UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • March 2017 • 21 Living the Upbeat Life EVOLVING [Ee-vol-ving]


SANTA ROSA, CA. ~ “Isn’t Santa Rosa wonderful?!” exclaimed our bus driver to her four passengers, . waiting for pas- sage through a wide berth of local peace- ful marchers, signs held aloft. I sat alone up front for the return leg of my very first Sonoma County Transit ride. Among the other riders was a large African -American


fellow wearing sandals and orange Buddhist robes under a worn, rain- dampened jacket. He looked famil- iar: hadn’t I seen him walking on Old Redwood Highway near my home? We were now twenty minutes late departing –but our mood was upbeat! Thousands of locals had filled the town hall square, singing and giving a shout out for peace, love and stew- ardship of Mother Earth. Official speakers, too echoed an enthusiasm for creating together, opportunities for ‘la vida animada’ for us all. To-


Sonoma County, CA. ~ Wel- come back to Sonoma County, Harrison Staf- ford! Grow- ing up in the Northern Cali- fornia East Bay, Stafford had an affinity for reg- gae music at an early


age. He


studied Jazz at Sonoma State University. He and some other talented


musi-


cians formed the band, Groun-


dation, in Sonoma County in 1998. The popular reggae fu- sion act went on to have in- ternational


success. Stafford


returned to SSU, this time as a Professor, where he taught a course on the History of Reg- gae Music. A Miracle Production [AMP]


day was a compassionate clarion call to our deepest instincts for fairness and kindness to fund humanity’s best dreams for our collec- tive future.


What a diverse rainbow of humanity we were! Pregnant moms, young fami- lies with kids carry- ing crayoned “love & peace” signs, graying grandmas and grand- pas singing familiar strains of “I Got A


Hammer.” Teen girls with bold pas- tel hair and piercings clustered with young guys, taking smart phone pics of the crowds. Two women danced together, while nearby, a middle aged man held an umbrella over a wheelchair-bound vet. A young woman came by handing out free bumper stickers (mine said “simplic- ity”), while a smiling senior offered homemade cookies from a large bag. It was a celebration of community, one that began on my bus ride into town, sharing hopes with a couple


Harrison Stafford Returns to Sonoma County!


and Redwood Cafe present a positively transformative, up- lifting concert with his new band, Harrison Stafford & The Professor Crew. Stafford along with his tal- ented band light up the Redwood Cafe stage on Friday, March 10 at 8:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased on- line at Event- brite or in per-


son at Redwood Cafe in Cotati. Ages 18 and over only. Harrison Stafford & The


Professor Crew bring their special elixir of music to this homecoming show with special guest, DJ Loisaida. “I am look- ing forward to our show and ... continued on page 23


from Healdsburg, and an elder Latina seated close by.


And now –an avid


conversation with a very articulate bus driver named Tere- sa, heading back! - “Don’t you just love it?” she said. I was all ears,


learning first about being a driver for the city and county. Te- resa expressed con- cern for the welfare of her co-workers –and for her pas- sengers, especially those struggling for boarding dimes, for food, a dry place to sleep, right medica- tions for mental ill- nesses... I wondered out loud if she’d prefer the protec-


tive shielding I’ve seen for drivers elsewhere. My new friend said no, it would feel like a cage to her.


Better


by Marcia Singer www.lovearts.info


to just adopt a work ethic based on respecting everybody –live the Gold- en Rule. Indeed, I watched her nod, greet, bring pres- ence to each person getting on –or off – her bus. I witnessed how her empathy informs her person- al politics, as well. Said Teresa, “Some- times the only way to wake up our hu- manity is through hurt and loss. But then, you realize you can choose how you want to live.” I told this exem- plary Santa Rosan about my Upbeat Times column:


did


she have a word for us to describe


her philosophy for life? For her job? “Evolving!” she exclaimed:


Learn- ... continued on page 23 Happy New Year! Value Night Special! Monday & Wednesday Nights Only!


Two Hours of Bowling + Shoe Rental No reservations, but you can


$12 Each person!


Starts at 9:30pm


check in early at 8p.m. Bowling starts at 9:30. Price includes 2 hours of play and shoe rental.


707-585-0226 Details at:


300 Golf Course Dr. -Rohnert Park, CA 94928 “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” ~ Zora Neale Hurston UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • March 2017 • 21 www.doubledeckerlanes.com


Weird Facts & Fun Trivia - 3 Among the largest and most historic ranches in the United States is Parker Ranch in Hawaii. Founded in 1847, the ranch currently spans ap- proximately 150,000 acres on the Big Island.


The King Ranch in Texas is the largest ranch in the continental United States with approximately 825,000 acres. Initially established in 1852 by Richard King, when he purchased 75,000 acres, King accumulated over 1,250,000 acres before his death in 1885.


Cherrapunji, India has an average annual rainfall of 498 inches per year, the highest rainfall of any place on earth.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24