These off-again-on-again showery days have transformed our town. For the first time in months there are geese — a group, a gaggle — wandering the wetlands on B Street. Where have they been and where are they going? They’re not saying. The Martinez hills are velvet green and the pear trees on First Street have exploded with white blossoms. Love seeing them congregate in piles on the sidewalk and street corners at the hint of a breeze. The rest of the country has snow and we have blossoms. Walking down East D to get to First Street, I realized that in one short block you can get credit counseling, therapy, consult with a workers comp attorney, and if there is anything left over have your teeth fixed and finish up with a coffee at Amore Bistrot.
Heading up First, I stopped to chat with Mike, a security guard at the First Northern California Credit Union. Talk about six degrees of separation! Turns out he and I lived in the same towns growing up. Mike lived in Westchester near LAX where I went to elementary school and later lived in Fullerton where I spent my high school and college years. Like they say about Paris, if you stand on a street corner in Benicia long enough, everybody you ever knew will pass by.
Pondering the coincidence, I passed Elisa’s Cottage, the cute Victorian house/boutique specializing in vintage men’s Hawaiians shirts, jewelry, cowboy boots, and accessories. The conch belt I had admired was still there displayed on the porch along with scarves, masks and colorful rain boots. I grabbed it. As I was checking out, Elisa said I could have another item of the same value free of charge! I walked out of there with a new belt and gorgeous beaded and glass necklace for free. What a country!
Walking back from the library, I saw a fellow in front of St. Paul’s rummaging through a suitcase and thought he might be connected to the Food is Free stand there. I said “hi” and he introduced himself as Wen Geng, culinary demonstrator. An extroverted fellow, he is a member of St. Pauls and a volunteer chef at many places around the Bay Area. He asked me to wait as he pulled from his suitcase a lethal looking meat cleaver, along with a small potato. In several lighting quick moves he sliced the potato every which way before handing it to me. I pulled it apart and it became a potato spiral – a work of art. Wen proceeded to show me some kung fu moves balancing on one foot, and lifting his leg as high as his shoulder. He practices these moves sometimes when he cooks. Don’t try this at home. I was riveted and flashed back to a Fellini movie. Wen hails from Beijing and likes to donate his services where they are needed. I had made a new friend and acquired a piece of spud art. Benicia rocks!
As I passed by the new, outdoor structure across the alley from Pacifica Pizza, the picnic tables were empty. A fellow behind the bar in the back was setting up some music trying to bring some action to that end of the street, he said. Ralph, also known as DJ Jack Nas, said he plays the Grinch at Christmas time. It’s good to have a town Grinch, I told him, to balance out the friendliness of the town. The space was built by Pacifica Pizza for the benefit of those who buy takeout from any of the local cafes and have no place to sit.
Stopping to admire the huge garden in front of the little white house with green shutters next to Adobe, I walked down the alley know as Peggy Martin Lane. As I headed toward the water, a huge space opened up — a beautiful stone wall surrounded a grassy area which backed up to the Peregrine Landing Complex and Stables. Years ago I loved to shop at the vintage clothing store there. I was surprised to see two more life size cigar star Indian sculptures like the Teak man displays on the corner of First and H, one by a wall and the other one through an upstairs window. Was this an apparition, it was hard to tell. There’s another story to investigate. I stood by the water to take in the gentle sound of lapping waves. Walking back to First, I saw three quince trees or maybe cherry trees all pink and blooming. It had been a year since I last saw them, when my sister, Susan, a plein air painter, and had set up her easel to capture them on canvas. It seems like a lifetime ago.
Letters From Benicia 