To add layers to the tangled web of coincidences I began last week, let me share how my freshman English class and the novel “Candide” by Voltaire played into my previous column in which I recounted the deaths of two friends of mine, my father-in-law, Don Wagerman, and my rafting buddy, Wild Bill Gallagher

I shared the same story with my students, of my loss of two friends, and their similar dreams, and my bear dream. They, too, thought it odd.

Then a new string of events began. I informed my classes that I would be absent, on bereavement leave from Wednesday to Friday. I asked that we stop reading “Candide” mid-book until I returned, because I didn’t want to miss a page. My substitute, Lynette, would share Leonard Bernstein’s musical of “Candide” in my absence.

Meanwhile, early in the week and back at my house, I was talking to Susan.

I asked what do you want to do on bereavement leave, after the Wednesday funeral, the sorting of effects, cancellations of services, and the signing of papers?

Susan said, “I don’t want to be a daughter, or a mother, or a sister. I want to be me. Let’s go to Reno.”

Everyone has favorite getaways. We’ve been Reno hounds for more than 30 years, since the heydays. We just keep going back. We have to visit Nevada often on storage and kennel business, so we always stay in Reno.

We started with the Eldorado years ago and never changed hotels, whether for business or pleasure. Because of our frequent business, we’ve got the upgraded color card, with the 55+ sticker on it as well.

We got deeply discounted rooms, woke to our $5 Eldorado buffets and read newspapers until noon. We strolled the second-floor promenade. We went out and walked a few miles around new parts of Reno, caught some movies, Yelped new restaurants.
We’re not big gamblers, but we like certain games, like 9/6 video poker, full-odds craps, single-deck 3-2 blackjack, and pai gow.

So while I’m I’m at school before we went to Reno, in my last two days of reading “Candide” with my students, we happened to reach Chapter 17, “Candide and his Valet Arrive in the Country of Eldorado.”

That was just too funny. It’s was another coincidence, in a week full of them. I shared with my students that I, too, would soon be going to Eldorado, but not the imaginary utopia in Guyana, South America.

Candide’s adventures in Eldorado amount to him and his servant, Cacambo, finding paradise, stocking up on diamonds and gold and leaving Eldorado because the place is missing something.

This rich utopia, Eldorado, with only one religion that amounts to a morning “Thank You!” and no lawyers or courts or jails, lacks Cunegondé, the woman Candide loves.

Of course, Candide leaves and soon loses all but a handful of diamonds through calamity and bad decisions. Voltaire’s point: wealth is fleeting; love can last forever.

So Sue and I arrived in Reno with “Candide” ringing in my head. After a meal, we played a few games and I got lucky right away.
Within an hour I was up $340, so I decided to stop gambling for the rest of the trip. I’d seen Candide lose his wealth, I didn’t want to come back with a similar story. I turned my winnings into paper, and we went to the Roxy.

On a run to the restroom, I saw the portrait artist Bob Napolitano sitting idle.

I asked, “Hey, Bob, how much for a portrait of my wife with her father standing behind her? I’ve got his pictures on my phone.”

He said if I ran to the pharmacy and got prints, he could do both for $160.”

Susan had to go to the room for something. I rushed off and got prints of Don looking strong.

When Susan came back and after a struggle, I got her to pose for a portrait. Bob asked for 24 hours to work Don in. He had a line of waiting customers.

We stopped at the Brew Brothers and used comps to order pizza. Their top pizza was called “The Don.” Didn’t expect that.

Sue had “Don’s Root Beer.” I had “Redhead” ale.

When the portrait was finished the next day, it looked so lifelike I gave Bob $200.

When we got to Benicia, I took the portrait to Michaels for framing. The bill came to $140. Thus, I took exactly the money I won in Eldorado and turned it into a work of love that will last forever. Voltaire would be proud. I told that story when I got back.

And yet, there is more.

Sitting on my teacher desk this entire two week period is the packet of wildflowers that Wild Bill’s family gave away at his wake with these instructions. “When you feel inspired, toss them in a favorite place.”

When we finished “Candide”, we learned of Candide’s life mission and Voltaire’s central theme: regardless of what philosophy, politic, or theology we follow, we must all cultivate our gardens. Work without theorizing and you can grow another Garden of Eden. Work defeats idleness, vice and want.

Last week we planted wildflowers. We left the classroom and went to a plot of dirt outside, near the water fountain. I shared Bill’s seeds with my students. Together we cast them into the soil. Now we can watch for his blossoms to grow all spring semester.

As Lord Buckley is fond of saying, “People are the true flowers of life, and it has been a most immaculate pleasure to have temporarily strolled through your garden.”

That was the text of a poster Chad, my son-in-law, gave me for Christmas. I got it framed at Michaels on the same trip that I took over Sue and Don’s portrait. They’ll both hang in my man cave.

Steve Gibbs teaches at Benicia High School and has written a weekly column for The Herald since 1985.