rainy season

please find within the video of my dad’s much delayed celebration of life, held on October 17th at Roaring Camp. suspiciously, but not surprisingly, the video cuts off right before I speak and the skies opened up with rain right as we concluded…ha!

you missed me reading the memorial resolution from the Senate and Bruce closing with a wonderful reading from Grapes of Wrath, accompanied by Joe Weed and Steve Kritzer on fiddle and guitar. I’ve included the transcript of below the video.

WHEREAS, It was with immense sadness and a deep sense of loss that word was received of the death of Vincent Flores, a distinguished Californian whose character and deeds in life merit gratitude and respectful acknowledgment by the people of the State of California; and

WHEREAS, Having been born and raised in California, Vince lived a very full life, filled with laughter. He was a gifted musician and composer, an accomplished chef and chocolatier, and a passionate community activist.

WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Vince exhibited the most treasured human qualities universally recognized as true indicators of a fulfilling and meaningful life, and he was admired and appreciated for his kindness, generosity of spirit, sense of justice, love of family, passion for working to make the world a better place, and genuine capacity to share his time, humor, and talents with others; and

WHEREAS, Vince leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his legacy his wife, Maria; his daughter and her husband, Celeste and Daniel; his son and his wife, William and Raquel; his grandsons, Dylan and Lorenzo; his granddaughter, Parker; his mother Lucretia and four siblings Diane, Ron, Linda, and Lisa; and a loving and diverse extended family and group of friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY SENATOR JIM BEALL, That he joins the family and friends of Vincent Flores in celebrating and revering the accomplishments and legacy of a distinguished and caring individual who lived life to the fullest, whose generosity was extended to everyone without hesitation or expectation of reward, and whose spirit will live forever in the hearts and memories of all his loved ones.

Dated this 8th day of September, 2020.

Honorable Senator Jim Beall

15th Senatorial District

and:

“You don’t aim to kill nobody, Tom?”
“No. I been thinkin’, long as I’m a outlaw anyways, maybe I could — Hell, I ain’t thought it out clear, Ma. Don’ worry me now. Don’ worry me.”
They sat silent in the coal-black cave of vines. Ma said, “How’m I gonna know ’bout you? They might kill ya an’ I wouldn’ know. They might hurt ya. How’m I gonna know?”
Tom laughed uneasily, “Well, maybe like Casy says, a fella ain’t got a soul of his own, but on’y a piece of a big one — an’ then —”
“Then what, Tom?”
“Then it don’ matter. Then I’ll be all aroun’ in the dark. I’ll be ever’where — wherever you look. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’ — I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build — why, I’ll be there. See? God, I’m talkin’ like Casy. Comes of thinkin’ about him so much. Seems like I can see him sometimes.”