Sojourner - Traveling with the “Canman”

My Nagoya friends invited me over to see how they make and eat sushi and Sukiyaki at home. What an amazing experience topped off with superb Japanese white wine. The Sushi ingredients are fresh and all that is needed is a hint of washabi and soy sauce. The key to the sukiyaki was adding cane sugar and cooking sakai to the broth. The thinly sliced meat was very fatty like a wagu, giving it tons of flavor. Oishi as they say in Japanese for delicious.

Would you live your life differently if instead of the 70 or 80 years you hope to have, lifespans are only 8 days? I recently rediscovered a story written by Ray Bradbury in 1946.  Many years ago it helped shaped my perspective on the rush-rush dilemmas sometimes posed by modern life. In the story, "Frost and Fire" , a group of human explorers are trapped on a planet. Birth to life encompasses only 8 days. They frantically attempt to live their life and make sense of their existence.  You can listen to a radio version of the story at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= AJ1P_bfbgfk&feature=youtu.be How would I live my life differently if I only had 8 days?  Ideally not too differently than now, if I am "living in the now" ala Eckhart Tolle.  What about 800 years?  In a way that is what religions like Christianity or Buddhism attempt to fortify you with. i.e. living forever.  

Hopped a flight to San Francisco to visit family near the Mendocino coast, close an open book, and attend the world famous Cotati Accordian Festival. The redwoods are so big, strong and SILENT. You feel their presence. Something to learn from this. I stayed in my Aunt Lil's old cabin. I drove up on a moonlit, foggy nite to the remote cabin. Such wonderful solitude to reflect or shoot a haunted movie. 👀🌙I shared a meravigliosa Italian meal with family. Great grandchildren to Aunt Lil. Dinner was a plethora of home grown vegetables and homemade gnocchi. Aunt Lil worries that the farm is running down. You can see it and is a vivid reminder that nothing on the earth stays the same. Visiting my 92 year old Aunt and her 89 year old "baby bro", I pondered the question again, what to do and where to live when one's working career is over? Their lives center around extended family, living in nature, and growing. Can that be enough? On this trip I closed one chapter in life. ...

Met my amico Roberto who is performing around the streets around Lago Garda. He introduced me to his colleague Valter, who can play a guitar like a violin, harp, and bass. Such talent. Valter recently played at La Scala with Lady Gaga! It's not always an easy life, but they are following their bliss. I was privileged to play with with Roberto and even sang a duet (County Road) No euros went in the guitar case though. Note to self, don't quit day job.   https://photos.app.goo.gl/gvjYkWDSYuSdJYWNA

To escape the record heat in Europe, drove up to Switzerland, intending to get familiarity with hiking Aletsch glacier for next time-a 14 mile long frozen river and the biggest glacier left in Europe. But on the spur of the moment threw a change of clothes in my backpack and took the gondola to Bettmeralp, an oasis mountain village on the side of a mountain, below the rim of the Aletsch glacier. Found lodging and decided to go for a day hike despite the light rain. It was so cool clear and refreshing. Made it to a summit early evening. Was all alone, save for the ubiquitous cow's and their bell's. Great place to méditate on cherishing all living beings and doing yoga.   https://photos.app.goo.gl/dfCyZS3HkhDpLtab8

Floating luna, disco, and replays of the Tranquility Base audio on the shores of Lago Maggiore near Stressa. Italians know how to celebrate and live holistically. Word got around that Eric Clapton was at this event.  Everyone thought it was me! 😅

Did you know, Italian cultura resides in San Diego! A whole vibrant Italian community with a long history. Perfect weather abounds here with mighty ships and F-35's flying makes for a wonderful escape from Texas heat. Went to the O-Club and relived my youth together with Lt JG Canclini. Little changes except for the faces. Life and Naval aviation keeps on chucking The place not to miss at night is the 2 Piano bar. Put a dollar and a song on the pianos and these amazing miastros will sing and play it. The talent is humbling. Am I missing a "music gene"?  San Diego

Amazing Nagoya skyscraper. I can picture Godzilla climbing it!  It is across from the Nagoya train station, the largest train station in the world!   I love the Shikansen bullet trains. Reliable and no stress about missing a flight. Wish we had them in the states. One of the most remarkable things about this city of 3 million and in fact all Japan is the cleanliness and absence of litter, even though there are NO trash cans. Very impressive. Nagoya-shi is a modern thriving city, with a great metro to get around. Despite its size its surprisingly easy to find a small restaurant and meet some locals. Nagoya has taught me one can live in a big city and still have a sense of community without the need for a car.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/cmaE5d1bgsYSL8t29

Attended the annual Society of Flight Test Engineers symposium in Toulouse, France. . Heard some amazing talks on the coming technology revolution that is powered in part by AI. The city is picturesque and more charming than Paris. An amalgam of French, Roman, and Spanish culture, with a long storied, maybe sordid history of persecuting non traditional beliefs embodied in a magnificent 1000 year old  Cathedral honoring a priest who was dragged to death for not recanting.  Oh for a touch of humanity embodied in  Unitarian Universalist Covenants and Principles  and Kadampa Buddhism. (ref my Wisdom page) The residents are quite proud of their duck dishes, especially the pate. Airbus is headquartered there and the tour of its A320 production facility was enlightening. . 2 airliners come off the line every day!  What I experienced there is the amazing professionalism and expertise combined with corporate leaders who care to ensure it stays that way.  Toulouse Si...

One of the very satisfying things I get to do is work with members of the Italian Airforce. What is remarkable is the holistic perspective their culture embodies. Not just a singular focus work or amazing  jets , but also food, history, culture and of course vino. This picture is from an amazing ristoranti in Navaro called,  La Locanda delle Due Suocere  (2 Mother's  in Law). Understanding that there are many ways to live life is so enlightening.