SIGNS OF MANY GUISES

At a writer's workshop years ago, I was fascinated by a teacher who prompted us to find a subject to write about whenever we passed through a new community. Her subject that day was a sign she had seen in town. I can never pass an unusual sign without thinking of her. And while the firewood for sale sign is built of firewood and fits the motherlode perfectly, the sunglasses sign was taken in Yuma, Arizona a month ago, and is certainly an elaborate and interesting way to get to get your attention in sunny Yuma.

STONE FENCES AND CORRALS

In the 1860's, livestock owners allowed their cattle or sheep to run unfettered anywhere they chose to graze. But, in the 1870s, California passed laws to protect farmer's crops from livestock. Ranchers were held liable for damage from their herds whether the farm had a fence or not. Tuolumne, Amador and Calaveras Counties have an abundance of rock fences and corrals. The native rocky terrain is the result of prehistoric volcanic flows, a material that was plentiful and cheap. These stone fences and corrals are clearly visible on private and public lands from the highways. The barriers kept animals from trespassing and also helped keep fires from spreading. They were built by Chinese laborers, stonemasons, ranchers, prospectors and homesteaders and are still serving as fences today, a testament to the stone workers craftsmanship of long ago since they were built without mortar. Its called "laid dry". Some of the oldest examples are found at the Russell and Twist ranches and the Crimea House near Jamestown on Highway 108 that date back to the 1850s.

COBBLERS AND KINGS

On a day trip to Sonora, I chanced to meet cobbler, (Eric) Rick Hanson who is Swedish. I dropped some sandals that needed fixing and he thanked me with a “toss a mosha” spelled prominently in his antique and tool laden shop as tac sa mick ca. Since this was my first visit, I stood in awe of the many fascinating artifacts covering the high walls and every nook and cranny of the place and politely listened to customers as they chatted with an amiable neighbor. Rick obviously enjoys the sociability of his business and the ability to discuss local politics, or family relations at leisure.
Cobbler shops are almost extinct and a guy like Rick keeps the craft from disappearing. Curiosity made me wonder and I asked a few questions.
“I began working at Gabe’s Shoe Service in the 50’s. I started doing it with him and then decided to open my own shop. I went full time in 1962 and moved to Sonora in 1972. I guess I just like working with my hands. Its fascinating, creative. The people are wonderful and you are helping someone and independent at the same time. But any success I owe to the good Lord,” claims Rick.
As for the antiques, he always liked them. “I’ve got the Permission To Sail certificate of Eric Jacobson, my grandfather who was born in 1833, set sail in 1851. I also have his marriage License to wed Kathren Johanson, dated 1858, a damn yankee, so the family told. I’m named for a slew of Eric Jacobsons, grandfather after grandfather.
“The Jacobsons were at one time jewelers for the King of Sweden.
“Another a grand master carpenter for the ship building trades. I have my grandfather’s Thesis, which was a hand built and hand veneered wooden box dedicated to Olga, his wife. “State side, one grandfather was among the founding fathers of Dayton, Ohio. He settled and farmed there on 100 acres that he bought for $144 and a contract to pay at $12 per month. I have all the paperwork. I also have relatives on my mother’s side that were hell bent for brimstone Lutheran, and that is just how it was stated in some family papers. Fascinating. Fascinating.”
Rick is definitely fascinating and could have told stories all day, but I had to leave.

ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT-YA GOTTA BE KIDDIN'

I moved from Escanaba, Michigan in 1954. During the last fifty plus years in California I’ve seen references to Escanaba three times. One reference is a sign-post on the MASH television series; another was Jimmy Stewart’s speech for the United States Bicentennial Celebration in 1976 in which he eloquently recited the names of gobs of cities from every state in the union. Escanaba was one of them. The third came from my political science teacher at Ohlone Jr. College in Fremont who described Escanaba as “…the Appalachia of Michigan…
What are the odds that a little known town sitting on Little Bay de Noc in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan would be the subject of a play in the small town of Murphys, California?
Oh, for crumps sake, I hadda go see it, doncha know. I ain’t givin’ the story away, now, or anyting. Ya wanna see it, aye? Its darn funny.
UP-ers are a bit covetous of being from the Upper part of the state. They don’t have much in common with the big city folk in Detroit and like it that way. Beer and whiskey drinkers, hunters and fishermen, they would not have identified with the Wine Club that enjoyed a fine repast in the lobby of the Black Bart Playhouse to see Escanaba In Da Moonlight. The play, written by Jeff Daniels while he was filming “Dumb and Dumber” is performed by the Murphys Creek Theatre Company at the Playhouse in Murphys, Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday matinees through March 8th. It’s worth a trip to the motherlode. Its a hoot!!

IF IT HAS BRANCHES AND LEAVES YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT

Visitors to the Motherlode pine to live in "God's Country." But, they haven't a clue what life can be like in a wonderful, colorful, quaint, historical, eminently visitable community like Murphys. But, fellow travelers, if it has leaves and branches, you are gonna have trouble with it. Oaks keep most of their leaves through winter. An unaccustomed snow fall can cause a tree fall too. Or it breaks and falls half way. Or it hits a building, or car, or neighbor's building, fence or car. Its happened to me several times. Be warned, flatlander! If on top of that, you have drenching rains, the whole tree can become uprooted and flatten anything it sight.
If, like me, you are lucky enough to know someone like Bob Urban, thought, things can look much better in a short period of time.
Bob teased this huge monster down from its dangerous bend by weakening the arch top with small notched cuts, over a dozen of them. Then, one uppercut and he calmly shoved it over. What a guy! He makes it look easy. This tree was dangerous because a straight cut could have caused it to spring back or snap disable the cutter. Control is the name of the game. And, little dog Bird, Bob's companion, knows enough to stay out of the way. The Urban Duo. The thumbs-up and smile tell the tale and we'll both have wood to keep us warm when the next snowfall happens our way.

UTAH PHILLIPS AND COUSIN BOB MOORE

My cousin Bob Moore became a “Phillipshead” years ago when he got acquainted with an outlaw radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area, KFAT. They had a small but loyal audience and Bob first heard Bruce Phillips, or Utah Phillips as he is known, on KFAT and began attending his concerts. He became a devoted fan of Utah’s.
Bob retired from Pleasanton and relocated to Nevada City because it had good bookstores as a major plus. It was also, coincidentally, the home of Bruce Phillips. He appreciated Phillips wobbly background, friendliness and approachability. Phillips took up causes and it showed in his incredible music.
“He was always there to meet and greet people after his concerts. A big guy with a long flowing main of silver hair and a silver beard. I’d see him around town, most often dressed in bib overalls and a flannel shirt, just a common guy but an unbelievable philosopher. Unfortunately, his most requested song was Moose Turd Pie, but he really did some great music. The Long Memory is my all time favorite. He could really make you think. He had a great impact on me.
“About 4 years ago, Phillips got the Hospitality House started here in Nevada City. It was a moving shelter that moved from church to church and provided services to the homeless. He started this event where he encouraged the local potters to make soup bowls. The restaurants made the soup, the bakeries made the bread and people bought a bowl of soup and bread for $10, (now it costs $20), and they got to keep the bowl. The proceeds went to support the indigent.
"I can also recommend his protégé, John Mc Cutcheon who sings all the Woody Guthrie era music. He always involves the audience and if you go---you sing!”
Bob told me about Utah Phillips and I visited his website. www.utahphillips.org Great stuff.
Bob, is a philanthropic soul himself, having a huge part in the charitable Thanksgiving Day Dinner served free every year in Pleasanton. The feast is now a long term event and anybody is welcome to participate. Kudos!

ACADEMY AWARDS AND POTATO SALAD

Some people love the Academy Awards, but I happen to love potato salad. I’m always lured by a different recipe for potato salad while my friends prefer the likes of Reece Whitherspoon and the handsome hunk from “Austrailia.” I will admit I enjoyed the awards better than in past years. I’m not sure quite what was different because our “girls night” chit chat was fun and we didn‘t stay glued to the set. And, of course, there was the potato salad. Margot Osborne made it. Red potatoes, cooked in skins, then peeled. A bit of red onion, tiny florets of curly leaf parsley, thin slices of English cucumber, capers, vinegar and a smidge of mayonaise. Slap that on a plate with salty olives and some German mustard. I was in heaven. (Margot doesn’t measure.)
I have to see “Slumdog Millionaire“, “Australia,” and “Milk”. I’m so glad Sean Penn was finally recognized for his great acting ability. And the “Reader” and…well…I do love movies. But, the potato salad, now that’s art.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE BUT MAYBE NOT FREE TO DRINK

There has never been a time in my life when water wasn’t significant to my deepest feelings about life. I was born and lived near or on the Great Lakes. With our young family, we chose to lease camping space on the Stanislaus River where the kids could fish, learn to swim, hunt crawdads, watch salmon spawn, pick berries and cattails. I bought river property for vacationing and retirement. Its life sustaining properties seduce my back-to-earth fantasies and genuine survival instincts. Land, water, growing your own food… America, where access to clean, safe drinking water is a basic right.
That is, it used to be. Our government is turning over public water systems to private corporations. And why not? They can make a great profit…just think. Coca-Cola sold $346 million dollars in Dasani bottled water in one year. Nestle sold $200 million in Poland Spring that same year. So, now we have EXPENSIVE water, sold in plastic that leaches chemicals into our water. Its not cleaner nor safer. The plastic is trashing our environment. In the past three years the Federal Government has slashed funds for clean water in half. Multinational corporations are swooping in to buy up our public water systems. It takes 47 million gallons of oil to produce those plastic bottles.
HELP!! Pledge NOT to buy bottled water. Tap water is better for your health, your checkbook and the environment. Also, check out www.foodandwaterwatch.org

SEX IN THE COUNTRY

My neighbor, Karen Phillips, adopted two cats, sister and brother from the same litter. They’ve been growing in leaps and bounds and she decided it was time to have Wiley, the male fixed. When she returned with Wiley, his sister would have nothing to do with him in his altered state. She hissed at him and swatted him away from her. She hissed him away from the water dish and food, “No, no, no! You are useless to me now”, she seemed to say.
Karen determined that her female is probably pregnant at four months old… by brother Wiley. I guess that is what you call Sex in the Country.
Me-ouch!

Alameda County Sheriff's Archive Association and Escapees

This very authentic Public Works produced sign was installed on the freeway next to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin during a time, long ago, when the old facility was "leaking" prisoners. They had 150 escapes in one year. In defense of the County Sheriff, the facility was an old, falling down leftover from Camp Shoemaker-the old barracks, in fact, and it was no match for the determined inmate of 1969. The sign was erected by "unknowns," the local newspaper was alerted by "unknowns. The paper had the sign photographed and published it. The poor put-upon jail commander had it hastily removed within hours of its installation and then it disappeared, but not completely. It finally made its way to the Archive two years ago. One thing about cops, they have an unflagging sense of humor. I've witnessed that humor many times over the last 18 years at the Archive. The Alameda County Sheriff's Archive is a treasure trove of wonderful records, photos and memorabilia of all kinds-and, yes, many humorous tales.