Highlights: I went to Oakland this morning to attend the 4th Annual "Spirituality and Beyond" event at the Henry Kaiser Auditorium. The "beyond" part turned out to be my element and comfort zone. I arrived way earlier than necessary. The nature of blight in that area was unlike anything I've seen before. The attendees appeared far more like deadheads than I'd anticipated. I resisted my impulse to leave, and I am glad I did. My discomfort dissipated during my waiting time as I walked about and tried to see beyond my judgmental assumptions and recognize a shared humanity. The gathering was smaller than I had expected, but the first two speakers had a lot of things to say that I found insightful. I left around 1 pm, stunned again by the state of the area and very consciously grateful that I have been as fortunate as I have been to have all that I have as far as family, friends, opportunities, and options. Dinner at the Marioni's was a nice way to end the day. I helped Tommy study for his EMT test, and I am impressed at how well he did and how much he has learned and memorized. The topics of EpiPens and nebulizers took my thoughts back to his childhood and his own first-hand experiences, having to grow up with the level of anxiety that existed in the home then.