When I was growing up here in Humboldt County we only had two kinds of weather. We started and ended our days with fog unless it was raining which might be a daily occurrence for months at a time.
Feeling the cool mist of the fog on the beach this morning took me back to my childhood.
My family was poor. We didn't have a car, made all of our own clothes and polished our shoes to make them look more presentable. Like other financially challenged folks we were proud.
Sometimes on the weekends my dad would borrow the neighbor's car and we would spend two days on the beach. We picked surf fish off the sand, cleaned and cooked them in a cast iron fry pan. We ate them with our fingers. So good.
A generation later I did the same with my kids.
My vegetarian grandkids weren't interested but loved the beach.
This was my mother on the same beach Summer and I walk.
A Wailaki woman and a survivor.
She taught me what she could.

@NorcalGma2

Thank you for sharing this, that's a wonderful photo of your mother.

@NorcalGma2

Thank you for sharing this beauty. ❤️

@NorcalGma2
And she's wearing styling practical overalls! There's still quite a few Wailaki living here in sohum
@Coho
I still have cousins on the Round Valley Reservation. A Southern Humboldt town even bears my family name.
@Coho
I remember the jacket well. It was turquoise leather. She could sew at a level I never quite mastered. Her beadwork was exquisite.
@NorcalGma2
Turquoise leather sounds beautiful!
@NorcalGma2 she did good. Never met you except for these posts, and I admire you so much.

@NorcalGma2

A blessing to the memory of your mother, to you, to your husband, and to Summer

A smudge prayer

@NorcalGma2 What part of Humboldt?
@colorblindcowboy
This photo is below Table Bluff at the South Spit.

@NorcalGma2 Ah, ok. My fam is from all over Humboldt (Garberville, Ferndale, etc). I always like hearing about the area.

Thank you for sharing the story and photo.

@NorcalGma2

Tipping my hat in admiration. Thank you for sharing the story and the beautiful photograph of your mother.

#resilienceandlove

@NorcalGma2 thx for sharing the story and the photo.
@NorcalGma2
Blessings to you and your Mom, may the strength with kindness that flowed from her to you her daughter be a gift you pass to all of your family and friends. 🙏
@NorcalGma2 hi Norcal's mom. You'd be so proud of her. Xo