Jalama

Jalama has been a welcoming refuge for many different cultures and groups of people throughout the years.  I fondly remember my first Jalama Beach encounter was with friends who knew of the place.  It was a Sunday afternoon and we  embarked on a trip to the ‘beach.’  Instead of heading to a beach I was familiar with, we traveled a long and windy road that seemed to take us no where until the coastline met us.  It was then I caught my first glimpse of this beautiful place.   I recall only one other car in the ‘parking lot’ when we arrived and the parking lot was really just an area made of compressed sand and dirt, cleared to accommodate vehicles.  There was no asphalt or concrete roadway to be seen.  There were also no cabins or RV hook-up sites and no trees really other than a few stubby ones that I thought of as cypress trees.  There were no showers or running water, and If there was a store, it was closed and just a small nondescript structure.  What captured my heart though, was the untamed beauty of the beach.  It must have been low tide (I was newly a teenager and how tides worked was not something I was even remotely familiar with) and we walked north under overcast skies where there were tide pools in abundance.  I loved exploring each one as I scrabbled over the exposed shale, stood in admiration of the cliffs that bordered the land side of the beach and watched as surf birds flew overhead and played along the shore pound.  It was a short visit, but I digress as there were so many others that had experienced this area before I had the opportunity and it is their story I wish to share here. 

The first known inhabitants of Jalama lived in a Chumash village called Shilimaqstush which straddled the creek.  They were known for their blades and knives made of chert which was in abundance.  Arrowheads and beads can still be found as the sands shift and storms change the landscape of the surrounding hill side.  It is illegal, however, to remove these from the beach.  By 1812 few villagers remained as many had succumbed to European diseases brought by the Spanish in the late 1700’s or had relocated to neighboring La Purisma Mission.  With most of the indigenous people gone, it was about this time the Spanish began referring to the area as Jalama.  

In 1833 the Mexico Congress voted to sell the California missions to businessmen and that lead to several land transfers until the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company acquired it.  In 1942, RM Adam, Lompoc Record publisher and Lompoc’s representative on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, enters into the Jalama story. With Ocean Park becoming a part of Camp Cooke and looking to remain that way for the foreseeable future, Mr. Adam began looking for an alternative beach for Lompoc residents to call their own.  Despite the fact Jalama Beach was private property it was frequently used for camping and recreation by the general public.  It was also the closest accessible beach to Lompoc, thus Mr. Adam began negotiating with the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company, requesting the land be donated to Santa Barbara County.  Negotiations for free land are never easy and it wasn’t until a change in tactics and Fred Bixby joining Mr. Adam in his efforts, that the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company deeded 23.5 acres to Santa Barbara County in May of 1943.  

Improvements happened overtime as asphalt was laid, running water, flush toilets and showers installed.  Campgrounds were improved, hookups were added and the most recent addition are the cabins.  Many of the trees still standing were planted in the 1980’s but the myoporum of the past that sheltered areas of the park have been removed.  The Jalama Beach Store with its famous Jalama Beach burger, was taken over in 1979 by the Eittreim family and has flourished under their guidance becoming as famous if not more so than the beach.  Many people take the drive out just to sit and enjoy a delicious Jalama burger while listening to the waves and taking in the sweeping beach views.  

For me, Jalama is the place to escape the demands of the clock and society and return to myself as I enjoy the beauty nature has bestowed, smell the salt air and listen to the waves and the breeze as they play.  For others it is a place to fish, to surf, to windsurf (I love seeing the brightly colored sails decorate the skyline!) to beach comb, to camp, to spend time with family and friends or to enjoy a famous burger. Jalama has many different faces and so many different meanings to those that enjoy her refuge.  What does she mean to you?  

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about the history of this treasure as much as I did.  Special thanks to John McReynolds and his exhaustive research which was published in his book, Seasons of Jalama.  There is so much detail and history recorded in his words of which I have shared just a speck. 

Much love to everyone!  Stay safe.  Stay home.  Stay well.  Share a smile.   Remember, this too will pass.   

Seasons of Jalama by John McReynolds

https://www.countyofsb.org/parks/jalama.sbc

https://explorelompoc.com/blog/complete-guide-to-jalama-beach/

Shaka!

~ A handshake, high five and hug as greetings and farewells are but memories at this time.  The elbow bump and toe tap enjoyed a brief experience in usage but even these no longer enjoy the light of day with the demands of social distancing.  Thankfully there are still several ways to acknowledge a nonverbal hello or good-bye, including a simple wave, peace sign, the Vulcan live long and prosper salute, heart hands and our favorite, the shaka. 

Throwing a shaka at friends has been recognized as a friendly gesture for many years within the surfing community and has made its way to more main stream usage.  But I wondered about it’s origins and if it truly meant what I had been lead to believe it meant.  So a little research revealed the following.  

The word ‘shaka’ is not of Hawaiian origins but most agree it is believed the gesture arose from a Hawaiian.  Hamana Kalili of Laie lost his middle three fingers from his right hand while working at the Kahuku Sugar Mill in the 1940’s.  From here there are two versions of how the gesture developed.  One is that Mr. Kalili used the gesture as a symbol of blessing.  The other is that after his injury, he went on to be a security guard for the railroad and to keep kids off the train he would gesture at them to disembark with his injured hand.  Not to be deterred from their fun, when Mr. Kalili wasn’t looking, the kids would communicate with each other by imitating his gesture, the middle three fingers of their hand folded down, that the coast was clear to hop on the train.

Next in the evolution of this gesture enters Mr. David (Lippy) Espinda, a Honolulu TV entertainer and car salesman.  He used the unique gesture to sign off from his show and when greeting his customers, furthering its exposure to the general population.  The name ‘shaka’ is believed to have been derived from an ancient Buddha that prayed with his hands together in a similar formation, named Shakyumuni or from the term shark eye.  Ultimately, however, it was Frank Fasi, the mayor of Honolulu, that cemented the use of the shaka gesture as a culturally accepted greeting when he used it in his 1976 mayoral campaign.

There are a few varying ways to throw a shaka but it is agreed that by making a fist and and extending the pinky and thumb while keeping the middle fingers curled down is the foundational basis.  Beyond this basic formation variations on how curled or tight to the palm the middle fingers are to be as well as what wrist action is to be used may be practiced.   It is my experience, however, that despite the differing qualities of a shaka gesture, it is universally understood as a friendly acknowledgment.  

What I loved most as I researched this gesture, was the intent behind it.  For the surfing culture and so many others, it means to ‘hang loose’ or to relax.  A reminder so needed in our busy, sometimes frantic schedules.  For the Hawaiians, it means to spread aloha in keeping with their belief of malama i kekahi i kekahi, which is take care of one, take care of all.   What a beautiful concept of community, all expressed with a shake your hand.  

Do you have a preferential greeting during these times of social distancing?  Let us know is the comments below.  In the meantime, stay safe.  Stay home. Stay well.  Share a smile.  And remember this too will pass.  Much love to everyone! ~

https://www.to-hawaii.com/shaka.php

https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/how-to-throw-the-perfect-hawaiian-shaka

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign

It's A Wrap!

With the reality of current environmental challenges, I have begun to make more mindful choices about purchases and how I do things, trying to mitigate my personal impact on our beloved planet as best I can.  With gift giving and all its embellishments now officially on the calendar, I began to wonder if there was a way I could diminish the pile of wrapping paper, gift boxes and ribbon that annually make the trek from my house to the landfill.  Here are some alternatives that I have either used in the past or came across in my research and daydreaming.

Holiday gift bags, for me, are a perfect way to reduce the amount of debris after a round of gift opening and also make for an easy wrap job.  I find I am able to reuse the bags for many years, preferring to use either unbleached or recycled tissue paper in the wrapping process instead of taping the top edges closed. Packaging peanuts and shredded paper that I have saved from other gifts are great alternatives to tissue paper or for filling out a large bag that conceals a much smaller gift.  Final benefit, the bags fold up and are easy to store for future use!

Newspaper, once upon a time, was an easy go to if something needed to be wrapped in a traditional box. Add some ribbon and a card and the appearance would rival any traditional wrap job. Now I may use old wrapping paper that I have recycled (not everyone impatiently rips wrapping paper off a gift, some us us savor the anticipation as we slowly peel the tape carefully up and literally unwrap the item), outdated maps and calendars or colorful magazine pictures.  Again, add some ribbon or a bow and you have a beautiful gift.  Bonus points to me if I am able to match the ‘wrapping’ paper to the gift or individual in some personal way, say tickets to an event wrapped in a map of the area.  

I don’t know about you, but I have an abundance of reusable totes.  Using one of these to wrap a gift in is akin to giving two gifts in one.  The hardest aspect of receiving a tote for me is remembering to take it with me when shopping, thus my overflowing inventory of reusable totes.  Along those same lines are the merchandise bags from some stores, particularly the plain white or brown paper ones.  Add some tissue paper, tie the handles together with a bit of ribbon and you have an instant gift bag.

Other alternatives to gift wrap are bags made of fabric, mesh or hemp, as well as baskets and tins. I love the added texture and dimension the fabric gives to the appearance of the gift as well as how easy it is to use.  Most of the bags have drawstring openings and for those that don’t I use a bit of ribbon for the closure, gathering the material together at the opening and securing it.  In repurposing baskets and tins, just adding some ribbon or tissue paper makes for a unique and festive package. 

One suggestion I came across recently that I am looking forward to trying, is the use of clay flower pots.  Purchasing the basic terra cotta allows you to personalize the ‘wrapping’ with markers or paint as you wish.  Alternatively, simply purchasing a pot that is already glazed can make for a spectacular statement with little effort. Just invert the dish used to collect water on which the pot sits and use it as a lid, concealing the gift inside.  Secure with ribbon, twine or raffia. 

Finally, the icing on the gift.  Beautiful, colorful ribbon.  I had quit using it because of my concerns for the environment but missed the finished look it brings to a gift.  If you want to continue putting that final touch on your packages, fabric ribbon and/or old scarves are wonderful options and may be reused.  They can be tied in bows or wrapped around the package and, depending on the size of the package and width of the ribbon, may reduce the need to use tape.   

There are so many ways we impact the environment in our everyday actions and change is difficult.  I get it.  It is a challenge to do things differently, to not be on autopilot.  But I believe even small changes like how gifts are wrapped are important.  Start with one gift at Christmas this year if this seems overwhelming and challenge others to do the same.  Because the reality is if we each do a little, we all do a lot.  

We each do a little. We all do a lot.

Skateboard Competition Next Month!

Lompoc Parks and Rec Annual Skateboard Competition is a community event and fun for all ages!   We have been partnering with Lompoc Parks and Rec since 2000 on this competition featuring Best Run (skate jam format) and Best Trick in six different age groups.  Registration starts at 10AM with competition to begin shortly afterwards by age group, youngest to oldest.  Prizes will be awarded for first through third place in all categories and there will also be opportunities to win some great raffle prizes throughout the competition.  Lompoc Foursquare Church will be joining the fun again with popcorn, snow cones and water!  

We are so very thankful and grateful for everyone that makes this competition possible each year including the skateboarders and the spectators, the businesses that provide sponsorships, Lompoc Parks & Rec staff, Lompoc Foursquare Church Elevate Youth Group, Charles-our emcee and our judges.  Without all of these wonderful people this great event wouldn’t be possible.  

So bring your skate, helmet and pads or perhaps your lawn chair and some sunscreen this Saturday and we’ll see you at College Park for some fun!

Together We Can!

The Fourth of July is a day of celebration.  A day spent with family and friends, picnicking, barbecuing and relaxing, perhaps at home, the park or a beach, then capped off with the signature fireworks display.  A day to enjoy!  

In our enjoyment and celebration we often become neglectful of how our choices impact our environment and the others that dwell in it.  Plastic pollution kills more than one million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals and turtles a year, and it is estimated that by 2050 the amount of plastic in the ocean will out weigh the fish. July 5th is historically the dirtiest day on the beach contributing to this.  The day after we celebrate our Independence.  

This year, please join Reef and Surfrider Foundation in their efforts to change July 5th to the cleanest day on the beach.  Recognize how your choices can make a difference to marine life and our oceans everyday.  If posting on social media use #RestoreYourShore on your in-feed posts and Reef will donate $5 to Surfrider Foundation to support the Better Beach Alliance.  Together we can!

https://www.surfrider.org

https://www.reef.com/blog/help-us-restore-your-shore.html