La Dolce Vita

I'm enjoying the sunshine and bright blue skies here. Yesterday I went out to lunch with some friends and, even though it is January, we ate *outside* in a beer garden. And, no, we were not wearing hats and mittens. We went to Raleighs on Telegraph Ave, renouned for its slow service, thick wheat bread sandwiches, and cheesy fries. Here are Mike and Lindley

and Rupa and Andrew.

It was a real treat to hang out with them again. Four years can just fly by.

Berkeley has changed over the past four years, as I suppose all cities evolve. Some of my favorite hang-outs are gone-- the UC Theater, Fabulosa-- and some of my friends have moved away. I don't recognize people on campus anymore. Wandering around campus yesterday afternoon, I was just another nostalgic alumni. The students gave me funny looks when I stopped to take photos of the post-card landmarks.

I spent some time in Cafe Strada meditating on all of this, gulping down my cafe au lait.

I feel kind of silly, coming to an old home and waxing philosophical so I'm going to stop now. Plus I need to work on my Tokyo talk. (eek!)