Our three city/towns all seem to be moving, to one degree or another, toward someone's Grand Design of what small town/cities should be. The road appears rocky, to be sure, but the small town feel appears to be fading into a new vision of "vibrancy" and "vitality" many of those who've lived here a while just don't get. We'll have to see how it goes but the process has left many folks scratching their heads and hoping our unique towns don't end up looking like every other strip mall town in America.
EastBayDaze continues to hear from readers both near and far, which is always fun, by why someone in Australia would be interested in life here is beyond us - even if that interest is always welcome.
One man's effort to rename a local landmark stirred up a bit of controversy and inspired some curt commentary, ahem. And the "Open Carry" folks, they of the need to display their hardware on their hips (no, not carpentry tools) are up in arms about their being barred from local businesses uncomfortable with customers who show up loaded for bear.
Orinda is losing its police chief as Bill French gives up the position in favor of more time with family and elusive fish (good luck, chief) and some key trial dates loom as perpetrators in high profile cases are brought to justice - or not, we'll see.
We're hearing of rapidly fading fortunes, of family gold going into the smelters in order to make the next house payment, of sinful displays of wealth and arrogance by those folks who have found a way to profit in bad times. It's the free market, we guess, the American way - with every Man Jack for himself and huzzahs for the person who winds up with the most toys at the end of the game. Still, all wealth seems painfully inconsequential when the man in the lab coat calls you into his office for a "frank discussion."
A local church is feeling the impact of an apparently unpopular leader some say is forcing members of the congregation to leave; local business continues to fight for every breath despite signs of a rebounding economy and locals continue to seek ways to have fun with family and friends without having to sell the ranch - or McMansion.
All in all, it was a good week. The world still spins on its axis and we're still breathing good, rain-filtered California air. Everything is right in Paradise, eh?
3 comments:
"A local church is feeling the impact of an apparently unpopular leader some say is forcing members of the congregation to leave"
You must be talking about St. Monicas there in Moraga. There was a time when parking spilled out into Larch Avenue and not just on Easter and Christmas mass. And from what I'm hearing, it's not just the top leader that makes the place unappealing to the flock.
You want a local story no one is writing about, you got one here!
Nice comment R.R. Your spirituality and religious living (I do not want to assume 'Christian') is very clear through such a comment.
Anon-
Just connecting the dots. I drive by the church and parking lot and notice the drop. I have friends that are devout Catholics who attend or use to attend and don't care for the style (i.e.-complete silence before the mass).
Someone very close to me, in the last year, lost her mother, father, and brother. Her mother did attend or helped at St. Marys so they were able to have a service at the college. Her father was a devout Catholic, a WWII vet, and a longtime attendee of St. Monicas, even an usher for a time. But he had stopped going in the last couple years before his death. Not because he had lost his faith but because his five year battle with cancer (including the death of his wife a year earlier) had him wearing a catheter. He was a proud man too embarrassed to be seen wearing it in public. His last wishes, though, were to have a service at St. Monicas.
The family tried to honor those wishes but found the people they dealt with at St. Monicas difficult, abrasive, and didn't care to have a service for the father because they didn't remember him (being fairly new and had not seen him during his long tenure helping the church).
After much stress (anyone having dealt with the death of a parent knows about this difficult time), the family were blessed enough to find a church in Benicia, St. Dominics, who performed the service. I attended the service and I found the priests and everyone involved warm and welcoming to all faiths.
After the service, friends of the family asked why the service had not been held at St. Monicas. The family explained the difficulties to which the friends completely understood, having had their own difficulties. There seems to be a pattern and a trend and now a reputation with St. Monicas.
Anon-You are correct. You don't want to assume what my spiritual and religious beliefs are as we all know what that makes. But I will tell you that I believe places of worship should be open, inviting, accepting, and positive. I found this to be the case at St. Dominics. I'm not hearing the same for St. Monicas.
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