Email  Print

May moon blesses the hale, hearty

The folks in Glen Ellen

Memories of May’s super moon still linger and remain worthy of sharing.

  Following a full day at the Cinco d’Maris benefit at the Sebastiani Theatre honoring Mary Sue Ulven, my Sweetie and I headed home for an evening walk. Stephanie Sugar’s blog alerted us to the perigee moon of May and we wanted to observe its rising in Glen Ellen.

  That lovely evening, still balmy warm, alive with chorusing crickets and the occasional croaking frog was so much like our afternoon with Mary Sue’s talented friends. We’d grooved to the tunes of David Aguilar, Tommy Thomson, Mark Dennis, Cynthia Tarr and her Hot Flashes, and Sarah Summers midday. Now the chorus of a horned owl hooting, raccoons chattering and foxes faintly yelping continued to lift our spirits. Bernie Krause is right: our delight in music is surely inspired by natural sounds.

  Following a jaunt through the regional park, we sauntered up Chauvet Road, past Jim and Jan Berkland’s house (where we suspected that pair was enjoying the moon, too). Prompted by that glowing orb, we reminisced about our first night at Creekbottom, May 1975. Unpacking the rented moving van all day in 100-degree heat, the bare mattress on the living room floor provided welcome rest. The full moon cast a hazy maze of oak branch shadows in our yard. It was a blessing then, as was that super moon evening of May 2012, casting its benevolent light on all of Glen Ellen. Mystery, romance and promise mingled in the air along with joyful remembrance of times past.

  Returning through downtown Glen Ellen, we passed the Jack London Saloon when someone called out a friendly hello. Looking up, we saw happy Jordan Hale, greeting us with a broad grin matching the moon’s countenance.

  Jordan shared that just inside the London Lodge his parents were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. We slipped through the door to add our congratulations to Linda and Keith Hale, also greeting Jordan’s beautiful wife, Michelle, and his lovely sister, Georgiana.

  The Hales briefly shared their meeting, marriage and happy celebration that evening. The couple originally met in our Valley where Keith was testing camouflage netting and Linda was teaching at Altimira. She later completed her long career as a master language teacher at Sonoma Valley High School while Keith became a general contractor. But back in the day, they were a young and adventurous pair: Keith working through his conscientious objector status, Linda already loving teaching.

  The Hales were married in 1972 in a moonlit meadow up Trinity Road, and have happily lived here ever since, raising their two children in our town.

  As for Linda’s hopes for the next 40 years of wedded bliss: “a little less exciting,” she smiled. No elaboration necessary; any of us who have remained married multiple decades can certainly laugh with that sentiment. Our mutual reminiscing offered a fitting end to a perfect evening.

  As the moon continued its journey over our house, and disappeared beyond Sonoma Mountain, back home I silently mouthed one of the prayers I chanted as a girl, “I see the moon and the moon sees me; God bless the moon and God bless me.” Today I add, “and you, too, Linda and Keith, Stephanie, Mary Sue, Greg and all the other good folks of our little village and beyond.”

  Our next full moon? July 4, of course. Another blessing.  

  Meanwhile we want to remind you about two super summer events coming to our town June 30. At 2 p.m. we’ll enjoy the Glen Ellen Historical Society’s Picture Show, and at 6 p.m. the annual Firehouse Dance in Glen Ellen. We’ll share more about those next week, as well as news about an Oakland hero who is a firehouse favorite.    

• • •

  Share your good news with friends and neighbors in Glen Ellen. Call or write me at 996-5995 or P.O. Box 518, GE 95442. Or email me at creekbottom@earthlink.net. Glen Ellen chatter rarely requires timeliness; however, if your news does, please be sure to contact me at least three weeks before the run date.