Fewer sail boats than usual were out for the Thursday evening races and the ones that were were sporting festive spinnakers. The possibility of rain had been forecast as dark clouds gathered. A slash of pink appeared and within minutes the sky has turned the most incredible palette of oranges and pinks. Hurrying out onto East “B” Street, I laughed out loud at the almost Biblical site — a baroque sky where cherubs would not be out of place. Sure enough a dazzling lightening and thunder storm struck in the early morning hours, interspersed with a smattering of rain — just enough to damp down any sparks which may have taken hold.
Earlier in the week, stopped for an ice cream at Double Rainbow, something I haven’t done in awhile due to Covid but mostly lactose intolerance. Ordered a single lemon custard cone The wind was blowing mightily when I sat down outside, the cone in one hand and the other routing around in my purse for some lactase tablets. By that time I’d swallowed the pills, the rivets of ice cream were trickling down my arm and dripping off my elbow. The little girl a few tables down smiled as she licked her fresh cone that replaced an earlier one that had plopped on the sidewalk. She was dancing to “Joy to the World” which was being piped outside. As I left, she ran up and hugged me around the legs. Little Abigail – who is three – is a model for living in the moment. “Joy to the devil and the deep blue sea, joy to you and me,” I hummed heading up the Street.
Approaching the library to return some books, gazed down at the bocce ball courts. One fellow was mindfully raking the sand with the concentration of a Zen monk, another was spraying down the surface, and a third fellow was pushing a giant roller to pack it all down. Players were congregating with coolers and picnic baskets preparing for some camaraderie and competition.
A fellow piloting a three-wheeled motorcycle approached blasting pop music, his partner in the passenger seat sporting large, vintage goggles. What a stylish couple. As they passed by was surprised to see that the woman was a large dog, Boxer I think, relishing the ride as her ears flopped in the breeze.
Some things never change. Sitting on patio Saturday waiting for the annual regatta from Berkeley to Benicia, heard the ice cream man’s truck playing “She’ll be coming around the mountain when she comes.” Kids were running to catch him yelling “stop” just like we used to. Back in the day in L.A., the Helms man drove by selling bread and donuts out of huge drawers in the back of his truck while the “bus man” drove a windowless bus, which was a mini grocery store. We loved the little wax bottles filled with sweet liquid that he kept up front that sold for two cents.
My sister and I waited on the patio all afternoon for the regatta which was hours late. Evidently, the boats were stuck in Richmond due to lack of wind. Finally around 5 pm, they sailed in —dozens of them crowding the Strait and entering the Marina. Benicia Yacht Club officials lined them up like sardines so that you could walk from one boat to another without touching water. Bands played all day and drinks flowed at the party which was open to the public. The Marina was calm as a lake the next morning with plenty of aspirin aboard, no doubt.
Did a double take as I passed by a couple having lunch alfresco at the Union Hotel. A good sized parrot was standing on the table pecking at their plates. The parrot’s feathers were a light gray and in disarray – maybe she was molting. Was told by the couple, Dave and Julie from Walnut Creek, that Blossom the parrot talks to their dog in full sentences. Does the dog answer, I wondered. Asking for a demonstration, saw that Blossom was not in a talking mood. The couple is interested in moving to Benicia. It would be grand to have a parrot in town to talk to the dogs — you’d need a flock of them — like on Telegraph Hill.
Later in the week had a hankering for a Chicken Romesco sandwich from One House Bakery and was told the patio had opened. The entrance is on East I Street, a long path that ends in the two-story garden. A vision of green greeted me — overhead vines, rose bushes, ferns, ivy, bougainvillea, fig trees and tiny succulent gardens on overhanging roofs. Wooden flower boxes line one side. On Friday and Saturday they serve fresh scones with strawberries and clotted cream. Went back the next day and placed an order. The clotted cream was thick and delicious. Now if they could just figure out how to put it into a can that you could spray into your mouth …
Seemed like most people, young and old, are wearing masks in town. Benicia takes care of its own. May we all be safe and free from harm.
Sarah Beserra is an artist, collector, writer, Dharma practitioner and former lobbyist.
Letters From Benicia 