Epiphany #1 July 14, 2013

I am only two weeks post “R” date, and already I realize that shedding my scientist/professor mantel will be easier than I had feared.  Pirates helped me learn that.  It doesn’t matter a hoot that I was a scientist.  And I can imagine that I could actually move to Point Reyes!  Wouldn’t that be something!

Pirates of Penzance July 14, 2013

In late 2011, when I was beginning to anticipate retirement, I decided to work with a life coach to stir up some options.  It was an exciting few months and my coach, Cathy Akiyama, strongly encouraged me to start singing again.  “Sing every day for a month”, she advised, and so I decided to open myself back up to that.  Singing had always been an important part of my life, but I had purposely shut it down for two decades to attend to other commitments in life – running a laboratory, attending to an ill husband, raising a child.  Anticipating retirement this summer, I auditioned for this Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, being produced at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station, as way not only of dipping my toe back into music making, but also as a way of meeting members of this West Marin community.  “Oh, rapture!”  Am I ever having fun! 

Yoga Toes July 11, 2013

When I’m in Point Reyes Station, I’m generally too lazy to join a yoga class, but today was the moment to turn that around.  I dropped into the “gentle yoga” class taught by Nicholas Giacomini, and it was gentle, and lovely!  The studio was long, narrow, and atmospheric.  I grabbed a mat and a pile of props, slid into a slot somewhere in the middle, and began bending, twisting, and breathing.  Ah!  I’ll be back!

San Francisco State July 9, 2013

I enjoy teaching and I thought I might re-direct my passion for math and science toward undergraduate or high school students.  I met with a colleague at San Francisco State University to discuss running a course on human genetics in the spring semester.  I’ve lived in San Francisco for 32 years, yet other than watching Annie play tennis on its courts, I was completely unfamiliar with SFSU.  How could I have overlooked it?  With its 30,000 students, SFSU is by far the largest university in town.  The campus, quiet now for the summer, is nestled in the Sunset district, and I enjoyed walking along its lush lawns on this sunny day.  I learn that SFSU has a lively arts program, and I am eager to sample a few events in the coming year.  Who knows, maybe there is even a spring semester course in my future!

Senior Discount July 4, 2013

July 4^th seemed like a good day to soak in some sun and go for a swim, so I headed down to Rinconada, a public pool in Palo Alto.  Full disclosure:  I had enjoyed this pool many times when Annie was little as it’s just the ticket for getting us out of the San Francisco fog on a summer’s day.  This spacious and inviting facility, in which every conceivable language can be happily heard, includes a wading pool with mushroom fountains for the little kids, a deeper area and three diving boards for the teens, and a nice set of lap lanes for the more serious swimmers.  But on this occasion, I was alone, and at the entrance it hit me that I was now 60 and perhaps qualified for a senior discount.  The hunky young lifeguard said, “Yes indeed.  $3.”  [I repeated this trick soon after, qualifying for a senior membership at a local science museum, and I will endeavor to repeat as often as possible over the coming year!]  Later that evening I scored another first when the night sky was so clear that I could see synchronized fireworks from both Crissy Field and Pier 30 from my attic window. 

Meditation July 1, 2013

I’ve been drawn to Buddhism for some time, joining the occasional Wednesday morning sangha at Spirit Rock, taking a workshop at Green Gulch or a indulging in a retreat at Tassajara.  In fact I’m a member of the San Francisco Zen Center, but I have never managed to commit to a daily practice of meditation.  Now is the time to begin.  I had ordered a copy of Norman Fischer’s new book on compassion and decided to use that as my vehicle to give structure to my new venture.  In fact, the first chapter is called, “resolve to begin” and so I did.  I pulled out my indigo cushion, organized my little altar of Buddhas, incense, and flowers, set my iPhone timer, and voila, I began.