54 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP
In October of 1968, I drove up the Usal Rd. with 5 other hippies to live in Tipis in Whale Gulch. All we knew was that it was logged-over land with a creek, near the ocean and a river. It was wilderness.
To my surprise, when we arrived, Nancy, Peter and little Anna were in the meadow, just as surprised to see us. And believe it or not, I knew them! Nancy was already an icon to me. I met her living off campus at Antioch College in a small cabin; gardening, canning food, raising her baby & making their clothes. She was so beautiful, dressed like a gypsy, I could never forget her. And here she was, our closest neighbor. With Nancy here, I felt I was home.
Peter and Nancy really helped us out. They had plans, tools, a 4×4 with a winch, and some real skills. We had pot, music, dogs, cats, and an ocelot. They were the ants, we the grasshoppers. Nancy taught me so many things, and loaned me so many parts and tools. Always with a smile and her signature chuckle. She taught me how to patch a hole in water line with inner tube, how to use a pipe threader, a pressure canner, how to care for horses, and milk a goat. I taught her how to sex pot plants. We became good friends, enjoyed working together; watching the community and our families grow.
Once we built our cabins, our mates became restless for new adventures. Peter and Jan became fishermen. And we became the “fish wives”. We liked to take credit for bringing the use of CB radios into the community. We put CB’s in our cars so from Swift Peak we could talk to the guys, when they were out fishing. Soon Nancy and I realized that we could talk to each other when parked at our homes. It did not take long for everyone else to put CB’s in their homes. Soon we were all chatting away and choosing our CB handles. Nancy was Redwing, and I was MaBell. She was exceptionally beautiful as Redwing at our “Come as your CB handle” party. All in all, CB’s were a very important part of the cohesiveness and fun of Whale Gulch.
We did so many projects together; planting fruit trees in the meadow, teaching tiny school, building the community center, building the school, updating the phone list, protecting the old growth & saving the salmon, to name a few. Nancy was someone you could count on to always give 100 percent. She was a woman of her word, bringing skills, tools, organization, great food, laughter, and magic to whatever we were working on.
In 1983, when the establishment of the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park was being threatened by logging, we gathered at Nancy’s home and welcomed Mike Rosell, from Oregon Earth First. He trained us in cat and mouse tactics in the woods, and helped us make straw people to hoist up into the trees – to make us seem like a bigger crowd. We entered the woods prepared, and stopped the logging. We had the element of surprise on our side, as this was the first forest action in California. 10 of us, including Nancy, were arrested and the Sally Bell Grove still stands.
Nancy loved building and animals – so she built the stables. She convinced me to get a Welsh Pony for my daughter Deva. Well, it turns out that Misty was way to ornery for Deva, but just right for me. I loved riding with Nancy. It was always an adventure. One time on an overnight on Indian Creek, we made camp, but the horses could not get to the creek for water because of a fallen tree. I thought we should find another spot, but Nancy just took out her trusty Swiss army knife with a little 3 inch saw and cleared the branches allowing the horses passage. Just one more life hack Nancy taught me. Always have a pocket-knife with a saw.
As well as parts, tools and tips, she gave me valuable medical advise for my family and pets. I still have a file full of print-outs she gave me freely. And we traded animal care. I was so glad to be able to reciprocate, in some way, for all her generosity.
These stories are just the tip of the iceberg. She was my go to person – from a cup of sugar – to pulling my truck out of a ditch. She was always there for me. I can only hope that I was as good a friend to her.
It is hard carrying on without Nancy’s physical presence. I miss her everyday. I am so grateful for all the years we shared. “Over and out, Redwing”. Blessed be.
Tributes to Nancy 