Photoessay #1085 - More on the memoir idea

I've been thinking some more of this UCSC memoir idea. Would need a LOT of work. One exercise we did both in Guided Autobiography and the Memoir class (no coincidence) was to draw a map of some physical place and then start commenting on parts of them especially considering the concept of "Shimmering Images". I don't remember what I drew in the summer. The Shimmering Image I selected for the class exercise was a moment, maybe even before my kids were born, when we were living in the North City house (1250 sf, 3bdrm, 1 bath, 3 kids, aack!) and I was walking home from an exercise class at the YMCA at night in the dark by myself and, right as I was rounding the bend, I just looked up at the towering fir trees at the end of our little road illuminated by the moonlight and I suddenly was struck by the thoughts of my own mortality, maybe because these trees might continue to grow at that spot but *I* would not be there to see them. I still see that dark scene with those light-swallowing tall trees. So I continued to draw a map of the location of that house and writing down memories from different parts.

I'm still unsure of this UCSC idea, my memory is so unclear. But I drew a map of Crown College as a start. From memory, but realistically Dennis and were there briefly in August. I wanted to plant a letterbox there. People commented that security was so tight and this would be frowned on. However we wandered up there late on a Friday afternoon (prob after 5) and I could see TONS of places to plant it. I ended up planting it below the lower quad against a deteriorating landscape timber above the walk down to the quarry area (which was greatly improved from my day). We didn't tarry, probably because we didn't have a parking permit. So I've seen the place recently. Hoped that JJ and Steve would come up with us (we visited them that day).

So I did pretty well with the map except getting Harvey House in the wrong place.

I went out to lunch today with my friend Linda, whom I've known for 27 years. At least. She graduated high school the same year as myself (1970) in San Carlos CA (or similar) and attended UC Berkeley the same time I was at Santa Cruz. She agreed that this topic resonated with her also. She started telling some Berkeley stories. She said that later she went to graduate school at University of Dayton, a small Catholic school. She and her husband would tell stories about Berkeley and people were horrified. Over time, they toned down the stories more and more.

So here's the hand-drawn map and the site of the Crown College letterbox (titled Fiat Lux) below the lower quad. One person has found it so far.