Visiting my roots and the people who planted them

One of the things that keeps me going in this crazy thing called life is the fact that I can occasionally reconnect with my roots -- the places and people that shaped me, but that now lie thousands of miles away.
I thoroughly enjoyed one of those occasions the past week, during a visit to my native SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
Beyond the baseball games, the used book shopping and the fine restaurants, the trip provided an opportunity for me to trod on the ground of my birthplace, OAKLAND, CALIF., and celebrate my relationships with family members.
I'm grateful for these times.