Art and Soul in Oakland

Art and Soul is a big outdoor festival in uptown Oakland celebrating summer with music, art, and food. Wayne and I went Sunday, planning mostly to stay at the Clay Street Stage where live bands were going to play the blues all afternoon long.

Sure that parking would be non-existent close to the festival, I recommended we park on the lake and walk in. So, we did. The place we parked was a good mile from the Clay Street Stage, but it's a pretty walk along the lake and through part of the city to get there. We can always use the exercise! As we walked, we saw lots of parking available much closer in but, oh well. As I said, we can use the exercise. Walking was fun, even though we said we might take BART part of the way back.

Wow, the music was fabulous! We danced up a storm on the street in front of the stage, along with a lot of other Oaklanders. In between sets we ate fried catfish and garlic fries with fresh squeezed lemonade. I love this about Oakland, hanging out with people of all colors and backgrounds, everybody cool, everybody smiling and talking to each other, everybody dancing and laughing.

Wayne and I love to dance, and as we were leaving a young African-American lady came up to us and said, "You two dancing! You are wonderful." I grabbed her hand and squeezed it as she passed. "Thank you!" Wayne and I grinned at each other. "We've still got it. Old folks get down!" That's one of our mantras these days.

Holding hands, we decided we could walk the mile or so back to the car and started down Broadway. Wayne was thirsty. "Well, Luka's is on Broadway where we have to turn toward the lake. Let's stop there and get a beer." Sounded like a plan. We were a long block from Luka's when a young guy passing by in a car going the opposite direction on Broadway yelled, "Cutest couple on Broadway!" Wayne yelled back, "Thanks, bro''. I waved and cheered.

Here we are with beer and mussels at Luka's, just moments later.

Gotta love Oakland.

Aging outrageously

I had forgotten this poem, and just came across it again while cleaning out a desk drawer. It's from Warning, by Jenny Joseph, and, oh boy, I think it's exactly how I want to be when I grow up!

When I am an old woman

I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and a pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old and start to wear purple.