Tag Archives: Coast Ranges

The Hana Chronicles: Month 9, Day 8

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Posted by on in children, Community, Family, Hiking and Nature, Historical, Personal Values, Social, Striving, Travel

September 29, 2026- Hana has made it a practice to scoop up every bit of food that falls into the catchment on her bib, and woe to anyone who tries to dump those scraps onto the high chair table! Her meals, her rules. Our outspoken little girl is going to make her mark early, I think.

I made a birthday call to my sister, with Hana listening in. She was very happy to hear her grand-aunt’s voice and smiled the whole time. For good measure, I sent a birthday greeting, “from Hana”. In time, these sorts of remembrances will be an integral part of her life.

Aram is “Daddy”, Yunhee is “Mama”. I am, alternately, “Papa” and “Dada”. Our girl is very definite about the main people in her life. She loves us and gets loved right back. As long as someone is there to help her practice walking, all is well with the world.

HANA’S NOTE: I like standing at the window and seeing the funny animals running and jumping. Papa said they are squirrels.

EXPANDING CIRCLES: Northern California- The “upper” half of the Golden State has also figured in my life, since 1972, when I landed at Oakland, on my return from Viet Nam. San Francisco welcomed me for several conferences, over the years and I had the pleasure of seeing the Lunar New Year parade, in Chinatown, in 1995. I toured both cities more extensively in 2012. Santa Cruz, and the nearby Bosch Baha’i School, were the destination of a few family vacations, as well.

The Turf: The Coast Ranges hug the shore more consistently, as one goes north, from San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. Then the low lying Central Valley occupies a huge swath, and is one of the great “breadbaskets” of North America. Mountains rise again, to the east: Sierra Nevada, followed further north by the southern Cascades. In northeast California, the westernmost segment of the Great Basin is called the Modoc Desert. Northern California is drained by the Smith, Klamath, Trinity, Salmon, Mad, Eel, Russian, Petaluma, Napa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Feather, American, Yuba, Pit, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Meced, Mokulumne, Calaveras, Kings, Kern, Kaweah,Salinas, Santa Maria and Truckee Rivers. The San Joaquin forms a delta, which drains into San Francisco Bay.

First Nations- Northern California is the ancestral home of the Hupa, Pomo, Yurok, Washoe, Mono, Yokuts, Karuk and Northern Paiute people. Rancherias and reservations are found across the region, for each of the extant nations and those related to them, linguistically. Native Americans suffered greatly in the Gold Rush and its aftermath, facing discrimination and pressure to “assimilate” that was equal to any similar efforts in other states and territories. The Pomo people were subjected to enslavement and harsh living conditions, by two white settlers with connections to the United States Army. These settlers, Andrew Kelsey and Charles Stone, were killed by rebellious Pomo, who were in turn slaughtered by troops under the command of the settlers’ associate, Captain Nathaniel Lyon (1850). He also orchestrated a forced relocation of Pomo people to Round Valley (1856). (Lyon was subsequently killed in the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, in southwest Missouri, during the Civil War.)

Where I feel most at home: Santa Cruz, Aptos, Truckee, Susanville, Mount Shasta, Weed, Eureka, Orland, Mendocino

Where I feel most at peace: Lassen Volcanic National Park, Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area, Mount Shasta

NEXT: Hawai’i

The Hana Chronicles: Month 9, Day 7

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Education, Family, Hiking and Nature, Historical, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

September 28, 2026- Hana talked a blue streak today. She seemed to be excited about her vast gains in scooting and standing up. She is now able to stand, unsupported, for nearly two minutes. She walked, with my help, the length of the master bedroom, from her crib to the door. These achievements made her beam with delight.

I, too, beam with delight, when she listens to me and sits down in her high chair. She wanted to show off by standing up, proud as you please. My reaction was: “If you want more breakfast, then sit down.” She sat down, and finished her breakfast. Better that, than Bravado Girl taking a tumble. (We strapped her in, for lunch and dinner.)

HANA’S NOTE: I am happy when I am standing and walking, while holding on to the playpen. I REALLY want to take steps without help.

EXPANDING CIRCLES: Southern California- We now leave the Southwest and focus on the Pacific Coast and Basin. It could be argued that southern California is part of the Southwest, as the area (from Coalinga- Visalia- Mount Whitney on to the Mexican border) has an identity somewhat closer to Arizona and southern Nevada than to the northern part of the Golden State. It also has a unique tie to the Pacific Ocean.

The turf- The coast is defined by tits beach towns, the energy and drive of Los Angeles, San Diego and their seemingly endless suburbs (and traffic). The Coast Ranges separate the metropolises from the Colorado and Mohave Deserts-somewhat. Orange groves, which were once ubiquitous, are mainly now on the eastern slopes of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains-and in northern San Diego County. The San Andreas Fault, and other tectonic plates, run north to south, through the Transverse Ranges-which themselves run east to west, from San Bernardino to Santa Barbara. The Colorado River, along the borders with Nevada and Arizona, is the major draining flow of southern California. Shorter rivers, such as San Diego, San Gabriel, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, and Santa Ynez, drain from the Coast and Transverse Mountains, to the Pacific Ocean. Salton Sea is a shrinking body of salt water, in the southern reaches of the Colorado Desert.

First Nations- Southern California is the ancestral home of the Diegueno, Luiseno,Juaneno, Gabrieleno, Quechan, Cahuilla, Serrano, Soboba, Tataviam and Chumash peoples. The Diegueno are also called Kumeyaay, or Tipai/Ipai. Most of the people were brought into the life of Mission Communities, either by enticement or by force. Today, the communities are more independent of the Church and are organized in rancherias, or small reservations. A revival of indigenous languages, especially Kumeyaay and Chumash, is being slowly nurtured.

Southern California, particularly San Diego, has been very important to my family, over the years. My relationship with Penny was nurtured in Vista and in Julian. We were married in San Diego. We took our vacations from Arizona in San Diego, Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, Aram was stationed in San Diego, for nearly six years.Much of my time was also spent around southern California, especially in the beach towns, from 2012-2025.

Where I most feel at home: Ocean Beach, Torrey Pines, La Jolla, Banning, Julian, Crystal Cove, Dana Point, Ojai, Lomita, San Gabriel, Joshua Tree National Park

Where I most feel at peace: Ocean Beach, Torrey Pines, Joshua Tree

NEXT: Northern California