2025 Tuesday — Smoke

The message above that photograph is written by my friend Here's what this post sparks in my thoughts . . .

My Mom & “Pops” (my stepdad) moved to Ventucopa from Corona in the summer of 1966 to be the managers, the overseers, the hosts . . . of the “Diamond Belle,” a small little beer bar in the middle of nowhere -- a place called Ventucopa, (maybe they were the owners, I don't remember if they bought the place -- I was only 16).

We had never heard of New Cuyama, Ventucopa, Maricopa, or probably even Taft. All I remember is that my mom was moving away. I had been married less than 15 months, Mr. Fun & I had an 8 month old baby, and we moved into the 4-bedroom home that Mom & Pops vacated. I lost a mom and gained a house. A million words are stuffed into that memory (I won't set free all those words now).

Last summer while we were returning from several days in SoCal, Mr. Fun got the wild idea on the 101 Freeway in Ventura that we should veer inland on Hwy #33 to drive to Ojai and then up over the mountain to Ventucopa (blink and you will miss it).

Ventucopa was not a fabulous memory for me. The "Diamond Belle" had become "Sagebrush Annie's" years after my parents let it go, and now it is lost in the tall sagebrush. We stopped there for a nano-second; my mom had loved that little piece of geography; I hated it. I still do. I blinked away tears as I sat there in our parked car while Mr. Fun explored the area.

Then we drove by the house that became Mom's after she and Pops divorced and she got married for a third time (more tears slid down my face).

Finally we were back on the road north, miles later we turned left on Hwy #166 to head for the coast. I was surprised by the beauty of the land on Hwy #166 between Hwy #33 and the 101 Freeway; I don't think we had ever traveled that road. I'm saddened to know it is now on fire.

From California’s Central Coast
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol
and Little Chloe too!