1. Ode to Caltrans By Hector Tobar
Tobar reflects milestones in his life in comparison to the work being done at those times on the freeways and the significance it played on his life at the time. AS a child he recollects memories as a young child riding in his Father's VW bug. And as a man entering adulthood and driving his mothers car. Everything throughout his life runs parallel with something tied to the Freeway. He even reflects to his mother's pregnancy and how it may have impacted him in utero that his mother did not have "wheels" and thus passed the "transportation anxiety" to Tobar. He compares the lives lost by drivers on the freeway to those lost by Caltrans works building and repairing the roads traveled. He shares beautiful visions of the California Highways "carpet if black velvet" as well painful truths as he says "I was, then, just becoming aware of the cycles of life and death, and how the flow of traffic sometimes guides us against our will onto the cloverleaf exchanges between our earthly selves and the great highways of the beyond."
Page 58- "Would they even let a woman in labor on? Would she need exact change?."
His story makes me reflect when I was a child. We rode without seat belts. Often in the back of my Father's truck in the hot summer sun. I can remember those summer rides in the back of his truck. I would rest my head on the side of the truck with my hair flowing in the wind staring at the rapidly moving road. The heat of the metal truck bed heating my legs and the smell of Summer in the air. Today , as I am driving I do not think of the things this story reminded me of. I am watching my speed, being cautious constantly watching the road for hazardous situations. After reading this I think I will take some time to ride in the passenger side, so I can watch and enjoy the things I am missing.
I did not realize that the signs with the Caltrans helmets represented a worker who had lost their life.
2.Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home by Thomas Steinbeck
Steinbeck begins his story sharing his thoughts on being selfish and not wanting to share his hidden treasures as he describes as "a selfish reluctance to share my chewing gum with the rest of the class." He explains how California holds such treasures to people and the myth of the Paradise in California. That to the natives of California they are just that myths, and the real treasures of California are those that are hidden and can only truly be cherished in primitive form.
Page 68 "Now, there's a whopping fine California myth for you, and I, for one, believe every word. But that's what happens when your in Love."
This story made me feel lucky that I have been a California Native and have seen many of these beautiful treasures in the primitive state he discusses. I have seen high mountain tops on horse back, camped in Redwood Forests, and visited beaches where I was the only on there at the time. I was also interested that he shares the same view on California and it's untouched natural state as his Father who spent much of his time traveling to these prestine spots.
I learned more about his Grandmother Olive. I have done a few reports on the Steinbeck family and this was a story I had never heard before.
3.The Last Little Beach Town by Edward Humes
Humes gives us insight on Seal Beach and why it is different than it's surrounding beach communities. He discusses his journey to California and the Trip that ultimately lead him to arrive in Seal Beach as he describes as "the first and easiest-to-miss pearl on a string of larger, more prominent beach cities stretching southward into Orange County." He touches on it's untouched state and how it has not been corrupted by large companies and it is still small enough that people walk to their destinations it has been undeveloped by our well known "modern conveniences."
Page 74 "Except for sunny Summer weekends, the beach is so wide it is possible to be lonely here, to feel small, to not hear the Nokia song chiming in someones pocket."
Reading this makes me reflect to my favorite beach spot outside of Mendocino. While all the tourists flock to Mendocino and flood the streets with vehicles I will go 9 miles south to a pristine hideaway that on the right day the sand is white and the water glistens like an emerald, the wind is always flat as it is a hidden cove. I could spend all day on the beach and never be bothered by another person all day.
I learned about the historical points of Seal Beach and the other SOCAl beach towns.
4. Surfacing by Matt Warshaw
A story about a surfer, Sixteen year old Jay from Santa Cruz and his experiences in surfing the local beaches and The highlight of Jay's surfing a day California would see the ;largest swells it had ever seen. Warshaw gives a history of Santa Cruz surfing and Half Moon Bay.
Page 85
"You experience a thrill and a fear at the same time"
I spent a few years living in Pacifica and Half Moon bay. I was always curious to the surfing culture and what would cause people to live for this experience. I myself am terrified of the Ocean waters, yet I have never lived far from the Ocean, and spend a great deal of time on the beaches. But I have always been mystified as to why surfers are willing to risk their lives for a few minutes of time riding a wave. This story made me see the passion that surfers feel for the waves. They live it, and breathe it and willing to give their life for it.
I learned about the local history of Half Moon Bay. And how the bootleggers smuggled boats filled with liquor.
contrast- I felt all Authors except Tobar wrote about their "hidden treasures and hideaways in California" Tobar wrote about his experiences with the freeways but didn't share a secret mystical place as the others had shared.
