Greenwood/Elk
Community Notes Remembering Fondly
Judith Bolton was asked by the family of Nog Johnson to pass along to the community of Elk that there will be a celebration of Nog’s life with stories and laughter at the Senior Center in Fort Bragg on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 12:30 PM. While Nog never lived in Elk, Elkies remember him fondly, some likened his looks to Buster Keaton, while to others he was “Saint Nog,” as he helped so many early back-to-thelander families of Elk using his famous backhoe. He also was well-known for his silly antics such as wrestling a rubber octopus, shooting bottles off people’s heads (think early Great Day in Elks) and selling snake oil! He also built a shingled whale, which he drove up and down the coast, and which was in the Great Day Parade more than once.
Good memories there.
All Quiet on the Greenwood Front
I know I say this every year, but this really is one of the best times of year on our coast. It is after the crush of the holidays and people are vacationed out and earnest in their new year’s resolutions to put their noses to the grindstones, and so, Elk and neighboring towns fold into themselves for a time. Today at the Mercantile, the few people I saw were locals — Ronnie, Kate, and Carolyn. And Len, Jania, Rosi, and Judy all walked by and waved. It feels so much cozier when it empties out and it’s just us left. No, this isn’t so good for business, but it to does give one time to pause, look out the window, see the rain clouds riding in over the ocean, then hear it on the roof, and collect one’s self and one’s thoughts. And in these moments I can’t help but think: here we are and it is so beautiful.