A Clay Pot Of Succulents On A Sandstone Staircase Wall In Front Of Our House In Santa Barbara Poem by Grant House

About the time they built this small house here in Santa Barbara
Its sandstone block staircase and walls and a fine view across town from the Riviera
The design of Santa Barbara's city flag was created
Three years later in 1923 it was adopted as the official city flag
That was two years before the big earthquake

The flag embodies the city colors white and red
And the red and gold of Spanish royalty
The castle reminds us of Saint Barbara
Locked up in her tower
Above three stairway windows
Symbolizing the Holy Trinity
Soon to be executed by her dad
Sad to say
It appears he was uncomfortable with her beliefs
She was not about to compromise her values
A standoff

That's one way to see
Succulents in a clay pot
With a three by five inch ornamental flag
Sticking out of one side
Just sitting on a sandstone wall
In late afternoon golden sunlight glow
As another beautiful day calms down into night

Here is another
The pot and succulents were purchased at an annual fundraiser in the back yard of Laurie and Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaeffer's home a few years ago
The money raised from these events supports the Avi Schaeffer Fund's work
ASF promotes peace between Israelis and Palestinians
They focus on engaging young people on college campuses here in the US and around the world
They get together, share ideas, make lasting friendships, and work together for peace

It is named The Avi Schaeffer Fund to honor Laurie and Arthur's son Avi who was killed by a drunken driver some years ago
He believed "An enemy is someone whose story you have not yet heard..."
His motto as I understand it
"Seek Peace and Pursue It"
That is written on a scroll of canvas above my desk that was designed, produced, and distributed by his mother to raise money to keep his legacy alive and growing

To summarize his life
Avi Schaeffer sought peace and pursued it
A truly wonderful guy

The little Santa Barbara flag
Sat on my desk in city hall
For the 8 years I served as a city council member

93 million miles away from us
Our star, the Sun, pretty much gives us everything
Things like this golden Maxfield Parrish sunset
And, yes, I recognize he was famous for Daybreak
But ever since I first saw posters of his paintings
I have been unshakably convinced he worked in sunsets

I cherish this time of day
These rich colors
What they have meant to us
How they make us feel
The symbolism and memories
Whose lives they touch
Where we have been and wherever it is we are going
What about you?