Bodega Bay Beat by Joan Poulos - May 2019

Bodega Bay has been very busy this week. The weather has been variable (from cold rain to warm sunshine.) Days like today (warm and slight breeze) are much appreciated, especially by those fishermen who persist in trying to make a living from the ocean. With crab season over, we are left with the hopes for salmon. Although we support the restrictions on whales being imperiled by crab pots and harvested for snack food (like appear in many stores that cater to tourists in Japan) most of us remain unconvinced that limiting salmon fishing is not going to markedly increase the presence of whales. Today we got good news... Salmon season will soon open and our local fishermen will have a way to make some money (at last.)

The community breathed a sigh of relief when the Marathon was postponed. The anticipated road closures would have created problems for many. Since the Marathon is only postponed, not eliminated, we hope some of the many residents who had such definite opinions will be consulted and when permits are requested, the authorities consider issues like parking, road congestion and effect on merchants whose livelihood will suffer if the access is just closed.

Timing is everything. The whole community protested when those who wanted to close some streets to accommodate the Marathon is silent when the signs go up closing the harbor and boat launches are limited to Doran, to accommodate the Fish Fest. This celebration has been a reality a long time and the whole community is involved in the presentation (and the funds garnered by the festival are shared among several good community services.) This is truly a good event. We just hope for a clear day and a good turnout of attendees (and a few dogs) to enjoy the good food (the fish and chips are wonderful) and nothing tastes better than a fresh oyster accompanied by a glass of California wine.

The thieves are getting tiresome. We have been inundated by callers who insist they are from Medicare and want us to give them addresses and passwords. They are very believable if they catch you when you have something else on your mind. I was having a disagreement with Medicare and so when someone called and said they were from Medicare and just needed some data I was foolish enough to give them some. Recognition came too late. Now we have faced calls every few minutes “from

Medicare” which we now know doesn’t make phone calls. We had to install an answering machine to put off the callers. We had 27 calls the first day; now we just answer and hang up if there is 5 seconds of silence (that is the time it takes to start the Robocalls.)

One rather disappointing issue emerged from this mishap. We asked AT&T to put the number on the “Do Not Call” list only to be told that we could not use a cell phone to implement that program. We are stuck with the toll-free number that has deluged us with unwelcome calls. One of the young neighbors has a suggestion. An ear-splitting whistle when you recognize that you are being “hacked” might be worth a try. (Now to find a truly ear-splitting whistle that is small enough to put right by the phone.)

What a beautiful day.!! There is no wind and the tulips are dancing in their festive colors. The pending trip by the Fishermen on Sunday (The Blessing of the Fleet) should be a wonderful experience. Take a few minutes Sunday and offer a prayer for all those who have suffered at sea. Luckily most of our local fishermen are extremely competent and know how to be safe if the sea becomes dangerous.

Easter is a time for joy. Lent is over; Good Friday passed with the prayers for those who have suffered and particularly the sacrifice Christ made to allow himself to be crucified. In many countries (like Greece) Good Friday is a day of quiet and prayers. Even the restaurants are closed (but with typical Greek hospitality, hotelkeepers will bring food to their guests.) Then, in those countries, the event of Christ having risen is marked by parades and in countries like Greece the family members who have moved away come home and help celebrate. If you are lucky enough to spend Easter in Greece, you will be impressed at how they actually act out the Easter story (no meat for Lent; NO business on Good Friday or the day after (not even communion--) and then a solemn parade around the town lamenting the death of Christ. At midnight, the bells toll. Easter has come. Candles are lighted; choirs sing, and the community again parades around the town exclaiming Christos Anestos (in correct Greek, obviously) and then He has Risen, indeed and the celebration begins. Flowers are taken to the graves of deceased family members and Choirs sing joyfully.

For those of us who were visiting, it was amazing how the families come home (many from the US and Britain) somewhat like our Christmas used to be. The residents who have moved into the city go back to the countryside and select a lamb to barbecue and share with all the neighbors, especially those who can not afford their own celebration. NO one goes hungry on Easter –even those who do not go to Church or can not afford their own barbecue. Christos Anesti...(Christ has risen.) The expected response is He is Risen, Indeed. Even those who do not go to Church, or are not practicing Christians, share the celebration and check out their neighborhood to be sure no one goes hungry. You don’t have to share the beliefs to entitle you to share the barbecue.

Closer to home, we have enjoyed the beautiful photography of the Faces of Bodega Bay. It will be interesting to try to identify all those whose pictures are on the flyer –(a couple of them are pretty easy for me.) We owe a vote of thanks for John and Robin, who have put so much effort into this delightful project.

Now off to Fish Fest. Offer to help, if you can. Otherwise, just come out and meet your neighbors and share in the acknowledgment that we are still a fishing based small town. Enjoy and pitch in, if you are asked.

Enjoy this wonderful spring weather and don’t forget, BE KIND.