CHARLES G. SELLERS, JR. - College of Natural …c-merchant/Sellers/memoirs/2.pdf · Memoirs of...

MEMOIRS OF

CHARLES G. SELLERS, JR.

VOLUME 2

JANUARY

2017

1

MemoirsofCharlesG.Sellers,Jr.

VolumeII

ChapterFour

LifeinCalifornia

ARUDEAWAKENINGIn1958IarrivedwithmyfamilyinBerkeley,thrilledbybeinginvitedtojoinsuchadistinguishedfacultyandkeentoembarkonanumberofacademicprojects.WeboughtalovelyhousehighuptheArlingtonAvenueinthevillageofKensington,onEdgecroftRoad.Theatomicbomb’sphysicistinventor,RobertOppenheimerlivedjustnorthacrosstheroad.Ontheothersideofourhouse,thebigpicturewindowinourlivingroomrevealedabreathtakingscenefromSanFrancisco’sskyscrapersonthelefttotheGoldenGateBridgeduewestandthennorthwesttoMarinCounty’sMountTamalpais.Soonafterourarrivalmysouthern-borncommitmenttoracialequalitycausedmetojoinBerkeley’slittlechapterofCORE(CongressofRacialEquality)assoonasIheardaboutit.Weworkedtostopracialdiscriminationinrealestatebysendingblackorbi-racialcouplestobuyorrentresidences.Whentheyturnedouttohave“justbeensoldorrented,”astheyalwaysdid,ourwonderfullawyerMalBurnsteinwouldinvariablycollectenoughinfinesforracialdiscriminationfromtherealtorstostopthepractice.Thenwetookonracialdiscriminationinemployment,where,bypicketing,wepersuadedHinks,Berkeley’slargestdepartmentstore,topromiseimmediatehiringoftheappropriatenumberofAfrican-Americanstoachieveequality.Soontheotherdowntownemployersstavedoffpicketingbyfallinginline.Nextwegotintolocalpolitics,whichhadlongmeantRepublicanmayors,CityCouncils,andapro-VietnamWarDemocraticCongressmanJeffreyCohelan.ThenwegotagratuitouspushfromBobScheer,whoranunsuccessfullyagainstCohelan,butdenouncedtheVietnamWarsoeloquentlythatBerkeleyvotersbeganshiftingleft.TheonlyAfrican-

2

AmericanontheCityCouncil,WilmontSweeny,helpedusearnthetrustofthegrowingAfrican-Americanconstituency.AlmostimmediatelywebecameamajoritybysupportingRonDellums,theradicalsonofC.V.Dellums,directoroftherailroadporter’sunion,firstasacandidatefortheCityCouncil,andthenforCongress,whereheamazinglybecamechairmanofthecommitteeresponsibleformilitaryappropriations.WhenMalcolmXcametospeakinBerkeley,CORE’srelationshipwithAfrican-Americanswassowarmthathissupporterschosemetointroducehim.Eversincetheonlyquestioninlocalpoliticshasbeenwhetherthemoderateleftortheradicalleftwasinpower.FREEDOMRIDEROneofthemostmovingeventsofmylifeoccurredonJuly21,1961,whenIarrivedattheJackson,MississippiairportasaCOREfreedomrider.The1961FreedomRidesweredevisedinordertotesta1960decisionbytheSupremeCourt(Boyntonv.Virginia)thatsegregationofinterstatetransportationfacilities,includingbusandairterminals,wasunconstitutional.TheracistMississippiauthoritieshaddevisedaningeniousschemetoforcefreedomridersinbusstationsandairportstoeither“gobackorgoon”—theyprobablydidnotcarewhichaslongasthese“conceiteddo-gooders”leftMississippiinracistpeace.Everythingwouldturnonanewlawdeclaringthatifaqualifiedpoliceofficerdecidedthatthepresenceofanypersonorpersonsinatransportationfacilitythreatened“abreachofpeace,”suchpersonorpersonswhorefusedtoleavewouldbeliableforafineof$250andconfinementfor60days.Jackson’ssmartestpoliceofficer,LieutenantEarlJamesRay,wasgivenspecialtrainingforenforcingthislawandtestifyinginalltrials.InJuly,1961,IflewtoJacksonMississippiwithagroupofreligiousleaderswhowereorganizedbythesecretaryofBerkeley’sYMCA,CecilThomas.Ourgroupofnine(7whitesand2blacks)joinedMartinLutherKing,Jr.atnearbyTougalooSouthernChristianCollegeforaonedayconferenceonJuly20onthereligioussignificanceofracialinequalityintravel.Idecidedthatasanon-believeratareligiousconference,Iwouldattendbutwouldnotspeakbeforethegroup.

3

Aftertheconference,onJuly21,ourgroupenteredtheJacksonairport’s“white’sonly”waitingroomforthereturnflighthomeindeliberatedefianceofthe“breachofpeace”law.Weweretoldto“gobackormoveon”andwhenwerefusedwereimmediatelyescortedtopolicevansandchargedwith“breachofpeace”onthegroundsofpublicsafety.Wewerethenbooked,mugshotstaken,andjailed.Butafteranightinjail,whereweexperienceditsdreadfulfood,wewerereleasedafterwepaidfinesof$250andwereorderedtoreturnforahearingintwotothreemonths.BynowthenationalpresshaddiscoveredwhatwasgoingoninJackson,andreportersweregrabbingintervieweesontherunwherevertheycould.TheMississippiofficialsquicklyunderstoodthatthelocaloutcomemightbedeterminedbythenationalpublic.InadesperateattempttopersuadeskepticalYankeereportersthattrueSouthernGentlemanwerefairandmoderate,theMississippiauthoritieshadsuspendedthemandatory60-dayconfinement.Thereisanagreeableappendixtothisstory.InordertobankruptCOREandothercivilrightsorganizations,theMississippiauthoritiesrefusedtotryusatthetime.InsteadtheywaitedtwoorthreemonthsbeforesummoningusbacktoJacksononshortnoticeforagrandjuryhearing.WeallmadethetripbacktoMississippibycarforthehearing.Afteritwasover,IreturnedtomyteachingdutiesinBerkeleyandmyacademicresearchandwriting.Thatfall,however,victorywasachievedwhentheInterstateCommerceCommissionatthebehestofAttorneyGeneralRobertKennedybegantoenforcethe1960lawthatprohibitedsegregationininterstatetransitterminals.INSTITUTEFORADVANCEDSTUDYInthefallof1960myacademicworkhadgottenagreatrestartwhenIwasinvitedtojointheCenterforAdvancedStudyintheBehavioralSciencesforayearofresearchandwriting.Hereinthisacademicmecca,lookingdownonStanford’sintellectualaristocracy,IstartedworkingonmyJamesK.Polk,Continentalist,1843-1846whichwaspublishedbyPrincetonUniversityPressin1966.ItisthesecondvolumeofmyPolkbiography,andwasawardedtheprestigiousBancroftPrizebyColumbiaUniversityin1967forbooksaboutdiplomacyorthehistoryoftheAmericas.Iwasalsoworkingonmy

4

1965article,“TheEquilibriumCycleinTwo-PartyPolitics,”PublicOpinionQuarterly,XXIX,no.1(Spring,1965},17-58.MYBERKELEYCOLLEAGUESAtUCBerkeleyIwasmeetingfacultycolleagueswhowouldbecomradesforyearstocome.MybestfriendsinthehistorydepartmentwereKenStamppandHenryMay.ThefearlessStampphadjustledriotousprotestersinSanFrancisco’sCityHalltoforceHUAC(theMcCarthyiteHouseUn-AmericanActivitiesCommittee)toadjourninconfusion.Henrywasamorecautiousliberal,famousforalmostclimbingthewallinthenarrowcorridorsofDwinelleHall(homeofthehistorydepartment)toavoidtouchingorbeingtouchedbypeoplegoingtheotherway.IgreatlyadmiredKenStampp’sbrilliantportrayalofslavery’shorrorsinThePeculiarInstitution(1956).ButHenryMay,atalentedhistorianofAmericancultureandliteraturewasmoreinvolvedwithmyacademicinterests.Hishomewasdownasteephilljustacrossourlotline,andhecollaboratedwithmetopublishASynopsisofAmericanHistory(1963),whichexpressedourinterestinbetterwaystoteachhistory.Herein1963,Ifirstbegantoarticulatepubliclymyconceptof“themarketrevolution”inChapter9on“TheMarketVersusTheAgrarianRepublic”thatsprangfrommyUncleGiles’sfarminglifeversusmyfather’smovetoCharlottetoworkforExxonCorporation:

“Betweenthestapleexportingeconomyofthe18thcenturyandtheindustrialeconomyofthelate19thcentury,”asIexplainedmyconcept,“intervenedanationalmarketeconomy....Themarketrevolution(italicsaddedherein)broughtmostAmericaneconomicactivityintotheorbitofanintricatelyintermeshednationalmarketsystem.Theessenceofthemarketrevolutionwasavastextensionofthedivisionoflaboror,inotherwords,specializationofeconomicactivities....Areasandindividualsthathadformerlyengagedinonlybarterorlimitedlocaltradewereinexorablydrawnintoanationalandinternationalmarketsystemlinkedtogetherby...moneyandcredit.”

5

Theseideaswoulddevelopovertimeintomymostimportantwork,TheMarketRevolution:JacksonianAmerica,whichcametofruitionduringthelate1980sandwaspublishedin1991.THEFREESPEECHMOVEMENTIn1964,IwasdrawnintothetumultuousandultimatelyvictoriousstrugglesoftheFreeSpeechMovement(FSM).FreshfromChapelHill,whereUNC’sliberalPresidentFrankGrahamguaranteedfreespeechforbothfacultyandstudents,IwasshockedtolearnthatCal/Berkeleywasnotthefree-speechbastionIexpected.PresidentClarkKerrclaimedthat“thecampushadtotalfreespeech”—butadded,“aswethenunderstoodittobenarrowlydefinedbythecourtsandtheRegents.”ButKerrhadjustannouncedtwonewpolicies,firstthatoff-campusspeakerscouldnotspeakoncampuswithoutpriorapprovalbytheadministration,andsecondthatstudentorganizationscouldnottakepositionsonoff-campusissues.Thesepoliciesweredenouncedbythefaculty’sCommitteeonAcademicFreedom,chairedbytheliberalFrankNewman,lateraJusticeonthestateSupremeCourt.Thefacultyhadbittermemoriesoftheloyaltyoathcontroversyof1949-1950,andIsuddenlyrealizedthatIwascaughtupinapoliticalrevolution.Thisstormwasdrivenbyvariousissues,butmainlybythree(inorder)the“Bancroftstrip,”theSproulHallsit-inarrests,andthefrighteningbattleoverPeople’sPark.OnSeptember24,1964,theUCDeanofStudentsannouncedthatthestripofsidewalkatthecampusentranceonBancroftAvenue(“theBancroftStrip”)wouldnolongerfunctionasafreespeechsanctuary,wherestudentpoliticalgroupscouldmounttables,solicitfunds,andrecruitmembers.Thereforestudentgroupsweresubjecttothecampusbanonpoliticalactivity.This“strip”hadalwaysbeenthoughttobecityproperty,andthedeandidnotrevealwhenorhowtheUniversitybecametheowner.Inretrospect,however,itseemsclearthatapowerfulgroupofultra-conservativeshadsomethingtodowithit.WhenKenStampptoldmethatheandafewcolleagueswereabouttopublishaletterintheDailyCalprotestingtheadministration’snew

6

policies,Ireadilyagreedtosignit.Theseactionshelpedusattractover200colleaguestoameetingprotestingtheselethalblowstocampusfreespeech.Thereforeourloose,informalgroupwascalledatfirsttheCommitteeof200.Wehadnodesignatedchairorexecutivecommittee.Becausewealwaysmetinmyoffice,andbecauseIusuallywrotethefirstdraftofanyresolutionorimportantannouncement,weweresometimescalled“theSellersgroup.”Anumberofpro-FSMfacultycolleaguesincluded(inadditiontoMayandStampp),HenryRosovsky(economicsandhistory),(ReggieZelnik(history,thefacultymembermosttrustedbyMarioSavioandotherstudentleaders),HowardShachman(molecularbiology),HerbMClosky,(politicalscience),ChuckMuscatine(English),LeoLowenthal(sociology),CarlSchorske(history),JohnSearle(philosophy),HenryNashSmith(English),ChicktenBroek(law),SheldonWolin(politicalscience),LarryLevine(history),RobertMiddlekauff(history),PhilSelznick(sociology),andWilliamKornhauser(sociology).Soonthefreespeechwarsreachedacrisis,unfortunatelynotthelastone.OnOctober1,1964,CORE’sradicalJackWeinberg(ouronlyCalstudent),wasarrestedformanningaCOREtableoncampusandshovedintothebackseatofacampuspolicecarwithhishandscuffedpainfullybehindhisback.AsthepolicecarproceededacrossSproulPlazatowardthepolicestationbehindSproulHall,astudentsatdowninfrontofthecartostopit,andwhenthecarmovedaround,anotherstudentsatdown.Suddenly,inamagnificentdemonstrationofinstinctivecollectivestrategy,everybodysatdown.For32hoursthepolicecarsattheretrapped,surroundedbyacrowdofenragedprotestingstudentsthatgrewtoathousandormore.I(aswellasothers)climbedontopofthetrappedcampuspolicecar,andendorsedthestudentprotestwhilepleadingforapeacefulsettlement.ThenextdayIjoinedapicketlineofstudentswithFSMprotestsignsmarchingbackandforthontheSproulsteps.WhenKenStamppandHenryMayarrivedtomeetmeforourusuallunch,Henryaskedme“Whatareyoudoingupthere,Charlie?”MygreatHarvardteachershadpreparedmetoanswerwithThoreau’sfamousreply,“Whatareyoudoingoutthere,Waldo?”IwasthefirstfacultymembertosupporttheFSMsopublicly.

7

ThisrevoltsubsidedtemporarilywhenClarkKerrinvitedsomeofustospeakwithhim,andseemedtofavorsomeofoursuggestions.Butitsoonbecameevidentthattheadministrationwouldn’tgiveaninch,andturmoilagainreigned.Thesudden,brutal,anddisingenuousextinctionoffreespeechoncampusignitedanenormousreactionfrombothstudentsandfaculty.Thereactionpersuadedtheliberalfacultythatthetimehadcomefordecisiveaction.TheAcademicSenatewasabouttomeet,andwedraftedresolutionscallingfortotalfreespeech,exceptforregulating“thetimeplace,andmanner”ofspeech.TheresolutioncalledforanopenmicrophoneontheSproulHallstepseverydayatnoonforanyonewhoappliedintime.OnDecember8,1964,ourresolutionpassedbytheextraordinaryvoteof824to125.AsthefacultywalkedoutofWheelerHallthatafternoon,teary-eyedandexultant,engulfedbytheroaringgleeofseveralthousandstudents,werealizedthatwe,bothfacultyandstudents,hadrescuedthecampusfromitsfiendishfoes,andgivenbacktothepeopleofCaliforniaagreatuniversity.FAMILYTRAGEDYANDANEWWIFEAlltoosoonourfamilywasdisruptedbydivorce.Idon’tknowwhyithappened,andEvelynrecentlytoldmethatshedoesn’teither.AllIcanrememberisspeedingdowntotheAlamedaCountycourthouseinOaklandbehindmylawyeronhismotorcycleforanunpleasanthearingonasettlementourlawyershadnegotiated.BynowEvelyn’sfatherhaddiedandherlonesomemotherhaddevelopedserioushealthproblems.Somybraveandgenerousex-wifetendedhermotherlovinglyuntilshediedattheageof103.EvelynnowlivesinaMassachusettsresthome,underthecaringeyeofmydaughterJanetandherhusbandMarkJones.Thankfully,webothlikeeachother,andmywifeCarolynandIhelpedhersellherKensingtonhomein2015atavastlyincreasedvalue.Soonaftermydivorce,IwasattractedbyNancySnow,anadministrativeassistantinthehistorydepartment.ImarriedNancyinMay1967whenwesailedourboatSloopy(seebelow)overtoAngelIslandtoperformtheceremony.AtthattimeIadoptedherfive-year-old

8

sonSteen.Steenisnowthewell-paidregionalheadoftrainingfortheBlackBearDinerCompany.HeandhiswifeGleeparentedtwowonderfulgranddaughtersforme.Aleen,ajuniorattheUniversityofWyomingismajoringinSociologywithminorsinReligiousStudiesandAmericanIndianStudies.Taree,whoisineighthgradeandanexquisiteballerinaistrainingwiththeAmericanBalletTheaterattheSegerstromCenterinLosAngeles.THEVIETNAMCOMMENCEMENTThenextinterruptionofmyacademicworkoccurredinearly1968whentheTetoffensiveinVietnammadetheAmericanarmysodesperateforreinforcementsthatthedraftlawwaschangedtoleavemanyCalgraduatestudentsandseniorsscheduledtolosetheirdefermentsinJune.InFebruaryanumberofCalstudentshadformedtheCampusDraftOrganization(CDO)toprotestboththedraftandthewar.TheCDOplannedanantiwarcommencementforMay17.Studentsweretowearacademicgowns,andtherollwouldbecalledofthosestudentswhorefusedtobedrafted.OnMay17thecommencementtookplaceinLowerSproulPlaza.W.J.Rorabaugh’sBerkeleyatWar:The1960’s(1989)describesitasfollows:

Anorchestraprovidedmusic,andparticipantsworearmbandstoshowsolidarity.About200facultymembersstoodonthestepsandfacedanaudienceof7,000to8,000people;itwasthelargestcrowdoftheacademicyear.ProfessorCharlesSellerspraisedthecourage,sacrifice,andpatriotismofthestudentsmakingthepledge....ProfessorFranzShermanadministeredapledgetohundredsofpeoplesupportingthosewhorefusedtobedrafted.

GOVERNORRONALDREAGANANDPEOPLE’SPARKIn1966RonaldReaganhadbeenoverwhelminglyelectedGovernorbydenouncingthe“mess”inBerkeley.Oakland’sCityAttorneyEdwinMeesebecameReagan’schiefofstaffandhelpedthenewgovernorconfrontBerkeley’sradicals.ReaganalsoobtainedsecurityinformationthroughProfessorHardinJones.Theprofessorinvestigated

9

organizationsoncampus,attendedmeetings,tooknotes,sometimesusedataperecorderhiddenunderhiscoat,andfrequentlyshotanddevelopedphotographsofradicals.Healsomaintainedamassivenewspaperclippingfileandhiredstudentandnonstudentinformers.AtapressconferenceReaganwavedinhishanda“secret”securityreport.HeclaimedthatitrevealedtheUniversityhadcondonedaVDC(VietnamDayCommittee)-sponsoreddanceoncampusatwhichstrobelightsprojectedpicturesofnudebodieswhilestudentsgyratedinshockingpositionsamidcloudsofmarijuanasmoke.Declaringthematerialtobetooobscenetobequoted,Reaganconflatedradicalismwiththecounterculture,condemnedbothasimmoralandabnormal,blamedtheUniversity,andtherebycreatedaneffectiveconservativemoralissue.TheseunfoundedandlewdinsinuationsweresoldtothepublicthroughWilliamKnowland,publisheroftheOaklandTribune.TheUniversityadministration’scommissarwasViceChancellorAlexC.Sheriffs.ButthistimetheReagan/Meese/Jones/Sheriffsganghadgonetoofar.UnfortunatelyBerkeley’shistoricturningpointwasaccompaniedbyseveralweeksofchaosinspiredbytheabusesoftheReagan/Meesegang,anescalationoftheVietnamwar,andabloodystruggleovera“People’sPark”thatculminatedonMay15,1969.TheUniversityhadnotonlycometoown“theBancroftstrip”,buthadalsobought(andthenneglected)alargeblockoflandandhousesalongHasteStreet,justbeforeitsjunctionwithlowerTelegraphAvenue.Herehouseshadbeentorndown,includingthehousewhereIhadrentedaroomfromNancySnowwhomIlatermarried.OnlowerTelegraph,acoalitionofFSMstudentswithbohemianhippieshadbeentryingtoconverttheneglectedmuddyponds,weeds,andcrumblingmasonrytoagreenandfloweredPeople’sPark.Berkeley’slastspasmofconflictwastouchedoffwhenthestudentbodypresidentDanSiegel,whohadbeenspeakingonSproulPlazaaboutstudentcomplaints,concludedhisspeechbysaying,“let’sgodownandtakeoverthepark.”Manyoftheprotesters(estimatedastwotosixthousand)werealreadystreamingbehindRonDellumsdownTelegraph.WhentheywerestoppedattheOaklandboundarybythe

10

“BlueMeanies”(AlamedaCountypolicedressedinblueandnotoriousforroughtreatmentofarrestees),thecrowdbrokeintosmallgroups.Asapolicehelicopterzoomedinspoutingteargas,theBlueMeaniesshiftedfrombirdshottolethalballshot,killingoneprotester,JamesRector,andsendingmanytohospitals.Theprotestersstartedbreakingwindows,turningonafirehydrant,andinflictingasmuchmayhemastheycould.Thusended,ingloriously,oneofBerkeley’sproudestmoments.Afternumerousincidentsovertheyears,in1991theUniversityandtheCityofBerkeleyenteredanagreementtojointlymanagethepark.

11

ChapterFive

BacktoAcademia

ACADEMICPRODUCTIVITYIn1963,justwhenIneededitmost,IwasdelightedtoreceiveaGuggenheimFellowship,whichgavemeayeartodoresearchandwritesomeofmybestarticles:

Althoughithadalreadyappearedin1954,“WhoWeretheSouthernWhigs?”AmericanHistoricalReview,LIX(1954),61-84,setupsomeoftheideasIlaterexplored.HereIsoughttoshowthattheSouth’santi-Jacksonpartywasnottheplanterdominated,statesrightsdevoteesthattheywerelongthoughttobe,butthemoreurban,commercial-minded,andnationalbanksupporterswholedtheoppositionagainsttheegalitariananti-bankJacksoniansthroughoutthecountry.“TheEquilibriumCycleinTwo-PartyPolitics,”PublicOpinionQuarterly,Vol.29(Spring1965),17-38,asurveyofthemostrecentresearchontheconsistenttendencyofelectionresultstoreturntonearparitybetweentheparties,aswellasthefactorsthatcancausedeviationsintheequilibriumtendency.Thesecharacteristicsshouldbemoreusedbypoliticalhistorianstobetterexplainthecauseofvariousoutcomes.“AndrewJacksonversustheHistorians,”MississippiValleyHistoricalReview,XLIV,(March,1968),615-654,arguesthatthehistoriansoftheJacksonianuprisingagainstacommercialandfinancialrulingclasswerepromptedbydifferent“framesofreference”asdeterminedbythehistorian’sdifferingclassperspectives.“Objectiverealityweknowwecanneverreach,”myarticleconcludes,“butweneednotapologizeforassumingitisthere,orforbelievingthatourzigzagcoursebringsusswinginginonacircleofevercloservantagepointsfordiscerningitssalientfeatures.”

12

BETTERWAYSTOTEACHHISTORYEversincemyyouthfuldiscoverythatlearninghistorycouldbeexciting,asdemonstratedbyHendrickVanLoon’sunconventionalHistoryofMankind,Ihavebeendissatisfiedwiththeideathattextbooksshouldtellstudentstomemorizewhattheauthorthinksisimportantandwhyithappenedthatway.Howmyideasforbettermethodsgraduallyevolvedtowardthe“inquirymethod”isindicatedinthechronologicallyarrangedarticlesthatIcontributedto,edited,orwrote:

ProblemsinAmericanHistory(Prentice-Hall,1952)providesbasicfactsaboutsuccessiveperiodsofAmericanhistory,andthensuggestsquestionsthatinducestudentstothinkforthemselves.JacksonianDemocracy(ServiceCenterforTeachersofHistory,AmericanHistoricalAssociation,1958)emphasizesthedifferentinterpretationsmodernhistorianshaveadvancedaboutparticularperiodsandprovidesquestionsteachersmightasktohelpstudentscometotheirownconclusions.AndrewJackson,Nullification,andtheState-RightsTradition(TheBerkeleySeriesinAmericanHistory,RandMcNally&Company,1963)isoneofaseriesIeditedtofocusonadisputedsubject,butcomposedmainlyofthehistoricaldocumentsthatenablestudentstocometosophisticatedconclusionsthemselves.TheNegroinAmericanHistoryTextbooks(AReportoftheTreatmentofNegroesinAmericanHistoryTextbooksUsedinGradesFiveandEightandintheHighSchoolsofCalifornia’sPublicSchools,CaliforniaStateDepartmentofEducation,1964).ThisbookletwassuggestedbytheBerkeleychapterofCORE,ofwhichIwasamember.IandagroupofmydistinguishedcolleaguesintheCalhistorydepartment(KennethStampp,WinthropJordan,LawrenceLevine,RobertMiddlekauff,andGeorgeStocking)examinedallthetextbooksbeingusedinCaliforniaingrades5,8,andinhighschools.WefoundthatAfricanAmericanswerealmostinvisibleinthetextsbeingused,andthatwheretheywerediscussed,thediscussionsvergedonimplicitracism.IntheForeword,thestateSuperintendentof

13

PublicInstructionreportedthat“TheStateBoardofEducation,impressedwiththeworkofthepanel,directedtheDepartmentofEducationtoprovidecopiesofthereporttotextbookpublishers,theCaliforniaCurriculumCommission,Californiaschools,andothersespeciallyinterested.”Whynothingseemstohavechangedisaproblemthatallofusshouldbemoreconcernedabout.TheRoleofHistoryinToday’sSchools(AdiscussionbyErlingM.Hunt,CharlesG.Sellers,andArthurBestor,ataconferencesponsoredbytheCouncilforBasicEducation,NewYorkCity,November12-14,1965,OccasionalPapersNumberTen,Printed1966.)TheparticipantsinthisNewYorkdiscussionseemedtoagreethathistoryteachingwasprettybad.Theyalsoagreedthatasolutionwouldrequireprofessorsofhistoryforcontentandprofessorsofeducationformethod.Ifoundthatprofessorsofeducationwereeagerforcooperation,whileprofessorsofhistoryhadalmostneverbecomeinvolvedwithprofessorsofeducationattheirownuniversities.MycolleaguesatCalarecertainlyunusualfortheirinterestintheproblem,buteventodaynoneofusseemtohaveaworkingrelationwithaprofessorofeducationattheotherendofthecampus.

Thisleadsmetomylastarticleonthesubject,IsHistoryontheWayOutoftheSchoolsandDoHistoriansCare?(SocialEducation,May1969).Iarguedthatmostobserversonthecollegeandpre-collegelevelsagreedthathistorycourseswereultimatelyuntenablebutwouldprobablysurvive,foralltheworstreasons,untilbettercoursesweredevised.Theyalsonotedthatsuchcoursesrequiredcontinuouscooperationbetweeneducationistsandhistorians,andthatrote-learningmustbereplacedbyinquiry-anddiscovery-learning.WhatImeantbythiskindoflearningisrichlydisplayedinmyradicallyinnovativetextbook,CharlesG.Sellers,SeniorAuthor,HenryMayer,EdwardL.Paynter,AlexanderSaxton,NeilL.Shumsky,andKentSmith,AsItHappened:AHistoryoftheUnitedStates(McGrawHill,1975).Thenatureofthisbookisindicatedonpagexi:

ToTheStudent:

14

First-handaccounts...arethekeytoASITHAPPENED,aninnovativeadventureinUnitedStateshistory.Eachisapieceofhistory,asseenthroughtheeyesofthepersonwholivedit.Inthereadingsandauthorcommentary,youwillencounterthesituationsandproblemsthatcitizensoftheUnitedStateshavefacedinthepast.ASITHAPPENEDwillhelpyoulearntoformhypothesesanddevelopanswerstoexplainwhypeopleactedastheydidtoshapethecountry.Youwillformyourowninterpretationofthepast.Inaveryrealsense,thisbookisincomplete.Thematerialishere,butyourparticipationisnecessarytobringittogetherandmakeitwork.

Anassessmentofthediscoverymethodofteachingappearsinthefollowingreviewbydistinguishedhistorianandjournalist,FrancesFitzGerald,intheNewYorkermagazine,“OnwardandUpwardwiththeArts:RewritingAmericanHistory—II.”NewYorker,Mar,5,1977.

The...“inquiry”or“discovery”texts...focusonafewtopicsandillustratethemwithdocumentsfromprimaryandsecondarysources....Twooftheinquirytexts(“AsItHappened:AHistoryoftheUnitedStates,”byCharlesG.Sellersetal.,and“DiscoveringAmericanHistory,”byAllanO.KownslarandDonaldB.Frizzle)includedocumentsthatmightleadthestudenttothesamekindofsolution.ThefirsttextcontainsanexcerptfromaspeechbySenatorWilliamJ.Fulbright,areportbyJonathanSchellonOperationCedarFalls,andstatementsbyJohnsonandNixonjustifyingtheAmericanpolicy...Exceptinthemostsophisticatedofthebooks—likeSellers’“AsItHappened”—thereisneveranyattentiongiventotheperspectiveofothergovernments.WhatisradicalaboutthebooksisthattheyquestionthejudgmentsofpastPresidentsandAdministrations,and,intheprocess,makeitclearthatforeignpolicyisnotsomemysteriousemanationofthenationalwillbuttheactionsofcertainpeopleoperatingwithinacertainhistoricalcontext.ForthefirsttimesincethefirstWorldWar,foreignpolicyappearsintextbookhistoryassomethinglessthanasacredrevelation.

15

STRAWBERRYCREEKCOLLEGEAfterfreespeechwasachievedoncampusin1974,MarioSavioandotherstudentleadersoftheFSMurgedreformofundergraduateeducationatBerkeley.Withmanyfacultyagreeingfromanacademicpointofview,aSenateSelectCommittee(ChuckMuscatineoftheEnglishdepartment,Chair),onwhichIandPeterDaleScottoftheEnglishdepartmentserved,issuedtheso-calledMuscatineReportcontainingrecommendationsforreformingundergraduateeducationatCal,Berkeley.AmongotherthingsthereportrecommendedaCollegiateSeminarProgramon“inquiry”educationalimprovement.TheUSDepartmentofEducationcontributedfundingforsixyears,andtheUniversitycontributedclassroomsinawartimetemporarybuildingbesideStrawberryCreek.Herein“StrawberryCreekCollege,”alittlegroupoffacultymembers—especiallyCharlesMuscatineandPeterDaleScott,bothoftheEnglishdepartment,BertDreyfus(philosophy),andBert’sbrotherStuartDreyfus(computerscience)—mobilizedforeducationalreform.Between1974and1980,wetaughtintensive12-unitinquirycoursesforfreshmenandsophomores.ThesecoursesfeaturedprimarytextsontimelytopicsthatenabledyoungBerkeleystudentstodecideacademicissuesforthemselves,aswellasreportingtheirconclusionsinproficientprose.Thisexperimentwasahowlingsuccess,asjudgedbythequalityofthestudentessaysandtheenthusiasmoftheirauthors.Butassoonasthemoneyranout,theUniversityreturnedtothemorecomfortableassumptionofdidacticacademicauthority,andnomorewasheardofinquiryeducation.YetatleasttheUCBerkeleyhistorydepartmentwasalreadymeetingthechallengeofimprovingourowncourses.Thedepartmenthadapprovedmysuggestionthatweinaugurateasetofthree-hourHistory103’sinvariousfields,togivehistorymajorstraininginhistoricalcriticismandresearch,withemphasisonwritinganddiscussion.Buildingonthisbase,wesoonaddedHistory101,arequired5-unitresearchcourseforhistorymajorsinvariousfields.Thiscoursefeaturedalengthypaper,alongwithreadingsanddiscussionsonproblemsofhistoricalinquiry.Inadditiontoregularclassmeetings,individualconsultationswiththeinstructor,research,andpreparationtotalingtentotwelvehoursperweekarerequired.

16

HARMSWORTHPROFESSORATOXFORDIn1970,IwasamazedanddelightedbyaninvitationtospendayearatOxfordUniversityastheHaroldVyvyanHarmsworthProfessorofAmericanHistory.Thiswasespeciallyunexpectedbecausemymostimportantbookonthemarketrevolutionwasstillincompleteandunpublished.TheHarmsworthProfessorship,Ilearned,wasestablished,withanendowmentof20,000pounds,byHaroldSidneyHarmsworth,1stViscountRothermereinmemoryofhissonHaroldVyvyanAlfredSt.George,whowaskilledintheFirstWorldWar,andwhosefavoritesubjectwashistory.WithmywifeNancyandoursonSteen,IflewassoonasIcouldtoHeathrowAirportoutsideLondon,andthengottoOxfordbybus.Awaitingusthere,weweredelightedtofind,wasanimposingmodernhousethatLordRothermerehadjusterectedfortheHarmsworthProfessorsandourfamiliesinthevillageofHeadington,adjacenttoOxford.Ithadalovelyfloweredyard,regularlytendedbyaprofessionalgardener.ThishouselookeddownonabeautifulpanoramaofOxford’sancientcolleges,churches,belfries,andcupolas.Evenbetter,theHeadingtonprimaryschoolgaveSteenamoreintellectuallyseriousprimaryeducationthanAmericanelementaryschoolscouldhave.EspeciallyinterestingisQueensCollege,whereHarmsworthProfessorswereattachedastemporaryFellows(facultymembers).Thisancientinstitutionwasfoundedin1341andnamedinhonorofQueenPhilippa,wifeofKingEdwardIII.Thecollegeisdistinguishedbyitsneo-classicalarchitecture,especiallyacentralbuildingdesignedbyChristopherWren.Itisalsoanextremelywealthyinstitutionwithanendowmentof206millionpoundsin2014.Ithasastunningupstairslibrarywithancientbooksandmanuscriptssafelydisplayedinhandsomeandindestructiblecases.ThereisalovelychapelwheretheCollege’ssplendidchoirperformsregularly.Aboveallwasthegreathall,whereIsatwithProvostBlakeandtheFellowsonaraisedplatformabovethestudents.Herealsothe“Boar’sHeadGoudy”wasafamousfeastontheSaturdaybeforeChristmas.IwaswelcomedwarmlybyProvostBlakeandtheFellows,especiallyJohnPrestwich,whoseemstohavebeenespeciallydelegatedtoensure

17

thatHarmsworthProfessorsandourfamilieswerecompletelycomfortableandsatisfied,bothintheCollegeandatourHarmsworthhomeinHeadington.AlltheFellowsmadethemselvesavailableuponapproachandexplainedwhengownsweretobewornandwhenguestsmightbeinvited.QueensCollegeprovidesanofficeforHarmsworthProfessorsthatisspaciousandintriguinglydecoratedwithpre-Raphaeliteart.Butthefloorissooddlycantedthatonemustemployashipboardwalk,especiallywithcoffeeorsherryinhand.ThereIsatmostofthetime,attackingmyrepeatedlydelayedacademicwork.TheexceptionalcollectionofAmericanscholarlybooksatRhodesHousewasjustashortwalkaway.QuiteafewexperiencesimpressedmewiththedifferencesbetweenlifeinancientandtraditionalEnglandandlifeintheyoungerandmorepopulistUnitedStates.TheporterwhocleanedmyofficeeverydaywasobviouslyembarrassedwheneverIgreetedhimwithasmileandventuredsomefriendlyremark.AsIwascrossingtheCollege’sbacklawnonaflower-linedbrickwalk,thegardenerwhowasonhiskneesdiggingoutweedswithatroweljumpedupassoonashesawmecoming,pulledoffhiscap,bowedalmosttohiswaist,andsaid,“Goodmorning,sir.”WhenIattendedameetingoftheProvostandFellows,andsomeacademicdecisioncameup,whichwouldhavetouchedoffalongdebateinanAmericandepartment,theseEnglishFellows,whohadlivedsolongandsointimatelytogetherthattheykneweachother’sopinionsabouteverything,saidnothing.InsteadProvostBlakelookedupanddownthetableandasked,“Hasanyonechangedhismind?”Nooneanswered.”Wellthenit’s6to8No”(orwhatever).ThankGodIwasneversoindiscreetastoopenmymouthinanEnglish“facultymeeting.”MymostembarrassingexperienceofclashingcultureswaswhenLordandLadyRothermereinvitedmeandNancytohavedinnerattheircountryestate.Itwasanoverwhelmingdisplayoftraditionalaristocraticluxury—animposingmanorhousewithalargediningroomandmanywaitersanxioustosatisfyanydesiresforfoodordrink,alargedeerpark(openforhuntingonlytomasterandguests)stretchingtoabeautifullake,astablewithhorsesanddogsforfoxhunts,anenormousglass-toppedOrangeriestockedwithexoticplantsfromallovertheworld,and,almostinvisiblebehindthemanorhouse,rowsoftinybrickhouseswithmedievalgrass-thatchedroofs.

18

ItwasallquiteimpressiveandjovialuntilLadyRothermeresaidsomethinglike,“DoyouliketheflowersatthehouseupinHeadington?Iplannedthegardenmyself,hopingtopleaseyou.”NancyhadgrownupinTexas,andIhadalwaysbeencharmedbyher“mywayorthehighway”Texanexuberance.Sosherepliedsomethinglike,“Yes,that’snice,butyourgardenergotitallwrong.Itshouldbereversedbetweenthebackofthehouseandthefrontofthehousetogetthebestsunshineattherightseason.Shehadbeencomplainingaboutthiscorrectly,butthegardenerwasstillconfused.LadyRothermerefellsilent,andassoonaswefinisheddinner,LordRothermeretactfullyledusouttoadmiretheOrangerie.WetraveledquitealotwhileatOxford.IrememberanextremelycolddaywhenIwentbytraintovisitJackPoleinCambridge.InBerkeleyJackhadgenerouslysharedwithmesomecriticalevidenceaboutregionalandstatevoterturnoutsintheevolvingtwo-partysystem.Hetookmetomeethiscollege’sProvost(orwhatevertheycalledthisaugustpositioninCambridge).LaterImusthaverentedacartotakemyfamilytovisitStratford-on-AvonforShakespeare’shome,andtoLondonforBuckinghamPalace,WestminsterAbbey,theHousesofParliament,andLondonBridge.Weprobablytookquiteafewbirdingtrips,formyEnglishmapfilecontainsmanybird-findingpamphlets.THEMARKETREVOLUTIONInthe1980s,IfinallyturnedmyenergiestowritingwhatbecamemymostsignificantcontributiontoAmericanhistory.TheMarketRevolution:JacksonianAmerica,1815-1846(OxfordUniversityPress,1991)presentsmyunderstandingofJacksonianAmerica.ItpromptedaCommonwealthFundConferenceinLondonin1994,wheremanyablehistorianspresentedtheirviewsofmyinterpretation,bothfulsomeandcritical.TheseareallpublishedinMelvinStokesandStephenConway,editors,TheMarketRevolutioninAmerica:Social,Political,andReligiousExpressions,1800-1880(UniversityPressofVirginia,1996).ThemostfulsomeapprovalisPaulGoodman’s:“ApowerfullyarguedgrandsynthesisofakeyperiodinAmericanhistory,thisbookwillteach

19

andprovokeashavefewworksinthelastdecade.FornootherperiodinAmericanhistorycanonefindsuchasweeping,coherentaccount,whichcreativelyinterpretsthescholarshipofthelastthirtyyears.Sellersfusesscholarshipwithmoralpurposeinwaysthatcompelustorethinktherelationshipbetweencapitalismanddemocracy.”AttheLondonconferenceonTheMarketRevolution,Isaid:

ItookalarmwhenhistoriansarmedtheUnitedStatesforColdWarbypurgingclassfromconsciousness.Mufflingexploitativecapitalinappealingdemocraticgarb,theirmythologyofconsensualdemocracy,capitalismpurgedegalitarianmeaningfromdemocracy....Mycorrespondingvalues,Ioughtthereforetoavow,deriveinthefirstinstancefrommyexperienceofbourgeoismiddle-classautonomyasdriven,self-repressive,andintenselycompetitive.Capitalismcommodifiesandexploitsalllife,IconcludefrommylifeandallIcanlearn.Relationsofcapitalistproductionwrenchacommodifiedhumanitytorelentlesscompetitiveeffortandpoisonthemoreaffectiveandaltruisticrelationsofsocialreproductionthatoutweighmaterialaccumulationformosthumanbeings.Alifeofcompetitiverelationshipsdehumanizesall.”

IntheNewYorkermagazine,October29,2007,JillLaportewrote:“CharlesSellers’s“TheMarketRevolution:JacksonianAmerica,

1815-1846...claimedthatthegreatesttransformationofthefirsthalfofthenineteenthwasnomeretransformationbutarevolution,fromanagrariantoacapitalistsociety.Establishingcapitalisthegemonyovereconomy,politics,andculture,themarketrevolutioncreatedourselvesandmostoftheworldweknow,”Sellerswrote.

“Sellers’senergetic,brilliantandstridentbookmaynothave

reachedreadersoutsidetheacademy,...butamongscholarsitenjoyedahugeinfluence....Sellers’swasthethesisthatlaunchedathousanddissertations;evidenceofthemarketrevolutionseemedtobeeverywhere;itseemedtoexplaineverything.”

20

The“marketrevolution”isnowacommonconceptforAmericanhistorians.Itwasinspiredbymyfamily’stransitionfromthesubsistencecultureofmyUncleGilestomyfather’scapitalistsuccessinthecityofCharlotte.Itwasvalidatedformebytheachievementsandfrustrationsof“MyMultitudinousKin”asreportedmostfullyinChapterOneofthesememoirs.Itis,Ithink,themostimportantofmywritings.

21

ChapterSix

TravelswithCharlieFUNBYBOATANDCAMPERHavingfinishedmymostimportantworkby1990,andhavingbroughtmybiographyofJamesK.Polktoapointwheretherewasnothingtoreportbuthisretirementanddeath,IdecidedtoretirefromtheUniversity.Forsomeyearsbefore,butespeciallyafterward,Iandmyfamilydevotedourselvestohavingfun—sailingontheBayanduptheSacramentoRiver;exploringHawaii’slavafieldsandMaunaKea’sastronomicalobservatories;observingAlaskafromvariousvehiclesandroutes;findingnewbirdingspeciesfromMexicotoBelize;andtwoseparatewonderfultripstoAustralia(in1991and2005)withourgoodfriendsPatsyHallenandPeterSummers.Overtheyearsfromthe1960stothepresent,wehavehadatotaloffourdifferentboatsandfivecampers.Inwhatfollows,I’llbetellingyouaboutsomeofthesetrips.SAILINGTostartwithsailing,arevolutionarytransformationofsailboatbuildingoccurredinthe1960’s,withslowandexpensiveartisanwoodworkinggivingwaytocheapandfastGRP(GlassReinforcedPlastic),or“Fiberglass.”In1967Iboughtasmall,single-mastedsloopwithasmallandnarrowforesail.Shecostme,tothebestofmyrecollection,severalhundreddollars.Inamedher“Sloopy,”afterapopularjazzdittyoftheday,“HangonSloopy—Sloopyhangon.”Icouldn’ttrustherwithaninexperiencedskipperlikemeintheformidablewindsofSanFranciscoBay.ButshewasfineforlearningthebasicsofsailinginsidetheOaklandEstuary—turningtoportorstarboard,ortoslowgraduallyassheheadedintoherberth,andtostepouttothejettyontheportorstarboardside,andtieherdown.AsIlearnedthebasics,IboughtthesturdiersloopKachinainpartnershipwithCORE’slawyerMalBurnstein,andanexperiencedsailorJohnTraugott(d.2004),aprofessorofEnglish.Kachinahadabig,

22

strongforesail,fastwinches,acomfortablecabinbelowwithtwocushionedbenchesforsittingorsleeping,aswellasaforecastlecompartment.ButKachinawasnotindomitable.JohnTraugottandIflewdowntoLosAngelestotakedeliveryoftheboatandsailitnorthwardtoSanFranciscoBay.WespentthefirstnightinSantaBarbara’ssmallmarina,andstartingoutthenextmorningweweresailingnorthwestalongthecoastwhenweturnednortharoundPontConception,directlyintoahowlinggaleandendlessshort,steepwaves.WeplannedtostopovernightatMorroBay,butwearrivedafterdarkandwereawedbythemonstersurfbreakingoverthejetty.Evenmoreawesometomewerethebreakingswellsontheadjacentbaratthenarrowandtwistyharborentrance.IrecallclingingtotheforestayonthepitchingbowasItriedtopickuptheunlightedchannelmarkerswithaflashlight.WhenwereachedMontereyBayanddockedattheSantaCruzyachtharbor,ourwivesjoinedusforthefinalleghomewardtoSanFrancisco.Soonhoweverweagainencounteredroughweather.GallantlyKachinaclimbedandplungeduntil,justbeforesunset,thenickelsteelconnectorholdinguptheforesailboombrokeandtheboomandsailcollapsed.Wemanagedtogetthemtieddownquickly,butoursituationwasfrightening.Nancywaslyingfearfullyonherbackinthecabin.WesentoutanSOS,andalmostimmediatelyaCoastGuardhelicopterappearedoverhead.WhenwetoldthembyradiothatweweremomentarilyOK,theytoldustheywouldradioforavesseltotowusintoHalfMoonBay’smarina.Therescuevesseltookalongtimetoarrive,butwhenwegottothemarinaat2A.M.,werejoicedtofindthatthegoodpeopleatthemarinadiningroomhadstayedtogiveusdinner.Irememberourdelightattherestorativedrinksandsplendidseafoodthatevening,afterwetiedupsafelyatanemptydock.THEINTRACOASTALWATERWAYFROMWESTFLORIDATOANNAPOLIS(1988)AfterNancyandIpartedwaysin1972,mynextsailingadventurestookplacewithmynewpartnerCarolynMerchantwhomImetwhileteachingatStrawberryCreekCollegein1974.Inthelate1980’swehad

23

beenseekingareallystrongboatforsailingoffshore.WhenweheardofanEnglish-builtFisherketch(“builtforthenorthseas”),withareinforcedhullandenclosedpilothousethatcouldpulladinghybehind,itmetourneedssoperfectlythatweorderedoneandnameditStormPetrel.BothCarolynandIhadsabbaticalresearchleavesin1988,andbecausewecoulddoresearchandwritinginmarinaswhilelivingandtravelingaboardaboat,thisgaveusawholesemesterforthelongestcruiseofourlives.ShippingStormPetreltoSt.Petersburg(wherewerejoineditafteracrosscountrytripinourVWcamper),wehadasemestercombiningacademicworkwiththedelightsofsailingandbirding.Withthatmuchtimeavailable,wecouldsail(ormotor)southaroundthetipofFlorida,andthennorthalongthecoasttoAnnapolis,Maryland.CarolynwasworkingonherbookEcologicalRevolutions(publishedin1989)andIonmybookTheMarketRevolution(publishedin1991).BothCarolynandIhadbeenusingtheworld’sfirstpersonalcomputer,theOsborne1,withitstinyindex-cardsizedscreen,sinceitappearedin1983.Now,inFebruary,1988,withourtwoOsbornes,anewAppleMcIntoshcomputer,andtwoprinters,westartedourgrandcruise.AfterleavingTampaBay,wetraveledsouthwardataleisurelypace,stoppingfordaysofwritingatplacesthatwerepleasantandcheap.Ourearlierroutemainlyfolloweddredgedchannelsthroughgreatlagoonsandmangroveswamps,interspersedwithastringofplushretirement/resortcities.WehadsomegoodsailingontheopenwatersofTampaBayandCharlotteHarbor,butmuchmotoringinlightair.WestayedseveraldaysinFortMyersBeachonbeautifullittleHurricaneBay,withdolphinsswimmingby,hundredsofpelicansroostinginthemangrovesacrosstheway,ospreysnestingjustaroundthepoint,andaprofusionofexoticshorebirdsfeedingonthesandbarthatemergedjustoffshoreatlowtide.Onourtripwesometimeshitfancymarinasandsplendidwaterfrontrestaurants.Othertimesweanchoredout.Mainlywelookedforsomethinginbetween—cheapbutaffordingshorepowerforourelectronictechnologyofproduction.Aroundthecornerwemightfind

24

superbpizza—allyoucaneatfor$2.99.Butmostlywecookedaboardwithaquiteadequaterefrigerator,stove,andhotwaterheater.TravelingdownthewestcoastofFlorida,weeventuallyreachedtheEverglades.OnadinghytripintothemangroveswampsatFlamingo,wehadtocutouroutboardtoavoiddisturbingafamilyofmanateesfloatingdreamilyatthesurface.Whenwestoppedforlunchbyacanal,aFishCrowwalkedboldlyuptoCarolynandtheinstantshelookedawaymadeoffwithourfullrollofRitzcrackers.FromtheEvergladeswecrossedFloridaBaytotheKeysandspentamonthtiedupinMarathon.Finally,leavingthegreatharboratMarathon,webravedtheAtlanticwavesforathree-daysail-and-motortripuptoMiami,wherewindyswellsacrossalongfetchofshallowBiscayneBaythreatenedtotearourboatanddinghyfromadilapidateddock.NorthwardfromMiami,theIntracoastalWaterwaytraversestheLauderdale/PalmBeach“GoldCoast”ofmillionairehomesandyachts,andthenthebroadIndianRiverparallelingthecentralcoast,wherewehadseveraldaysoffabuloussailingwindsfromtherightdirection.OnreachingJacksonvilleatFlorida’snorthernboundary,CarolynflewofftolectureatNewEngland’sHampshireCollege,andthenattheUniversityofGeorgia,Athens,andFlorida’sRollinsCollege.AfterlazingthroughtheundevelopedbeautyofGeorgia’sseaislandsandcoastalsounds,inmidApril,CarolynandIwerejoinedforafewdaysnearSavannah,GeorgiabyherastronomersisterAnn,whoflewinfromHawaii,andbyAnn’sengineerhusbandHansreturningfromabusinesstriptoSpain,wherehewasoverseeingconstructionofthenew10-meterKecktelescopethatwasabouttobeinstalledatopHawaii’sMaunaKeamountain.TheysailedwithusuptoCharleston,SCbeforesayinggoodbyefortheirreturntoHawaii.SoonthereafterCharlie’sbrotherEdandwifeNelljoinedusinCharlestonforafewdays.Subsequently,weespeciallyenjoyedtheunspoiledlittleportofMcClellanvilleinSouthCarolina,beforeenduringthelongboring“ditch”northwardalongtheendlesslytastelessambianceofMyrtleBeach.AswecrossedtheborderintoNorthCarolina,Charliebrokeintosong—theNorthCarolinastateanthem,“thegoodoldnorthstate.”LeavingtheboatatWrightsvilleBeach,N.C.,inearlyMay,wevisited

25

Charlie’sassembledkininCharlotte.Then,whileCarolynflewofftoa“MindandNature”conferenceinWestGermany,IwithbrotherPhilandsonsChrisandRandytooktheboatafewdaysonupthecoast,whereCarolynrejoinedthecrewonschedule.ThewidesoundsandcypressswampsofnortheasternNorthCarolinaprovidednewdelights.AfterabrisksailacrossAlbemarleSound,weranintothespectacleofospreysnestingonalmosteverychannelmarkerfromCurrituckSoundtoCoinjockontheVirginiaLine.AtGreatBridgewethreadedasomewhatanxiouscoursethroughthelocks,openingbridges,heavymarinetraffic,andtheoverwhelmingly-displayednavalmightofNorfolkharbortoreachChesapeakeBay.TheChesapeakewasawhollynewkindofsailing,mainlysteeringcompasscoursesoutofsightoflandtodistantbuoysthroughhazyovercast.Buteverynightwefoundapicturesqueharborupsomebroadcreekorriver,firstonthewesternshore,andthenafterpassingthemouthofthePotomacovertothedelightfullittlecolonialportsofOxfordandSt.MichaelsontheMarylandeasternshore.Herewehadsomeofthemostdeliciousseafoodofourlives,especiallythesuper-freshfriedclamsatSt.MichaelsandthefamouscrabcakesatMrs.Crockett’sonTangierIsland.Alltoosoonourdayofreckoningwasathand,andbyJuly1,whenoureasterninsurancecoverageexpired,wetiedupinAnnapolistobehauledout.ThegreatestadventureofourlivesgraduallygavewayasweracedacrossthecountrybacktotherealworldofclassesandpressuresinBerkeley.Easingtheshockofre-entry,however,wastheadditiontoCarolyn’shome,aspacioussecondstory“pleasuredome”withawallofwindowsdisplayingSanFrancisco’sskyscrapersandtheGoldenGate.WithahottubonthebackporchandBerkeley’s“GourmetGhetto”justablockaway,cominghomewasalmostasdelightfulasourgreatestcruisehadbeen.AUSTRALIA(1991)In1991(fromFebruarythoughJune),Carolynwasinvitedtobethefirst“ecofeministprofessor”underaspecialgrantatMurdochUniversityinWesternAustralia.ThefactthatIhadretiredinJune1990,

26

madeitpossibleforusbothtoembarktogetheronyetanothergreatadventure.LeavingSanFranciscoJanuary3,1991,weflewtoSydney,Australia.Sydneywefoundtobeamarvelouscity,whereweluxuriatedfortwodaysinthebourgeoissplendoroftheSheratonHotel.WhenwediscoveredthatitwouldtakesomedaysmoretoextractfromcustomstheVolkswagoncamperwehadshippedtoSydneybysea,wemovedtoaroom-with-kitcheninKing’sCross,Sydney’sgarishareaofstripclubsandbudgetaccommodations.Whilewaiting,weweretreatedtoafeast,culinaryandintellectual,byDianeandIanTyrell(nowemeritusprofessorofHistoryattheUniversityofNewSouthWales).DianewrotethebestbookontheAustralianmovieindustry,andIanisasuperbAmericanhistorian.IwasparticularlydelightedtomeetIan,havingtakeninspirationfromhisvindicationofMarxistperspectivesonAmericanhistoryandadmiringhisenvironmentalandleft-Laborpolitics.Thankstoahelpfulcustomsbroker,thedaysoonarrivedwhenweassembledinthedockareawithaquarantineinspectorandtwocustomsinspectors(allthoroughbutpleasant)toseethecontaineropenedandourstillnewishVWpopupcamper(thatwehadpurchasedin1989)rolloutshiningandintact.Aftersteamcleaning,vehicleregistrationandgroceryshopping,wewerereadytoembarkthenextmorningonexplorationofanewcontinent.ThatdaywasJanuary17,1991,thedayGeorgeH.W.BushinvadedKuwaitandstartedthefirstGulfWar.AswedrovethroughAustralia,peopleexpressedtheiropinionsofthewarbyeitherpointingthumbsuporthumbsdownastheysawourCalifornialicenseplate,anditssignacrossthebackwindowstating“LeftHandDrive,”warningotherdriversinthis“right-handdrive,left-sideoftheroad”countrytotakenote.Ourfirstdestination,PlumwoodMountain,justoutsideofAustralia’scapitalcityofCanberra,broughtusastunningintroductiontoforestedAustraliafromtheremarkableValPlumwood(1939-2008).Val,whohadtakenhernamefromtheancientPlumwoodtreesthatgrewthere,wasadistinguishedphilosopher/feminist/environmentalist.Shecoauthored,withherformerhusband,alandmarkcritiqueofdestructiveforestryinAustraliaandwasatworkonhermagnumopusFeminismandtheMasteryofNature(1994).HavingrecoveredfromaterrifyingcrocodileattackthatinspiredCrocodileDundee,Vallivedina

27

self-built,circular,window-walledhomefaruparoughtrackthroughadenseforest.Hereweraisedourpop-upforthreedaysofconcentratedloveliness,asValengagedCarolyninintensecolloquyonecofeminismandgaveusacrashcourseonAustralianfloraandfauna.Akeenbirder,sheintroducedustobrilliantparrots(thescarlet-bluerosellaandevenmoreregalkingparrot),lovelyscrubwrensandfantails,andseveralofthelargeandcolorfullyplumagedhoneyeaters;ledusthroughrainforesttothebower-birdandlyrebirddisplaymound;andschooledusinthefabuloussongsthatresoundedconstantlyfromallthesemagnificentcreatures.Wewerestartledthefirsteveningbytheunheraldedappearanceofanenormouswombatwhowasverypracticedinopeningaspecialwombatdoortocomeinforhugsandfood;andevenmorestartledthenextmorningwhenaseven-footlizard(goanna)scuttledfromthebushesatourfeetbythegarageandfrozeimmobileonanearbytreetrunk.HeartsicklikeourselvesoverthenewGulfWar,ValtookCarolynuptoCanberraontheseconddayforananti-warrallyshewasaddressing,andforameetingshehadarrangedtointroduceCarolyntoenvironmentalistwomen.Iremainedbehindforamarvelouslybirdybush-walkalongtheforestedescarpmentwiththedistantTasmanSeaoccasionallyinview.FromPlumwoodMountain,wetraveledsouthandwestthroughMelbourne,Adelaide,andacrossthedryNullarbor(notrees)PlaintoWesternAustralia.OnreachingMandurah(justsouthofFremantlewhereCarolynwouldbeteaching),wehappilyensconcedourselvesinashadycaravanpark,lookingoutonthemouthofPeelChannelonlyahundredmetersdownshorefromtheseasidehomeandmooredcatamaranofCarrie’ssponsoratMurdochUniversity,PatsyHallenandherlongtimematePeterSummers.OurjourneyacrossanewcontinenttoMandurahhadintroducedustoAustralia’sfloraandfauna,andespeciallyforus,anavifaunaflamboyantinsize,color,andsound.Atthebeginningofthetrip,Sydneyflauntedshowysulphur-crestedcockatoos,enormousflying-foxfruitbats,andsacredibis.Strikingblack-and-whitemagpieswerecommonplaceoneveryroad,wheelingflocksofpinkcockatoos,pinkishgalahs,andred-headedgang-gangsabounded.Eachlocalitythrough

28

whichwetraveledpresenteduswithnewvariationsonthespeciesandstrikingcolorationsofparrots,corellas,andlorikeets.Everywherebigblack-andwhitecurrawongssquawkedandthemaniacalcacklingsofthebig,snake-eating,kingfisher-likekookaburraconvulsedusintogiggles.Wewerechallengedbytheendlessvariationofhoneyeaters,fairywrens,andothersmallerspecies,tosaynothingofblackswans,pelicansbiggerandshowierthanNorthAmericancousins,exoticibisesandcranes,andtheenormouswedge-tailedeagleoftheroadsideandseaeagleofthecoast.WhenwereachedtheGippslandLakes,northofAdelaide,wewerestartledbyourfirstbigkangaroothumpingaroundourcaravancarparkandbyourfirstperson-highemusstalkingaroundourpicnicarea.AriversidecampgroundintheStirlingRangeofWesternAustraliaproducedfirst-time“lifers”sofastwecouldn’tstoptolookuponebecausesomanyotherswereinview.AftersupperontheeveningwereachedMandurahonthewesterncoastofWesternAustralia,weembarkedonournewlifebywalkinguptheshoretomeettheremarkableHallen/Summersteam.Patsy(aphilosopher)andPeterbuiltalargecatamaran(“Sky”)andperfectedarangeofartsfrombakingtofinewoodworking.Wefoundthemontheirverandah,servingdinnertooldfriendsfromCornwall.Overwhelmedbytheirhospitality,instantfriendship,andassistance,wedrovethenextmorningtoFremantle,homeofMurdochUniversitywhereCarolynwouldbeteachingforthenextfivemonthsandwhichPatsyrightlysuggestedasthebestplacetofindanapartment.InFremantlewefoundamodestfifth-floorapartmentwithparking,ideallylocatedinthecenteroftown.Withaviewoftheharborononeside,andtheTownHallontheother,welookeddownonleafySt.John’sSquare,andaperpetualchessgameplayedonacheckerboardpavement,withwaist-highpieces.Soonaftersettlingin,PatsyandPetertreatedustoanexhilaratingdaysailaroundRottnestIsland,somemilesoffshore.Havingneversailedacatamaran,whichskimsoverratherthanploughingthroughthewater,thereturnsailwithPatsysteeringSkyundermainandno.2jibwasoneofthemostexcitingsailingexperiencesofourlives.Zippingthroughthespraywithnoneoftheheelingofdisplacementboats,weaveragedalmost17knots.

29

AftersettlingintoourapartmentinFremantle,wewerecalledbacktoacademicreality.Theeditedmanuscriptofmybook,TheMarketRevolution:JacksonianAmerica,1815-1846,arrivedsoonafterwedid.Isettowork,checkingitfortyposanderrors,andeventuallysentitofftoOxfordUniversityPressinNewYorkthroughDHL’sinternationalexpressservice.MeanwhileCarolynsettledintoherofficeatMurdoch,inpreparationforherclassonEcofeminismthatbeganinlateFebruaryandbeganworkonhernextbook,RadicalEcology.Shehadalsobeeninvitedtogivethekeynoteaddressatthenational“EcopoliticsV”conferenceinSydneyinApril,andwasintheprocessofschedulingMaylecturesatuniversitiesinBrisbane,Sydney,Melbourne,andHobart.WhileCarolynworked,IbirdedandexploredthecountryaroundFremantleandPerthinourVWcamper.InearlyJuly,wesetouttothenorthforareturntrip“aroundthetop”viathePilbaraandKimberleyMountains,KakaduNationalPark,andnorthernQueenslandforourreturntoSydneyandourflighthomeinAugust1991.AWEDDINGInSeptember1993,PatsyandPetercamefromAustraliatoBerkeleyandlivedaboardourboatStormPetrelforfourmonthswhilePatsyreciprocatedbyteachingacourseon“Ecofeminism”atBerkeley,alongwithCarolyn’scourseon“EnvironmentalPhilosophyandEthics.”TheyarrivedjustintimetocelebrateCharlie’sseventiethbirthdayforwhichwehadengagedacruiseship,theHornblowerCommodore,forcelebratingtheoccasionwithourfamiliesandfriends.Wheneveryoneonbothsidesofourfamiliesletusknowtheywerecoming,CarolynandIdecidedthatthiswouldbetheperfecttimetoholdawedding.SoonthemorningofSeptember5,whenourfamilieswhowereallstayingattheMarriotthotelattheBerkeleymarinagatheredforbreakfast,wesaidwewouldfirstliketotakeawalkouttothebayshore.ThereCharlie’sbrother-in-law,ministerBillBoyce,said,“Incaseyouhaven’talreadyguessedit,thisisgoingtobeawedding.”Aftertheceremony,weallwentbacktothehotelforbreakfast,followedthatafternoonbytheHornblowercruiseonthebaytocelebrateCharlie’s70thbirthday.Nowourfamilieswereofficiallyunited.OurchildrenGrier,Janet,andSteenSellersandDavidandJohnIltis,alongwith

30

Charlie’sbrothersEdandPhil,hissisterRuth,Carolyn’ssisterAnn,husbandHans,andmotherElizabethalljoinedintoaststothenewbrideandgroom.OURFIRSTMOTORHOMEIn1995,CarolynreceivedaGuggenheimFellowshipandwasabletotakeasabbaticalleavefromUCBerkeleyfortheentire1996year.Thisleavepresenteduswithanewopportunityfortravel.Bychanceaswewerebirdingalongthebay,wehappenedtoseeanRVshowinalotrightnexttotheBerkeleybayshore.OndisplaywastheperfectRVforbothwritingandbirding—a21footHornetmadebyDamon.Onenteringthesidedoorattherearofthevehiclewasahanginglockerforclothes,amulti-shelvedpantrycabinetjustwideenoughforcansandbottles,abathroomwithabathtub/showerandaUshapedkitchenwithrefrigerator,stove,microwave,sink,cabinets,andcounters.Intheinteriorwasatablewithfacingbenchesjusttherightsizeforourcomputers;acomfortablecouch;televisionset;andaspaciousdoublebedabovethecabwithadrawcurtainforsleepingprivacy.Wenegotiatedasalepriceandshortlybecametheproudownersofourfirstmotorhome,“Horny.”Afterpurchase,wetookittoanRVoutfittingcompanythatmountedstoragecontainersandsolarpanelsontheroofandcomputeroutletsunderthetable.WeweresoonreadyforarepeatofourStormPetrelsabbaticalontheIntracoastalWaterway—thistimeonland.Thefirstbulkycellphoneswerejustappearingonthemarketandweboughtonethatwasabletoreceivesignalsandemailinmostplacesthroughoutthecountry.InJanuary,wesetoutsouthwardvisitingmysonSteenandwifeGleeinLosAngelesbeforemovingontothedelightsofsouthernCalifornia’shotsprings,Arizona’swinterbirdingspots,andtheSantaFeInstituteinNewMexico,beforeslowlyworkingandbirdingourwayacrossTexas.InMay,CarolyntooktimetoflytoHawaiitobewithhermotherwhowasill,whileIcontinuedontoNewOrleansuntilwemetupagain.FromthereweturnednorthtowardtheNationalHumanitiesCenterinRaleigh/Durham,NorthCarolinawhereCarolynandtwocolleaguestaughtashortcourseon“NatureTransformed”forhighschoolteachers.JustasthecourseendedonJuly12,CarolynwascalledbacktoHawaiito

31

bewithhermotherwhopassedawayonJuly19,1996.Anexquisitelybeautifulpoemcelebratingherlife,called“HawaiianTides,”waswrittenbyhergrandsonDavid.IcontinuedontoaSellers’sfamilyreuniononLakeNormanjustnorthofCharlotteandthensetouttothewesternU.S.stoppingalongthewaytovisitJanetandMarkinMadison,WisconsinwhereJanetwasworking.Carolynrejoinedmeinmid-AugustinSpokane,Washington.FromtherewesetoutthroughIdaho,Wyoming,Colorado,andpointssouth.AmarvelouseventoccurredonAugust31ofthatyearwhenmygranddaughter,AleenSellers,wasborn—testimonytothepassingandrenewaloflife.ALASKA(1999)BetweenMay29andAugust3,1999,CarolynandItraveledtotheFarNorthinAlaskainourHornetRV(“Horny”),withthespecialgoalofbirdingAlaska.AbandoningHornytemporarilyinFairbanks,wetraveledbysmallplaneandten-passengertourbustoDeadhorse,hubofthePrudhoeBayoilfield.OnthewaywesawPolarBears,GrizzlyBears,andaSpectacledEider(atlast!).OurtourbuspassedaherdofcaribouaswefollowedtheAlaskaPipelinesouthontheunpavedDaltonHighway(orHaulRoad).Backtrackingwest,ourtourbusbroughtustorejoinHornyinFairbanks.ThenwetraveledsouthandwesttoHomerwhereweboardedAlaska’sMPTustamena(the“TrustyTusty”)forasix-dayroundtripdowntheAleutianstoDutchHarbor.Thiswasthemosteagerlyawaitedlegofourtripbecauseofthemanyrarealcids(puffins,murres,auklets,murrelets)thatoccuronlyinthesewaters,andwespentmanycoldbutrewardinghoursscanningthesurfacefromthebowdeck.AfterreturningtoHomerwithanenhancedAlaskabirdspecieslist,wespentafabulousdaycruiseamongtheglaciers,whales,seaotters,andspawningsalmon,andexoticbirds(twomorenewspecies,TuftedPuffinsandahostofnestingCommonMurres).AtSewardweloadedHornyintotheMVKennicottferryforaseven-daycruisedowntheInsidePassagetoBellingham,Washington,whenceHornygallopedhome.

32

BIRDINGINMEXICO(2001)WhenIfirstheardoftheannualAdventureCaravansbirdingtripstoMexicoandbeyondinDecember,2001,Carolynhadacademicdutiesmakingitimpossibleforhertogo.AfterdiscussionweagreedthatIshouldgoonthistrip,andifitturnedoutwell,wecouldgotogetheronsubsequenttrips.Aftervariouspreparations,IheadedsouthonJanuary11andovertookthecaravanatAlamos,Mexico,onJanuary14.WagonmasterJimNerisonandhiswifeJanhadstartedthebirdingcaravansforAdventureCaravansandledthemsuperblyforsomeyears.Nowtheywereheadinguptheirlasttripbeforepreparingtoretire(theywouldsoonbereplacedonsubsequenttripsbyBertandShariFrenz).InourRVcaravan,wetraveledinaround10-12vehiclesofvarioussizesandshapes.My“Harry”(shortforHarrisonFord)wasaLancecamperoverlappingthecabofaFordpickuptruck(whichweacquiredaftersellingHornybecauseitsfour-wheeleddriveallowedustotravelonbackroads).TheNerisons,Whittens,Hillesheims,andlaterBertandShariFrenz,rodeinClass1luxuriousmotorhomespullingsmallcarsbehindthem,andtheotherbirdersfollowedinvehiclesofintermediatesizeanddesign.Forcoordinationandsafety,wewererequiredtohaveaCB(CitizenBand)radioineveryvehicle,andeachofushadanickname(minewas“Redbird”)foreasycontact.Wewereconstantlytalkingbackandforth,bothontheroadandincamp.Thismeantcompleteinvolvementofeveryoneinourjointpursuitofevermorerareandexoticspecies.Theprocedureincamp,Iquicklylearned,wastoretireearlyinordertoariseat5:30or6A.M.fordepartureinoursmallertowedvehiclestobirdbeforedawn.Backusuallybynoon,wewereonourownuntilwereassembledat4:30withourfoldingchairsforasocialhour.Asnibbleswentaround,werecordedtheday’ssightingsinringbindersthatJimNerisonhascompiledforeachofus.TheseincludedacomprehensiveMexicanbirdlisttorecordsightingsindifferentlocalities;alistofallthespeciessightedbylastyear’scaravan;andseparatelistsofallspeciespreviouslysightedineachlocality.

33

Forexample,thecaravansaw110speciesaroundSanCarlosbeforeIjoinedthem,andatAlamosthegroupsaw103.MynewMexicanspecieswere:CrestedCaracara,SinaloaCrow,SocialFlycatcher,Black-ventedOriole,MexicanParrotlet.andElegantQuail.Somebirdingdaysweremorememorableforthestrikingplumageofrarelyseenspeciesthanforthenumberofspeciesseen.OnemorninghighinthemountainsaboveMazatlan,wewerewelcomedtotheBarranca(abluffoveradeepgorge)byabandoftwenty-oddTuftedJayscoursingslowlyalongtheroadbesideusatcloserange.“Whatasight,”weexclaimed,whilethejays,togetherwithnewexotics,movedalongthetrailtoandfroasweleaptfromourcarstogetabetterlook.Itwasoneofthemostexcitingbirdingdaysinmanyofourlives.Thecaravansaw381speciesonthistripasawhole,andIsaw76lifers.Asidefromthrillingspecies,themostsatisfyingaspectofthistripwasourwarmandaffectionatecompanionshipwithpeoplesharingsuchapassionforbirds.I’mamazedhowmanyofourcompanionsonthistripwerepeople(mainlycouples)whomCarolynandIwouldcometoknowintimatelyonsubsequenttrips—especiallytheNerisonsandtheFrenz’s,andtailgunnersDuaneandJuneWhittenwhobroughtuptherearofthecaravan,andmadesurethatwedidnotloseanyonealongtheway.CoenDexterandBrendaWrighthavebeenmyandCarolyn’sbestbirdingfriendseversince.Brendaisasmart,soft-spoken,andcharminglysaucyladywithaninfectiouslaugh,whileCoenisoneofthemostavidandaccomplishedbirderswehaveyetencountered.Mylastdaywiththecaravanhadagrandclimax.AsweenteredtheHotelGarza’sbeautifuldiningroom,Iwasplacedattheheadofourtableofthirteen.Mellowedbyluxuriousfoodandservice,wegotevenmellowerwitharoundofMexico’spotentmargaritas.SeldomhaveIfeltmorekeenlythewarmthofinterpersonalrelationsproducedbycommunalpursuitofbirdingexhilaration.WhenIleftforhomeat6:30A.M.thenextmorning,Thursday,February7,Iwasaccompaniedbythreecarsofcaravanersuntiltheyturnedoff,fifteenmilesintothehills,fortheirmorningbirding.Attheturnoff,weallstoppedforafinalroundofheartyabrazos.MyfinalCBmessagewas:“It’snotgoodbye,amigos,it’shastaluego,it’saufwiedersehen,it’s“untilwemeetagain!”

34

BIRDINGINBELIZE(2003)In2003,CarolynandIexploredcentralMexicoandBelizewithwagonmastersBertandShariFrenz.Thismemorablecaravanof33birders,travelingin17rigs,sawmorethan601birdspecies.The33caravanersweremainlyoldercouples.TheydroveeverykindofRVfromlargemotorhomestotruckcamperslikeour“Harry,”whichwasalmostthesmallest.AtPharr,Texas,onthelowerRioGrande,BertandShariguidedusthroughorientation,vehicleinspection,andborder-crossingpapers.OnceacrosstheborderWagonmasterBertledusdownthehighways,usingCB(CitizenBand)radiotoreportroadsidebirdsightingsandhazardstohisfollowers.TailgunnersDanandSueHertzboughtuptherear,makingsurethatnoonewasleftbehind.WhenLeeandPatYoder’s“BlackStallion”sputteredtoastop,Danandalocalmechanicworkedonitforsometimebeforediscoveringthatithadsimplyrunoutofgas.AftertravelingandbirdingourwaythroughCentralMexicoforaboutamonth,wefinallyreachedCorozal,BelizeinlateFebruary.AtCorozalwesettledintoacomfortableRVparkonalovelywaterfront.Thiswasourbasethroughoutourstay.Whilethebigrigsstayedhere,thesmallerrigscarriedusondayexcursionsthroughnorthernBelize,andlatertoasecondarybaseatDandrigaforexcursionsinsouth-centralBelize.OurfirstexpeditionwastotheCrookedTreeSanctuary,wherewethrilledtosuchtropicalsensationsasYellow-headedVulture,SnailKite,andtheimposingJabiruStork.Afterapleasantlunchonthedeckofalittlewatersideinn,theganggatheredtotellCarolyngood-bye.ThenextmorningshehadtoflybackfromanearbyairporttoacademicdutiesintheStates.Theladieshadfetedherthepreviouseveningwithpink-icingcarrotcake,andshenowrespondedwithanepicballadon“BirdingwithBert.”AfterleavingCorozal,westayedseveraldaysonbeautifullittleHurricaneBay,withdolphinsswimmingby,hundredsofpelicansroostinginthemangrovesacrosstheway,ospreysnestingjustaroundthepoint,andaprofusionofexoticshorebirdsfeedingonthesandbarthatemergesjustoffshoreatlowtide.

35

BeforeournextexcursionfromtheCorozalbase,IrevisitedtheairporttopickupmyphysicianbrotherPhilSellers,whoflewinfromHendersonville,N.C.totakeCarolyn’splace(spatiallyonly)fortherestoftheBelizestay.AtalittletownonourwaybacktoCorozal,withaBelizeelectionunderway,PhilwasstartledtoseealargebannerlaudingPHILLIP(notPhillipSellers,ofcourse,butPhillip,aBelizecandidate).Thenextday,pursuingalast-minutetipacquiredbyBert,wehadwonderfulviewsofScarletMacawsattheremoteIndianvillageofRedBank.OurlastexpeditionfromCorozaltookusbyboatsometenmilesoffshoretoBelize’scelebratedBarrierReef,secondinlengthonlytoAustralia’sGreatBarrierReef.WereturnedtothemainlandviatheswarmingrookeryofMagnificentFrigatebirdsonMano’WarCaye.Thegrotesquelyinflatedthroatsacsofthemalesinthebreedingseasonmustbeagreatcome-onfortheladies.AlongthewayourcaravanersdelightedinBelize’sspectacularfaunaofjaguars,tapirs,anteaters,howlermonkeys,toucans,macaws,andcrocodiles.BynowitwastimetoturnnorthfortheUnitedStates.WereturnedtoCorozol,depositingPhilSellersattheairportontheway,andonMarch5weallstartedbacktotheUnitedStates.ByMarch28,IwashappilyhomeagaininBerkeley.ThenonMay19,2003,anothermarvelouseventoccurredwhenmygranddaughterTareeSellers,daughterofSteenandGlee,wasborn.THEULTIMATECAMPERIn2006,wedecidedthatifpossibleitwouldbeidealtohaveafour-wheeleddrivecamperthatwouldbemorecomfortablethanourtruckcamper,“Harry,”withsomeoftheluxuriesofourearliermotorhome“Horny.”Afterdoingonlineresearchandmakingseveralphonecalls,wefoundDaveRowe,headofacompanyinColumbia,SouthCarolina—TigerMotorhomes—thatmadecamperstoorder.InMarchweorderedourownTigerandpickeditupontheJuly4thweekendinColumbia.Like“Horny,”ithadallthecomfortsofahomeawayfromhome—microwaveoven,refrigerator,solarpanels,computeroutlets,DCtoACconverters,shower,TVetc.Butitwasnarrower,moremaneuverable

36

onfreeways,andcouldtakeusontosteep,dirtroadsinthebackcountry.WedroveTigerbackfromS.C.stoppingoffinNorthCarolinawhilewevisitedwithmydaughterJanetandhusbandMarkinWinstonSalemwhereJanethadapositionwithHanesApparel.AftergettingtogetherwithourCarolinakinwesetoutcrosscountryforBerkeley.InJuly2007,Carolynagainbeganasabbaticalleave,enablingustotravelthewesternU.S.inourTiger,stoppinginbackcountrycampgroundsandRVresortswhileIbirdedandCarolynwrote.WetravelednorthwardtoOregon,theMalheurNationalWildlifeRefuge,sitesalongtheLewisandClarkandOregonTrails,andintoCanada’sWatertonGlacierNationalPeaceParkandHead-Smashed-InBuffaloJumpinAlberta,beforeheadingsouthtowarmerclimates,dippingdownalongthewestcoastofMexicoandthenacrossTexas.

BIRDPHOTOGRAPHYAnewchapterinmybirdinglifeopenedwhenonour2007tripnorth,IacquiredaCanon7DDigitalCameraandahighpoweredzoomlens(100-400mm)thatcouldclearlyanddistinctlycapturebirdsinmotion.Icouldcarrythecameraandlenscradledonmyarm,supportedbyastraparoundmyneck,anduseitinsteadofbinoculars.Bypointingitataflyingbird,itscontinuoussnappingfeatureallowedmetotakemanyshotsatonetime.Onthattripandoverthenextseveralyears,aswetraveledlocallyandaroundthecountryinourTigercamper,Itookmy“bestbirdphotos”andplacedthemonmywebsite.Theycanbeviewedathttp://www.leftcoastlife.comManyofthesephotographsweretakenonourroutebacktoBerkeleyin2013afterCarolyn’ssemesterasamemberoftheInstituteforAdvancedStudyinPrinceton.LeavingPrincetonjustafterChristmasin2012andstoppinginCharlotte,N.C.foravisitwithmyrelatives,wereachedthewarmerweatherofSouthFloridainearlyJanuary,2013.Thereweembarkedonaleisurelybirding/photographingtrektowardhome.InsouthFloridaweluxuriatedinsunnywarmth,viewingaprofusionofexotics,bothnon-avianandavian(alligators,manatees,flamingos,

37

andsandhillcranes).Alongourroute,weweresurprisedanddelightedtoencounterfrequentlysuchunexpectedspeciesasBell'sVireo,CommonGround-Dove,PipingandSnowyPlover,andimmatureHudsonianGodwit.Wealsosawmanycommonspeciesthatusuallybreedfarthernorthandwest,includingSandhillCrane,LoggerheadShrike,Red-belliedWoodpecker,FishCrow,CarolinaandHouseWren,AmericanKestrel,Boat-tailedandCommonGrackle,EurasianCollared-Dove,MississippiKite,andRuddyTurnstone.Someofmybestphotographs—AltamiraOriole,Clay-coloredRobin,Golden-frontedWoodpercker(f),PlainChacalaca,Red-napedSapsucker(m),andLong-billedThrasher—weretakenattheBentsenRioGrandeValleyStateParknearMission,Texas.Alsointhisarea,ourbirdingfriendWendyFosterledustoaGroove-billedAni.Afterdaysof—

Thesunhasriz,thesunhasset,ButwefindourselvesinTexasyet,

—wefinallyescapedTexastothePanchoVillaStateHistoricalParkontheMexicanboundaryatColumbus,NewMexico.(HerethenoblyegalitarianMexicanrevolutionhadbeendoomedbyGeneralJohnJ.Pershing’sirresistibleAmericaninvasion.)AfterPanchoVilla,wehadsomerewardingbirdingfurtherwestatPatagoniaStateParkinsouthernArizona(ElegantTrogon!).CrossingtheColoradoRiverintoCaliforniaatYuma,weheadedupI-5toreachhomeonMarch22,2013.AftertwodaysofunloadingTiger,wewereleftwithwarmmemoriesofanotherrewardingtrek.Aftermanyothergratifyingadventures,lastJuly2016,wefinallymadethebigdecisiontoturnoverourTigercampertoCarolyn’ssonDavidIltisinSaltLakeCity.AlthoughtheTigerisnowinanewhome,itisstillpossibleforustojetonouttoSLCandborrowthecamperfortravelstoUtah’snationalparksandotherrecreationaldelights.Inthemeantime,wearecherishingallthegoodfortuneandgoodtripsourboatsandcampershaveprovidedusovertheyears.