Columnists

Grab the kids jump in the car and head for one of two venues – Oakland and San Jose – and get set for the annual circus treat. This edition of the Greatest Show on Earth does not disappoint. This year they bring you “Dragons,” a remarkable presentation that brings together mystical dragon lore and entertainment.

If you attended the Morgan Hill Independence Day parade, you might have got a glimpse of screen goddess Marilyn Monroe. She wore a sensuous pink dress, sat in a convertible and waved with movie star poise. She might have even blown you a kiss. The 1950s-era actress is often impersonated by Morgan Hill resident Laurren Cowan. But our South Valley region has a true Marilyn Monroe connection, one involving a conspiratorial tale with no happy Hollywood ending.

Decades ago, there was a popular book titled “What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School.” Perhaps someday, another book will appear to discuss certain aspects of the retirement experience that go unrecognized - the “fine print,” if you will. Here are some little things that can be frequently overlooked.  

Anyone who has read my column for a period of time knows that I became an aunt for the first time last year. Having no children of my own, my niece’s birth was an enormous event that filled my heart with pride.

Well, the days are getting shorter, schools are preparing to start and leaves will soon be changing color and falling off trees. These signs all point to the conclusion that it must almost be … football season.

Cameron Mackintosh’s “Les Miserables” has returned to the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco as a revamped  25th anniversary production with a first class touring company. And it has brought just about everything with it from its Broadway production.

One of the things I love about Gilroy is the weather. I have a brother-in-law who lives in upstate New York (where I once lived) and we often compare the weather. While he describes extreme cold in winter or extreme heat and humidity in the summer – to say nothing of devastating rain and storms – I smugly describe mostly sunny days and pleasant evenings year round.  

Having grown up in Colorado, the news this summer has been especially tough. First the devastating fires that took so many homes, including that of a woman I know who graduated from my high school the same year I did. Yet the sucker punch that followed the fires is the travesty that stays with me.

Wine tasting is  more than taking a swig and gulping it down. For that, there’s whiskey. But for most of us oenophiles, wine tasting is an experience to be savored and enjoyed with all of our senses – an experience that includes selecting the perfect wine, swirling the glass to release the aromas and savoring the flavors. The experience is heightened when shared with good friends or someone special. More than anything, it’s the sharing of wine that brings people together and can turn a special occasion into a night of romance.