Cheers,

  

What Is Love?

To cement my statement, I published a new photo-book, “42 Encounters with Love”, which is going to be available at the end of January. This was also my first attempt to write love poems. Through thousands of years, many great poets expressed their feelings about love in their verses. This is why I do not call myself a poet – not yet. The title of one of my poems is, “What is Love?”. There I ask this question starting with a poet and ending with a woman.

“What is love?” I asked a woman.

She did not answer but instead

closed her eyes and kissed my lips.

And suddenly I knew the answer;

Love is not words, but a feeling,

Which fills my heart with love.”

Cheers,

  

Reflections

On January 13^th, I am going to turn 75 years young. On August 8^th, Elfa and I and our family will celebrate our 55^th wedding anniversary. It is also 20 years since I had my last drink of alcohol (I quit for a spiritual reason). September is going to be 37 years since we started Pacific Bay Financial. And December 29^th marks 50 years since we left Riga, Latvia. I can also squeeze into the list our first trip abroad in April (I keep my fingers crossed). Also in the list — my next and fourth Encounters photostory book, “42 Encounters with Love”, which is my first poetry-photo book, as well as my book, “Fridays with Manny 2021”. And since conforming limits of mortgages went up and interest rates will probably stay low, I am going to be very busy, helping many of my clients. I am going to continue to send out my weekly essays and photo images, I hope you will enjoy them.

  

Who Was Santa Claus?

When we came to San Francisco in 1980, we discovered that a Yolka is called a Christmas tree, and Grandpa Frost is Santa Claus. There are a lot of interesting traditions connected with both. Though fir trees were used to celebrate pagan winter festivals, one of the first documented use of a tree at Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations was in Riga, Latvia in 1510. In the third century in Turkey, Santa Claus was known as Nicholas, who used his inherited wealth to help children. Later on, he became known as St. Nicholas. When Dutch settlers came to New York, they brought with them the tradition to celebrate the anniversary of Nicholas’ death. They nicknamed him Sinter Klaas, which eventually became known as Santa Claus. The custom of gift giving passed on down from St. Nicholas’ generosity, only to be picked up in the beginning of the nineteenth century by stores advertising shopping for Christmas. As we know, this tradition continues today. 

Cheers,

  

Aloha from Kauai

I learned it from Pilahi Paki, a Hawaiian poet, philosopher, linguist, educator, spiritual guide, songwriter, and author.

The national flower of Hawaii is a hibiscus. At one time they were considered endangered; however, today there are over thirty new species. I am sharing with you three samples of the flowers.

Cheers,

  

Aloha from Kauai

I learned it from Pilahi Paki, a Hawaiian poet, philosopher, linguist, educator, spiritual guide, songwriter, and author.

The national flower of Hawaii is a hibiscus. At one time they were considered endangered; however, today there are over thirty new species. I am sharing with you three samples of the flowers.

Cheers,