The Eclipse: San Antonio, TX

Well ok I have to tell you the story of the 2024 total eclipse of the sun, from my point of view. I do not presume to speak for my lovely, intelligent, patient and kind stepdaughter Sylvie Andrews, who graciously accompanied me on the journey. Our trip originated in Altadena, CA (at Sylvie's home) on April 7, and culminated April 11 at the same location. (I happily drove to and from my home in Cambria to meet in Altadena.) Special thanks to Nicholas, who drove us to Burbank airport and picked us up at oh-dark-thirty at Union Station upon our return.

The short version: This was a five-day experience that included delayed flights, a late night Uber ride, our female driver wearing proudly on her arms the tattoos of two young Uvalde school shooting victims who were her nephew and his little girlfriend (both just 6 years old), many miles of walking the streets of downtown San Antonio in 85 degree/90 percent humidity, a visit to the Alamo (just as tiny as people say), amazing amounts of junk food bought at a sketchy roadside convenience store (almost all of it expired, but oh well), some truly delicious meals in the dining car of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle, glimpses of The Wall and colorful Mexico border towns just beyond, an intriguing interview over dinner with Bears Rebecca Fonte’, director par excellence of the film genre known as lesbian vampire horror, a spectacular tumble by yours truly (AKA “senior falling on her derriere after tripping over a curb in the dark”) — complete with large bruises to prove just how tough I am — a surprise mooning experience when a nice man accidentally opened the door of my Amtrak train bathroom, another fall involving an elderly gentleman who pulled a standing-plank-backwards-fall onto my roomette bed (with me in it), and much, much more.

The Longer Version of the Eclipse: Now let me focus on the eclipse experience. WOW! Even though, as many in the path of totality experienced, there was a cloud covering that did not allow for more than occasional glimpses of the phenomenon. Bummer, but we did get some cool photos while milling around the grounds of the Alamo, where a fairly large crowd of eclipse nerds had gathered. One guy’s t-shirt read, “The Universe is made up of Protons, Neutrons, Electrons and MORONS.” We laughed. We were amongst our kind. Each time the clouds would briefly part, the collective crowd-generated *gasp* alerted us to take photos of the heavens. Some turned out to be interesting. While the sun and moon weren’t actually clearly visible, there were crescent-shaped shadows and reflections among the same clouds that were working so hard to obscure our view. Somewhere in the collection is a keeper.

On the day of the eclipse, we walked 20,000 steps: a daily record for me. I think that’s about 8.5 miles. More than enough, though if someday I want to fulfill my dream of walking the Camino de Santiago, I’m gonna have to woman-up and do more of those kinds of treks. Some surprises were in store for us that day. While I expected near-total darkness at the moment of totality, those trusty automatic on-off light sensors installed at the Alamo switched on when the eclipse approached totality. So what we experienced was an artificially lit courtyard. But the birds and other creatures did stop chirping and singing, so the eerie factor kicked in pretty hard. Well, except that hard-working construction guy who kept right on using his jack hammer to bust up the concrete on a nearby building renovation. Once the totality moment passed under cloud cover, we decided it was time to eat, and proceeded toward some nearby restaurants. And suddenly!! The clouds parted and we saw a wonderful view of maybe 95% eclipse coverage for a few minutes. Success!!

Our Amtrak train left San Antonio at 2:45 am (yeah, that’s right) on April 9, and we arrived at Los Angeles Union Station at 5 am (yeah that’s right) April 11. The time in between was fun and uncomfortable, sticky and delicious, with outstanding culinary experiences (thanks to the chefs in the dining car), NO WiFi, and sketchy cellular coverage (mostly available for only a few minutes at at time when passing through the larger towns and cities). We were the last car on the train, with an interesting sign on the back door: "Lounge car this way" (posted on the glass window, which provided a view of the disappearing track in the wake of the train!) Most of the rail cars smelled like hot dogs, and one was reminiscent of a young men’s football locker room (hint: don’t buy seats in coach for long-haul trips.) We met several people who were Eclipse groupies, and one guy proudly and loudly proclaimed “This is the Eclipse Train!!” as we were de-training at LAX. 

I’m grateful to have made this trip with Sylvie. It was truly wonderful to sit in a 6’6”x3’6” space for 28 hours and talk about everything from memories of family experiences to climate change, wars, technology development, current events, health issues and wellbeing solutions. We are no longer on the awkward adult/child plane, we are adult-to-adult, aware, thoughtful, kind and loving. Thank you, Sylvie. A trip to remember!

Mr. Espada meets Mark Dektor

 

Mr. Espada by Mark Dektor

Mr. Espada recently met Mark Dektor, a most talented and charming Cambria photographer, and this is the result! We were visiting his studio in Tin City to pick up artwork, and within a few minutes Spadi was sitting on a riser and posing for Mark. I had no idea I have such a cute munchkin! (Wait, yes I did...)

To see more of Mark's amazing work, visit his Instagram account.

Telephone of the Wind

Mom and me, six months before her death.

My mom passed away on this date in 2020, the first year of the Pandemic. She was 90 years old. I couldn’t be with her, but I was there in spirit (via Zoom). I wanted so much more.

There are moments, many of them, when I want my mom's presence, up close and in person. I want to listen once again to her long-ago songs, sweet lullabies, see her smile, enjoy her warm hugs. I want the lipstick kisses and the Jungle Gardenia perfume and the soft, nubbly feel of her red wool dress on my cheek as she embraced me before going out on the town for the evening. I want those early mornings with her as she read the newspaper on the living room floor, with me by her side, pretending to read but just really enjoying her company, and the aroma wafting up from her coffee cup. And I want her encouragement to be creative and free, a gift she gave me as I matured into adulthood, beyond childhood.

My Wind Phone.

Recently, I found a way to reconnect with "Mumsy"...I made my own "Telephone of the Wind." After reading about the original phone, created in Japan after the 2011 tsunami, I bought and decorated my own. I use it whenever I want to reach out and call her, and tell her things she'd want to hear about my life. But you can look up and locate the wind phones people have placed in their communities, and experience for yourself the immense joy of reconnecting with loved ones who have gone.

More Mushrooms!

 

Shiitake mushrooms... 

This is the beginning of a series of mushroom paintings that I hope to exhibit at Mushrooms on Main. Stay tuned!

The Mushroom Tree Goddess

Last weekend, I delivered a 36”x36” painting of the Mushroom Tree Goddess, a concept created with Jenn Perryman, owner of Cambria’s new shop, “Mushrooms on Main,” at 704 Main Street (West Village). 

We are all connected to the Earth, and she to us. The painting represents that truth. It is displayed in the shop and also made into the shop’s signage and merch. So excited to be part of this project! 

See it in person at 704 Main Street, Cambria, CA.

Right: Jenn Perryman, the original Mushroom Tree Goddess, and me.

Poppy season is here again! This one is set in an antique wood carved gold frame I found in an antique shop here in Cambria. The painting is 10"x14" acrylic on canvas. Available!

Art is a wonderful thing!

In the last few years, I've explored a variety of art forms. Acrylic paint is my current medium, and depending on my mood, I switch between abstracts (my first love) and the more traditional styles. My latest interest is learning to paint in the "American regionalist" style of the early to mid-20th Century, with a focus on California coastal landscapes.

A few of my paintings in that style have been submitted to our local gallery for a show that runs from March 3 - April 30, 2023. The show, "Finding the Light," features art by members of the Cambria Center for the Arts. Check it out online (it's both an in-person and virtual show) or if you're in town, drop by the CCA at 1350 Main Street.

These paintings are the four I submitted. They're all framed with period style frames that I have bought at antique stores and refurbished. The frames aren't shown in these photos, so if you want to see them with frames, contact me and I'll send you more photos. They'll all be for sale during the show. A generous portion of the proceeds will go toward support of the CCA. 

 "Oaks at Dawn" 8"x10" Acrylic on Canvas, Framed. $225.

"Pines at Dusk" 8"x10" Acrylic on Canvas, Framed. $225.

"Sunset Cypress" 10"x10" Acrylic on Canvas, Framed. $200.

"Twilight Eucalyptus" 10"x10" Acrylic on Canvas, Framed. $200.

Pyrops candelaria: Clara

Eighteen of my latest found object assemblages will be on display and (most) for sale at the Oliver Center for the Arts July 28 - September 8, 2017 as part of an exhibition, "Bugs, Birds and Beasts."

Pyrops candelaria: Clara
$425
Assemblage

Materials: antique oil cans, cheese grater, farm tool, vintage recycled jewelry and buttons, antique eyeglass temples, wire, fasteners, wool.

Dimensions: 14” x 8” x 15”

Clara represents a species of plant hopper that lives in southeast Asia. They sometimes called lantern flies, although they don’t emit light. They feed on plant sap, using their long, slender proboscis to pierce tree bark. Collectors love this insect, due to its beautiful coloration.

Syntomeida epilais: Macula

Eighteen of my latest found object assemblages will be on display and (most) for sale at the Oliver Center for the Arts July 28 - September 8, 2017 as part of an exhibition, "Bugs, Birds and Beasts."

Syntomeida epilais: Macula
$425
Assemblage

Materials: antique cans, wood potato masher, brass drawer pulls, spatulas, fabric, recycled jewelry, machine parts, peacock feathers, paint.

Dimensions: 15”x10”x15”

Macula (Latin for “Spot”) is a Polka Dot Wasp Moth, a species native to the Caribbean. The tip of the moth's abdomen is bright red, and looks like a dangerous wasp, but in fact is harmless. The caterpillars are orange with long black hairs and also look dangerous, but do not inflict any harm.

The real one; almost as spectacular as the assemblage!

Diopsoidea Diopsidae: Skelly

Eighteen of my latest found object assemblages will be on display and (most) for sale at the Oliver Center for the Arts July 28 - September 8, 2017 as part of an exhibition, "Bugs, Birds and Beasts."

Diopsoidea Diopsidae: Skelly
$165
Assemblage

Materials: antique sock darner, machine parts, recycled jewelry, clay, paint, fasteners.

Dimensions: 5” x 6” x 8”

Stalk-eyed flies are a family of insects distinguished from most other flies by the possession of elongated eyestalks--projections from the sides of the head with the eyes at the end. These flies can see a region of space extending over more than a hemisphere (>180 degrees) in all directions.