2012 In Review & Film on Matt McGoff

Year-end greetings to each and all. In 2012, life came on thick and fast. I couldn't live it and write about it at the same time. 

On Christmas Day, I received notice of a new film about my art school roommate, Matthew McGoff, who died in 2010. The film was created by my friend John Thornton. Matthew lived an intense, messy and short life, much like the painter Amadeo Modigliani. 

The film is masterful, John's best work to date. Matthew would have loved it, and this is quite a distinction. Matt was a focused, driven man. Only 2% of life on earth met with his approval.

Okay, back to the almost-present. We began at our house in San Francisco, doing the normal stuff.

Max built this robot. He wanted it to follow him around the house, so he taped it to an electric car [bottom].

Max's school lunch, a Misa production.

Max inside the Space Needle, Seattle, Washington

Our big change this year was to try living in a new city. In January, we visited Seattle, Washington.

In February we visited the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento.  Max is still crazy for trains.

In April, Misa became a citizen of these United States, in a ceremony at the Paramount Theater in Oakland. This building is quite dramatic, and the ceremony moved me. 

On this day, a thousand people from more than one hundred countries took the oath of citizenship. 

The Master of Ceremonies greeted the new citizens in more than eight languages. They stood and recited their oath, then watched a taped speech by President Obama. 

Shadows, Yerba Buena Park, San Francisco

We decided to move to San Diego. The rest of the spring was spent getting ready to go, and saying good-bye to San Francisco.

Francis Scott Key Elementary School

Christian Wignall stops all cafe conversation by mounting his Penny-Farthing.

Max and a friend from Japanese school

We arrived in San Diego on July 1. The environment was radically different for us. For one thing, it was warm in summer. Max and I swam in the ocean at La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines Beach. 

We explored Carmel Valley on our bicycles. Max began at a new elementary and a new Japanese school. He adjusted well and made many friends.

In November Misa voted in her first American election. We held an open house party for our neighbors and school mates. It was a great success, and we hope to do this again in 2013. 

Misa has done well driving new roads; she has always found her way home. She is teaching one regular Zumba class and filling in for other teachers.

San Diego has been good to us. The people at Max's school and at my job were especially supportive. We continue to adjust and explore and settle in. I'm working on the same art project, and I'll post more in-progress photos later in 2013. 

Happy New Year to you all. Please stay in touch.