Thanks to the generosity of forces seen & unseen, we enjoyed a beautiful long weekend in the San Francisco Bay area in late July. The focal point of our weekend was a reflective retreat held at the Marconi Conference Center in the healthful hills of Marshall, CA, northern Marin county, focused on Defining Core Values. For my progeny, this retreat yielded the discovery of a company of like-minded cohorts with whom he grew a strong bond. We steeped ourselves in SF history with a long urban hike up to Coit Tower, leisurely walks along the Embarcadero and in downtown, as well as a sobering visit out to the historical and avian-rich rock of Alcatraz island.