(This column first appeared in the Benicia Herald on Sept. 16, 2011.) In 1969 I was an illustrator for the University of California, Berkeley at their Sanitary Engineering Research Lab at the Richmond Field Station, Richmond, California. It was the dawn of the Environmental Age, I had a great job, and I was a happy […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: What are the advantages of returning to the same vacation haunts over the decades?
Twelve trips to the Hawaiian Islands has taught me a thing or two. Until this latest trip to Maui with Bob Silver, Marlene Faysal and Garland McClure, I had not realized how many decades had past since I first visited Oahu in 1965 when I was 25. With six trips to Maui: when Lahaina was […]
Benicia Letters Once More: The Hunter/Fisherman
The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters […]
A Different Drummer: Too much too often
It’s unfortunate that all these cool geeky music intercom internet-of-things voice-activated intelligent assistant wireless integrated home gewgaw gadgets have come along just about the time that I don’t give a rat’s patootie. After 30 years as a computer teacher on top of budding trends, I’m now retired and putting puzzles together on a felt table. […]
Voice of the Village: Are you taking care of your brain?
By Judie Donaldson You’ve heard of heart health, haven’t you? And dental health? How about brain health? Have you heard of that? It’s an important new concept that’s emerged because scientists have learned something new about our brains. Something revolutionary. Until the last decade or so, it was believed that our brains developed in childhood […]
Poetry Corner: James Garrett “Until I Saw You Again”
As the sun rose over the hills, I saw you standing there. A glow came from within you, A warmth shone in your hair. I had wondered if you cared, Wondered if you knew. Wondered if you felt, What I felt for you. The trip was long, The wait longer still. The ache of loneliness, […]
The A Cappella Handyman: January Orange
January Orange Up through the roots come the nutrients, met by the bee’s kiss, the pollen of the flower becomes the fruit. The summer sun does its magic, the previous winter’s melting snow quenches the thirst of the growing fruit. A neighbor rings our bell and then knocks on the door at 8 am last […]
Benicia Letters Once More: He Was a Good Man
The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason”: The Mole in the Hole
Under the grass, way down deep in the ground Digging deeper and deeper, a mole could be found He would claw excavations, in anticipation Of tender grass, root-salad, eating sensations Day after day he would tunnel and scratch As he searched for a succulent, back yard, grass patch When he found one, he’d gather his […]
A Different Drummer: Short excursions
Living here on the upper lip of the Bay Area, like a beauty mark, it’s easy to take one-day excursions around the rim without a lot of planning. Susan and I wake up sometimes with the urge to go do, but we can’t do new stuff all the darn time. “I gotta get my steps,” […]