Hot breezes, parched burnt bushes, and dusty trails winding through a quiet forest bring back pleasurable memories of my past. The extra ordinary calm and beauty of Hobergs, a northern California mountain resort, was my family's "home-away-from-home" sanctuary for most of my childhood. My family's annual summer retreat was in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of daily life in San Francisco. Hobergs was a welcome respite and escape from the dreary weather and dark-clouded atmosphere back home. The jubilation we felt building in anticipation of the trip was common to my entire family.
Calistoga, a quaint town two hours north of San Francisco, was routinely our first stop. It is renowned for its therapeutic mud baths and mineral water, and we would purchase farm-fresh fruit prior to our two-hour trek up the mountain. Traveling along windy roads through the quiet, but densely-studded redwood and pine forest, my thoughts drifted to the peaceful, calming, mood-reforming effect of Hobergs. .
As we approached our destination, a wave of nostalgia swept over me and I was overcome with the joy of memories I was bound to repeat. In addition, unforeseen adventures awaited me, surely to enhance my previous perceptions of Hobergs. In the distance, I could already see the small rustic cabins scattered among the fragrant pine trees, one of which would be our home for the coming week. I even remember my mother reminiscing: "Your grandmother and grandfather used to take the stagecoach just to be here. Your father asked for my hand in marriage just behind that carved monument off the beaten path. Your aunt Rosalie met your uncle here." It was amazing to me that I wasn't alone in having so many fond recollections of this tranquil getaway.
Speaking of memories, I used to walk alone on the hidden footpath, captivated by the aroma that permeated the air. The variety of oaks, redwoods, maples, and pines titillated my senses, as did the delightful songs of birds as their wings whispered in the warm breeze.
