Gold for New 49ers!

I got out my crusty miner costume for San Lorenzo Park’s 2024 49er Days, meeting with six groups of 4^th graders. I told them about life beneath canvas while searching for gold and also shared my mostly true bear story about Bill, Terry and Michael. Suffice it to say that Terry always survives the bear’s panicked retreat and did so again — six times! I thank able organizers Julia and Fiona for including me in the event!

P.S. I might have mentioned “Joaquin’s Gold”. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFRCT4N/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MUHK5KC819MC&keywords=Joaquin%27s+Gold+and+other+tales+of+Old+California&qid=1642121544&sprefix=joaquin%27s+gold+and+other+tales+of+old+california%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1

Local Author Finds Gold!

South Monterey County — its unequaled natural beauty, its rich history — informs and enhances all my writing, but especially the stories included in Joaquin’s Gold. I was especially pleased when Rose Castillo Guilbault, acclaimed author of Farmworker’s Daughter, recently offered these comments about my book:

I read your book of short stories and loved it. Joaquin’s Gold is so well written and interesting. Please let me know when your next one is published.

Thanks, Rose! And I will!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RTX6G3G/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Gold Rush Days at San Lorenzo Park

MCARLM’s great history event for 4th graders took place again last Tuesday and Wednesday. Though I didn’t have my tent for day #1, I still told 49er stories and sang “My Darling Clementine” with the kids. They got to pan for gold, eat hardtack and visit the blacksmith’s shop, as well!

P.S. Mothers and aides were thrilled to visit with their old school teachers, too. Many of us can still do a fine job – at least for a day or two!

 

My Darling Clementine

Phoebe Cheney and I before the 4th graders arrived – Photo by Joan Ungs

San Lorenzo County Park near King City is an underappreciated (at least by many) treasure and the Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum is its crown jewel. The museum took a really big hit on May15th, literally so. A hundred year old, seven feet in diameter eucalyptus tree tried to take the roof off the barn at about six in the evening. It failed – by a little – and nobody was around to be hurt. The folks at MCARLM had scheduled a big, three-day historical event for local kids beginning on the 16th. Everyone pulled up their bootstraps and we went ahead with the presentations. Local 4th graders put their hands (tongues, ears, stomachs, feet and everything else!) on the history of our gold rush. I got to be a 49er and introduce them to Clementine’s boyfriend. You know the guy: “How I missed her! Until I kissed her little sister!”