TWELVE

Last week, Nicholas turned twelve. Twelve! It is hard to believe our little guy is now a tween, and he has grown in so many ways in the past year.

Despite getting older and a little more tween-like, Nicholas is still a wonderful person at heart. He cares deeply about his friends and family, and he is one of the most loyal people you will ever meet. I think this comes from his deep sense of right and wrong and belief that deep down most people are good. That he continues to believe this despite some frustrating interpersonal interactions last year at school warms my heart. His circle of friends continues to expand, and the continues to forge stronger and stronger ties.

Passion is a word that epitomizes Nicholas, and he is not one to do anything half-baked. His love for soccer continues to grow, and his knowledge is truly encyclopedic. Drawing is still his go to activity, and we often find his at "his table" in the living room working on various drawings-often of soccer-in his free time. That so many people have commented on Nicholas' distinct style really speaks to how talented of an artist he is.

Beyond drawing and playing soccer, Nicholas is truly a man of the world. He loves geography and learning about new cultures-whether it be their traditions, languages, or food. I see him traveling the world one day and even studying or living abroad. I hope he lets me visit or go with him!

While this post may seem on the surface as a record or a report of our boy's current status, it is more of a love letter. I do not think I could love anyone more than I do this boy, and I am so proud and honored to be his day. May we have many more years together, and may he continue to stay young at and strong at heart as he navigates his way through the teen years and beyond.

Today and everyday, I love you Nicho!

INDEPENDENT'S DAY

Today, our little one gave her second grade independent project at Arbor.

The students are challenged to pick a topic that interests them and that they would like to learn more about. Cate chose the English Premier League, a topic very familiar to her brother, though it was largely new to her.

Cate researched the topic, decided what was worth sharing, and then put together a poster and oral presentation. She wowed them and showed a great command of the information.

I love to see this little one grow and stretch. She is growing and changing so fast. This video and this post will serve as a reminder of where she was at one May day in 2017.

Here's to Cate!

HEROES IN OUR TIME

We live in extraordinary times. There was no greater reminder of that than the horrific actions by a white supremacist aboard a light rail train in Portland and the heroic response by three good Samaritans.

It all started when the accused whose name I will not repeat began verbally threatening and accosting two young women of color, including one who wore a hijab. Most fellows passengers merely watched. However, three men-Taliesen Namkai-Meche (left), Rick Best (center),and Micah Fletcher (right)-decided to intervene. A knife was brandished by the assailant, and Messrs Best and Namkai-Meche paid with their lives while Mr. Fletcher survived only after several hours of surgery.

What exactly went through the minds of these three men when they decided to intervene we will never know for sure. Mr. Best was a veteran, a father of three, and a former Republican candidate for office. His brand of patriotism was not limited to party, and I can only imagine the horror he felt when he saw the young woman under attack. Even out of uniform, he must have felt duty-bound to confront the enemy in front of him and intervene. How sad his family must be with his passing, but how proud they must feel, too.

Mr. Namkai-Meche was a recent graduate of Reed College who had a bright future ahead of him. He was universally loved, and his dying words were, "I want everybody on the train to know, I love them." His mother sent out an impassioned note of love to her son and later pleaded with the president (lower case p) to speak out. We will not hold our breath.

Finally, Mr. Michah Fletcher, a student from Portland State University and poet, also came to these young women's defense. He was the sole survivor of these three men. He summed up what he had all achieved in life and what his fellow Samaritans had achieved in death:

"I, am alive.
I spat in the eye of hate and lived
This is what we must do for one another
We must live for one another."

Heroes-all three-who remind us what is best in America and what we are all capable of-love, tolerance, and justice.

Neither I nor most who live in this city will forget them anytime soon, and I hope that the events of last weekend inspire the same reaction in us all when we are confronted by hate, bigotry, or intolerance.

May these heroes rest in peace.

SAINT MESSI

Last night, on the Day of Saint Jordi, a new saint was canonized- Saint Lionel Messi. He and his team FC Barcelona turned back the clock and produced an epic performance that will go down as one of the greatest individual and team performances in football history.

The setting and the circumstances could not have been more auspicious - the Santiago Bernabeu stadium of Barca's eternal rival Real Madrid with the league title on the line. That this Barcelona team whom many had left for dead not only won the game 3-2 but won it with flair and artistry was truly incredible.

There are very few that would have predicted such a result, especially after Barca were eliminated from the Champions League quarterfinals with not so much as a whimper. However, a fixture against Real Madrid has a way of inspiring Barca, and these players did not disappoint. The words that come to mind are: grit, perseverance, professionalism, and passion.

No one exemplified these traits better on the night than Lionel Messi. All night, the men in white tried their best to stop him through organized defense and through countless blows. The Brazilian midfielder Casemiro kicked out at Messi after having been bamboozled. He followed this up with two other body blows that should have led to his ejection. Yet, the ref turned the other way.

Another Brazilian, Marcelo, appeared to follow through with an elbow to Messi mouth and nose that dropped the Argentinian to the ground in a pool of blood. After treatment on the sidelines, Messi returned to the game holding gauze against his mouth with one hand while still dribbling all over the pitch and spraying balls left and right. A few minutes later, Messi darted into the box and scored a nearly impossible goal to level the score 1-1. He was instrumental in setting up the next goal that gave Barca a 2-1 lead.

Later in the second half, Sergio Ramos from Madrid was rightfully sent off for a two-footed lunge on Messi designed to achieve one simple goal - neutralize the man who had been his tormentor all night, no matter the cost. Fortunately, Messi saw the tackle coming and was able to leap, thus minimizing the brutality of the impact. Nonetheless, Ramos connected with Messi's treasured left foot and was rightly dismissed. This only served to fire up Messi, who remained undaunted even after Real Madrid equalized the score in the 86th minute.

With time running out-one minute left to be precise-Barca inbounded the ball from deep in their end. Sergio Roberto, the makeshift right back, threw the ball into Pique. He, in turn, scooped a pass to Busquets. After taking one touch, Busquets angled a pass onto a darting Sergi Roberto, who then proceeded to run 60 yards past two Real Madrid pursuers. He found the often maligned, rightfully so in my opinion, Andres Gomes, who slid a pass onto an onrushing Jordi Alba with precision timing. Alba slingshotted the ball to the center of the box, where it was met with Messi's mighty left foot. Within one second, the back of the net rattled, and Barca were winners in style with the last kick of the game.

The Barca players surrounded Messi while the Real Madrid players groaned, punched their fists in the ground, or merely stood stunned by what they had just witnessed. Worldwide, football fans of all allegiances stood in awe, too, because of the magical quality of the show that Barca had just put on. For what seemed like an eternity, Messi stood jerseyless and faced the hostile Bernabeu crowd. He held his jersey with the name and number facing them in case they were unaware of who he was and so they could remember what he had done to them. It was an epic moment in the history of an epic derby.

The result meant that Barca catapulted to the top of the league table, though Real Madrid have played one game less. Because of this, it is still true that if Madrid win their remaining six games, they will be champions. However, if Barca also win out and Real Madrid were to lose just once, the title would remain in Catalonia for one more season. I am not a betting man, and Real may end up being crowned champions, but it will be a diminished title after failing to beat Barca in both of their head to head matches this year.

The former Barca manager Josep Guardiola famously declared in his first press conference that he did not promise trophies. Rather, he promised the team would play football that would make the fans proud. That promise was kept sat night by these players-many of whom helped Guardiola win 14 of 19 trophies available to them in a three year period. No matter what happens next, and even if we go trophyless this season, we will always have the memory of what Messi and company did to the Bernabeu on April 23, 2017. May our memories not fade anytime soon, and may we cherish the tapestry that these players wove last night. What a game! What a team! Saint Messi!

Visca Barca!

THE END

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend the end

- Jim Morrison

After a complete drubbing at the hands of Juventus in the UEFA Champions League last night, I can think of no more fitting tribute to this Barcelona team than these words.

It is hard for me to describe in words what a thrill ride the past seven years have been with this club and these men. They say that love at first sight is a cliche, a superficial notion. "They" do not get it.

For me and soccer, there will always be pre-2010 and post-2010. In that year, I first witnessed the magical play of the core of the FC Barcelona team during the World Cup in South Africa. The way these players pinged the ball all over the field and the way they lulled their opponents to sleep with sustained periods of possession reminded me of a bullfight. That Spain, the national team these men helped to shape, won its first World Cup that year was beyond just, and that team's performance over 3 weeks that summer made me a fan for life.

Shortly thereafter, I began to follow FC Barcelona. Watching them week in and week out that first season, I was repeatedly blown away by the players mastery of the game, and the way they imposed their will on any opponent. At the helm was Pep Guardiola, a former Barca ball boy, former Barca player, and now Barca coach. For him, it was not just about winning; it was about winning in style, and style they had in abundance.

In the past seven years, I have seen this team win countless trophies, come back against all odds, and perform miracle feats on an every three day basis. However, like me, these players have aged. With aging has come wisdom and experience but also a diminution of focus, speed, and wizardry. On Tuesday night in Turin, we ostensibly witnessed the culmination of that decline as Barca were outclassed in nearly every aspect of the game. That the final scoreline was only 3-0 was a miracle, and all cules were glad to see that more damage had not been done.

How did we get to this place after seven triumphant years? There is no one answer. Rather, a multiplicity of factors have led to the slow deterioration of this club-the one thing in life I love nearly as much as my family.

Poor recruitment of players surely has played the biggest role. Indeed, it was fascinating to see the lineup that was chosen yesterday, which including 5-6 players no longer worthy of being Barca starters. That the bench was without depth due to dubious player purchases only compounds the problem.

Coaching has also been a significant issue with no real philosophy. The model of pass and move, possession, and midfield dominance are all in the past, and Barca 2017 are truly unrecognizable from the 2010 version I fell in love with.

Since this team's decline is complex, there is no magic bullet or solution. However, fans, players, coaches, and management must take a hard look at where we are now, how we are playing now, and how far we have fallen if we are to reverse this trend. A new coach is certain as the current coach already announced his departure from the club several months ago. New players will be necessary-in defense, in offense, and in midfield. Heroes muse be given send-offs or front office positions, and a new generation must be given its chance. While the faces may change, I hope that the structure and the philosophy of winning the right way and being mes que un club (more than a club) will re-emerge.

This does feel like the end of an era. But let's not lament what we have lost. Rather, let us remind ourselves of what these players have given us-love, excellence, inspiration, and above all belief that greatness is a collective effort. I feel like I am at a wake, but the life of the one who has passed has been full and has brought me and countless others joy. For that, I am grateful tonight even as I say goodbye to an old friend.

MIRACLE IN BARCELONA

Last night something improbable happened. No, improbable is not the right word. Impossible is a more fitting description of the situation Barcelona found themselves in after losing the first leg of their Champions' League tie 4-0 to Paris St. Germain (PSG) several weeks ago. The result from that first leg loss meant that the Catalans had to score four times just to force extra time and possibly penalties. No team in this competition had ever turned around such a deficit, but then again Barcelona is unlike any other team.

That Barcelona faced this test a mere week after its manager had tied to call it quits at the end of the season added even more drama to this uphill task. However, this announcement seemed to unite the players in the days after it was made, rather than divide or distract them. The coach Luis Enrique had said before the match that he did not know if Barca could turn around the tie, but that they would try. He also said if PSG can score four against us in Paris, why can we not score six against them in our home? What a wise man Enrique is.

The game started off full of energy, and Barca had the ball in the back of the net within four minutes. PSG conceded an "own goal" minutes later, and an energy seemed to fill the players and fans, alike. Was a comeback truly possible. After PSG conceded a penalty that Leo Messi clinically put home, Barca were up 3-0 and cruising. Only one more goal was necessary to level things.

However, PSG scored off of a busted play to make it 3-1. Now the Catalans ended to score three more to go through. That is because Champions' League knockout rounds are decided by the aggregate score between the two games and because "away" goals scored by the visitors count for slightly more than one goal. In this case, the aggregate score was 5-3 in PSG's favor. Since Barca did not score an away goal in the first leg, they needed three more goals for a total of six to best PSG's five.

With two minutes left in regulation, it looked as though it was not meant to be. However, Neymar, the dazzling Brazilian who had been the best player on the pitch, stepped up and fired a free kick home - 4-1 and 4-5 on aggregate. Then, Luis Suarez, the mercurial Uruguayan striker, was brought down in the penalty box. Though Messi is the usual penalty taker, the task was left to Neymar, He stepped up and delivered another goal during the "added time" period of the match. With three minutes to go, Barca were up 5-1 and level on aggregate 5-5, but they still needed one more to go through.

Once again, Neymar delivered - this time in the 95th minute - by lofting a ball into the box that was met by the outside of the boot of the former Barca youth product and all-around utility man Sergio Roberto. PSG's keeper Kevin Trapp was beaten. Barca led 6-1 and 6-5 on aggregate, The stadium and cules around the world erupted.

Never say die. It is not over until it is over. Never give up. especially on this team. Those are the lessons of a win like Barca's last night. In the end, we came through, and Pique, the great central defender will no doubt be proven right after saying they will need to hire more midwives in Barcelona in nine months because love will be made tonight.

Love. It is a funny word to describe a sports team, But Barca are not just any team. Last night was a reminder that the team's motto, mes que un club - more than a club- has never been more true. Visca Barca!

LA LA LAND

La La Land has been receiving critical acclaim for the past few months. Last night our family decided to check it out at the aptly-named Hollywood Theatre in our neighborhood.

The movie focuses on two young people trying to make their way in modern day Los Angeles, whose nickname happens to be La La Land. The lovely Emma Stone plays Mia, an actress, and the wonderful Ryan Gosling plays, a jazz musician. After several chance encounters, these two fall in love. Despite that, neither loses sight of what brought his/her to La La Land in the first place - the dream of making it as an artist.

The movie was bittersweet on so many levels. Most of all, the movie was moving because it captured the very human desire to succeed professionally but also to find love. That it difficult to have both is something that this movie captures better than any I have veer watched. Deep down, we often have to choose- does one stay with one's current situation that is familiar and comfortable or does one chase one's dreams not knowing what the outcome might be. I dare so that for many, there is not a harder choice in life. Fortunately, as the movie, demonstrates, things can "work out" no matter what one chooses, and it is clear that we are all the sum of our choices along the way. The existentialists would be proud of La La Land for sure!

Fantastic movie-making for me is ultimately about stories and characters that help you remember that there is more that unites us as human beings than divides us. I will not spoil the movie's ending for you, but suffice it to say that the final 20 minutes of La La Land were among the finest I have ever seen on screen. I felt as though I was in the room with these two and that I had strapped on their skins. It's rare to feel anything close to that in real life, but this movie reminds one just how powerful certain connections can be.

In three words, La La Land is: Sadness. Beauty. Life. Go see for yourself!