Rebirth

I always anticipate the arrival of Spring. After being forced to stay indoors during our rainy winters here on the North Coast, I am anxious to venture outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. With the coming of Spring comes the promise of a fresh start. I am inspired by the signs of new life evident in Nature, and feel hopeful along with a desire for rebirth and renewal.

Looking back over my life I am reminded of many times that I experienced a personal rebirth. We can all agree that there were monumental events in our lives that led us down the path of change. I have discovered, however, that change is not always easy nor does it always come without pain.



My father was a Southern Baptist Minister and I was taught the tenets of the Christian faith at a very early age. I still remember the day that I accepted Christ as my savior. I was seven years old and my parents had been reading verses from the Bible to me and showed me where the Bible teaches about God's love and how, as Christians believe, that we need to confess our sins and repent to be saved. I remember praying the sinner's prayer at the foot of my parent's bed with tears in my eyes. I also remember repeating the prayer later on that night as I lay in bed. I wanted to make sure that it stuck. While I can look back now and see that some of my decision was prompted by fear of going to Hell, I also must confess that along with it was a genuine need to be known and loved by the Creator. It wasn't until some time later that I summoned up the courage to be baptized, and my father assured me that nobody had ever drowned during a baptism.




I had spent the first thirteen years of my life growing up in Northern California, and was excited about the prospect of change when my father was offered a position pastoring a church in White Plains, Ky in 1979. I soon regretted the move and missed the friends I had left behind in California. It took a couple of years, but eventually I made new friends and came to enjoy my new life in Kentucky. By my senior year in high school, I had several close friends and had made many happy memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.



I moved back to California in 1986 and married Patti, my childhood sweetheart and first love. No longer was I under the care of my parents, but experienced the freedom and pride that comes from beginning my own life, my beautiful wife by my side. Those were simple and happy years. We didn't have much, but we were happy. We shared hopes and dreams together that were not tainted by the harsh realities that life would eventually bring.




Change would soon come knocking on my door when we had our first son, Ryan, who was born in 1989. When he was only two months old, we made the hasty decision to move back to Kentucky with my parents who had come out to California for a visit to see their first grandson. Eastern Kentucky was very different from Western Kentucky, and worlds apart from the life that we had in California. I experienced what I can only describe as culture shock. Despite a desperate try on my part, I found it very difficult to make friends for the first several years. I was depressed and very lonely and deeply regretted ever leaving California. Our two younger sons, Matthew and Alex, were born while we were living in Pike County. These years were spent bonding with the boys and spending time with my family. Eventually I began to make friends, and am happy to say that to this day I still keep in touch with many of the friends that I made in Eastern Kentucky. In 2004, the call center where I was employed closed the doors and we took the opportunity to move back to California, somethting we had dreamed of doing for years. Once again, I found myself saying goodbye to friends, and most difficult of all, to my parents and brother and sister.




The move back to California was good for our family. I felt such a relief to be back and I completely enjoyed myself exploring the redwood forests and beaches. I entered yet another stage of my life as I reached 40 and middle age. By this time I had severed my ties with organized religion and began to follow my own Nature based path. In doing so, I felt a spiritual freedom that I had never experienced while I was attending church.

One of the most painful events in my life took place when I found out that my mother had cancer back in 2009. I was fortunate enough to be able to be with her during the last week of her life and sat by her side, holding her hand when she took her last breath. The bonds of our family were strengthened through this event and it was good to get to see my brother and sister and their families again, despite the circumstances.

Life continues to bring changes as my two oldest boys are grown and recently moved out on their own. Things are nice and quiet at home with just myself, Patti and Alex. We live a simple, peaceful life and have recently committed to eating organic food as much as possible, for the sake of our health and also for the simple fact that it just tastes better. We also are very diligent about recycling and making less of an impact on the natural world and its resources.

It would be sad indeed if I had stayed in any of the previous stages in my life. I'm glad that the little seven year old boy eventually grew up and became more confident and secure. It was only natural that the teenager would move on and begin a life with his young bride. Although I will always treasure the first years of our marriage, I am happy that we had children and that I experienced the joys and rewards of parenthood. Where would I be today if I had not learned important lessons from all of the foolish mistakes and wrong decisions that I made as a young adult?

I learned something valuable from each of these stages in my life. I am the man I am today as a result of the experiences, the friendships, the joys and trials that I have lived through. Each experience has brought me closer to being a better, more compassionate and understanding person. Change is not always easy. In fact, more often than not it is quite painful. But it makes us stronger, teaches us patience, and prevents life from becoming dull and monotonous.

Tsunami

Last Friday started out like any other day. I was ready for the weekend and had taken my shower and was eating breakfast while checking my email. It was shortly after 7am when the phone rang. I wondered who would be calling so early and assumed that it was one of the boys. I was surprised to hear the concerned voice of a co-worker. It was Carrie and she asked me "Should I come in to work this morning or not?" She proceeded to tell me about the earthquake in Japan the previous night and that we were under a tsunami warning. The first wave was supposed to hit in thirty minutes!

Patti overheard the conversation and grabbed the phone to call and warn the boys. The apartment where they live in Sunny Brae is in the Tsunami Danger Zone. The route I take to work south on Highway 101 leads right beside Humboldt Bay as you cross through the corridor into Eureka. If a tsunami hit, that entire area would be flooded.

I normally leave for work around 7:30 but was hesitant to do so. I decided to wait a few minutes past 7:30 to see what happened, realizing that I would be late for work.

I checked our stock of canned goods in the pantry and filled up some jars and jugs with water. I wanted to be on the safe side, just in case something happened and the water supply was undrinkable. I left Patti a list of things not to forget, just in case she had to evacuate and head for the hills.

We turned on the radio and heard the news that we should expect a tsunami wave of up to 8 feet and that the warning was in effect for the next twelve hours. People were warned to stay away from the beaches and to be prepared to move to higher ground. The radio listed school closings and spoke of evacuations taking place in Arcata, and also in Eureka, south of 4th street. The office building where I work is on 6th street.

Needless to say, my heart was racing and I was a bit apprehensive as I drove to work. I didn't want to leave the family, not wanting to be separated if disaster struck. As I neared Humboldt Bay, I noticed that the water in the bay was very low. There were hardly any cars on the highway and there was an eerie silence. As I entered Eureka, the city was deserted. Not a single car was in the parking lot at Target. McDonalds and Burger King were closed, as were all of the other businesses as I entered town. I punched the time clock and went to work at my desk, the window facing in the direction of Humboldt Bay.

We were all nervous and talkative, keeping our eyes glued to the internet as the morning seemed to drag on forever. Reports began to flood in as the tsunami waves came. The waves traveled up the mouth of the Mad River, one of my favorite places to hang out. In the summer, I often go there to explore the sea shore and dunes, and to watch the seals sunbathe on the banks of the river as it bends and meets the ocean.


In this photo you can see the tsunami wave traveling up the Mad River. Our house sits approximately in the area of the red circle on the far right.


Soon, we heard the news that the tsunami struck Crescent City. The docks were completely devastated and over 30 boats were destroyed. We also heard the terrible news that a man had been swept out to sea while taking pictures near the mouth of the Klamath River.



We all breathed a sigh of relief as the tsunami warning was lowered to an alert later in the afternoon. We were very fortunate this time. Crescent City and the town of Brookings, Oregon took the brunt of the tsunami. We were spared... this time!

My heart goes out to the Japanese people who have just faced the worst natural disaster in their history. I can't imagine the horror that they endured as first the earthquake struck, and then the tsunami. Thousands of lives have been lost, and even more lives have been changed forever as Japan deals with the aftermath of this devastation.

I consider living near the Pacific Ocean a privilege. The North Coast of California, in my own opinion, is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Sacrifices have to be made to live here, as we are one of the most expensive communities in the state. There is also the risk of earthquakes and tsunamis. Scientists predict that we could experience a disaster similar to Japan's. We live with that reality every day.

I love the ocean and enjoy walking along the sea shore, exploring the tide pools, and running from the waves as they crash onto shore. But I have learned to respect the sea, and to not turn my back on it. It is beautiful, yet dangerous. And that is the way that Nature intends for it to be.