Upright & Stowed

The End/The Beginning

This is me.  Today.  On a Continental flight from Geneva to New York, just hours before an Icelandic volcano screwed up global air travel more than anytime since 9/11.

Oh, and this is my last blog post for Upright & Stowed.  

I started writing Upright & Stowed during a (sort of) tough period in my life, personally and professionally.  I had completed my Out & About journey years before, and I was struggling to find the next travel-related work pursuit.  I’d been thinking about how I could combine travel with something meaningful, but I just couldn’t find my way. I decided that until I found a creative, meaningful form of travel work, I’d try to write a creative, meaningful travel blog.

I’ve often diverged from the explicit topic of travel in my blog posts.  But I’ve always tried to stay true to the idea that in our incredible, diverse and complicated world, we are all connected to one another through our actions and ideas.

I wrote Upright & Stowed mostly as a personal challenge.  That said, knowing I had readers made it way more fun.  Recently Facebook and other social media have changed the way we live our web-based lives, and they distracted me from blogging.  I was able to reach more of my friends and family with a short Facebook status or picture upload than I could on my blog.

But more than Facebook, fatigue or anything else, this year I began working in a big, meaningful travel capacity again.   Full time.  Fully engaged.  Full throttle.

For now.  :-)

Thanks for visiting Upright & Stowed.  You know where to find me.  And you know you’ll be hearing from me.  It’s just a matter of … where next?

Travel safe.  And travel often. 

Love, David

Portugal is for (gay) Lovers

So.  I'll likely soon be able to get married to my non-existent lover in Portugal.  And in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. 

But not in New York, New Jersey or California.

Wow.  Weren't we the country that once rushed into Europe carrying the banner of freedom, liberty and justice for all? 

It looks like the student has far surpassed the teacher.  Thanks Western Europe for helping show us the way.

Born to Run ... Away from New Jersey!

Look ...  I've never really cared for New Jersey.  Other than the fact that it's home to my cousin Lisa and my college friend Sarah, I 've generally wanted nothing to do with the state. 

Today NJ's political elite joined the louses of my own in rejecting gay marriage.  With a new conservative governor coming to power, it's clear that the marriage battle is lost in NJ for a loooong time.

I'm ready for a new approach to securing equal rights and protections for the gay community.  Gay marriage has proven to be too challenging a path.  Yes, we need to elect a different slate of politicians.  But we also need new leaders in the gay community.

If only Bruce was governor.  But he's not.  So for today's gays, it's still not so fabulous to be Born in the USA.

Auspicious Blue Moon Welcomes 2010

It's too cloudy in San Francisco to see tonight's blue moon.  But I'm taking the presence of the first New Year's blue moon since 1990 (and the last til 2028) as a sign that 2010 is going to be a very good year.  One in which we apply the things we've learned in the last decade towards making the next one better, smarter, and more compassionate.  Happy New Year!

The 100 Million Club

Photo

The world's human population is about 6.8 billion, according to the Population Division of the UN.  China (20%) and India (17%) are the giants in this list.  There are only nine other countries with populations over 100 million people.  In case you're interested, here they are:  United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Russia, Japan and Mexico.  For the full list on country populations, click here. 

Ready for Takeoff: 787 and Me

After two years of delays, the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" took off on its maiden voyage yesterday.  I am such an airplane geek that I kind of teared up watching the video below. 

As dedicated blog readers know, my past few years have been full of their own work-related fits and starts.  Travel idea ... consulting ... new travel idea ... consulting ... internet startup ... consulting ... non-profit shift ... consulting.  It was all getting a bit tedious, even though the goal of meaningful work in something travel-related never waned. 

Starting January 6th I will take off on what promises to be the most exciting career move for me in years.  I will be joining an organization called the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  In a nutshell, GBC helps businesses leverage their resources – money, communications, core capabilities and employee contact – in the fight against these three global health pandemics.  It's an incredible and very influential organization, founded by Richard Holbrooke in 2001, at the request of Kofi Annan and the UN.  My role will involve working with the travel/tourism industry to leverage resources in the fight against these conditions.  It should be an exciting and very meaningful pursuit.  You can read more here:

So there you have it.  New decade, new job, new possibilities.  David is ready for takeoff!

Embarrassing Move By EasyJet

Peter Eisenman's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (in the heart of Berlin) is one of the most moving pieces of memorial art I've ever seen.  Its stark beauty and massive scale manage to convey the enormity of the loss and the terror of the time in ways that take your breath away. 

Last week it was reported that EasyJet ran a fashion spread in its "Traveller" magazine ... shot among the concrete slabs of the memorial.  All I can say is "Oy Vey."  What were these people thinking?  Pure craziness, from photographer to publisher.  Here's the story, from the Jerusalem Post. 

Portland _ _ _ ' _ Jetport

If you’ve read this blog over time, you know how I love Maine (though not its recent vote on gay marriage).  Maine is a rugged, magical place, and I have visited many times over the years, usually as a guest of my dear college friend Michael and his younger brother Danny (who was my BF for four years).   Michael and Danny grew up in Portland.  They also have a family house on Sebago Lake, a picture-perfect vision of wooded Maine.  Heaven on earth.

If you fly to Maine, you’ll likely being flying into the state’s largest airport: The Portland International Jetport, aka PWM.  I’ve never known which part of that title I find more ridiculous … the “International” or the “Jetport.”  Talk about an airport with a complex. 

The other day Michael sent me the above clipping from the Boston Globe, announcing the suspension of international flights to and from the Portland International Jetport.  Sad yes, but as partial salve, the airport still welcomes planes with jets.  For now.

Thankgiving Thanks, 2009

Additional words unnecessary.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

This Turkey Flies

Domesticated turkey’s can’t fly, which is at complete odds with my family’s celebration of Turkey Day.  Thanksgiving is the holiday most likely to see my family hitting the road or taking to the skies to gather together in our homeland, St. Louie, MO. 

Sadly for us, American Airlines has decimated its flight schedule to/from St. Louis, but we persevere.  Herewith, the travel dossier of my family for this year’s Gateway City Thanksgiving.   Fingers crossed for clear skies.  Cause I’m connecting through O’Hare!!!!

• Princeton NJ: Eddie
  
• Orange-ish NJ: Lisa, Danny, Miranda, Margaux 
• Chicago IL: Dan, Bettina, Elijah and Sylvie
• Greenville SC: Ed, Caren
• Charleston SC: Emma
• Atlanta GA: Ellen, Seth, Megan, Danny 
• Dallas TX: Laurie, Barry
• Los Angeles CA: Andy, Hannah     
• NY NY:  Yours Truly

On Jeanne-Claude and Impermanence

Jeanne-Claude, wife and artistic partner of better-known art-wrapper Christo, died this week at 74.  Jeanne-Claude and Christo were known for their temporary art projects in which they used materials on a monumental scale to change our perception of things, to make us think and (more often than not) to lead us to a smile.   The Gates was their last substantial project, located in Central Park in 2005 (pic is me and my friend Steve at The Gates). 

In describing their work and Jeanne-Claude's view of it, the Times obit wrote:

... all of their projects ... were intended to be temporary. Whether executed in oil drum or brightly colored fabric, the art of Jeanne-Claude and her husband ... expressed “the quality of love and tenderness that we human beings have for what does not last.”

This resonated with me because recently I have been reflecting on the concept of impermanence.  Burning Man, where I've gone for five of the past ten years, is a recognition of and embrace of impermanence.  An entire city appears, and then disappears, in seven days.  The  figurative heart of that city -- The Man -- is burned to ashes as the entire community watches.  A lavish wooden temple is covered with thousands of participant messages of hopes, dreams and fears, and then burned and released into the atmosphere.

This year I also began a meditation practice.  I am beginning to understand the Buddha's thoughts on impermanence.  He recognized that all things are impermanent, and that by embracing this knowledge we can better deal with the constant change (and constant loss) in our lives that so often cause us suffering.

Life is short and fleeting.  If we are not afraid to lose things -- ultimately, we lose everything -- we have a better chance of living in the moment.  Christo and Jeanne-Claude got it.  

Nosmo King

I read an article in the Times this week reporting that several major NYC apartment buildings are about to ban smoking… IN PEOPLE’S OWN UNITS.  Kind of shocking, and also kind of cool.  The evidence is clear that second-hand smoke causes cancer.  And smoke definitely wafts through apartment hallways.  I just love that smoking ban policies keep getting stronger … saving lives in the process.

All of which reminds me of the bad old days when passengers could smoke in airplanes.  How insane does that seem today?!?  People lighting up cigarettes in a pressurized aluminum container.  I can remember the sinking feeling of realizing that the person sitting next to me was about to light up.  THAT was a definition of living hell.  Then they banished smokers to the back of the plane, so you only had to gag your way through a cancer cloud to get to the bathroom.   While praying (pre-flight) that you wouldn’t be seated in the last row of non-smoking section either.

Happily those days are a distant memory.  From a certain perspective, we live in a blissful moment for flying:  No smoking and no cell phones.  How long will it last?

I Baked A Pie

Yep, I baked a pie.  And here’s the evidence.   Underneath that shiny butter and almond-flour crust lies a blend of apples, cranberries and ginger.  The pie was a stunner in the looks department.  Not bad on first eating.  And awesome after a couple days sitting in the fridge.  

Can you tell how proud I am of myself?  In these recessionary times, we must focus on life’s little pleasures to get through the day.  Next up?  Punkin', of course.

PS:  Blame my friend Howard for the crappy image. 

Empire Falls. ('bout time)

The Empire Diner is a New York dining legend.  For 35 years it has occupied one of the city’s most perfect corners (22^nd and 10^th) while preserving its most iconic railcar diner.  Alas, for most of those years it has also served some of the city’s worst food and possibly its very worst service.  Appallingly rude, 24 hours a day.   It’s a dining buzz-kill. 

I’ve been closely following the rumblings that the Empire’s lease is about to change hands.  Today I was delighted to read that the owners of Union Square’s Coffee Shop are taking over the Empire.   Chelsea Today has the story.  Photo credit here.

Coffee Shop has itself delivered questionable service over the years -- at least to the less than hip and lovely … not me, of course.  But nothing compared to the rudeness of the Empire staff.  I’m happy to see the change of hands, and even happier to know that the good ol’ diner is not becoming the first Capital One branch-in-a-railcar.

To Everything Turn Turn Turn (dateline 10/31/09)

My seasonal preference, in order:  Summer, Fall, Spring Winter. 

My fantasy seasonal recalculation:  Summer (5 months), Fall (3 months), Spring (3 months), Winter (1 month). 

While I wait for global warming to turn my fantasies into reality (or move to South Carolina), I will continue to enjoy living in a place with four fully distinct seasons.  It’s one of the things I missed most during my years in San Francisco.   

I revel in the change of seasons: Different wardrobes … the move from indoors to out and back again … the changing light … the shifting moods.  Nothing captures the exhilaration of seasonal change more than autumn leaves.  This weekend I headed up the Hudson River Valley to Cold Spring, a charming New York town that is a launch point for a breathtaking hike.  I made the trip with my friends Bob, David and Jeff.

 Ahhh, the thrill of fall.   Ooooh, the thrill of it all.

 

 

Why March? Here's Why. (dateline 10/13/09)

We march because all men are created equal.

We march because history says we must.

  We march because we want to teach our kids well (go Rose!).

We march because we are all brothers (and sisters).

We march to make change with our friends. 

We march cause there's lots of great art in DC (and cute boys, at least at gay marches)

We march so that peace can rule our days. 

Fall Arrives on David's Deck (dateline mid-October)

Middle Age or Bust (dateline 10/3/09)

I graduated from Clayton High School 30 (gasp) years ago.  These were some of my  friends back then, and they remain so today.  We had a fantastic reunion.  Among the  highlights was attending the CHS homecoming game, played here on Gay Field.  Yes, you read it right, Gay Field.  Perhaps that has something to do with our losing every game played there during the four years of my high school youth.  Go Greyhounds!!!!

Oh, and just because I'm a good sport, here I can be seen picking up my date for the homecoming prom, circa 1977.  My date is Marianne, who was looking mighty fine in '77 and even better in the jean jacket, above.  Please note that in the above shot she is standing next to her husband.  He took her to the prom the following year, and fared appreciably better with her than I did.

The Journey of Friendship (dateline 9/23/09)

There are ways in which getting older sucks, and ways in which it doesn’t.   Wisdom and perspective are the great gifts of experience, and they make growing older a little less tough.

One of the things I’ve learned along the way is that friendships change, and it’s futile to try to keep them as they were at any special moment.  I have been abandoned by some friends, and I have chosen to leave others.  But mostly, I have worked hard to keep my friends in my life in some capacity. 

Here are two pictures of me and my friend Danny.  We first met in 1982.   We were friends for years before becoming boyfriends in 2001.  The first shot is taken that year, on a particularly perfect New Year’s Eve.   This was also the year that we took a solemn hike on Marin County’s Tennessee Valley Trail, stunned after a day watching the events of September 11^th unfold.    The second picture was taken when I was in San Francisco a couple weeks ago, and nine years later.    We were on that same trail, where we marked the anniversary and had a wonderful day.  In the intervening nine years our friendship, like so many others, has changed.  In good ways and hard ways.  But here we are, still making it work.  :-)

Whatever path you’re on in life, it’s a lot richer when filled with friendships, old and new. 

The Last of a Generation (dateline 9/17/09)

While I was at Burning Man a significant milestone occurred in my life.  My Great Aunt Doretta (in this photo, with me last year) passed away, at 86.  She was the last of my great aunts/uncles, and her death marks the passing of the final member of my grandparents’ generation.   Kind of weird to think about an entire generation of your immediate family being gone.   For me this generation loomed large … they were omnipresent in my childhood, served up guidance and wisdom throughout my life, and were my window to America in the mid 20^th Century.   Happily, most of them lived long and rich lives, mostly in the Midwest. 

I’m not a big believer in afterlife, but I like the idea that all four sets of my grandparents’ and all their siblings are now reunited… somewhere.  The thought is especially sweet in the case of my Grandpa Max, who lost brothers and sisters (and many others) in the Holocaust.  If your grandparents, great aunts or great uncles are still living, why not reach out and let them know how much they mean to you.  I bet it’ll make your day, and theirs.