The Roots of Happiness

To the Editor:
Re “But Will It Make You Happy?” (Aug. 8), which described a new frugality among consumers:
The article said research has found that people are happier when they spend their money on experiences — like travel or concert tickets — than on material things. But we shouldn’t assume that spending of any kind will bring lasting and deep happiness.
Many people make the mistake of assuming that the achievement of something specific — whether winning a lottery, getting a job promotion or visiting a specific country — will bring such long-term contentment.
Instead, the best recipe for happiness is to have had loving, caring parents. If parents participate with joy in their child’s activities, the child senses it. And when that child is an adult, he or she will often have a happy disposition. Jorge H. Tolaba
Putnam Valley N.Y., Aug. 8

Happy Birthday, Aggles!

me and Aggles (a long time ago)

Thank You, Rosalie

Tom didn't make it to the farmers' market yesterday–but our generous across-the-street neighbor did! These peaches are unbelievably good.

Found 8/14

Summer in San Anselmo

Today Dorothy and I drove across the bridge for lunch at Janet's. It was summer there! The sun was out and Janet did not have her heat on.


We talked shop. (These are photos Dorothy has taken of her work.)


We goofed around.

Prize

And the rest of the loot from this evening's walk:

This Just In from Barbara

Sent from her iPhone

Garden Party

We were invited to a garden party but it was so cold and foggy that we had to eat indoors. (My favorite kind of garden party.)

But still, everything we had for dinner was from Peter's garden. Pesto, a green salad, arugula on the side, 4 different kinds of steamed greens.


Then again, the Champagne wasn't from the garden. And neither were the cashews or chips or salsa. The pasta and the focaccia weren't either, and come to think of it neither were the ice cream or the pastel macaroons. Or the Frangelico.


We sat down to listen to Peter play piano. Immediately Carmen jumped up between us. She wanted to listen too if it wasn't too much to ask.

p.s. The striped shirt I'm wearing: It is another one Anne had ordered that turned out to be too big for her. I immediately tried it on and haven't taken it off since. (It's the next day now.)

The Sun Gonna Shine in My Back Door Some Day

We've been fogged in all week and it's no wonder I've felt lost. But look underneath the bridge. The sun still shines across the bay.

Lost?

Go here and choose the first one that catches your eye. Report back if you dare.

Girl Talk

A great evening. Here we are at Vinorosso. Jane (in the middle) runs The Writing Salon. She loves to take photos even more than I do and has a dog named Olivia.

Msmush (Mary Ann) is on the right. She organized a book signing for The Bad Reporter a few years ago and that's where I met her. She works at the de Young and says the best time to see the Impressionism show is on Thursday nights. She brought hostess gifts for Jane and me.

At Vinorosso between 4:00 and 7:00 you can order a glass of Prosecco for $4 and homemade eggplant Parmigiana for $6. I ordered many other things besides Prosecco and the eggplant Parmigiana, including pistachios, roasted almonds, a big arugula salad and coffee. Others of us had pudding surrounded by globs of fresh raspberry syrup.

See what I mean about Jane? There she goes again. You can see her photos here.

Bye-bye, July