Are You That Woman

Time passes

July 28, 2020 - Wow time passes and 11 years later, the introduction of this Tin Box memory is more meaningful than ever. The rest of the story equally important as we look to stay connected and close to our past, present, and future! Hoping when the dust settles, we'll find time to create a new memory for the next 11 years.

After an evening with dear friends, who are also colleagues, I came home and was overwhelmed by the experience. I felt compelled to do what I have been doing my whole life, write.

I am learning more and more about the importance of friends in my life and the need to cherish times together. Not to let too much time lapse between gatherings or communication. The history and memories we share are part of the fabric of our lives. And though we can always make new friends, there's something wonderful about the sharing of history when you can turn to someone and say, "Remember when....?"

Over and over I've said, "I believe in kismet." Fate! People ask how I became a writer and got into tourism and writing. I always say that this is what I was meant to do. Kismet. When it comes to history, I remember so many details...moments in time that others often forget.  I am a keeper of history.  It's crazy but it ties me to people who have brought meaning to my life— part of my past and present and, without question, the future.  

The friends who gathered on this particular evening, each has a place in my history banks.  Lucy Steffens was the first to cross my path when I did the "internship from Hell" at Visit Sacramento back in 1990. I can still see the old office space and the desk where I sat in the middle of the room. Who could imagine that 21 years later we would be sharing drinks? I am pretty certain I cried on Lucy's shoulder more than once and envied her intern who seemed to be having better luck than me. While my internship "boss" at Visit Sacramento didn't deliver on any of her promises to write for and be published in the bureau’s magazine, I did learn about one very important thing: The California Office of Tourism (COT).

I interviewed for a job with a very young Joe D'Alessandro and a REALLY young Terry Selk. It was a contract position with the California Tourism Corporation, a consulting firm. It was something to do with international travel and sounded very exotic. Terry wanted to hire me. Joe didn't and he had the final say. (Thanks Joe!) They hired an equally young Tom Horman. That was the best thing that ever happened to me—them hiring Tom— though I didn’t realize it at the time. Some months later the contract budget was reduced and Tom was out of a job.

Meanwhile, I applied for a job as an office assistant for the State of California. Where? Why the California Office of Tourism! Go figure. I remember being interviewed by senior staffers Flo, Diane, and Tiffany in a claustrophobic conference room with no windows. Kismet intervened again because Flo (Director) lived next door to my mom's best friend. While I like to think it was my charm and good looks that landed me the job, I still thank Bernice Slater for getting my foot in the door. Little did I know.

On September 4, 1990, I started my first day with COT at the glamorous and historic Senator Hotel. No one warned me about the lunacy I was entering. But there I was with program managers Sharon, Tom, Fred, Terry, and Joe. Even then their pranks were what kept us going. I remember Sharon. I can see exactly where you were sitting. Dahlynn and I were at the front phones with Pat guarding the passage to Flo's office. Bonnie was back in the corner. God, what insanity!

Over the years, I worked with each of you -- giving and taking experiences that have helped shape my life (and yours) and guide me as a better writer. Especially Sharon who so generously gave of her time and "raised me up" before she got out of Dodge and moved to Tennessee.

It was great to be together the other night. Laughing, remembering, sharing, and hoping that it won't be too many years before we do this again. Or even one on one. I want to say thank you for the gift of your presence in my life. (Okay I will stop now....me and my sentimental ways).

Barbara L. Steinberg
 Sacramento
 July 28, 2011

You thought you really knew me, but did you ever imagine?

You never can imagine
The secrets I have hidden.
The little quirks and nasty habits,
I’ll tell you, I’m not kiddin’.
So! You think you really know me?
Its been left for you to ponder.
Listen to the deeds I’ve done,
You won’t be left to wonder.

You know how after heavy rains
Earthworms crawl onto the sidewalks?
Well, I have been known to pick
Them up and throw them back into the grass
So they won’t get squashed or dry up in the sun.

I once had an entire family
Of daddy long-legs (parachute spiders to me)
Living over my kitchen sink,
A mother and about a trillion babies.
The last time I killed a spider
It was a black widow spider…
Even then I felt guilty.

When I was nine years old
I wanted to be Barbra Streisand.
Now I want to sing like Bette
And strut like Tina.

Ants really drive me crazy.
When I’m working in the garden
And it looks like the whole ground is moving
But it’s really a herd of ants…
I go get my can of raid.

There was an old man
Passed out, or asleep, in an alley.
It was freezing outside.
He had nothing to keep him warm
Except for an old, worn coat.
He wasn’t even wearing socks.
I left him a blanket,
A knit camp and five dollars.
When I walked by hours later,
He was still there passed out, or asleep,
Using the blanket as a pillow.

If there is such a thing as reincarnation,
I’d like to come back as a duck.

I am a card-carrying member
Of the Cousteau Society, Sierra Club,
Nature Conservancy, and ASPCA,.
Friend to every plant and animal
And recipient of enough address labels
To last a lifetime.

Whenever I find dead birds in my yard
I perform a burial – ritualistically
This ceremony is enacted:
I dig a hole and fill it with
All kinds of flower petals and fern leaves.
The bird is placed on the floral bed,
Then covered with more of the same.
I apologize if I know
That one of my felines is to blame.
I always cry.

Sometimes I yell at my cats
If they are really bugging me.

My neighbors had four children
To whom I became the birthday,
Christmas, Valentine’s Day fairy.
In the middle of the night,
I would leave anonymous gifts
At their front door.
I had a great time!
Even though they knew it was me,
I never admitted it.

Most mornings, as soon as I get up,
I kneel toward the East
And repeat this Buddhist chant,
The ultimate teaching of Buddhism
That leads to enlightenment through
The law and cause and effect:
“Nam – Myoho – Renge – Kyo”
World peace begins with you (me).

Don’t want to overwhelm you,
With all these dreadful deeds.
To hear them all would be too much,
“Please stop!” you’re sure to plead.
Lacking a superior forum, 
Face-to-face, by phone or letter,
I wrote this poem ‘cause
You barely knew me,
But now you know me better.

Barbara L. Steinberg
Sacramento
March 22-23, 1991

Sacramento Valley Conservancy needs $45,000 for Tiny House

On Friday, July 3rd a huge Alder tree fell at Camp Pollock causing damage to the caretaker trailer. Tim and his two yellow labs (Philbin and Luther) were inside the trailer when the tree came down, and while very shook up, thankfully they were all able to walk away. The tree pierced the roof and side of the trailer and caused damage to the inside. While they haven't received an official assessment (no one available on the July 4th holiday) the trailer is likely totaled. 

Tim and his pups have lived on-site and managed this beautiful hidden jewel for the last 5+ years.If you've ever met Tim, you know he's a kind and caring person with a HUGE heart, he works hard to manage the entire 11 acres and is always willing to lend a hand to visitors. Sacramento Valley Conservancy (SVC) owns the trailer and manages the site without any dedicated funding. With COVID-19, SVC has lost nearly all rental income and does not have the funds to purchase a new caretaker unit. This is where they are asking the community for help. The trailer is insured but it's an older model and even though they've worked hard to maintain it, the insurance likely will pay out a few thousand at most and not cover the cost of a replacement. Caretaker housing needs to be durable, and quickly movable since Camp Pollock floods. A tiny house is the best long term solution. SVC will raise as much as they can and go from there.

Having a 24-7 caretaker presence is a critical component to keeping Camp Pollock open to the public. SVC board and staff is scrambling to secure a safe unit (trailer or tiny house) for Tim to continue living on site and fulfilling the essential role of taking care of and looking after the site. It's critical that they have eyes on the property at all times and the unit has to be moveable since the property has flooding most years. 

Can you help keep Camp Pollock a safe and free location to access the American River? Any donation you can give will help make an impact. They are raising money to help SVC purchase a safe trailer or tiny house for Tim to stay in, so he can continue caring for the space 24-7. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me .  

More information about Sacramento Valley Conservancy:
SVC's mission is to preserve the beauty, character and biodiversity of the Sacramento Valley landscape by protecting and stewarding natural and working lands, and scenic open spaces for the benefit of current and future generations.

SVC's vision is to permanently protect a network of natural and working landscapes in the Sacramento Valley.