Personal Essays

Now, on road trips, I always have my camera bag next to me. Bored? Take pictures out the window. Driving through the redwoods? Oh yes, take pictures! I’ve even developed a mild obsession with the Altamont Pass Wind farm. I have enough photos of turbines to make Al Gore beam with pride. But where I get serious is in Santa Cruz. It is the perfect town for drive-by shooting. There are scenic vistas at every turn of the road, and on a clear day you can see Monterey across the bay. I quickly learned never to leave my in-law’s house without my camera, even if we were just running out for a morning coffee. Especially if we are just running out for coffee – even in a car you can’t forget about that morning light! And people are out in the mornings. Getting coffee, walking the dog, checking the surf, it is a parade of drive-by opportunities.