rio' at Maracanã, soon to be renamed after the ever great, Pelé.  For the Brazilian people, "To play like Pelé is to play like God."

 

 

 

Sandy's tree trimming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

'Lost Sierra'

Johnsville - Plumas County, Sierra Nevada's, northern California. 

Population 21 (2010 census).  Elevation 5,205 ft.  Founded in 1849 as a gold mining camp.

 

Heading up

 Eureka Peak, up above Johnsville (elevation 7,447 ft).

Center of town.

 

Johnsville's historic "longboard" ski bowl.   https://plumasskiclub.org/web/index.php

 

 

Matt's dog named "BB".  A unique breed, a McNab, known for working cattle & for their fierce loyalty.

The chicken book

 

Lola & Bella prepping for our fancy vegan, Thanksgiving supper.

 

 

 

homemade Harvest pie.  Good, all so good.

 

election day

After early morning voting (with an unneeded, extremely long and cumbersome ballot) - I spent the next 3 hours thankfully, on a planned walk-about of old-growth paths, through the area's historical coastal settlement at Spanish Point. Heading home I stopped for lunch at Connors Bar & Grill.

Florida is a deep Red State. And it immediately showed. An excited blonde middle-aged woman pulled up a stool next to me. With hat in hand, she proudly shared with me her familiar approval.

 

lost a buddy today .......

on the operating table. 

Knuckles 2009-2022

 

 

 

 

he loved to sing, right to the end.

Time to let him go

Today, thirty years after his death, I finally released my father's cremated remains - out on a strong outgoing tide of the Hunter's moon - from Siesta Key's, Shell Road, into Sarasota's, Big Pass.  Now a once distant father could be carried far-and-wide across a newly calmed Gulf of Mexico. There he loved to sail.  And, It was about time.

Pages from his 'Rambler's' Log Book.  St. Pete - Havana race, 1956.

 

 

Would you die for your plants?

 Not likely, but it's a factor.

"You know what people don't understand is wherever you choose to live, that's how you have to live."    

Alphonso Poole, 47, a serious-minded gardener.  On living 700 feet from Tampa's bayside waters, referencing Hurricane Ian. 

 

Our front entrance blocked