December 5, 2005
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The Daily News
1 Sunrise.
2 I tend to talk often about sunsets, and I have WAY more pictures of sunsets than I do sunrises, but every now and again, the sunrise is my time of day. Yesterday was one such day. It was my time of day. Please allow me to tell of it.
3 Following a terrific opening weekend, I found myself downtown once more, having hot chicken soup at Original Joe's, following Saturday night's performance. The sourdough was fresh, and the company always delightful. A small group of us later went for a freezing walk through the downtown area, frosty, breezy, and crisp. We walked around Christmas in the Park for a second, even though it was dark, just to check out our trees. A north wind chilled us to the marrow; we could see our breath turn to icy puffs of winter. The city had the classic San Jose yellow hue, and it worked perfectly with the frost.
4 Following that, we walked by the Circle of Palms and the ice skating rink.Some jazz music played; the lights on the trees twinkled wonderously, and I just thanked the Creator of the Universe for turning our town into such a beautiful city during the holidays. We froze, but all of us loved the brisk walk, and the simple beauty of downtown San Jose at Christmastide. I love our city, and I just think of how unique it is in so many ways.
5 I got home really late, or early, depending on your point of view, and had around three hours of restless, but marvelous sleep, got up at 5 a.m. checked e-mails and all, and then took off for San Francisco, to work at the Niners game. I sell what the hyphees out there refer to as "merch". I make a ton of money at it, but each time I go, it's a long day. Anyway, I pulled up to Candlestick Park, where I've seen more magic Harry Potter, and turned off just as the sun arose.
6 The sun hadn't even come up from Saturday night's twinkling evening in San Jose, and there I was, at the dock of the bay, looking straight into the sunrise. The moment was a still-life, and I immediately grabbed my camera.
7 The sunrise gave way to peach and orange hues, but I didn't have time to sit and take pictures. I did catch the pictures above and below today's DN, but sometimes your best pictures are the ones you never took. But I knew I should take at least two or three.
8 I did so because Candlestick Park reminds me of miracles. I saw Dwight Clark's heroic catch in the 1981 playoff game against Dallas. I saw two days of the Rolling Stones, and with nothing but laughs, fog, good music, and lots of incredible music. I have seen classic Giants/Dodgers battles, and Blue Angel flyovers every time there has been a playoff game, and there have been many.
9 I remember sitting out in General Admission with my dad as a kid, watching batting practice and doing everything and nothing. I remember selling soda and hot dogs and beer all through college, making tons of money in very few hours, and being able to watch lots of great moments. I recall Willie McCovey's last game.
10 I remember Mays.
11 And I remember Joe Montana, and Steve Young, and Ronnie Lott, and Jerry Rice. And John Brodie, and Dave Wilcox. And I don't remember the Beatles, the Pope, nor the great Earthquake, because somehow I was doing other things. But those events were still part of the rich history that is Candlestick.
12 The place is real, especially when it is empty. Some of my favorite moments were when she was empty (those of us in the KNOW refer to Candlestick clearly as a beautiful lady who has seen the years, and whose beauty can still be seen through her own eyes). This year, they've cleaned her up, painted her, and put in a new scoreboard.
13 She looked beautiful yesterday morning. Oh, the Niners lost, and all the rest. But way before that, and way after that, I walked alone through that maginficent place, a place where I always go to get back in touch with everything that is real in my life.
14 And yes, it was real.
15 Sometimes it's the little things.
16 Touch your own heart today, and remind yourself of who you are.
17 And then walk alone with confidence.
18 Smile about home.
18 Smile about who you are.
19 And love life today.
20 Do that, okay?
21 Peace.
~h~
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