Dedicating Hap Arnold’s roundabout; poetry open mic

Dancing to midnight

See you all this Saturday evening, June 28, at the main Glen Ellen Firehouse, 13445 Arnold Drive for the annual dinner and dance. I guarantee great food, good fun, and neighborly visits. The party begins with a hearty dinner served from 7 to 9 p.m., while dancing continues until midnight. During the earlier hours, you can bid on great prizes, while imbibing local wines and beers (that fuels the bidding competition, of course). This party is the Glen Ellen social event of the season and, most importantly, raises funds to support our volunteer firefighters. Be there, or be square.

A blue breakfast

Ripe, lovely and luscious blueberries have been sweetening my morning. My grateful thanks to the reigning queen of blueberries, Judy Serres, and her able assistant, princess Taylor. Like any of nature’s pure gifts, the blueberry season is short so get yours while you can, and thank all the Serres for their bounty beyond grapes and cattle.

Talking rocks

Tomorrow is the grand dedication of the Arnold Drive Roundabout, now known as the “Gen. Hap Arnold Roundabout.” It’s a structure I’ve come to admire and enjoy greatly. I want to go on record as one happy “customer” who navigates that roundabout many times each week, often twice daily.

Like many others, I was initially unsure about the obstructed view of on coming traffic. Now, I thoroughly agree that it’s best that way. I’m not distracted by what other cars are doing, and I have discovered that traffic proceeds in an orderly fashion most of the time. Rarely do cars need to stop completely, as slowing down neatly eases the blending of cars as we mingle and depart on our rounds. It’s efficient and beautiful, ever so much better than the old stop sign, with traffic backed up a mile or more during commute hours. Now the cars keep rolling, but always at a safe speed.

Mollyanne Meyn’s landscape design with her “talking rocks” continue to inspire my imagination. When I have visiting youngsters in my car, I encourage them to make up stories of the talking rocks. When alone, I let my own fancy take flight. In an interview with Ms. Meyn last year by David Bolling, she said, “Rocks are so organic. I wasn’t sure what rocks I would use until the bed was made. I wanted rocks that somehow talk to each other. I’m hoping it is dramatic and uplifting.” In my opinion, Molly hit the mark. Those rocks do talk and indeed they are dramatic and uplifting, but often humorous, too.

Of course, as interesting as my rock reveries become, I never allow them to be too distracting. That’s part of the beauty of slowing down, in motion and in mind.

As for folks who have mentioned the possibility of pedestrian accidents at that site, I caution that it is always important to keep walkers – and cyclers, too – in mind whenever and wherever we drive. But the slow speeds necessitated by the roundabout help make it one of the safer possible crossings on Arnold Drive.

As spring progressed with summer just now upon us, the landscaping that Meyn planned adds joyful color surrounding those large talking rocks.

Honoring Hap Arnold

While I can’t really know and have no insight in this realm, I am guessing that Hap Arnold would be proud to be honored by this unique and beautiful structure, so near the place he chose to settle in peace after facing the horrors of war. We might even fantasize that those rocks could at times embody the spirit and love of place that Gen. Arnold must have held for our Valley.

Maybe you could let those rocks tell the story of Gen. Hap Arnold to your kids, revealing just a bit each trip through the roundabout. Hap’s nickname stood for Happy and was given to him as he battled depression mourning his mother’s death. He was a famous pilot, an aviation pioneer and commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, yet he had a phobia of flying in his past. (Check out Hap Arnold online to strengthen your own stories of his illustrious life.)

Tomorrow, as the Sonoma Valley Veterans dedicate and name the “Gen. Hap Arnold Roundabout,” we thank them. Likewise, we are duly impressed with the beautiful, recent additions to the Hanna Boys Center. In the past year, I’ve attended several community events in their new auditorium. What a lovely space, graced with the enormous portraits of Hanna’s rainbow students. The beautiful faces of these young men who have grown, prospered and succeeded through their Hanna association is uplifting, as is the story of Hap Arnold overcoming problems to succeed in his chosen field.

Buff poets speak

cheek to cheek

Sonoma entrepreneur, chef and impresario Sheana Davis is among those folks that I occasionally note as honorary Glen Ellen citizens. Sheana certainly qualifies in that realm. At one time, she actually did live in Glen Ellen, as I recall. Further, she spent a lot of time at Bouverie Ranch, interning (although it wasn’t called that back then) with M.F.K. Fisher.