Courtesy of petrochemical-powered jet engines and some spiffy aeronautical engineering, we took flight from our native habitat in the green creases of western Oregon and touched down in the Mediterranean climate of San Diego for a family reunion on Kim’s side.
Grunion! The word alone sounds like a character in a fantasy novel. Now you have me all curious. Did you know there are Grunion Greeters? https://www.grunion.org/ Favorite phrases in your transportive piece: "grit of stars" "pattering like seabirds" "well-fed tetrapods" and your last sentence. I appreciate the shift to pondering our relationship to our food, to be bucket or bucketless while shops sell fish and chips. I know I'd be bucketless, spellbound. How to be in this world as an omnivore in relationship to our food? Thank you for my morning contemplation.
If I lived here, I would greet the grunion, too! And I might eat a few. One not-so-fun fact is that here people aren't supposed to eat ocean animals for 72 hours after a rain. There are too many streets, driveways, and parking lots with too little rain overall, making the runoff particularly toxic when the rains do roll in. Yet another level to our "modern" relationship with our food.
That’s definitely a grim fact—and what will it take for people to wake up and make the connection to our precious water? On a more positive note, I’m impressed by some communities that have engaged artists to awaken people to the link between toxic runoff and water pollution. Coos Watershed Association has a Drain to Bay Public Art program—you might be able to see the link here: https://www.facebook.com/cooswa/posts/pfbid0ZaYDCaqmFC237d2q9WWR6fifmoZy576X7UkdWrGgM8by5WMKZ2eb7ML4xsEEovfsl
Tom, I'm so late coming to this essay, do you know there is an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies about the grunion invasion? That's how I knew of them. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0522634/) But I often heard the grunion forecast when I lived in San Diego, and I never went to see them though.
Thank you for this, Mary! This post seemed to dredge up a lot of memories for folks. The Beverly Hillbillies of all things! That's hilarious. We used to watch them when I was a kid, but my memories are thin from those days.
Hey, guy, that was so much fun to read! I remember back in the day, a week of family camping on the beach at Encinitas. I heard about the grunion run, but no one in the family seemed interested, not that I remember. I'd love to be a Grunion Greeter. What an experience! How can a creature like that be ugly and beautiful at the same time? I wonder what they taste like? I especially like that it takes place at night. Nature is a fantasy world in itself. See you when you get home! ❤️
Glad you came along, Val! It was great fun being there. Seems like the piece brought back a lot of memories for people, which is amusing given that I knew almost nothing about grunion a few nights ago. Nothing like a night on the beach and a little research to rescue me from ignorance! Greeting grunion would beat the heck out of Walmart ...
I was working in SE Alaska one winter/spring when the Hooligan were running aka candlefish or Euchalon. Not as spectacular as the grunion you photographed but still fun to witness.
I'm hungry for fish now, though not smelt I have to admit, my mother used to fry smelt when I was a kid and I ate it back then but I've never wanted it again....
It’s fascinating how those spawning runs become memories deeply etched. There is something about all that living energy focused on procreation … and I suppose all that potential food concentrated in one place!
When we were kids my brothers and I were taken smelt dipping. I remember eating them, but not being too impressed. If you lived closer we’d have you over for a salmon dinner. We have a lot of fish in the freezer from last summer.
Grunion! The word alone sounds like a character in a fantasy novel. Now you have me all curious. Did you know there are Grunion Greeters? https://www.grunion.org/ Favorite phrases in your transportive piece: "grit of stars" "pattering like seabirds" "well-fed tetrapods" and your last sentence. I appreciate the shift to pondering our relationship to our food, to be bucket or bucketless while shops sell fish and chips. I know I'd be bucketless, spellbound. How to be in this world as an omnivore in relationship to our food? Thank you for my morning contemplation.
If I lived here, I would greet the grunion, too! And I might eat a few. One not-so-fun fact is that here people aren't supposed to eat ocean animals for 72 hours after a rain. There are too many streets, driveways, and parking lots with too little rain overall, making the runoff particularly toxic when the rains do roll in. Yet another level to our "modern" relationship with our food.
That’s definitely a grim fact—and what will it take for people to wake up and make the connection to our precious water? On a more positive note, I’m impressed by some communities that have engaged artists to awaken people to the link between toxic runoff and water pollution. Coos Watershed Association has a Drain to Bay Public Art program—you might be able to see the link here: https://www.facebook.com/cooswa/posts/pfbid0ZaYDCaqmFC237d2q9WWR6fifmoZy576X7UkdWrGgM8by5WMKZ2eb7ML4xsEEovfsl
Definitely a non-fun fact! Very sad.
Best travelogue I ever read! Felt like I was right there with you. You really are an amazing writer, Tom! Hugs to you and Kim.
Happy you came along, Donna! I love Kim's family, but those fish ... oh my goodness.
Tom, I'm so late coming to this essay, do you know there is an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies about the grunion invasion? That's how I knew of them. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0522634/) But I often heard the grunion forecast when I lived in San Diego, and I never went to see them though.
Thank you for this, Mary! This post seemed to dredge up a lot of memories for folks. The Beverly Hillbillies of all things! That's hilarious. We used to watch them when I was a kid, but my memories are thin from those days.
Hey, guy, that was so much fun to read! I remember back in the day, a week of family camping on the beach at Encinitas. I heard about the grunion run, but no one in the family seemed interested, not that I remember. I'd love to be a Grunion Greeter. What an experience! How can a creature like that be ugly and beautiful at the same time? I wonder what they taste like? I especially like that it takes place at night. Nature is a fantasy world in itself. See you when you get home! ❤️
Glad you came along, Val! It was great fun being there. Seems like the piece brought back a lot of memories for people, which is amusing given that I knew almost nothing about grunion a few nights ago. Nothing like a night on the beach and a little research to rescue me from ignorance! Greeting grunion would beat the heck out of Walmart ...
I was working in SE Alaska one winter/spring when the Hooligan were running aka candlefish or Euchalon. Not as spectacular as the grunion you photographed but still fun to witness.
I'm hungry for fish now, though not smelt I have to admit, my mother used to fry smelt when I was a kid and I ate it back then but I've never wanted it again....
It’s fascinating how those spawning runs become memories deeply etched. There is something about all that living energy focused on procreation … and I suppose all that potential food concentrated in one place!
When we were kids my brothers and I were taken smelt dipping. I remember eating them, but not being too impressed. If you lived closer we’d have you over for a salmon dinner. We have a lot of fish in the freezer from last summer.
Ooh, If I were closer I'd definitely take you up on that!
I had never heard of grunion before! And such a marvel you share through your words. Thank you!
Carter, I’m happy you came along! They are spectacular little fish.
Thank you, Tom. That was almost as good as being there
Happy that you were "here", Evelyn! We'll be heading for the home ground tomorrow. I loved seeing those grunion, but will be thrilled to be home.
Oh I love this, Tom!
Thank you, Karen! Hope to see you on the home ground soon.
They are beautiful
Yes! And one of the benefits of technology--they were silver under a flashlight, but the phone camera captured their other colors.
Life depends on life ... that happens between birth and death. Human respect can protect quality and reduce, if not prevent, suffering.