The High Sierra and a Japanese interment camp

Many paths lead from the foot of the mountain,

But at the peak

We all gaze at the

Single bright moon.

~Ikkyu Sojun

1394-1481

Manzanar Japanese Interment Camp

"The first internment camp in operation was Manzanar, located in Southern California. Between 1942 and 1945 a total of 10 camps were opened, holding approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans for varying periods of time in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Arkansas."  ~ Encyclopedia Brittanica

"In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were incarcerated during World War II."  ~ National Park Service Website

“We had about one week to dispose of what we owned, except what we could pack and carry for our departure by bus…for Manzanar.”  William Hohri

I can't believe this visit was a year and a half ago. 

It was a beautiful clear December day in California's High Sierra. I went up there for my birthday with my boyfriend, Kevin. It had been almost 3 months since my big Scotland and Italy adventure, and in that time I had gone back to work, gotten back into my groove, and continued my long distance relationship with my boyfriend. He was living in Hawaii and had come out for Thanksgiving and my birthday that year.

Kevin spent many years living, raising a family, and working at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort on the Race Department as an Alpine Ski Coach. He needed a visit with his grandkids and we wanted to ski so we decided to head north for my birthday weekend. He wanted me to see the WWII Japanese interment camp, Manzanar, that is just off Highway 395, near Lone Pine, CA. I had driven on that road so many times as a kid and I don't remember ever seeing it.

There are so many things I could say about the place but I don't know where to begin. There is this incredible natural beauty surrounding something that represents such a sad time in our history. And frankly, there seemed to be an empty melancholic energy there. It's a strange juxtaposition. 

There are so many people who experienced Mazanar first hand, during the war, who can express its history better than I. There are loads of documentaries worth watching on this subject. I'm adding a link at the bottom of this post to an article that mentions 10 of them that you can watch online for free.

A year and a half ago I was trying to imagine how they could have put innocent people, especially children, behind wire and fences. Fear makes us rationalize all sorts of things and the human race does it over and over. At its worst fear becomes hatred, violence, and racism. Are we doomed to repeat the past over and over?

"About two-thirds of all Japanese Americans interned at Manzanar were American citizens by birth. The remainder were aliens, many of whom had lived in the United States for decades, but who, by law, were denied citizenship.

The 500-acre housing section was surrounded by barbed wire and eight guard towers with searchlights and patrolled by military police. Outside the fence, military police housing, a reservoir, a sewage treatment plant, and agricultural fields occupied the remaining 5,500 acres. By September 1942 more than 10,000 Japanese Americans were crowded into 504 barracks organized into 36 blocks. 

Coming from Los Angeles and other communities in California and Washington, Manzanar’s internees were unaccustomed to the harsh desert environment. Summer temperatures soared as high as 110ºF. In winter, temperatures frequently plunged below freezing." 

... Compassion without wisdom is not understood

to be true compassion,

and wisdom without compassion is not true wisdom.

~Masao Abe

1915-2006

For more information about Manzanar, click the link at the bottom of this post.

We arrived in Mammoth that evening and our spirits were lifted by watching Kevin's adorable granddaughter Rylie in her ballet class and being able to breathe in the crisp clean air. There were fires raging in our home town of Ventura where we still have many friends and up in Ojai where my family lives. Many, including my parents and my sisters family, had to evacuate. Sadly, my Aunt Cheri and Uncle Larry lost their beautiful home to the fire but we are so grateful everyone was safe!

There was a cloud of smoke hanging over Los Angeles but it was nothing like the smoke in Ventura County in the path of the Thomas Fire.

Mammoth Lakes, California

You can almost breathe the clear air looking at the photos!

 Mount Morrison & Convict Lake

An unfortunate name for such a beautiful place because escaped convicts ambushed and killed General Robert Morrison and members of his posse in 1871 at this scenic location!

I hadn't been on skies in almost 20 years and it was almost like riding a bike. Except for the fact that the last time I'd skied I was going down black diamond runs and now I was on the bunny slopes! I hadn't been on the bunny slopes since I was five years old. I learned to ski early and my first run was down our driveway in Anchorage when I was three years old.

Here's a little sketch from the Main Lodge sundeck...

Mammoth Mountain

Here's a fun little video of my first time on skis in 20 years!

“If your mind is empty, 

it is always ready for anything, 

it is open to everything. 

In the beginner’s mind 

there are many possibilities, 

but in the expert’s mind there are few. ”

~Shunryo Suzuki

I was cracking up at Kevin. He was so excited that I made it down "Hanzel and Gretal" without falling. Another highlight of the weekend was a dip in the natural hot springs by the light of the silvery moon!

There are several natural hot springs in the area but sorry no nighttime hot spring shots to share! 

Kevin rented a cute place in Crowley Lake, CA. 

It was very cozy amongst the Aspens and I was very happy to have a fire to thaw out my tootsies.

You cannot separate any part from the whole:

interdependence rules the cosmic order.

~Taisen Deshimaru

1914-1982

Did I mention Kevin is a yogi? I think his friend's pup appreciated his downward facing dog!

When you do something, you should do it with your whole body and mind;

you should be concentrated on what you do. 

You should do it completely, 

like a good bonfire.

You should not be a smoky fire.

You should burn yourself completely. 

If you do not burn yourself completely,

A trace of yourself will be left in what you do.

~Shunryū Suzuki

1904-1971

I feel so lucky to live in California. 

I hadn't been up to this area in so long. I forget how completely different the landscape is and what a gorgeous drive Highway 395 is through the High Sierra. This road trip is about 5. 5 hours north of Los Angeles or a 3 hours drive south from Reno.

Leaving the High Sierra ...

“Wherever you are, you are one with the clouds 

and one with the sun and the stars you see. 

You are one with everything. 

That is more true than I can say, 

and more true than you can hear.”

~Shunryu Suzuki

For my Christmas present that year Kevin bought me a ticket to Hawaii. It might have been my biggest travel year since I was 20! He said I was his Christmas present but I think I got the better end of the deal! After spending Christmas Eve and morning with my family I jumped on a flight and headed to the North Shore of Oahu. 

I went a little nuts taking photos of Hawaii but I have to say I also managed to do a lot of watercolors and drawings. That's all coming up next!

I hope you are all having a lovely summer and finding a way to stay cool! I'm sending you all much love and prayers for nice cool breezes!

Blessings and light

Links

Manzanar Monument Website

Online Documentaries of Japanese Internment 

Mammoth Mountain

Crowley Lake

Convict Lake

Bass Lake 2016

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye 

and put miles between you, 

but at the same time

you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach,

because you do not just live in a world 

but a world lives in you.

~Frederick Buechner

It's a place we used to go when I was growing up. It feels like we went every summer, because we made so many memories and those memories had such an impact, but it was more like 3 or 4 times.

It was my mom's side of the family that went and stayed at the lake but my dad's side lived up near there, in Mariposa, and sometimes they'd come visit us at the campsite. Anyway, the last time we went up there was 1988!

My cousin Jeff has been on a mission to get the same kind of boat they'd had when we were kids and as soon as that happened, the planning began!

Bass Lake 

2016

Our first couple (few?) trips, we'd camp. Then in 1988 we all rented a big house. But now with the cousins all having kids ... there were too many to stay in one large place, so most of stayed at the Pines Lodge ...

A few stayed in the main building but most got these little cabins ...

I never got in the pool but I did jump in the lake every chance I got! It felt amazing! And, it was fun to walk around with crazy wild lake hair! That's my sister waving in the floating raft, below, with my dad, nephew, 2 cousins and brother in law.

I jumped in and got on after the picture was taken!

Above, looking toward where we used to camp. The bark beetles have attacked thousands of trees (millions in California) which is really sad. It's going to be strange when they clear them out eventually.

The drought is what has weakened the trees and made them susceptible to those destructive little creatures which make Swiss cheese out of the trees. For now, though, it was still beautiful being on the lake with the wind on my face!

When I was maybe ... 10 or 11, we found Willow Lagoon. We anchored the boat, and swung from this huge tree, taking a running start on the land and letting go over the lake, flailing about and landing with a splash! Such a fun and funny memory. Especially watching the aunties do it!

Willow Lagoon is still a great spot to stop for a swim! And, while I was floating in a tube, a dragonfly kept landing on my toe! It was so beautiful! Maybe it was because he was an iridescent turquoise that he liked my toenail polish?

There was a bit of water skiing but the kids loved being pulled on the raft!

And it doesn't feel like a Harris Family reunion without some singing around the campfire! Music has always been a huge part of our family. My great grandma wrote lullabies that she sang to us when we were little, my grandma still sings and performs and my mom and aunties sound like the Lennon sisters. 

All I have to do is hear the songs they used to sing and I'm transported.  Vaya Con Dios, There's a Long Long Trail Awinding, Somebody Loves Me .... Let the rest of the world go by ...

Here's Let the Rest of the World Go By ... please press play! 

We had a big family dinner one night at the lodge. That's my grandma o the middle left with the blond hair and turquoise blouse giving a toast. She's 94.

While I was sitting on the boat next to my grandma, she quietly said, "It's just overwhelming." 

I asked her what she meant. "I was an only child ... and I look around at all these ... It's overwhelming." And then she said quietly, almost to herself, "I'm so lucky."

In every conceivable manner,

the family is a link to our past

bridge to our future.

~Alex Haley

Me, enjoying the sun, but all covered up! 

Rejoice with your family the beautiful land of life.

~Albert Einstein

The next generation (above) standing by the first letter of their name!

And, all of us below. A few of us missing ... my cousin Colin's family, my brother in law and nieces, and my cousin Scott's daughters who were there earlier in the week. There's a gang of us!

My cousins and me, with my great grandmother, Bass Lake 1980 

Scott, Colin, Penny, Jen, Kate, Gongie (our nickname for my Great-Grandma) Jeff, Me and Polly.

Bass Lake 

1988

I may be a year or so off on the dates but there you have it! It brought back so many memories and it's amazing getting to share those memories with those whom you have so much history, as well as creating new memories with the younger generation that wasn't here yet!

I'm busy getting ready for my art show, thus the lack of posting, but I hope everyone has had a beautiful summer!

Blessings and light

Lucinda

With someone like you, 

a pal good and true I'd like to leave it all behind and go and find Some place that's known to God alone Just a spot to call our own We'll Find perfect peace, where joys never cease Out there beneath a kindly sky We'll build a sweet little nest somewhere in the west And let the rest of the world go by

~ Ernest Ball and J Keirn Brennan

Ventura en Plein Air

for whatever we lose

(like a you or a me)

it's always our self

we find in the sea.

~e.e. cummings

Back in January my pastel group (Pastel Society of the Gold Coast) set up a date to do a "paint out" en plein air. It was at our member Sydney's house, and as you will see, it was a perfectly beautiful location!

After we all chit chatted for a while, the wind calmed down and the sun peaked out from behind the clouds. It was the perfect day to be outside with my pastel box! That is my Heilmann pastel box above on the tripod, and below ...

You can see the watercolor underpainting in the photo above, and my setup below, as well. Dont'cha just love those cool blues, greens and purples in the pastel box?

The world is mud-luscious

and puddle-wonderful.

~e.e. cummings

It was like a little art homecoming to be working in Ventura where I grew up, and down in the Ventura Keys, the neighborhood where some of my childhood friends lived.

Well, the piece did not get finished outdoors and still needs to be resolved in the studio (more work on the water and it needs some palm trees!) but it's always so great to be doing art outside in a beautiful place.

After meeting with my pastel group, I headed to the Ventura Pier for dinner and a margarita with my friend Tina, who I met in nursery school! After we ordered, I looked out the window and saw this guy! Isn't he beautiful?!

I love pelicans, especially after hearing in a documentary how sweet and loving they are! Some of the people who worked on Winged Migration, behind the scenes, said the "pelis" would literally come up to the people who raised them, and hug them by putting their wings around them! Makes me tear up to think of it!

I remember fishing on this pier as a kid.  One time, I was out there fishing and I cast out my line and a pelican flew right in front of me, grabbing my bate and the hook! It was awful and terrifying. We cut the line immediately and prayed he would be OK. I never fished off a pier again, and think of it every time I see someone fishing on a pier somewhere. 

Just look at this face! What a sweet beauty!

Once we believe in ourselves,

we can risk curiosity, 

wonder,

spontaneous delight,

or any experience that reveals the human spirit.

~e.e. cummings

I thanked him for be such a generous model and letting me take his picture, before he flew away. 

We had enormous fish tacos and then walked down onto the rocky beach. This was back in January after the storms. It was a gorgeous evening ... cool, crisp and breezy with the salty air of the Pacific.

trust your heart if the seas catch fire,

live by love though the stars walk backward.

~e.e. cummings

Tina and I on the beach!

I host a blog for the Pastel Society of the Gold Coast, and did a post about the plein air day on that blog, as well. A few photos are the same but there additional shots, including work by other artists if you want to check it out! Here is the link Pastel Society of the Gold Coast.

I thank you God

for this most amazing day,

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees,

and for the blue dream of sky

and for everything which is natural,

which is infinite,

which is 

yes.

~e.e. cummings

blessings and light