Can’t see the hills across the Strait and Mt. Diablo has disappeared in the heavy mist. To stroll down First or not, that is the question. The fog horns are moaning and the geese are back from their summer travels, grazing and honking in the wetlands on East B Street. Despite the gloom, there’s action on the Street — holiday shopping sprees, wine walks, Farm Fresh fundraisers, miniature paintings as tree ornaments at Plein Air and HQ Galleries, live music at several venues, Sees candy fundraiser at the Depot and Benicia Historical Society 2022 calendars featuring outsstanding local homes, classes at Happy Life Pottery and Angel Heart For you, a Turkey Trot with the Tim and Jeanne Hamann Foundation, and the beat goes on.
I’m all in. Bundled in layers and a warm hat, walked by the Benicia Bay Company and noticed white netting draped over the gazebo in the garden. Not ideal wedding weather. Nearby were two nattily dressed grooms waiting to exchange vows. “May you be happy,” I called out. “We already are,” one of them said smiling. “Thank you!!” Their joy was palpable … encountered a couple strolling in Avant Garden, the father carefully cradling a precious bundle wrapped in a paisley scarf. When I asked to see the baby, he gingerly pulled the scarf aside and revealed several big bunches of rosemary and oregano, which he had lovingly parented … artist Valentina Arenas, who teaches at Once Upon A Canvas in the Tannery, has three arresting paintings in the window of PURE Hair Salon, colorful portraits of models with succulent plants growing out of their heads — one with a fern coiffure. Would be fun to have gorgeous green, ferny hair, but not the deciduous kind.
The following day is just the opposite — sparkling and sunny, the Strait without a ripple and the Marina glassy. Two young boys sit on the bank with their fishing poles — Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer playing hooky … spotted the first Christmas cactus in bloom on Kuhland Alley… at Mare Island Brewery an elderly couple toast each other with frosty glasses of amber beer, another couple devours hot fudge sundaes at Double Rainbow … a young, multi-tasking mom jogs by at a considerable pace, pushing a baby in a stroller, her other hand clutching the leash of a panting dog who is trying to keep up… Julia of Cose Belle Boutique has closed her shop only months after her grand opening to take care of a major health issue. Ran into her at Benicia New Generation Cleaners in Solano Square where I got the real low down. “Some unfriendly ghosts drove me out, ” she said and proceeded to describe the strange happenings in her shop. Evidently, other shopkeepers and restauranteurs have had similar issues with the otherworldly over the years. Stay tuned.
The geese weren’t the only ones honking — road rage at First and Military. Alert and waiting for the “Walk” signal, finally entered the crosswalk when I heard a piercing and insistent honking from two separate cars. Where was it coming from? Was it directed at me? Frozen in the middle of Military, made a mad dash to the curb. The woman waiting for me to cross yelled out that the guy behind her was honking at her because she had stopped for me. So naturally, she honked back. Then the initial honker whipped by still laying on his horn and yelled something unprintable to her, or was it to me? How uncivilized! Something about that intersection brings out the beast in some people. No offense to beasts. Thankfully, this is the exception. Most cars slow down well before they see someone crossing the street. Offering the driver a friendly wave with eye contact gives some assurance. Tinted windows — and you’re on your own. “Look alert,” as my Mom used to say.
An old college roommate and I were having lunch at a local boîte when she asked what LGBTQ meant. Her grandchild was due for a visit and my friend wanted to appear hip. (Is “hip” still hep?) “I think it’s actually LGBTQIA2S+ or something like that,” I replied proudly. “And I’m pretty sure that we’re cisgender.” I got as far as “Q” and then fumbled. Later, after checking on-line, I emailed her the following — “ ‘I’ is for intersex, ‘A’ is asexual, ‘2S+’ means two or more sexes, in the spiritual sense as practiced by certain indigenous peoples.” Okay, got it. Inclusivity would suggest a new category for us boomers and beyond — LGBTQIA2S+…..IDR for “I don’t recall.”
Seated at a long table in front of Succulents and More, six members of Benicia High School’s Interact Club were holding a bake sale with proceeds benefiting “Love A Child,” a nonprofit supporting food insecure women and children. Club members were: Jason, Lucas, Kyle, Colin, Graciela, and Avery selling an array of home-baked goodies. Everybody wore a mask. A smart choice, Covid notwithstanding. Haven’t had a cold or the flu in over two years. While waiting for the order, asked Jason how to record somebody on my phone. “Try video,” he offered. Hadn’t thought of that. One stop shop, and the pumpkin muffins were sublime.
Sarah Beserra is an artist, collector, Dharma practitioner, and former lobbyist.
Letters From Benicia 