I wish I could remember where, but long ago I read some author’s opinion that lighthouses were mankind’s greatest invention, because they were entirely selfless in nature. That thought has stuck with me all these years, and it pops into my head every time I draw a lighthouse.
The memory has occurred to me again during this strange time we all find ourselves in, of social distancing and trying to mitigate a worldwide pandemic. Weeks and weeks on end of self-isolation has given me just a glimpse of what it must have been like to be a lighthouse keeper—to spend long stretches of time in solitude, in order to ensure the safety of others.
Except today we can reach out to each other with more than just a blinking light. Thanks both to modern technology and the good old-fashioned post office, we can stay connected to one another, like a constellation of beacons up and down the coast. It’s good to remember that when I start to pine for the “before” time.
One way or another, sooner or later, we’ll find our way through this terrible time. For now we have our proverbial points of light to guide us, and we’re also scanning the horizon for the brighter, more hopeful light of a future vaccine. I’m hoping we can all stay strong and hold fast to our collective lighthouses of social distancing in the meantime, until we can navigate our way to a safe harbor—together.
Ghost domes 
Forgotten canyon 
Twists and turns 
I very much like your equating of lighthouse keepers to the current situation,” in order to ensure the safety of others.” Beautiful sketches, as always.
I’ve been to and sketched 2 of these.
Thank you, Kate! Glad you’ve sketched some of these lighthouses, too—our Browns Point light is a humble one, but it has a special place in my heart because I can see its light across the Bay from my balcony at night. It’s a good reminder for me these days, of what we’re doing this for, and for whom.
Beautiful! Thank you for this post, both for itself and because it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.
I recently reread a lovely series of stories involving a lighthouse keeper and a commercial fisherman slowly falling in love, mostly via radio, to start with, so these works from you currently have a special resonance for me.
Wishing you all the best, from down here in the Bay Area,
Karen from June 2012 at the Playground
Thank you, Karen! So good to hear from you again—hoping you are safe and well, and hope to see you again in person someday!
I’m reasonably safe and well, thanks!
It would be lovely if we could cross paths again, in person, sometime. However, travel is generally not a frequent activity for me. So, I would love to know if you make any plans to get down this way!
Also, please feel free to drop by my blog and comment, if the urge ever strikes you. 🙂 I decided I would blog every day that I’m sheltering in place–today is day 48 for the Bay Area counties. I can’t guarantee that the content will be interesting, but it’s an available place to chat, and I occasionally also have a bit of art to show, or an interesting link to share.
And now I’m off to a virtual museum visit (by Zoom) with several friends-elsewhere. Hope your day is going well!