Patrice Vecchione

1 week ago | montereyherald.com | Patrice Vecchione

Sometimes the impossible happens. Or the thing we thought was impossible, the thing that since we first experienced belief we believed would never occur; there was no place for the barest idea of it. One such impossibility is the tornado that touched down in Scotts Valley last December—an actual tornado, not somebody going on about very big winds. A tornado in Santa Cruz?

1 month ago | montereyherald.com | Patrice Vecchione

Even asleep, we are in motion. Breath comes in and out. The heart beats. We toss and turn. And think of the many ways we cross distances in our dreams. We can run and jump over impossibly wide gulfs. Effortlessly, we can move in the way many of us wish we could when awake. Asleep, we can fly! In my dreams, however, it’s not the liberty and loft of flying that I wish for. Rather, only then can I move suspended, at ease and free from restraint through water. Only then can I swim like, well, a fish.

2 months ago | montereyherald.com | Patrice Vecchione

The wildflower names alone are enough to make me swoon, and if you’re also a word-lover, the same thing may happen to you. There’s Owl’s Clover, Woodland Stars, Blue Fiesta, and Tidy Tips, Sticky Monkey Flower — yes, it’s actually sticky — Cream Cups, Woodland Stars, and Popcorn Flower. When you attach their names to their startling selves, it’s like falling in love. And why not? I’m a glutton for beauty, particularly the natural kind.

Mar 26, 2025 | montereyherald.com | Patrice Vecchione

On average, Tania Romanov walks about 10 miles each day. She takes her first walk in the morning and the second comes later in the day. Pretty impressive for anyone, right? But Tania Romanov is 75-years-old! What was inspirational a moment ago, now sounds is even more so, doesn’t it? Keep in mind that the person writing this is a mere 67-years-old and can only walk 5 miles in her dreams. This morning, I was emotionally scrambled — you very well may know the reason why.

Feb 5, 2025 | montereyherald.com | Patrice Vecchione

Mostly, my walks are solitary ones that take me as far from other people and conversation, streets and cars and stoplights as I can get. When away from all that, there is so much to be with: wind and trees, owls, coyotes, ground squirrels. It’s another world out among the trees, the one that — especially these days — I usually consider to be far superior.