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Dear Albert,

Happy 11th! Here are some recent photos and videos of my life in Portland. Friends, Louie the Cat, music. Enjoy.

Thanks if you were one of the people who sent me a birthday card!

As I was sending out a newsletter to my family yesterday Yehudah sent me this neat article on Kinkeeping.

Well, on one of the hottest days of the year so far, in what is sure to be a super hot Summer, my mind goes towards the few areas we have control over. Our physical space - houses, yards, are all under our control. If you haven't removed your lawn and started planting a forest yet, why not?

I was playing dominoes with some friends last night and our host had us go around and offer up a pet peeve - mine in that moment had to do with the local Air National Guard base and wishing it were relocated to Eastern Oregon. It reminded me that over the years I have created a list of small achievable things that would all make our planet more livable.

If you're in the Philly area, reach out to me 5.17-27. I'll be in Jenkintown visiting family and hopefully seeing friends and playing music!

So, here I am. 63. Ta-da! Life is very good. Because of the warmer weather, I've been out on my bike more lately. I've also been enjoying the late-night comedians. They really make the politics of the day lighter.

But really, I'd have to say my mind is occupied a lot these days with figuring out how to move the issues I've been working on for years in a bigger way. Like - why aren't gas-powered leaf blowers (and all other gas-powered lawn tools) banned already? We got an ordinance passed in Portland, but it has been a struggle - these things are so obviously wrong - why do we do this to ourselves? Anyway, I hope to do some writing and video-ing over the next months on this topic to see what I can do on a wider scale. Maybe we need to put it in our soap operas as the Population Media Center has done around the world on teaching contraception and other important lessons.

Here's a lovely song I rediscovered recently. Btw, I'm becoming a fan of Ultimate Guitar App - if you have a playlist you've created, please get in touch and we can share tunes!

Here is some of what I'm up to this Summer. Please join me if anything here calls you! And, if you are a last-minute person and live in Portland, join my Tag Along at the Last Minute list! I'm usually down for being invited out to do things, too! Try me!

5.17-27 - Jenkintown, PA Family Visit

6.9 - The Strawberry Party, Banks, OR

6.20-23 - Breitenbush Summer Solstice Healing Retreat (my 29th or 30th!)

6.28-30 - (if I have company...) Bodi Mojo Festival!

7.10-15 - Oregon Country Fair (see video below!)

7.18-21 - Shady Pines Campout

7.25-28 - Cascadia Songrise (very likely)

8.2-8.4 - Coastal thing - Heart Barn (ring me if you'd like to camp with me at this)

8.8 weekend - Subdued String Festival (long shot, but maybe)

8.23-25 - Garcia Birthday Band Festival - I went last year, no tix yet, but likely

8.25-30 - SAM Camp! (probably sold out)

Well, thanks for listening and reading and following along. It's such an interesting thing this life, isn't it? I've been watching Northern Exposure for the past couple of weeks. It's such a lovely show. If you have never watched it, I highly recommend it. It raises philosophical issues, questions about life and death and so much more. I used to watch it during grad school in 1989 with my girlfriend, Susi. It's been a nice way to enjoy some quiet evenings this Spring.

OK, a friend is on his way to play some music, and fun and merriment for my birthday is about to commence. And waffles!

Here's to your health!

Love,

Albert

Below: Pic from the way back machine! Me in top center, my brother Dan next to me - 3 cousins - Sarah, Rachel and Danny - and my sister, Liz bottom center!

We're so sorry, Uncle Albert

Captain Albert and new friend, Cynthia