Hard to believe as we experience these crisp, clear days on the Strait that just six hours down Interstate 5 lives, homes and livelihoods are being snuffed out by fire. Right now we are the lucky ones. I remember those Santa Ana winds from childhood in L.A. They were a nuisance then. Now they’re the difference between life and death.
Old memories of growing up in Westchester: At Christmastime the family would pile into our green Oldsmobile 88 and drive to Altadena to see the lights on Christmas Tree Lane. On special occasions we’d go to dinner at the Malibu Sea Lion restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway where seals barked their greetings to hungry customers. My great aunt and uncle lived in Santa Monica and we would walk along the Palisades which even then was crumbling into the sea. I can still vividly remember seeing the aftermath of the great Bel Air Fire of 1961 — blocks of homes burnt to the ground — almost 500 in all. Their brick fireplaces were the only structures left standing.
Shopping for produce at Raley’s Friday I observed a Benicia firefighter chasing down a runaway grapefruit. “Excuse me,” I said. “May I ask if we’re participating in fighting the fires in Southern California?” “Absolutely. Benicia Fire Department sent down four units,” he said. I thanked him for his service. He said, “It’s what I was trained to do.” Thank goodness.
Life goes on here in our little village on the Strait. Spent two delightful hours at the Library Saturday listening to poets recite their impressions of artist John Tullis’s paintings, whose show ends there this month. Every seat was taken in the Dona Benicia Room as Benicia Poet Laureate Kathy Monroe led the program of ekphrastic readings sponsored by the Library’s Poet Laureate Program. An ekphrastic writing paints a picture of a work of art with words. It was intriguing to listen to the stories writers told about the works of art as they were held up in front of the audience after John explained where each one was painted and what inspired him.
Perceptions vary enormously as do imaginations. Found myself seeing things in a painting that I hadn’t noticed before and appreciating each work more than I did prior to the readings. Who is to say what a painting means or whether it is successful— the artist, a critic, an art historian? It’s all quite subjective — and fascinating.
States Coffee, formerly Farm and Flour, is no more and has consolidated with its flagship shop in Martinez. The Brewster family will open the Majestic Cafe in that space. A family photo in the window shows Mr. And Mrs. Brewster and their three smiling children — a little boy girl and boy and a baby strapped into her carriage dressed in a pink striped jumpsuit. Wait! That baby is a doll, I mean a toy baby doll, and she’s looking straight into the camera. Foiled again. Several times I’ve eagerly peeked into a carriage on First St. to admire a gurgling baby and been surprised that the baby had a wet black nose and a furry face.
Good news for dog walkers, solo walkers, dogs of all sizes, small children, bicyclists, cats, those afraid of dogs, and those who are allergic. Signs are now posted up and down the Marina after homeowners requested the City’s help in enforcing the law. The signs read: “Dogs Must Remain on Leash at all Times. Please visit designated areas for off-leash play. Benicia Municipal Code 16.10.030.”
This ordinance has been on the books for 17 years and pertains to all public property in town. Most people know to leash their dogs. But sometimes the reaction one gets when asking someone to leash is scary. I have been ignored, sworn at, and threatened by some dog owners. One couple ordered me to “Stay in your house!” One of the milder responses — “Oh, he’s just being friendly” — doesn’t take into consideration the reality of someone’s past bad experiences when a dog is running toward them. Fortunately, most Benicians live up to the old saw, “Be the person your dog thinks you are.” Thank you City Hall.
Scott the Teak Man’s outdoor shop in the corner of Avant Garden on First St. always has some intriguing new acquisition. It’s a treasure chest of old and new. Scott is easygoing and kind and has fair prices. He’s more than willing to modify a piece to make it work for you, and he delivers. If you don’t see him, he’s probably in the tent behind the outdoor showroom. Picked up two solid teak posts with carved pineapples on top to make an entrance to my step-down living room so that friends don’t trip and fall. He built bases on them to make them easier to install and added a coat of stain. He even offered to give me an antique beveled mirror which I admired but I demurred as my eyes are bigger than my square footage. Check him out.
Seems like just about every day I hear the train that runs along the Strait from Martinez to Crockett toot the same familiar refrain. It’s the honk, beep, or knock that you use when you see someone you know. I’m hearing it now as I write this! I like to imagine that it’s a loving husband tooting a “hello honey” to his wife. “How lovely to be so romantic after all these years,” I muse. It’s comforting to hear that cheerful sound echoing across the water. Someday I’ll get the real story. It might even be better than I thought.
Letters From Benicia 