East of Mt. Diablo
It is always interesting to discover new things, including those that are in proximity to us. It reveals that regardless of the largess we have in our knowledge bank, there is more to learn. Recognizing this factor helps to keep us humble and curious about the multifarious things we do not know, as well as the importance of lifetime learning and discovery.
With this view expressed, for the last few years I have been spending time with friends who live in Discovery Bay, which is east of Mt. Diablo. We here in the East Bay live to the west of the fabled mountain. Spending time on the other side of the mountain has opened my eyes to a new perspective of the mountain, as well as life around it. For my entire life, I have looked at the mountain from the west. After multiple visits with my friends, I have realized that the mountain looks different from the east. The same with life that is east of Diablo.
During my first few visits, I referenced being on the back side of Diablo. From their perspective, they live on the front side. To them, we in the East Bay live on the back side. They made an interesting point. Perspective is based on place. John Steinbeck stressed that in East of Eden. An added awareness also emerged. It is that from the west, there appears to be one peak at its top. To the east it has two peaks. Again, perspective is based on place.
Other views have changed because of my visits. One is that I took the terrain for granted. There was nothing special about it to me. It appeared simplistic and mundane. Then, one of my friends pointed out something. She is an accomplished artist of both faces and places. She has spent time in the famed “South of France.” I have not. From her perspective, the area east of Mt. Diablo has similarities to the “South of France.” She sees what I cannot see, as she has a more experienced view than I do. Again, perspective is beholden to place.
During a recent visit, I decided to go to a local winery. I was not expecting much. I am quite liberal when it comes to wine. I like most everything. Nonetheless, I do appreciate wine that is exceptional. Given this perspective, the wine at the local winery was one of the best I have had in years. To me, it was comparable in quality to those presented in places like Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Livermore. With that, I joined their wine club on the spot.
A lesson learned is that although we have a great hamlet here in Castro Valley, there are other places of discovery within our region. From what I have learned from my friend that is an artist, and from my visits to their home and terrain, “East of Diablo” has become the “South of France” that I never knew was there. With that, a new appreciation has emerged for a place and its people. This new awareness is like good wine. It has a good taste to it.