Storming the New Year

         We've started the new year with an ample baptism on the California central coast. 

        In Cambria and environs 8.5 inches in the last 10 days has washed 2022 away and changed the color scheme from drought brown.

        Rain is forecast for 8 of the next ten days. We've been soaked for 8 of the last 10. We are being warned to expect 5 inches in the next two days.

        Santa Rosa Creek is a water freeway gliding into the Pacific near Moonstone Beach. It's also a zoom-floom. 

        The storm surf is audible from miles away. Its roar and growl thunder the planet's voice. Its power is immense.

        Some are not content to listen and watch.

        Leaks, slides, road closures, lost power and communication, washouts, and localized flooding; California is good at getting things back in operation and  Californians take it in stride, especially on the central coast. We've had a breather between the "atmospheric rivers," and we wait now for the next act. 

        This is a place of "human/nature interface;" mountains, forests, wildlife, the Pacific Ocean. We live here with the knowledge that nature rules. We are cool with that. Still, this rain season is unlike most. 

        See you down the trail. 

        

Are We Ready?

         A recent story struck me as a perfect way to posit a conclusion to 2022.

        Dr. John Elliott at Scotland's St. Andrews University asks the engaging challenge; if one of our many searches and explorations for life in the universe would detect a sign or a kind of communication signal, what would we do next?

        Such a find would change everything about human existence and Dr Elliott, a computational linguist asks "are we ready for it?" 

        Does any nation, or organization or anyone have a plan? 

        "Look at the mess we made when Covid hit. We'd be like headless chickens. We cannot afford to be ill-prepared, scientifically, socially and politically rudderless for an event that could happen at any time and which we cannot afford to mismanage," says Elliott.

        In the New Year, Elliott will be organizing a scientific coalition to address how to proceed. What would we say, how would we do it, and who would be the messenger?  Who would write the message?  

       Riddle through that as we prepare for another Auld Lang Syne. The questions cause one to confront the status of who we have become as a specie on this planet.

        After our long history, how would, how can we explain ourselves?

        The world watches a tyrant lead his nation in war crimes and slaughter innocents. The world appears unable to stop it. 

       The world has never amassed such wealth and we've never witnessed more homeless, poverty stricken and destitute human beings. 

       For decades we have known we are trashing the planet and for as long we have refused to stop doing it. 

       We continue to use our most personal beliefs as cudgels and hammers of judgement and even warfare. We have a history of killing our most enlightened. 

      There are some who tell Dr. Elliott maybe the best response is to say or do nothing. A  friend has joked the reason we've not had contact with higher or intelligent beings is because they already know about us. 

    I suspect it has been ever such. One need not subscribe to a particular faith to understand the idea of humanity as imperfect or broken, and maybe even slow to learn. But there are those who reach, who aspire, who inspire and raise us up. At the turn of the year, one of these years, I hope we decide they are the voices we should follow.  In the meantime, we have our keepers to keep an eye on us...

        Take a cup of kindness...and right good will draft ...if not for old times for those times to come.  

        Perhaps Dr. Elliott should enlist the dreamers, artists, poets and the mystics.

        Wishing you well being and good cheer.

        See you down the trail.

Santa's Private Reserve

It's time for a little fun. Here's our annual visit to Santa's private reserve, designed and curated by a talented elf named Kevin at the Cambria Garden Center. 

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Kwanzaa

Happy Holidays

Peace and Goodwill

See you down the trail. 

 

Candlelight Christmas Came Back

         The glow of the Santa Rosa Chapel from its east village hill top drew us into a resumption of a Cambria tradition.

        For almost 150 years Christmas magic happens here. After two years, delayed by Covid, the wondrous sounds, friendly warmth and joy was back.

            Friends and neighbors from the village crowd in to hear other friends and neighbors treat us to music, voice and word that soothes the soul.

        Soprano Molly Pasutti, backed by Jill Poulos on Irish harp and button accordion, Bob Liepman on cello, Eric Williams' guitar and violin virtuoso Brynn Albanese performed; Let Us The Infant Greet, I Saw 3 Ships, Good Christian Men Rejoice, Kesh Jig, and a stunning Mary Did you Know?

        Brynn's Handel Violin Sonata in D Major and Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons dazzled and melted us.

        Jody Mulgrew, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter added mirth and richness with The First Noel, a couple of his own creations- I Guess I'll Have to Spend Christmas Here, Christmas on the Island, and classics Jingle Bell Rock, White Christmas and the soaring Angels We Have Heard On High.

        A special joy was seeing Judith Larmore with her annual reflections message. Judith grew up in my mother's little north eastern Indiana hometown and her rich memories and stories kindle a special place in my heart. This year, after two years of loss and hurt, Judith reminded us of the value and peace of "saying their name" as we recall those special to us. Her message in this year of resumption sparkled as a homily of recovery and making right. It is a gift.

       Bruce Black was not available to share his telling of Twas the Night Before Christmas, so story teller Amber Atkinson wove the tail with panache and drama and musical emphasis from her partner Brynn. 

        Molly Pasutti and Eric Williams on Guitar teamed for a dramatic and spiraling O' Holy Night. 

        The ensemble led all of us in Silent Night and Joy to the World. 

        As we filed out, filled with joy and ambled down the hill into a gaily light village, the Christmas spirit and good cheer seemed to have settled over the village, again. It came back.

       See you down the trail.