A Life Unsettled

Short Update:  • First, two friends of mine had life-threatening health issues last week. Please keep Stan Logwood and H Spees in your thoughts and prayers.  • We’re beginning to address the stress we’ve been under for the past month.  • I’m getting serious about the dispossession of the Boulder Creek home.  • We remain thankful for our friends and their love and support.  Longer Update:       Perhaps more importantly, last week I learned that two friends, Stan Logwood, and H Spees are both in critical condition due to health issues. Stan works with Live in Peace in East Palo Alto. His partner Heather Starnes and I have been co-laborers for many years. H Spees, whom I consider a mentor, has lived and served in Fresno for decades. Earlier in life he worked with the Civil Rights leaders John and Vera Mae Perkins in Mississippi. They both need prayers and positive energy.  As rough as the last month for us, what they are dealing wit...

I read the below article this morning. It’s a good reminder of the beauty of Easter revealed in material things. It also encourages us to lean into the “analog” in a “digital” world. To slow, to see beauty, see grace. As I enter into a new season, one that I didn’t ask for, this reminds me to use this time to reconnect, renovate and reconsider how I move in the world, with all my flaws and humanness.  A couple of quotes that struck me,  “The more I have tried to seek God — the more I reach for truth, beauty and mystery that I know exceeds my grasp — the more bright, vivid and vital the things of earth become. Not to say that they are always beautiful and lovely. The sorrow, sin and ache of the world — the violence of nature itself, which is “red in tooth and claw,” as Tennyson put it — is clearer to me each year. Yet, as I grow in faith and in years, the lusciousness of this earth of ours, the glory in even the most ordinary of backyards, the astounding excessiveness of the na...

Short Update:  • We’re still settling in, but not buried in boxes anymore • I’m turning my attention to figuring out the disposition of our Boulder Creek home • I’m starting to feel more normal, able to better focus on work Longer Update:  We’re closing in on two weeks since the chaos started. It feels more like months. Our new place in Santa Cruz is shaping up, due to Melissa’s hard work. We’re discovering more in and around Santa Cruz and the Live Oak neighborhood. We haven’t lived close to the beach since our time in Tijuana. It’s nice to be a 20-minute walk to the ocean.  As the days begin to normalize and the adrenaline rush wears off, my emotions are mixed. On the one hand, I’m still humbled and grateful for the way our community surrounded us. I’m not sure how we would have made this work without the help. There are still waves of emotions. I have times of gratitude and peace along with ones of grief and sadness. Sometimes it’s discombobulating to be here. The chan...

Short Update:  • We moved into our rental in Santa Cruz over the weekend.  Our life is slowly emerging from boxes. Going from a 3 bedroom home to a small 2 bedroom space is a challenge!  • The new place is old and quaint. We’re about 1 mile to the beach and close to amenities. After being in the woods for five years it’s refreshing to be near things.  • The dogs are settling in.  • We still have a lot of things in the Boulder Creek house. We need to get rid of a lot. We’ll have a yard sale in a couple of weeks.  • I’m beginning to reach out to attorneys and others regarding the next steps with the Boulder Creek home. We will most likely need to let it go based on the financial numbers to repair it. Lots of important decisions coming up.  Longer Update:  This weekend was a whirlwind. Even with the movers it was an extremely busy weekend. It’s amazing how much accumulates over time! We’ve been homeowners for many years and going from a mode...

"Round One" - San Jose, CA Short Update:  - We’re doing OK. Ready to settle back somewhere.  - We found a place in Santa Cruz. Moving on Saturday - I’ve focused on housing primarily the last week. Next, we’ll move on to other issues like what to do with our house in Boulder Creek - I might have evidence of a scam. In conversation with a contractor, I found out that he gave the previous owners a report (that they asked for). In the report, he told the homeowners that the retaining would fail.  While I did a ton of due diligence before we bought, including talking to engineers and contractors, we didn't speak to this specific contractor. By chance I found him. Prior owners failed to disclose the report they received. We’re following up with attorneys to see if there is recourse. Other observations:  I feel like “round one” is coming to a close. We haven’t had to look for a rental since Sam was born. I forgot how stressful and challenging it is, especiall...

  Update 4.2.23 - San Jose, CA This week has been one of the most challenging ones we’ve had in many years. So many things are still up in the air. It’s existence day by day. First, however, I want to say thanks to all those who have come to our aid. The generosity and friendship have been (pleasantly) overwhelming. The love shown to us has buoyed our spirits and helped us feel less alone and more supported. We will get around to thanking all who have reached out and supported us individually. For now, please accept our deep gratitude. For now, we’re in an Airbnb in San Jose. The search for housing is ongoing. It’s been so long since we’ve been renters I forgot how stressful and life-encompassing this can be. It’s a strange feeling to be completely unmoored. I’m struck that literally billions of people in the world live this existence, without support from friends and family, on a daily basis. It’s good to feel a modicum of solidarity with them. I’m going to start a new blog to ch...