December 21, The Longest Night of the Year-My Reflections

Tonight, the darkness reaches its deepest point, but it also marks the beginning of the light. On December 21, we experience the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Sun reaches its lowest arc across the sky, casting long shadows and bringing an extended hush to the land. But this is more than an astronomical moment.

Across millennia, cultures have viewed the solstice as a time of reflection, rebirth, and transition. In the stillness of the cold, ancient people gathered around fires, shared stories, and welcomed the slow return of light a symbol of hope, healing, and new beginnings.

Tonight is a rare chance to pause. To honor the quiet. To feel the rhythm of Earth beneath your feet. Let this longest night be a reminder:

Even the deepest darkness is not the end it’s the turning point.

The Longest Night, and the Promise It Carries- My Reflection

In ancient times, people gathered close to firelight on this night. They shared stories, food, and warmth. They honored what had been lost during the long year and welcomed what might return. The solstice wasn’t feared; it was understood as a threshold, a crossing from darkness toward light. Slowly, patiently, almost invisibly, the days would begin to lengthen again.

I find myself thinking about that often now as I enjoyed the last stages of my life.

As we grow older, we learn that life moves in seasons, not straight lines. There are bright summers full of momentum and growth, and there are winters, quiet, reflective, sometimes lonely. There are moments when energy fades, when the world feels smaller, when the nights seem longer than the days. And in those moments, it’s easy to believe that darkness is an ending.

But the solstice reminds us otherwise. Tonight offers us a rare invitation: to pause.

To sit with stillness instead of rushing past it. To honor the quiet without needing to fix or explain it.

There is wisdom in this darkness. It asks us to reflect, to look back at what we’ve carried, what we’ve survived, what we’ve learned. It asks us to acknowledge grief and gratitude in the same breath. It asks us to trust that not all growth is visible.

I’ve come to understand that some of the most meaningful changes in life happen the way the light returns after the solstice, slowly, subtly, almost unnoticed at first. A slightly earlier dawn. A softer heaviness in the heart. A renewed sense of presence. Hope doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes it simply stays.

So tonight, I choose to honor this longest night. I honor the years behind me, the work, the love, the losses, the stories worth telling again.

I honor the quiet moments that now feel more precious than noise. I honor the light that has not disappeared, only rested.

Let this night be a reminder: Even the deepest darkness is not the end.It is the turning point.  And tomorrow, just a little bit the light returns.

Meanwhile, 

A rare orchid once presumed extinct in Borneo has been confirmed in the Philippines, reshaping scientists’ understanding of how plants move across Southeast Asia. The finding underscores the archipelago’s role as a last refuge for fragile montane species as forests shrink across the region.

Field botanists describe 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘮 as a small, unobtrusive epiphyte distinguished by its flattened floral lip, a feature referenced in the Greek roots of its name, "plakos" (flat) and "cheilos" (lip).

Finally, 

After our Group Dinner in the Comet Room yesterday, Carol Larimore called me and sang the following song that she composed as part of her educational program for teachers, parents, and children in grades K through 3 in elementary schools in a number of Bay Area districts: She titled it Gratitude and informed me the song reminded her of me. John sent it to me as follows : 

[Chorus]

"Gratitude in an attitude;

A radical, positive attitude.

Gratitude sets me free

From rumblin' grumblin' negativity"

[Repeat]

'

[Verse]

"G" for Glad,

"R" a reason for

"A" an attitude for all seasons

"T" Terrific, that's how I feel,

"I, T, U, D, E, that's for real

[Repeat Chorus]

Note: Carol and I are delighted that you enjoyed your birthday celebration here at THD! John

Finally, the top Five News of the Day:

1. Major Bay Area power outage — partial restoration underway
PG&E has begun restoring electricity to tens of thousands of San Francisco customers following a major outage that left much of the city in the dark. ABC7 San Francisco

2. Ursid Meteor Shower peaks tonight
The final meteor shower of the year, the Ursids, is set to peak late tonight into early Monday, offering great viewing conditions for stargazers. TIME

3. Middle East tensions: Israel urges fresh strikes on Iran
Israel is pressing the U.S. for additional strikes against Iran amid concerns over missile and nuclear program developments. The Australian

4. Winter Solstice marked globally
Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere — the shortest day of the year — with celebrations and cultural observances worldwide. Forbes

5. Mass shooting in South Africa — fatalities reported
Multiple gunmen opened fire near a tavern in Bekkersdal, Gauteng, killing nine people and injuring others. Wikipedia

Reflections and a Poem on My 91st Birthday, Today

Dinner with MaryAnn, Steve and Harry with Jenny after the Cocktail Hour. Jenny took several pictures ( 36) during the Cocktail and I am posting some of them at the bottom of this page.  

Ninety-One Years: A Birthday Reflection

Today is December 20 and I am celebrating my 91st birthday. Today, I find myself looking back,  not out of longing, but out of gratitude. At this stage of life, time moves differently. It doesn’t rush the way it used to; instead, it settles quietly beside me, offering its memories like folded letters I can open at my own pace and leisure.

Remembering the Long Journey

Inside those letters are the many versions of myself: the young immigrant who left home in search of opportunity,  the naturalized American who worked hard to claim his place, the husband, father, grandfather and now, twice this year, a great-grandfather.

Becoming a great-grandfather feels like being given two new sunrises. Their tiny fingers and soft breaths remind me how the story continues long after we imagine our chapters are done.

My Years in Service- My FDA Years Photo

1990-My First Personal Interview with the FDA, Washington, DC

Another letter contains the professional life I built at the FDA, years of careful, demanding, but deeply meaningful work in public health. I remember the weight and responsibility of the job, especially during the aftermath of 9/11, when so much of the nation felt unsteady. Those experiences shaped me in profound ways; they remain part of the steel in my spine and the steadiness in my convictions.

A Writer at Heart

Then there is the writer in me, the man who, in 2009, began to blog without any idea that it would become a daily ritual, a personal archive, a companion. Over time, my blog posts became footprints documenting the landscapes of my life: family, politics, faith, culture, memory, and the ordinary moments that give each day its quiet meaning.

Today, My Life at The Heritage Downtown(THD), Walnut Creek, CA

Today I live at THD, where the pace has slowed but the stories have not. Life in a senior community carries its own humor, tenderness, and unpredictability. I watch my fellow residents navigate their days with grace and grit; I admire and grateful to the staff who make this place feel like home; and I continue to observe, reflect, and write about the rhythms of senior life. It is another chapter, different from earlier ones, but no less meaningful.

Gathering the Years

At ninety-one, I no longer chase the years. I gather them. I turn them over the way one might examine shells along a beach, each one shaped by time, carrying echoes of laughter, sorrow, triumph, loss, and love.

And through all of it, I still feel profoundly alive. Still curious. Still writing. Still grateful.

A Birthday Wish to Myself

So as I welcome another December 20, I do so with simple gratitude for the extraordinary, complicated, beautiful life I’ve lived. Ninety-one years and somehow, the ink on my pen has not yet run dry.

Meanwhile, here's a poem on this occasion, prepared by my Writing Assistants.  

🎂 Ninety-One: A Birthday Poem for December 20 🎂
by David Balleza Katague

At ninety-one, the days feel softer,
as if time itself has learned gentleness, 
not rushing, not demanding,
just placing moments in my hands
like folded letters from years gone by.

I open each one slowly.

There is the boy who left home for a larger world,
the young man who built a life in a country
that once felt far away,
the naturalized American still proving, even now,
how deeply one can love a place
that didn’t love him first,
but eventually learned to.

There is the professional, 
the long chapter wearing the badge of the FDA,
scientist, regulator, guardian of public health.
The work was meticulous, demanding,
but noble in the way quiet service always is.
I carried it with pride,
as I carried my share of the nation’s burdens
after 9/11.
Those memories live in me like iron, 
weighty, unbending, unforgettable.

There is the writer, 
the man who began, to blog in 2009
and never stopped.
The stories stretch behind me
like a long, wandering coastline:
family memories, politics, reflections,
daily joys, and quiet griefs,
each post another footprint
in the sand of a life well-lived.

And now, here at THD,
the days continue in a gentler rhythm.
Walks down familiar hallways,
the laughter of friends, bridge and mahjong, 
the quirks and sweetness of my fellow residents,
the dedicated staff who weave their care
into our ordinary days.
I observe it all, 
noticing, remembering, writing, 
a chronicler of senior life.

And this year,
two miracles arrived
with tiny fingers and impossibly small toes:
my two great-grandchildren.
Two new branches on a tree
that has grown through storms and seasons,
reaching farther than I ever dreamed
when I first planted its roots.

They are my sunrise.
I am their long, steady dusk.

At ninety-one, I do not chase years, 
I gather them.
I turn them over like seashells,
listening to what they still echo.

Gratitude.
Love.
Work well done.
Stories still unfolding.

And so on this birthday,
I lift my eyes to the December sky
and say simply:

I am still here.
Still learning.
Still writing.
Still loving this beautiful, simple life.

Ninety-one years, and the ink has not run dry.

My Activity for Today: 

7AM-11AM- Reflection, Morning Mediation and Writing/Reading

12-2PM- Birthday Lunch for Family ( for 10) at FOB Kitchen, Temescal District, Oakland 

3-4 PM -Nap Time and Checking E-mail/Writing/Reading

5PM Dinner at THD with Bridge, Mahjong and Chair Volleyball Friends, etc.. 

7PM -10PM TV Time with Batman and Robin

10:30PM- Sleeping Time and Gratitude Time for the Day     

Special Thanks: To Jenny S, Gween C, Sue H. Marsha K and Sandi G for their birthday cards greetings. To Dick B, for his singing telephone greetings.   To Jane W for the book she gave;

To Alex, our musician guest yesterday who allowed me to sing with him, My Way, along with his energetic musical performance, that was fantastic and exceeded the one hour schedule. Alex has outdone himself last night.  To the Servers and Kitchen Crew, Office/Activity Staff who sang at the Cocktail Hour Event yesterday. And for the special appetizer of Lumpia and Puto ordered by Joel...The Puto ( rice cake) was a surprised.   

May I repeat what I said in my blog last night. This memorable event in the Sunset of My Life will be one of the Highlights in my Book of Memories. Gratitude, Gratitude and Gratitude, Indeed!     

Last but not least a video of Pleasant Memories at Chateau Du Mer, 2016. Macrine(RIP) with her first cousins (Nieva Men and their Wives) serenading her with the song Some Enchanting Evening from South Pacific   

Some of the amazing and beautiful photos taken by Jenny yesterday Afternoon, at the Cocktail Hour :

https://www.facebook.com/david.b.katague/videos/10206321560494258/

You Are Never Too Old to Dream

You Are Never Too Old to Dream-Reflections on Turning 91

As I approach my 91st birthday, I find myself returning to a simple truth: you are never too old to dream. Not at 60. Not at 75. Not at 90. And certainly not at 91.

Dreaming, I’ve learned, is not something reserved for the young. It is a life force, an ember that refuses to go out as long as we continue to breathe, imagine, hope, and care.

Over the years, I’ve lived through chapters I never predicted:

• A long, meaningful career at the FDA and from three other Non-Federal organizations.

• A role in the aftermath of 9/11, helping at a time of national heartbreak.

• A blogging journey that began in 2009 and continues to this very day.

• Becoming a great-grandfather—twice!

• And navigating the challenges of aging, including Stage 4 kidney disease, with honesty, courage, and humor.

And here I am, still dreaming.

Dreams Change, But They Do Not Disappear

When we are young, dreams often involve the future, careers, families, accomplishments, travel, goals that stretch out years ahead. But at 91, dreams take on a different, deeper shape.

Today, I dream of:

• Time with the people I love.

• Sharing stories that help others reflect on their own lives.

• Living with grace, gratitude, and curiosity.

• Continuing to write blogs that inspire my senior readers.

• Leaving behind words that will comfort my family when I am gone.

And yes, dreaming of simple joys: a good massage, a bright morning, a warm conversation, a new gadget to explore (smartwatches included!), or learning something fascinating about Filipino food, culture, or history. Or Winning or Losing in Bridge and  Mahjong here at THD. 

We never stop dreaming unless we choose to. And I haven’t chosen to stop.

Dreaming Keeps Us Alive

Every week, I hear from my readers, many seniors themselves who say:

“I’m too old to start something new.”
“I wish I had done this earlier.”
“It’s too late for me.”

But it is never too late.

If I can still write, learn, discover, laugh, and dream at 91, so can you.

Dreams are not measured by their size or outcome. They are measured by the life they breathe into our days.

A Lifetime of Dreams Fulfilled and Still Dreaming

As I reflect on nine decades of life, I don’t measure my years by wealth or status or how many things I checked off some imaginary list. I measure them by relationships, health (as best as I can hold on to it), accomplishments, and the family that now spans four generations.

My life has not been perfect, but it has been meaningful. And that, I believe, is the real dream of every human being.

So, To My Senior Readers…

Whether you’re 65, 75, 85, or 95:  Keep dreaming.  Start a project. Pick up a hobby.

Write your story. Learn a technology (AI Apps) your grandchildren use. Travel if you can.

Love deeply. Hope boldly. And above all, wake up each morning believing that something good is still possible.

If turning 91 has taught me anything, it is this:

Dreaming is not something you grow out of. It is something you grow into.

And as long as there is breath in us, there is more to imagine, more to give, more to experience, and more to dream.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above Topic

Famous quotes about dreams emphasize the importance of dreaming, perseverance, and taking action to achieve them.Popular quotes include "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them" by Walt Disney and "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" by Eleanor Roosevelt. Other inspiring sayings highlight that a dream requires a dreamer, hard work, and a refusal to give up, such as "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe".  

On believing in and pursuing your dreams

• "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." – Walt Disney 
• "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt 
• "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." – Henry David Thoreau 
• "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." – Henri Frederic Amiel 
• "Every great dream begins with a dreamer." – Harriet Tubman 

On the necessity of action and perseverance

• "A dream doesn\'t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work." – Colin Powell 
• "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." – Earl Nightingale 
• "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes 
• "You have to dream before your dreams can come true." – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 
• "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." – Henry David Thoreau 

Related Blogs: My Dreams Filled and Unfulfilled:  

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2018/01/my-fulfilled-and-unfulfilled-childhood.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/06/our-unfulfilled-dreams-for-chateau-du.html

My Christmas Message This Year

The Christmas season is here, Time for Giving and Gratitude, thus this posting for Today... 

“You Have Not Really Lived If You Have Not Touched the Life of Others”

There is a quote that has followed me through every season of my life:

“You have not really lived if you have not touched the life of others.”
Simple words, but a lifetime has taught me how profoundly true they are.

As I look ahead to my 91st birthday, I find myself returning to memories that feel as vivid as yesterday, memories of my late wife (RIP) and the years when we were younger, stronger, and full of purpose as we joined medical missions in Marinduque, Philippines.

The Early Years of Service

Back then, we didn’t think of our work as something extraordinary. We were simply called to serve, packing medications, arranging supplies, assisting the medical professionals, and offering whatever time and energy we had. My wife and I traveled to communities where help was needed most, places where a single doctor’s visit could change the trajectory of someone’s life.

We witnessed the quiet miracles:

• a child receiving antibiotics for the first time, and a senior citizen first time visit with a physician

• an elderly woman getting her eyesight back after years of hopelessness,

• families who had walked miles and for hours to reach the clinic, leaving with renewed comfort and dignity.

But the greatest miracle was not in what we gave. It was in what we received.

The Power of a Life Shared

In those dusty barangay halls, cramped classrooms, and makeshift clinics under the shade of coconut trees, my wife and I learned what it truly means to touch the life of another.
A simple gesture, handing out vitamins, helping someone fill out a form, offering a smile, became its own prayer.

People often think that service is measured in grand accomplishments. But I have come to believe it is measured in presence, being there when someone needs you, showing up with sincerity, giving without expecting anything in return.

Those missions strengthened not only communities but our marriage, deepening our shared sense of purpose. Even now, with my wife gone, I carry the warmth of those years like a lantern inside me.

A Reflection at 91

Now, at nearly 91, living in a senior community and cherishing the joys of being a great-grandfather, I am aware that time has softened many things. My steps are slower, my days quieter, but the spirit to touch lives remains.

I may no longer pack medicines or travel long distances, but through writing, storytelling, and sharing the memories of a life lived with intention, I hope to continue touching others even in small ways.

It is strange how the years reshape our understanding of purpose. When we are young, we think we must do great things. When we are older, we realize that great things were the small acts of kindness we gave freely, not knowing their ripple effect.

A Life Well Lived

If the measure of life is the number of lives we touch, then I feel blessed beyond measure.
The medical missions with my beloved wife, the decades of public service at the FDA, the friendships made, the stories shared, the family grown, all these have taught me that the true legacy we leave behind is not found in wealth or achievements but in the hearts we have reached.

As I reflect on 91 years, I return once again to that quote:

You have not really lived if you have not touched the life of others.

If that is the measure, then I have lived fully, gratefully, and with a heart forever shaped by the lives that touched mine in return.

For Details of Our Medical Mission to Marinduque: Visit: 

https://planningtovisitthephilippines.blogspot.com/2016/06/my-involvement-with-medical-missions-to.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2020/05/it-is-better-to-give-than-to-receive.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-notes-conducting-and-organizing.html

Meanwhile here's the AI Overview of the Topic

The phrase "You haven't really lived if you have not touched the life of others" 

suggests that a truly meaningful life is one where you make a positive impact on others. It implies that personal fulfillment comes not just from self-interest, but from helping, connecting with, and improving the lives of those around you. This sentiment is famously echoed by figures like Mother Teresa, who said, "A life not lived for others is not a life". 

• Impact over self: The core idea is that genuine living is found in a life of service and connection, rather than one focused solely on personal gain or comfort.
• A life well-lived: This perspective aligns with the idea that a life is best measured by its positive influence and the "corners" we've left unforgettable in the lives we've touched.
• Motivation: It can be seen as a reminder that even small acts of kindness can have a profound effect, helping others to see the beauty in their own lives and believe in their own potential.
• A path to meaning: The quote suggests that by focusing on the needs of others, we can find deeper meaning and a sense of purpose, and that this is essential for a truly fulfilling existence. 
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• Finally, Some of MY Favorite Quotes: 
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• Lastly, the Top Five News of the Day

  1. ISIS-linked motive confirmed in Bondi Beach mass shooting — Australian police say suspects carried bombs and ISIS flags, and had recently traveled abroad in connection with the attack that killed multiple people. Fox News

• 2. President Trump designates fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction — The White House announces an executive order classifying illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals as WMDs, expanding enforcement tools. The White House

• 3, U.S. authorities arrest alleged New Year’s Eve terror plotters — Four defendants accused of planning to bomb U.S. companies in an anti-government plot were arrested by federal law enforcement. Department of Justice

• 4. U.S. Army identifies two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in Syria attack — The Department of Defense names the service members killed in an attack, prompting flags at half-staff in Iowa. PBS

• 5. Markets slump as major indexes close lower amid AI stock pressure — Financial markets saw major indices pull back, particularly as AI-related stocks weighed on the Nasdaq ahead of key jobs data. Investopedia