Captain's Log #11 - history reveals more about ourselves

6/18/17

This is going to be short and simple. Only worked two days this week and spent three with my half-brother Bill and his wife Lynette visiting from Virginia, both very interesting people, well, of course, they’re teachers. We had a fondue picnic in the Plaza with my x, Dave, and his charming wife, Grace. Grace provided a salad where we got our whole 5-A Day for the week in one delicious serving! The weather was cooperative: warm with a soft breeze in the shade. Sipping David’s Pinot Noir and playing with our food, delightful!

The next day I spoke every last word I know about the history of Sonoma as we walked around the Sonoma Mission, Barracks, Toscano Hotel and Casa Grande Complex then lunch at the Girl & The Fig before walking over to General Mariano Vallejo’s Home. Bill & Lynette were interested in all of it! I’ll share one metaphor I’d forgotten: There is a flaming, red-orange Pomegranate tree outside the entrance to the Mission chapel. Technically, the Pomegranate is the badge of Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. The marriage of the latter two is considered to have resulted in the unification of Spain. They are responsible for having won the last battle of the Reconquista in 1492 and funding Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the New World. It is thought that because of the centuries-long military experience in the Reconquista, the organization and weaponry, the Spanish had the military advantage to conquer the New World. (Lots of stories about the Moorish invasion of Spain, one is their bringing adobe construction which the Spanish later used in the New World, including this Mission.)

Friday we went to the Jack London State Historic Park, toured the museums, questioned the guides and listened to the explanatory video. I had no idea! I hope no one writes my biography, I can assure you I don’t want the details of my life exposed to everyone on the planet, sordid and salacious, sheesh! I read someplace that history reveals more about ourselves than the actual people and events. We try to make sense about the past through our own experience. Some of you know I’ve written a History of the Blue Wing Inn (that needs to be finished), when I would give tours, because it was a Gold Rush saloon, most men jumped to the conclusion that it had been a brothel, heh, heh, wink, nudge. I can assure you, there were well-known brothels in Sonoma but that was not one; there’s no convincing them. My personal interpretation about Jack London was he divorced his first wife, with whom he had two daughters, to marry the childless, fun-loving second wife, not unlike my father (this is an interpretation, not fact.) The guide at the museum stated the first wife had not been a good mother. Oh? Because she used a wet nurse? He didn’t mention that maybe she knew that Jack frequented brothels and may have picked up an STD.  Sordid details, who cares, and who’s to defend and explain?

• Why do we need to know?
• Why do we need our rendition of history to be true? 
• By the way, how do you know what you “know?” I think we make up just about everything.

Jack certainly had an interesting life and was a skilled author who worked at writing: 1,000 words per day, 5a.m. to 1p.m. An architect of stories. Bill made the observation that the reason this park and museum exists is due to the efforts of his second wife, Charmian London. Thank you, Charmian.

Then we hiked to the Wolf House and Jack & Charmian’s grave. Boy, it was hot! Fortunately we were picked up by a volunteer in a golf cart. That gave us the strength to pile in the car, turn up the air conditioning and head to the coast for a lovely meal at the Lucas Warf Restaurant. 65 degrees with a breeze, as usual, and so refreshing!

It's expected to get to 102 degrees today. I must run (walk slowly) to water the potted plants around here and am thinking of an excuse to drive to the coast, to paint? Maybe.

Many blessings,

Karla, k.j. and mom

P.S. I submitted three applications to the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, Napa Valley, for positions that are on a career track. I won’t know anything for weeks but will keep you informed. Stay cool.