Hiking again!

Mike and I decided to start hiking again after a hiatus of several years. What motivated us? A friend introduced us to "phytoncides" which are organic compounds trees such as oak, pine trees give off. Apparently, they are known for having anti-cancer effects. So, we decided to add weekly hiking to our new cancer-fighting lifestyle. 

We chose the Peter's Creek & Long Ridge Loop of 4.6 miles with low elevation change (~400 feet) to ease into our weekly hiking rituals. The trail has a good mix of green forests and yellow grasslands. We enjoyed hiking in and out of shady forests and open sunny meadows. Though at the same time, we were quite puzzled by the fact that two such different vegetations exist side by side. The view at the top of the ridge was AMAZING! Since this was the first hike after my chemotherapy, I had to go at a much slower pace with frequent breaks. But, Mike being the best husband there is, was very patient and encouraging throughout the hike. He even acted as my insect repellent! The bugs swarmed around Mike who sweated much more than me :P Apparently, bugs are drawn to heat... The trail was also very quiet and with very few people. It almost felt like we rented the whole forest just for the two of us! Our lovely hike ended with having our favorite meals and dessert (Triple Berry ShortCake) at the Palo Alto Nordstrom Cafe. 

Here are some photos of the hike (Saturday, September 28, 2013)

Start of the Hike...

Us in the Shady Trail...

Fascinating Trees Along the Trail...

The Chopped Up Madrone Tree

Manzanita Branches -- Don't they look very similar to the Madrone trees? I thought so.

Wild Flowers Along the Trail...

Not-So-Lonely Ones

And Some Lonely One

View At the Top...

How Contrasting -- Green Forests & Golden Grasslands!

How Convenient -- A Stone Bench At the Top

How Happy and Fashionable!

Well Deserved Reward At the End of the Hike...

The Triple Berry Shortcake!!!

AND...

Did you spot the two acorns that we picked up during the hike?

No More "Flesh / Skin" Color in Crayon Colors in Korea

During my visit to Korea this past winter, I had a chance to play with our 2-year-old niece. While I was watching her draw random things on a piece of paper with a set of crayons, I noticed that there was no "flesh / skin" color any more. I vividly remember myself always reaching out for "flesh" color whenever I needed to color people's faces and bodies during my childhood. (Yes, I admit that I was not a very imaginative child since I automatically chose "flesh" color for coloring Mom's, Dad's and my faces.)

Naturally, I got curious about when the crayon companies changed the color "flesh / skin" to something else. So, I googled it. It turns out that the color named 'flesh' was renamed Peach in 1962, partially in response to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Per Wikipedia, Indian Red was renamed Chestnut in 1999 due to concern that some children thought the crayon color represented the skin color of Native Americans...

Hmm... I guess the fact that Korea still used "flesh / skin" color up until recently clearly shows that Koreans didn't think much of it and thus did not care much about naming the color with a politically-correct term. I am sure the fact the we all have the same skin color was another contributing factor to this. However, as increasing number of foreigners of various skin colors living and working in Korea for the last decade, it finally started to register in Korean people's consciousness and led them to rename the color to 'Peach.'

It's welcoming that Korea is becoming more conscious of racial issues and more open-minded. Though, I feel we have a long way to go as a nation when it comes to dealing with racism.

Funeral Blues

Have you ever wondered how you would feel if your loved ones die before you? I have... I love my husband so much that I can't imagine a life without him. When I first read W.H. Auden's Funeral Blues, I was able to relate to his feelings completely and this brought tears to my eyes just imagining a life without Mike... It did not feel intense or dramatic to me at all. I might add: "He was my sky, my earth, my water, my air and my wind"

I'd like to share the poem with the people who feels the same way as I do. Without much further ado, here's "Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden. Enjoy, or rather be in imaginary sorrow for a bit!

Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum

Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead

Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,

Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West

My working week and my Sunday rest

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;

For anything now can ever come to any good.

Starting my blog "Youngmeeism"

Dear blog,

I've decided to start a blog titled "youngmeeism" today. I figure it's a good sign that the url is still available. I'll record and share my "non sequitur" thoughts and more. As the very first step, I'd like to share one of my favorite poems which I was first introduced to by one of my friend's father who is also a professor of UT in the summer of 1991. The author is unknown.

Doggerel on a Trite Theme

Heart and head
A pair at odds;
Head is mine
Heart is God's

Head is shrewder
Than this mate
Head knows how
To calculate.

Head you can follow
Anywhere;
Head will teach you
Not to care

Heart is treacherous,
Cruel, kind;
Heart is loving
Heart is blind.

Heart is wayward,
Heart is mad;
Heart I wish
I never had.