Weathering Life's Storms
This spring, a forty-foot wave scaled the cliffs at the Point Cabrillo Light Station, busted open the rear doors, and flooded the interior with a two-foot surge of stormy sea. Lighthouses are known for perching above the rocky cliffs, weathering storms, and getting bathed in salt spray, the ceaseless swell below a constant presence. But I imagine it still came as a surprise when a rogue wave burst in, moving the furniture and swamping the gift shop.
This spring has brought upheaval into my own life. The passing of my stepmother has altered personal roles and shifted the make-up of our family. Even as the process of aging and illness is unsurprising, like the storm outside the lighthouse, her passing has sent a wave barreling through. My heart is drenched, and despite the fact that this loss was not unexpected, it will take a moment to adjust to this new perspective and set the furniture back to rights.
Kristina Brown came into my life when I was eight. A brilliant woman, she built a career in the early days of computer development, which was and remains a very male-dominated field. Her spirit shone when she was expressing her artistic self through textile arts—lace, quilts, clothing, and more. The beautiful image by a local artist inside the front cover of this issue reminds me of Kris. She will be missed by many.
As a relatively new resident of the coast settled in my house by the sea, I am becoming acclimated to the roar of the waves. It’s a constant reminder that change continues. The push and pull of the tides and the occasional storm stirs everything up. Our coast looks different this spring. On the headlands, powerful waves have peeled back the iceplant from the sand cliffs. As the days become longer and the gaps in the (much needed) rain lengthen, it’s a time to welcome the sun. More light is returning and the sunset thankfully shifts a little later every day.
In the spirit of weathering life’s storms with grace, and maybe even some joy, the team at Word of Mouth have put together a glorious issue for you. Chef Janelle Weaver waded into unfamiliar waters when she took on the challenge of creating plant-based cheeses worthy of fine dining (p 14). Learn about the movement to let go of the custom of spring mowing in order to provide forage for vulnerable pollinators during their lean months (p 33). Farmer Gowan Batist is exploring new dimensions to a previous adventure—ten years ago she and a friend decided to eat locally for a year, and now Gowan is doing it again to see what has shifted in the past decade (p 36). And funding provided by the passage of Measure P supports positive change as well, allowing the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council to help landowners and neighbors transform homes, land, and neighborhoods so they can endure California’s inevitable wildfires with more resilience (p 31).
The lighthouse at Point Cabrillo will welcome visitors this spring, and if you stop by, take a peek over the cliffs and marvel at the size and force of that wave. We never know what the future may hold, but for now, this structure continues to shine its light, a bright beacon to all.
Warmly,
Holly Madrigal, Publisher
