I grew up in a very interesting family, though I can’t say I always appreciated that fact. My parents were artists and attended art school in Lawrence Kansas as well as the San Francisco Art Institute. Many in their circle of friends have become well known in the art world and their work is quite valuable. As the first born, I lived with my parents in the Haight Ashbury in San Francisco until I was about 3 years old.
We moved north to Healdsburg where my sister was born. My parents had a nice rented place near the down town square, but soon moved to a ranch about 30 minutes outside of town. It was a very old ranch with a two-story log cabin and over 50 acres of trees, orchards and a garden my mom cultivated. My brother was born there at home and my parents went into a period of living almost completely off the land. My dad hunted and my mom grew a huge garden, preserving food by canning, pickling, and dehydrating. My mother bought milk since we did not have a cow or goats, and ingredients to make bread and do the baking. Almost everything else she grew. There were nuts, fruits, berries, vegetables, etc. and we had pigs, chickens and a pet rabbit. This was an idyllic life for a child like me. I learned to cook when I was four years old.
Me, Mom & Sis
We moved when I was in second grade to Pt Reyes and the surrounding areas. We moved around a lot and life was unpredictable. We always had food and my mother and father were very creative in the kitchen. I think this is one of the reasons I cook so much and so many different types of food. I used to brag in college that I could make great tasting food in 30 minutes with a hot plate and a hot water cup.
There is a lot to say about my family, but probably not enough room or interest to put it on a blog. In an attempt to provide some back ground, let me just say that my family always stayed together, and we always ate together. I was always a leader in my family and considered the practical one who would become the business person or professional (a vet or biologist were some ideas). I always had money and a job since I was 11-years-old.
Growing up in a creative family, around great art and innovation trained me to believe that there is always a solution and it’s attainable. I always felt my family to be less responsible than ideal, but I also enjoyed the freedom of that same idea.
As I’ve pondered my upbringing many times I realize there are many ways to see it. What has never been in question is my role in my family. In many ways I was my parents parent growing up. My mother might be offended if she heard me say that, but that’s how I felt. And there is no doubt that my parents were and are proud of me. I have had a significant influence of how they approach money, investing and survival, just as they influenced me. I must note also that I was not a perfect child. A high achiever, yes, but it’s not as if I was never any trouble.
My First Horse, Bart
I did love growing up in Point Reyes and think it’s great for kids to be able to enjoy everything the outdoors offers. Riding horses, bikes, hiking, picking huckle berries or black berries, swimming, boating, fishing…it’s just a great place and we were lucky to be there.
No brother? Is your sister just like you?
I see you found it. I do have a brother as mentioned above, and no my sister s not just like me. In fact neither of my siblings is like me or like each other.
My brother had a difficult time growing up for various reasons it’s not appropriate to get into here. Being almost 5 years younger than me I did not hang out with him as much as I did my sister, who I shared a room with the entire time I lived at home. My brother spends his time fishing and diving on the Mendocino Coast and with his two dogs. He likes the outdoors and takes a lot of trips into the mountains of California, New Mexico and Colorado. He is not a city type of guy at all.
My sister lives in New Jersey with her husband and two kids. She is training for a Marathon in November, the first she has ever done. We are very close and have lived together many times, both in Santa Barbara and in the Bay Area. Her interests and mine are completely different as is our education. She was never interested in a career unless it was in the fashion industry since she has a great flair for style. She likes the finer things in life and enjoys going into New York to the Museums, etc. Growing up she was much more interested in hanging out with her friends than doing homework. She is very social and great at maintaining friendships. I was very shy and had only one or two friends at a time and more adult friends than those my own age.
This has probably effected the raising of my kids since I always hoped they would feel more comfortable socially than I did. When my oldest daughter started Kindergarten I went down to the school and looked over the fence at lunch to see if she was eating with anyone. She was fine and I only did it once, but I remember my worry as being intense. As it turns out, our children are not born mini models of us and their personalities are as developed by their experiences as by their DNA.
My sister and I had a lot of fun when we lived together and when I used to visit her in the City after my divorce. She had a great idea for a radio show that was like Sex in the City, but before that TV program ever aired. She has a great sense of humor with a flair for the dramatic.
You spoke a lot about your sister. Do you two never disagree on anything? When there is any disagreement with the family, what are the issues normally?
Of course we do, but we pick our battles and there is mutual respect. Of course families have issues. Doesn’t yours? Would you want to post them on the internet?
Personally, I’d prefer to talk about the experiences I learned from; and I think, if they’re meaningful, that’s what others would like to read. Do you agree?