The first piece is 古琴吟, also known as 相思曲, which is supposed to allow practice of accurate finger sliding positions for the left hand. The ethereal harmonics at the beginning and end of the song calls up the ghost story related to the famous poet, Su Dongpo (1097–1100 AD). While by Hangzhou’s West Lake, he hears a woman playing outside his window one evening, singing the lyrics of this song. When he looks, he sees the young woman disappear under the wall. At daybreak, he digs underneath to find an old guqin. The earliest record of this piece dates from 1573.

Lyrics for 古琴吟:

音音音，恁負心，真負心。
辜負俺，辜負俺，到如今。
記得當初，低低唱，淺淺斟，一曲值千金。
如今撇我在古牆陰。
秋風蓑草白雲深，流水高山何處尋？
悲悲切切，冷冷清清，叫人怎禁。

The next piece is 秋風詞. This piece depicts the autumn breeze and bright fall moon, falling leaves being scattered by the wind, love, and memories. The first verse is borrowed from the poet, Li Bai 李白 (701–762 AD). The poem is titled 三五七言, or Verses of Three, Five, and Seven Characters.

Lyrics for 秋風詞:

秋風清，秋月明。
落葉聚還散，寒鴉樓復驚。
相親相見知何日，此時此夜難為情。
入我相思門，知我相思苦。
長相思兮長相憶。
短相思兮無盡致。
早知如此絆人心。
何如當初莫相識。

The second piece at that same lesson was 湘江怨. The melody dates from 1511. Emperor Yao had given his twin daughters, E Huang and Nü Ying, to Shun in marriage. After becoming emperor, while hunting in the southern lands of CangLang, Shun died. This song depicts the two sisters’ lament by the Xiang River.

The lyrics are:

落花落葉落紛紛；落日思君不見君。
腸斷斷腸腸欲斷；淚珠痕上更添痕。
一片白雲青山內；一片白雲青山外。
青山內外有白雲；白雲飛去青山在。

我有一片心；無人共我說。
願風吹散雲；訴與天邊月。
攜琴上高樓；樓高月華滿。
相思彈未終；淚滴冰絃斷。
人道湘江深；未抵相思半。
海深終有底；相思無邊岸。
君在湘江頭；妾在湘江尾。
相思不相見；同飲湘江水。
夢魂飛不到；所欠惟一死。
入我相思門；知我相思苦。

長相思兮長相憶；短相思兮無盡極。
早知如此絆人心；何不當初莫相識。
湘江湘水碧澄澄；未抵相思一半深。
每向夢中相見後；令人不覺痛傷心。

This all came about in an interesting way. More than ten years ago, I found the 與古齋琴譜 (Abiding with Antiquity Guqin Manual, 1855, tr. Binkley) on the internet while looking for construction details. After making my first one, I decided to improve on the design, and in 2010, I was inspired to make two more instruments. I kept a construction blog, including an album of the entire process.

Jim Binkley, who translated the 與古齋琴譜, found my blog and wrote me with some questions. He now teaches computer science at Portland State University. I also asked him if he knew of any contacts in Southern California, since the guqin is a relatively obscure instrument. He said that one of the best players still alive is Mr. Lui, and that I might contact one of his former students, Alan Yip, and get connected.

After meeting up with Alan and later with Lui Laoshi, I started my first lesson on April 22. The curriculum started with 仙翁操 and 湘江怨. The next lesson included 古琴吟 and 秋風詞. Now, I’m working on 歸去來辭. Many of these are based on ancient poems.

I’ll try to post recordings when I get a chance.

The actual ceremony started at 4:00 with Ariana playing Bach cello suites and concluded an hour later with the pastor introducing, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Hechanova. Then, there was a cocktail hour with an open soda bar and passed hors d’oeuvres. Everyone went back inside for dinner, and the spotlight entree was the baked salmon, caught by Tina and Jonathan.

We all enjoyed the beautiful and elegant event.

Congratulations, Jon and Tina!

* * * * *

“Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you…” I hear singing coming from the outside as I open the garage door. Why are Alice and my parents there? Andy and I are about to get in my car and drive down to pick them up and go out for dinner.

Just a few seconds prior, Andy pointed to the trunk of my old car of sixteen years, “Hey, what happened to your car?”

The planning had been going on for weeks. We’ve been discussing the fact that my car has been patched up so many times; it’s probably time to update and upgrade. Even my friend and colleague, Barth, asked me when I was going to get a new car and what kind it will be. “Maybe something eco, like a Volt or the Leaf,” I said.

“You can’t do that!” Barth exclaimed, “You just can’t do that!”

Then, my siblings also kept asking me about my car color preference—not that it mattered, because I wasn’t planning on buying one soon. Andy made several trips to the dealership and arranged to have it picked up on April Fools’ Day. Apparently, the plan was to have the car picked up on the Thursday before, but that would risk me discovering it.

Yesterday, Andy, Alice, and I drove out to lunch for Jayce’s birthday with a group of friends, and afterwards, I went to the gym to do a leg and abs workout. It was good, and I came home mid-afternoon. In the meantime, Andy went to the dealership, picked up the car, and drove it home, all the while checking to see what I was up to. I happened to be busy futzing with my camera’s autofocus settings. Then, we planned to go out for dinner, like an early birthday meal. I wanted coffee first, and while I was making the French press, my dad drove the car and positioned it outside the closed garage door, right behind my old car.

After coffee, my parents and Alice went out and asked to be picked up down the driveway, while Andy and I would get into my car first. Andy had to get his shoes, which was a stall tactic. By the time we made it to the garage, Alice and my parents were already outside next to the new car, ready to sing.

“Hey, what happened to your car?” Andy says, pointing to the trunk corner.

I lean over, not really seeing what he is supposedly pointing at, “What?”

Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, I turn back, open the driver’s door, and click the garage opener. Suddenly, there’s singing. Then, “Surprise!!!!!”

We drive out to dinner in this car that has eco settings, and as we wait for our table at Niko Niko Sushi, I hear about all the scheming that was going on over the last several weeks. Thank you to Andy and Alice! What an early birthday surprise!

It was nice to see some of the orthopaedic family as well: Jacklyn and Gary Botimer, Wayne Cheng, Gary Frykman; and Ray, Zach, Alan, and Jason.

Cut artichokes in half, trim, and de-choke.
Dip the artichoke halves in lemon juice mixed with water, to prevent browning.
Steam for 25 minutes.

In the meantime…put the following into a blender:
Garlic cloves
Few sprigs of fresh thyme
Black pepper
Salt
Add lemon juice and olive oil until there is enough liquid to blend.
Blend until smooth.

Slather mixture onto steamed artichokes, making sure the marinade gets between all the leaves.

Grill on both sides and serve.

A group of medical students are still planning on going, and after talking to Jacob, I decided at the spur of the moment to just join in. Instead of packing my usual dSLR, I figure that I can try using my phone camera. Hopefully, things turn out. All their meals had been planned, so I figure I will be able to contribute a little. It’s now Friday afternoon, and I pick up some supplies at Stater Bros. We meet up at Jacob and Jeremy’s place, then pile into Jeremy’s station wagon. It’s me and the students: Brenden Matus, Jacob Mayor, Tony Pacini, Christoff Van Niekerk, and Jeremy Weaver. Near Cal State San Bernardino, we start smelling antifreeze. It’s better to turn back. Brenden and I both offer to drive, and after a long road trip, we pull into our campsite at Boulder Beach, Lake Mead National Recreational Area.

The Saturday morning wake up routine goes fairly quickly, and we make it to the Hacienda Hotel parking lot earlier than scheduled. Scott from Desert Adventures pull up the kayak trailer; we toss in in our gear and jump into the van. Scott drops us off at White Rock Canyon trailhead. The hike down winds along the bottom of a picturesque slot canyon, and the trail spits us out right at White Rock beach. Across a rock scramble, we arrive at Arizona Hot Springs. Desert Adventures tow our gear and kayaks up to the beach by the campsite. In the meantime, we head for the first hot spring soak.

After organizing the gear and kayaks, we paddle upriver to the sauna cave, which was drier than usual. The next highlight is Goldstrike Hot Springs. This canyon has an amazing string of springs and waterfalls, all with varying temperatures. The best one sits just below a ledge fed by a hot waterfall, and about a stone’s throw from this place known as “the shower.” We soak there for a long time before heading back to our kayaks.

The paddle back to camp proves to be very easy, especially compared with the upstream stretch. We set up camp right at the river’s edge, take in one last soak in the hot springs, and then cook dinner around nightfall. By 7:30, we are all out—except for Brenden, who is irritated by the fireworks from our camping neighbors.

After eleven hours, we all awake to the brightening sky. Of course, the day starts out with several rounds of French press coffee. Then, we have a breakfast of eggs, hash browns, chili, avocados, oatmeal. We pack up, head for one last soak, and then push off down the Colorado River. We have lunch and a nap along a sandbar. Then, we explore the catwalk and Emerald Cave. At the beach next to mile maker 54, the students peak bag this peak while I continue my nap.

We all pull into Willow Beach earlier than expected, but then we take the scenic route home, stopping for gas, at REI, for dinner. Wishing we can have those natural hot springs and slot canyons back home to soak in after an awesome trip like this.

The phone camera didn’t turn out too badly, but I did miss having a nice camera.

In addition to the meetings, it was good to network with other hand surgeons and to renew friendships.