In her Sunday column in the Benicia Herald titled “Trepidatiously Creeping into 2026,” author Lois Requist asked an important question — “How do you balance the shock of what is going on in the world with day to day life in Benicia?” After all, we don’t have much control over most of the causes and conditions in our lives. But we can make the choice to react with wisdom and compassion. Mindfulness makes it possible to see what’s going on.
Buddhism teaches that the path to the end of suffering is the Middle Way. The Middle Way refers to a balanced approach to life, avoiding extremes and replacing greed, hatred, and delusion with non-attachment, lovingkindness, and compassion. If you can see that everything is constantly changing, you might be able to loosen your grip. Not so easy. It’s a lifetime practice.
In his newsletter this week, artist, musician, and activist Larnie Fox quoted Joan Baez on how she is coping with what’s going on. “I spend 85% of my time in delusion and the other 15% on serious activism,” she said. Sounds about right, but I’ll bet that she is mindful of her delusion!
Today I’m choosing to practice gratitude.
This year is racing by and Benicia’s social season has already begun. Last year it seemed like there was a major event every month. Now it appears that there’s something of interest every week sponsored by the likes of the City, Benicia Main Street, Arts Benicia, Benicia Literary Society, Carquinez Village, the Library, Bookshop Benicia, galleries, Benicia Old Town Theater Group, the Chamber, service clubs, and local businesses. For Benicia in 2026 “the season” lasts all year. There will be overlapping venues so wear comfortable shoes. I bought a 32-inch calendar to make sure that I don’t miss anything.
Attended Trivia Night at the Relik with a friend who said it would be fun. It was, but no cake walk. I’ve watched Jeopardy only a few times but do read a bit, so I thought I wouldn’t embarrass myself and disappoint my friend. Comedian and entertainer Chelsea Bearce moderated. Teams of folks of all ages sat at tall tables sipping their drinks and intently collaborating on their ballots. Prizes such as Chelsea’s homemade cookies and other baked goods were promised.
The first round was multiple choice. We got six out of ten on that one, our personal best. My friend got the answer to “Which author wrote ‘The onlyScarlett letter?’” It was Nathaniel Hawthorne. I got “Which word is at once a bay, a river and a strait?” The answer was Hudson. No extra credit for “an old car” or the butler in “Upstairs Downstairs” which is what I think of when I hear the word Hudson.
In the next round we regressed. Chelsea played a recording of the first few bars of a song and we were to guess the song and the singer. I got Tina Turner but said the song was “Proud Mary” when it was “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” My friend got Credence Clearwater. We filled in all of our blanks with Mick Jagger, although Dizzy Gillespie would have been just as inappropriate. The folks at the next table who had to grade our ballots must have thought we were demented. I felt like a turkey who had wandered into a Mensa meeting.
The one that got me was “Which animal has rectangular-shaped pupils?” I guessed “owl,” but was wrong. The answer was “goat.” Goat??? Looked up “pupils” when I got home and couldn’t believe my eyes. I’ve never looked a goat in the eye but was flabbergasted to see a photo — long horizontal boxes — yes, definitely rectangular pupils. These animals include goats, pigs, sheep, horses, deer, and some amphibians like frogs and toads. Evidently this shape maximizes peripheral vision for spotting threats. However, most mammals have round pupils. It all depends on habitat and function. Predators often have vertical slits (cats,) or round pupils (humans) that optimize depth perception required for stalking or chasing prey.
Cuttlefish are a whole other kettle of sea creature. They have pupils shaped like the letter “w” as in water which, appropriately, is their habitat.
For the final round Chelsea passed out ballots with photos of nine actors who’d played in Batman movies with a list of corresponding Batman films. We had to match them, one point for each. Had thought that there were only two Bat movies. Wrong! “Batman and Robin,” “Mask of the Phantasm,” “Batman Forever,” “Batman Returns,” “Not You Again Batman,” “Batman Call Home,” Batman Goes Hawaiian,” and “Bye Bye Batman.” I made up the last few. We thought we identified the only photo that was in black and white as Marty Milner from the TV show in the1960s, “Route 66,” but were wrong. (Did you know that Marty Milner beat out Robert Redford for the part of Tod?) We did recognize George Clooney and Michael Keaton, but who the heck were Will Arnet and Zack Snyder?
On the other hand, there have been eight James Bonds and 27 Bond movies. I could name most of them, but Sean Connery really takes the cake IMHO. Pierce Brosnan wasn’t too hard on the eyes either. And that sound track! Sean’s voice — “Bond. James Bond.” “Shaken, not stirred.” I can hear him still. I adored Dame Judi Dench as “M” or “M16,” the Chief of Intelligence; and Tulsi Gabbard, you’re no Judi Dench.
It was fun, and I’d do it again. My friend ordered a Pernod, stirred not shaken, and I a margarita, blended and not stirred. I like to think I was drinking Clooney’s old brand of tequila — Casamigos. Wonder why he never played Bond?
Something I like to do every morning is play the NYT Mini Crossword. It’s very gratifying, delivers one a sense of agency, and gives instant feedback in the form of a musical flourish when you finish. Also, it’s easy as pie. I’ve completed 99% of them so far this year even though trivia continues to elude me.
For the ultimate feel good vibe, take a stroll down First Street. You’re bound to run into someone you know, a friendly shopkeeper, or kind waiter. Pear blossoms are popping on the trees, yellow oxalis are ubiquitous, and Punxsutawney Phil is slated to make an appearance February 2. Things could be a lot worse.
Letters From Benicia 