It is instructive that when you consult Wikipedia for the definition of the word “scope” you are informed that it refers to “the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant; the opportunity or possibility to... Continue
Columnist
“Why don’t you and your daughter Zoe come over for dinner,” said the voice at the other end of the telephone, continuing, “I live just down the block.” “Sure,” I replied, “see you at 5:30.” So began my 50-year relationship with Norma Jean Marsh Campbell.... Continue
Teleology is the philosophical exploration of purpose, and for many of us, finding purpose is elusive. Is purpose inherent or found, and can it be both? The business of being human often feels like a test, but if we are being tested, by whom and... Continue
Last night I sat on our back deck long after dinner was over. The hills to the east are covered in a blanket of green. The view southwest toward Diamond A is a patchwork of green, gold, and patterned grids of vineyards. How beautiful our... Continue
Hey baby, que pasó? Thought I was your only vato Hey baby, que pasó? Won’t you give me un beso This popular 1990 song, written by Freddy Fender and recorded by the Texas Tornados, is among my all time favorite tunes. Its Tex Mex beat... Continue
For three years, my Sonoma Sun column consisted of chapters of my family memoir. I took a break from it a year ago as grim events were coming up: The deterioration of my mother; the kidnapping and rape of my 13-year-old sister; my oldest sister’s... Continue
By Teri Shore According to revelations in Fossils in the Asphalt, a “Human Footprint” episode on the PBS/KQED program Unearthing LA’s Ancient Past, there is new research that prehistoric extinctions of giant creatures, such as mammoths and short-faced bears, resulted from massive wildfires across California.... Continue
According to scientists (yes, those people), summer ends on September 22 or thereabouts, when the sun crosses the celestial equator resulting in a day and night that are nearly equal in length. For most humans, however, summer ended when the kids went back to school. ... Continue
The hot book of 1972 was Alex Comfort’s “The Joy of Sex.” In 2025, “The Joy of Hate” might top the charts. In the words of James Baldwin, I’m horrified at America’s “moral apathy,” the degree to which unthinkably vile behaviors are now normalized. Baldwin,... Continue
Hilary Campbell is a New Yorker Magazine cartoonist who just happens to have been born and raised in Sonoma. You can see more of her work at cartoonsbyhilary.substack.com. Continue