Bruce Goddard

December 31, 2014

What would you do if the world was falling apart all around you
Pieces of the sky were falling in your neighbors yard but none on yours
Wouldnt you feel just a little bit funny
Thinking maybe theres something you ought to do

To Family, Friends, Loved Ones and All Ships at Sea:

Life continues; time marches on. Somehow, the world has managed to complete another
lap around the sun and a new year is at hand.
That must surprise some people. To hear the mainstream
media tell it, were already screwed: If the terrorists dont
get you, Ebola or some kid in a hoodie will (unless youre
black and then it will be the cops); the economy is in the
tank; immigrants over-run the border; Obamacare is
poisoning the water supply; pestilence and famine ravish
the land. Quite a discouraging message and, sadly, its
hammered home to the masses on a 24/7 basis.
My experience is quite different, though.
For me, 2014 was a very good year - full of personal
growth, new adventures and fun. Being lucky enough to
reach my golden years, I note that each year seems to
go by a little faster than the one before, and lately theyre
beginning to fly by. But with this acceleration comes a
growing appreciation for life, itself.
For all its troubles, the world is a pretty good place; I cant
think of anywhere Id rather be than in it. When you stop to think about it, this living
business really is a miracle.

Dog=God Spelled Backward

Speaking of miracles, Mia, the Amazing Wonder
Dog, is still here! That sure wasnt supposed to
happen. Early in 2013, she was diagnosed with a
liver condition that was expected to claim her
within a few months. Now, the long goodbye
continues into its third year, her 15th.
During the course of her life, and especially in the
past couple of years, Mia and I have traveled
thousands of miles together, literally and
figuratively. Her grace and spirit inspire me and
this fall, in a serendipitous series of events, we
added a new puppy, Geez, to the mix.

Geez is a miraculous story in his own right. In

August, during a ferocious summer thunderstorm
down in Bessemer, AL, the six-week-old pooch
showed up at Lee and Danas house, scared,
tired, hungry and wet. Smart move, Geez! Six
weeks later, he was in the promised land of CA
and, by years end, hes firmly under the tutelage
of Mia, the Wonder Dog, herself. Priceless.
Our new threesome is working remarkably well
Geez and the geezers even spent the week before
Christmas on the road together, in the winter
wonderland (sic) of Los Angeles, CA.
Geez Excellent Adventure is sponsored by the
K999 Institute, sister Brendas rescue operation
that specializes in miracles.

Summertime and the Livin Was Easy

Those not blessed to live in the promised land may not fully appreciate the California
summer season. We produce much of the
nations food supply here; our foggy
mornings, warm days and cool nights are
the kind of growing weather that leads to
good eating. And the homestead at
Woodland Estates is definitely part of the
food chain!
The spacious grounds are home to a large
garden that yields mass quantities of
lettuce, onions, squash, tomatoes, beans,
corn and assorted herbs. Before arriving at
Woodland Estates, four years ago, I had
little horticultural experience. Now, the
garden is a highlight of the year.
The Back 40 also provides the setting for
luxurious guest quarters (above), which
come equipped with double mattress,
table, reading chair, lamp, coffee
maker and wi-fi.
This year, the tent went up on the first
day of summer and came down on the
last day. In the interim, it didnt rain
once!
Summer weather is also conducive to
softball. This season, the Tigers, were
the champions of the Hayward (CA)
Senior Softball League -- we won both
the regular season title and the postseason tournament in the Over 60
Division.

Its yet another miracle and the rarest of gifts -- to still

be able to play sports at this age.
Age is not just a number! If anyone tells you differently,
theyre either lying, or in denial. But age is a state of
mind, and playing sports improves mine. Its a selffulfilling prophecy: The more you play, the better you feel,
the better you feel, the more you play. Lets play two!
I was also delighted to combine the sportin life with art
this year. The Willie Oakton Sports Bureau and
photographer Betty Soo Hoo teamed up to photodocument the senior league and produce high-quality
photos and musical slide shows. My alter ego, Willie, also
developed a website for the Tigers. Its all part of a
recurring theme -- a guy who grew up when you had to
walk clear across the room to change the TV channel
haranguing his elderly peers to experience the brave, new
electronic world.
Forget about the Kardashians, we need to keep up with technology!

North to Alaska, South to LA

In November, my wanderlust led me to
Alaska the 50th U.S. state I have
visited. My reaction to reaching every
state in the union is even stronger than
I had anticipated. As a long-time
student of Americana, it means a lot.
Like the song says, Ive been
everywhere, man.
Although it took a long time to finally
get there, Alaska didnt disappoint. The
natural beauty is breathtaking, and it
meant a lot to make the trip with Coach
Jody Wynn and the Long Beach State
womens basketball team.
The Beach ended up winning the 2014
Great Alaska Shootout and we all
celebrated Thanksgiving together. To
spend the day atop Mount Alyeska, and
then sing Mark Pearsons timeless
anthem, Thankful, at the team
banquet that evening was something I
will always remember.
The basketball adventure also continued
into December, when Sanity Claus
traveled down to Long Beach (CA) to
celebrate with the champions of the
Beach Classic Tournament.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

The year overflowed with so much adventure that theres no time left to talk about the
Laney College football season, the disappointment of my 50th high school reunion, Det.
Mary Wiley, my journey to Sarah Palins house in Wasilla, AK (no, you cant see Russia
from there) or how Faux News is destroying our democracy. These will all have to wait
for another day.
As 2014 draws to a close, Im at peace.
However, a recurring frustration remains: We live in an era
of technological possibility. Most of us carry smart phones in many cases smarter than we are that enable
phenomenal connections. Yet, were not connecting or
communicating so well with each other!
Ours is an intelligent, educated, sophisticated country, but
youd never know it from our media, which has fallen into
predictable patterns of mediocrity. How can the country be
so smart and the conversation so dumb?
Informed debate is the centerpiece of democracy, but our
public dialogue sucks. Its bitter, disconnected from reality
and getting worse increasingly based as much on anger
as rational differences. Such a path leads inevitably to civil
war. We tried that once before in this country; lets hope history wont repeat itself.
But in an angry time, I firmly reject the temptation to
be an angry old man . . .
I saw a love so great
I saw the strongest hate
I felt the awful weight
Of choosing one
As I enter my 68th lap around the sun, the choice is
increasingly easy.
Somehow, beauty, truth and love still manage to find
a way. Im blessed with health and curiosity . . .
music, photography, art and the people I love are
more important to me than ever . . . sports, travel,
new adventures and new friends beckon.
So with no bucket list, other than not to kick it, I
forge ahead, as Vince Gill sings us out . . .
I think living is one long highway
Im betting heaven is at the end of the road
I think love might be the answer
Some things never get old

Happy New Year, 2015!