This was such an interesting read! I enjoyed learning about the town’s history and I absolutely love your photos. This read like the script of a documentary with personal perspective. 📽️🎬🍿
Thank you friend :) This means so much that you read it during such a busy and hard time. Your comment filled my heart up. I was telling my husband I wanted to write out the facts and not interject too much opinion, but we honestly felt the grumpiness :( Didn't stop us from having a sweet time together. To be in such a beautiful place walking and talking to our son was such a blessing. I think the point was to show that in this particular area of housing the city council seemed to be doing it's best. On the other hand what has happened to my parent's old historical area by the beach is REALLY unbalanced :(
I am still praying for you all in NC and really hope you're doing well and finding all the beautiful moments in the midst of hardship. oxox
Dear Bob! Like I told Alison, to think I didn’t bring my real camera (a first) this time — although I covered Pacifica twice before in recent years (which some images are also a part of this story). I told myself, “no deb, you are visiting with Ian and it’s okay not to bring it” - and I don’t know what on earth I was thinking! Although, I have to admit it’s a bit easier to sneak iPhone pics than to have the boys leave me a few blocks behind while I change a lens! ha ha! I’m fast and very trained to keep up, with both camera and iPhone, from years of street, editorial coverage, especially in big cities, but I have to say it was freeing to just use the phone on this trip (although I have stared at the bird shots and slapped my face over the fact they’d look 10x better on a real camera). I know better! Thank you so much for inspiring me to keep at it! I don’t get a lot of feedback on my photography but I love the art with every part of my being. That’s all that counts. I changed a few things around on my photography site and if you haven’t explored it, there’s a link on my Substack :) I am hoping you are doing good Bob. Still praying for you and your precious family. oxox
One of my favorite writers on Substack said that “the comments section is a place where some of the most important conversations go on and relationships are forged.” It’s so true. Receiving a comment is a real treasure. I would truly love to hear from you. ox can you share who this writer is?
I'd love to see a podcast with your son on his work! Also I love the reference to Grapes of Wrath and Dorothea Lange's iconic photos. America has suffered through many tough times, and here we are again. I read Grapes of Wrath so long ago, I need to read it again. Yes, the issue of vacation rentals is becoming part of the housing crisis here. Especially in areas like Toronto north. I feel that there does need to be limits. But in some area, like small beach communities, it's essential for businesses to stay open. We have this issue in our small beach town. Rental prices are through the roof and it's difficult to find a place to live year round if you wish to work here. Great post!
Ps: one of your links doesn't work. I'll check which one.
Thank you so much for this Rosemary! I really hope I can get him on the podcast at some point! Seems the suffering will never end - but it’s having compassionate God fearing leaders that can help to minimize it. We don’t seem to see that often in politics.
Also, I don’t think it’s an exact quote (as I did it from my memory) - but it’s the Mary Roblyn of Writer Interrupted. She’s an outstanding writer. Lost her husband to cancer in recent years and she writes from the heart about that and normal life.
This is her exact quote at the end of her writing:
“The Comments section is where Writer, Interrupted really comes alive. I love hearing from readers. I read and respond to every single comment, and some deep and thoughtful conversations take place here. It’s a safe place to open up and tell your stories. I do not tolerate trolls.”
In my opinion of that quote it is where relationships are forged :). Thank you again Rosemary! oxox
Thank you so much for this Rosemary! I really hope I can get him on the podcast at some point! Seems the suffering will never end - but it’s having compassionate God fearing leaders that can help to minimize it. We don’t seem to see that often in politics.
Also, I don’t think it’s an exact quote (as I did it from my memory) - but it’s the Mary Roblyn of Writer Interrupted. She’s an outstanding writer. Lost her husband to cancer in recent years and she writes from the heart about that and normal life.
This is her exact quote at the end of her writing:
“The Comments section is where Writer, Interrupted really comes alive. I love hearing from readers. I read and respond to every single comment, and some deep and thoughtful conversations take place here. It’s a safe place to open up and tell your stories. I do not tolerate trolls.”
In my opinion of that quote it is where relationships are forged :). Thank you again Rosemary! oxox
Oh thank you Rosemary! I’m a bit late here - battling a little cold feeling. I did click on the link and it’s working? Could be your browser? Who knows with all this tech! ha ha! It can be maddening!
Oh Bob, you are so kind! I don’t think you lack artistic flare at all! I think God places it into us in all kinds of areas and we just have to pursue until we find what we’re meant to do. I have been a very visual being since I was little and I hear music, see motion, notice life. All of this I believe comes together for those of us who get the blessing of using a camera. For some it’s in a painting. I know so many people that have zero interest in taking a picture or documenting a memory, yet they do other creative things or play a sport, instrument, etc. I don’t really think about composition either. Once that was broken down in school I couldn’t wait to get back to just doing whatever I felt like doing with the camera (plus seamlessly blend mechanics when working with a real camera). School will break down everything to teach you mechanics. Which is good.
Even with the iPhone, there’s a “pre-sense” I feel and maybe I’ve never expressed that to anyone?
“Can you imagine Jesus walking around Pacifica reading these signs? The longer I live the more I am aware we just gotta do the work. His work.” THIS. So, so, true. Thank you for the beautiful reminder, and beautiful images. Both made with words and pictures.
Ahhhh thank you my friend. I mean really? these signs! I think the longer I live and only see screens and people holding signs or plopping signs in yards, the more isolated I really feel. Signs and yelling. It makes me so sad. Thank you for reading and for your kindness Carly. oxox
Just wow… your photos are amazing! I know you were there to see your son…but the details you find, the research you do…it all touches your heart I can tell! Thank you for this history, background of Pacifica! You know I love CA beach towns! 😉😁 the good, bad and ugly… but beauty too….it’s what makes humanity so interesting, I think. What a wonderful career your son has… helping others! God bless him and the way you’ve raised him to better the world! I’ve missed a lot of your pieces, girl…. Off the grid for awhile.. need to read the Ode series next! 😉😊 Thanks for this gem… like a documentary someone said… or Nat Geo photo story! Love it… and your writing… and you, my sweet and caring friend! 🥰🤗😘
Dear Joan, this means so much to me. I know how you adore NorCal and it holds such special memories of you and your dear husband and family. We felt so blessed to be there with Ian and share in the sea air, good chatter and simple food. We played good music and hung out, walked. He’s doing good and yet it’s very tough and compromising work :( Humanity is so tender and fragile.
I think the city of Pacifica is trying. I always say there are 20 things to every thing. All the signs drive me crazy I guess. Unwelcoming. We need to think deeper on issues. It was good to get a story from the visit. I am a noticer and I can’t help it. Love you and hope you are getting back to life at home after all your travels and the health check. No matter what I have you in my prayers because I love you. oxox
Dear Jamie, thank you so much for reading and leaving my heart full. I so appreciate it. Love your latest piece so much I went back and read it again! oxox
Love all of your photos "Go confident in the direction of your dreams.Live the life you have imagined.Thoreau."l love your dogs . Keep well Deborah l had a lot of trauma within my family.Love to you and yours 🙏🕊️♥️x
Thank you so much Mary. I love that from Thoreau ❤️ You keep well too. I understand. Trauma in families can really break one - but we always win when we walk confidently in His love. Sending you a big hug and lots of love back. ox
Thank you mom! Fascinated that this is probably every seaside town and beyond. I really appreciate what the Roads End committee tried to do now. Keeping it special and open but away from big city control. A different story yet one of bravery and even honor to the original founders.
On the other hand the city of Pacifica seems to be fair and balanced as to what it's all turned into - in terms of housing - but Roads End is a working slave to city revenue. Doesn't seem like Lincoln City cares if only the uber wealthy can afford to visit there now. Greed. Very unbalanced and makes me a bit sad. The feeling remains the same on that beach. It's what we know to be true, the blackmailing, taking hostage of Roads End's water rights and forcing them to annex, bow down to the big city, that makes it all dishonorable.
Glad you and dad experienced the days where a dream could come true at a shockingly low cost. love you 😘
Thank you for writing this and sharing so much about a place I have never heard of. The Air B n B issue is the same here, with locals priced out of the property market in some rural villages because of holiday lets. We need balance, more than ever.
Thank you for reading it Trudi! I believe if we've to "live with" all this bnb stuff, and enjoy it ourselves, then there needs to be fair and balanced indeed for everyone. ox
Oh Alison! You made my day! Maybe my whole career! And to think this time around I didn’t take my real camera for the first time. I covered it twice before with my real cameras and this time I couldn’t get enough of just using my old phone! It was fun and freeing. I did include some of the images of our previous trips. I don’t get much feedback on my work and I’ve been at it for over 22 years - but I covered a lot of editorial with people. Telling stories without people or with people is my favorite thing to do. If you want anything I can send you a file & give you dimensions :). It would be my honor. ox. P.S. I have a website link on my site that shows some of my work. I thoroughly enjoy your writing and was actually talking about you to my husband when we were in Pacifica. You are an inspiration and one of the best writers on here. I need to catchup with your stories. I’ve had “The Jacket” on my heart and just asking God for another chapter or the right moment to pursue it. Thank you so much again. ox
This was such an interesting read! I enjoyed learning about the town’s history and I absolutely love your photos. This read like the script of a documentary with personal perspective. 📽️🎬🍿
Thank you friend :) This means so much that you read it during such a busy and hard time. Your comment filled my heart up. I was telling my husband I wanted to write out the facts and not interject too much opinion, but we honestly felt the grumpiness :( Didn't stop us from having a sweet time together. To be in such a beautiful place walking and talking to our son was such a blessing. I think the point was to show that in this particular area of housing the city council seemed to be doing it's best. On the other hand what has happened to my parent's old historical area by the beach is REALLY unbalanced :(
I am still praying for you all in NC and really hope you're doing well and finding all the beautiful moments in the midst of hardship. oxox
I LOVE your photojournalism! What you've done is so fun and informative! Thanks for sharing this will all the rest of us.
Dear Bob! Like I told Alison, to think I didn’t bring my real camera (a first) this time — although I covered Pacifica twice before in recent years (which some images are also a part of this story). I told myself, “no deb, you are visiting with Ian and it’s okay not to bring it” - and I don’t know what on earth I was thinking! Although, I have to admit it’s a bit easier to sneak iPhone pics than to have the boys leave me a few blocks behind while I change a lens! ha ha! I’m fast and very trained to keep up, with both camera and iPhone, from years of street, editorial coverage, especially in big cities, but I have to say it was freeing to just use the phone on this trip (although I have stared at the bird shots and slapped my face over the fact they’d look 10x better on a real camera). I know better! Thank you so much for inspiring me to keep at it! I don’t get a lot of feedback on my photography but I love the art with every part of my being. That’s all that counts. I changed a few things around on my photography site and if you haven’t explored it, there’s a link on my Substack :) I am hoping you are doing good Bob. Still praying for you and your precious family. oxox
One of my favorite writers on Substack said that “the comments section is a place where some of the most important conversations go on and relationships are forged.” It’s so true. Receiving a comment is a real treasure. I would truly love to hear from you. ox can you share who this writer is?
I'd love to see a podcast with your son on his work! Also I love the reference to Grapes of Wrath and Dorothea Lange's iconic photos. America has suffered through many tough times, and here we are again. I read Grapes of Wrath so long ago, I need to read it again. Yes, the issue of vacation rentals is becoming part of the housing crisis here. Especially in areas like Toronto north. I feel that there does need to be limits. But in some area, like small beach communities, it's essential for businesses to stay open. We have this issue in our small beach town. Rental prices are through the roof and it's difficult to find a place to live year round if you wish to work here. Great post!
Ps: one of your links doesn't work. I'll check which one.
Thank you so much for this Rosemary! I really hope I can get him on the podcast at some point! Seems the suffering will never end - but it’s having compassionate God fearing leaders that can help to minimize it. We don’t seem to see that often in politics.
Also, I don’t think it’s an exact quote (as I did it from my memory) - but it’s the Mary Roblyn of Writer Interrupted. She’s an outstanding writer. Lost her husband to cancer in recent years and she writes from the heart about that and normal life.
This is her exact quote at the end of her writing:
“The Comments section is where Writer, Interrupted really comes alive. I love hearing from readers. I read and respond to every single comment, and some deep and thoughtful conversations take place here. It’s a safe place to open up and tell your stories. I do not tolerate trolls.”
In my opinion of that quote it is where relationships are forged :). Thank you again Rosemary! oxox
Thank you so much for this Rosemary! I really hope I can get him on the podcast at some point! Seems the suffering will never end - but it’s having compassionate God fearing leaders that can help to minimize it. We don’t seem to see that often in politics.
Also, I don’t think it’s an exact quote (as I did it from my memory) - but it’s the Mary Roblyn of Writer Interrupted. She’s an outstanding writer. Lost her husband to cancer in recent years and she writes from the heart about that and normal life.
This is her exact quote at the end of her writing:
“The Comments section is where Writer, Interrupted really comes alive. I love hearing from readers. I read and respond to every single comment, and some deep and thoughtful conversations take place here. It’s a safe place to open up and tell your stories. I do not tolerate trolls.”
In my opinion of that quote it is where relationships are forged :). Thank you again Rosemary! oxox
It was the homeless one. Also I loved your photos!
Oh thank you Rosemary! I’m a bit late here - battling a little cold feeling. I did click on the link and it’s working? Could be your browser? Who knows with all this tech! ha ha! It can be maddening!
Pictures are composition - how do you know when the composition is right, or is that the artistic sense I lack?
Oh Bob, you are so kind! I don’t think you lack artistic flare at all! I think God places it into us in all kinds of areas and we just have to pursue until we find what we’re meant to do. I have been a very visual being since I was little and I hear music, see motion, notice life. All of this I believe comes together for those of us who get the blessing of using a camera. For some it’s in a painting. I know so many people that have zero interest in taking a picture or documenting a memory, yet they do other creative things or play a sport, instrument, etc. I don’t really think about composition either. Once that was broken down in school I couldn’t wait to get back to just doing whatever I felt like doing with the camera (plus seamlessly blend mechanics when working with a real camera). School will break down everything to teach you mechanics. Which is good.
Even with the iPhone, there’s a “pre-sense” I feel and maybe I’ve never expressed that to anyone?
Pretty well said, kiddo!
“Can you imagine Jesus walking around Pacifica reading these signs? The longer I live the more I am aware we just gotta do the work. His work.” THIS. So, so, true. Thank you for the beautiful reminder, and beautiful images. Both made with words and pictures.
Ahhhh thank you my friend. I mean really? these signs! I think the longer I live and only see screens and people holding signs or plopping signs in yards, the more isolated I really feel. Signs and yelling. It makes me so sad. Thank you for reading and for your kindness Carly. oxox
Just wow… your photos are amazing! I know you were there to see your son…but the details you find, the research you do…it all touches your heart I can tell! Thank you for this history, background of Pacifica! You know I love CA beach towns! 😉😁 the good, bad and ugly… but beauty too….it’s what makes humanity so interesting, I think. What a wonderful career your son has… helping others! God bless him and the way you’ve raised him to better the world! I’ve missed a lot of your pieces, girl…. Off the grid for awhile.. need to read the Ode series next! 😉😊 Thanks for this gem… like a documentary someone said… or Nat Geo photo story! Love it… and your writing… and you, my sweet and caring friend! 🥰🤗😘
Dear Joan, this means so much to me. I know how you adore NorCal and it holds such special memories of you and your dear husband and family. We felt so blessed to be there with Ian and share in the sea air, good chatter and simple food. We played good music and hung out, walked. He’s doing good and yet it’s very tough and compromising work :( Humanity is so tender and fragile.
I think the city of Pacifica is trying. I always say there are 20 things to every thing. All the signs drive me crazy I guess. Unwelcoming. We need to think deeper on issues. It was good to get a story from the visit. I am a noticer and I can’t help it. Love you and hope you are getting back to life at home after all your travels and the health check. No matter what I have you in my prayers because I love you. oxox
Beautiful pictures and the stories they tell Deb. Thanks for sharing. 🙏❤️
Dear Jamie, thank you so much for reading and leaving my heart full. I so appreciate it. Love your latest piece so much I went back and read it again! oxox
Amazing photographs
Thank you so much friend 🙏🏻🙌🏻
Love all of your photos "Go confident in the direction of your dreams.Live the life you have imagined.Thoreau."l love your dogs . Keep well Deborah l had a lot of trauma within my family.Love to you and yours 🙏🕊️♥️x
Thank you so much Mary. I love that from Thoreau ❤️ You keep well too. I understand. Trauma in families can really break one - but we always win when we walk confidently in His love. Sending you a big hug and lots of love back. ox
Such an interesting piece on a town that was just a name until you visited it & explored the history & it's growth.
Thank you mom! Fascinated that this is probably every seaside town and beyond. I really appreciate what the Roads End committee tried to do now. Keeping it special and open but away from big city control. A different story yet one of bravery and even honor to the original founders.
On the other hand the city of Pacifica seems to be fair and balanced as to what it's all turned into - in terms of housing - but Roads End is a working slave to city revenue. Doesn't seem like Lincoln City cares if only the uber wealthy can afford to visit there now. Greed. Very unbalanced and makes me a bit sad. The feeling remains the same on that beach. It's what we know to be true, the blackmailing, taking hostage of Roads End's water rights and forcing them to annex, bow down to the big city, that makes it all dishonorable.
Glad you and dad experienced the days where a dream could come true at a shockingly low cost. love you 😘
Thank you for writing this and sharing so much about a place I have never heard of. The Air B n B issue is the same here, with locals priced out of the property market in some rural villages because of holiday lets. We need balance, more than ever.
Thank you for reading it Trudi! I believe if we've to "live with" all this bnb stuff, and enjoy it ourselves, then there needs to be fair and balanced indeed for everyone. ox
I want a wall gallery of these photos. Deborah, they are exquisite.
Oh Alison! You made my day! Maybe my whole career! And to think this time around I didn’t take my real camera for the first time. I covered it twice before with my real cameras and this time I couldn’t get enough of just using my old phone! It was fun and freeing. I did include some of the images of our previous trips. I don’t get much feedback on my work and I’ve been at it for over 22 years - but I covered a lot of editorial with people. Telling stories without people or with people is my favorite thing to do. If you want anything I can send you a file & give you dimensions :). It would be my honor. ox. P.S. I have a website link on my site that shows some of my work. I thoroughly enjoy your writing and was actually talking about you to my husband when we were in Pacifica. You are an inspiration and one of the best writers on here. I need to catchup with your stories. I’ve had “The Jacket” on my heart and just asking God for another chapter or the right moment to pursue it. Thank you so much again. ox