Oliver Stone’s 2012 thriller Savages opens with gorgeous coastline images accompanied by O or Ophelia’s (Blake Lively) voiceover saying: “It started here in paradise, Laguna Beach, where they say God parked himself on the seventh day…” In addition to its stunning scenery, languid Laguna has much to lure Angelenos away from the big city’s daily grind to this SoCal oceanic enclave located about 50 miles south on the 5 Freeway from Downtown L.A.

Of course, this Orange County seaside village is widely known for its art galleries - and it’s no wonder, given the splendor of its natural surroundings that would make any dauber’s palette burst with color. But there are also eateries there to make gourmet’s palates drool, so I decided to combine one of my regular excursions as a theater reviewer south to the Laguna Playhouse with a feast.

Drifting Down to Driftwood Kitchen: Caramel-By-the-Sea

Enough is enough. Especially when it comes to a name.

Many of you have undoubtedly faced a crisis or two about your own. It can come from anywhere, like changing (or NOT) your family name when getting married. Or dumping the curse of one you never liked.

Famous examples abound. The great Texas-born classical pianist Van Cliburn was in fact Harvey Lavan Cliburn. Lady Gaga is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Kirk Douglas was Issur Danielovitch. Marilyn Monroe came from Norma Jean Mortenson. Tony Curtis had been Bernard Schwartz. John Wayne was Marion Mitchell Morrison.

You get the picture.

When I was born in Boston 72 years ago this New Year’s Eve, my mom made my father promise not to name me “Harvey.” Dad’s father, who’d just passed away, was Herschel. So the “H” was unavoidable. But there were certainly better choices. She never forgave him. Me either.

My middle name is Franklin, as my parents were big FDR fans. As an historian, I like it for Ben.

Wasserman means “Aquarius” or Water Man in German. I’m good with that.

But “Harvey”?

The rabbit in the Jimmy Stewart movie was in fact a real-life “Pooka”, a Celtic spirit.

Is Santa real? What about God? Or Mr. Stranger Danger? A 5-year-old’s curiosity is a wonder to behold — more than a wonder if you haven’t had your coffee yet, or if you’re trying to get last-minute Christmas shopping done at Target and your son says he wants to die right now so he can meet God.

To be a parent is to feel the force of this curiosity like a live spring uncoiling with unpredictable energy against the day’s agenda and the furthest reaches of the known universe, pushing you into a possible future not yet imagined.

“When did people first realize there was a God?”

This is my great-nephew Jackson, doing curiosity handsprings across the academic discipline of theology and squeezing an open-mouthed pause from his mom, Carmen, my niece — with whom I had a lively chat over the holidays about such matters when she had a moment to relax. This was a conversation of puzzlement and gold, and I’ve been thinking ever since about childhood and the precious possible.

He was “a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.” – Ted Kennedy, eulogizing his assassinated brother Bobby in 1968
“The problem with a mass delusion is that, by definition, only the heretics know when we are living through one.” – Michael Scott Fontaine
One of the most meaningful Christmas stories that I have ever read came from my friend from Vancouver, Canada, Reverend Kevin Annett. His story is titled “Nativity” and is printed further below. “Nativity” has as much meaning to me as have the classic Christmas movies “It’s a Wonderful Life”, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, and “Joyeux Noel” (the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914). (Archived at:  http://duluthreader.com/articles/categories/200_Duty_to_W.)

Friday, December 29, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00 PM.
Location:  Maynard Avenue United Methodist Church, 2350 Indianola Ave., Columbus 43202.
Bethlehem is an ancient town with a fascinating and diverse history and culture.  Bethlehem is a vibrant city, comprising Christian and Muslim communities that have contributed to its spiritual life for centuries.  The population has lived under Israeli occupation since 1967 and Christian population is declining due to economic and political strife and Israeli invasions of 2001 and 2002.  Open Bethlehem is both a film and a project.  It is a “nonviolent attempt to save a city that belongs to many in the world.    It is unconscionable that Bethlehem should be allowed to die slowly from strangulation.” (Desmond Tutu).    For more information, contact cmhammond11@att.net.  Facebook.