Chasing Down the Muse -- Cherril Doty

If we don’t have belief in human creativity, in human goodness, in

hope for the future, what to we have?

This question has come up over and over again since that fateful day

in September last year.

It seems to many there has been an unceasing show of the worst in us

all, in terrorizing and hatred and war.

I recently read a statistic that of the 200 and some nations in the

world, more that a quarter of them are at war. It often seems the same is

true even closer to home.

Whether it is over ocean views or festival noise or traffic, when we

need each other and a sense of community most, we war with each other.

I have long thought that our community of Laguna Beach is filled with

a wondrous array of interesting people about whom I seem to know not

nearly enough.

After more than 35 years here, I find myself no closer to real

communication with many of the people whom I admire. So on a recent sunny

day, spurred by an interest in finding out more about the fate of the sea

lions dying on our shore, I sought out John Cunningham whom I knew to

have been highly involved in the Friends of the Sea Lion.

This organization is unique to our community and has incoming and

outgoing lifelines to a larger community of caring.

On this sunny day, I “spent” 90 minutes with Cunninghman. I got so

much more than I could ever have imagined. Proof once again that Laguna

is filled with some pretty interesting, colorful, intelligent, caring

individuals.

Cunningham is a former Laguna Beach High teacher, former lifeguard,

former activist with Friends of the Sea Lion.

He is an avid participant in life -- a father, a husband, a painter, a

friend, an Osage Indian and so much more.

To hear him speak of the sea lion and its intelligence, or his trip to

the Louvre with his wife, Stephanie, or his former neighbor Roy Childs,

is to be there with him in those moments.

The sound of classical music and visuals of antique clocks, an old

sled, solid old tables and other vintage furniture set in the botanical

splendor of his home and its surroundings speak of the goodness many of

us seek.

When I ask John what got him started with the rescue, rehabilitation,

and education that are the basis of The Friends of the Sea Lion, his

answer-- “it just seemed the right thing to do” -- speaks volumes.

John and I spoke of many things as the breeze blew gently through his

home. We spoke of the mammals about which he is so knowledgeable. We

spoke of good people and good deeds. We spoke of conversation and synergy

and how things get done.

I asked at one point what people in the community might do to help

with the sea lions and other mammals and his response was that they could

help by volunteering themselves, their time, their money, whatever felt

right for the individual.

For years I have thought I knew the Cunninghams, at least as

acquaintances.

I was humbled in these 90 minutes to find how little I knew, how

shallow my observations were.

Just 90 minutes of conversation and so many things seemed to fall into

place.

What had gotten me here in the first place?

Some intuitive sense I didn’t fully understand had brought me to an

important answer. Human goodness and hope for the future can be found in

conversations.

I encourage all of you readers to do what I did. Find someone from

whom you would like to learn something specific or know more about.

Sit down with them and ask questions both important and otherwise.

With apologies to Albert Einstein, I leave you with this quote:

“Creativity (and communication) is contagious -- pass it on.”

* Chasing the Muse is a weekly feature written by three different

authors. This week’s is by Laguna Beach resident Cherril Doty.