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“On the Coastside”: Sing Along with Neva Reece

Feeling a little blue? Do you feel like staying when you want to go? Or do you feel like going when you want to stay? You can travel all over the globe and I’ll bet you never forget the Coastside.

On The Coastside (by Neva Reece, copyright 1980)

Stick me in a pocket down by the sea

If you can’t find me, that’s where I’ll be

On the Coastside, diggin in on the Coastside

—–

We’re proud to say we’re not L.A.

San Francisco nor San Jose

We’re just a string of little towns

Down on the Coastside

——

The City and Marin are flashy and fun

They’re as crazy as anyone might want to be

That’s why you’ll find me on the Coastside

When I’ve been away for over a day

When I drive down the Slide

You can hear me say

I’m back home again, back home on the Coastside

——–

Sandy beach, blue horizons

Meeting me everyday

Is it really surprising

This is where I’ve come to stay?

———————–
Neva says:
I would love to write something – of course by the time I get through cutting out the parts that I would be embarrassed to share on a public space it will probably be – “I came, I hung out, i played guitar, I sang, I moved, I visited”….or something like that – ha!! I will have to develop some delicate nuances as some writers do – hint at spiritual states instead of specifics, I guess?!? I will talk to Mickey, I will actually be seeing him and Lizzie next week in Port Townsend. Last I heard of Denise [Steel], she moved to Hawaii and we haven’t heard from her since. I was asking Lizzie about her on one of my more recent visits and she didn’t know either. I will get back to you soon and will be sure to let Mickey know you would like to hear from him. See how wonderful your work is? Helping to bind friendships together through decades and over thousands of miles. you rock!

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Elaine Martini Teixeira: A Little Corner of Moss Beach

(Elaine Martini Teixeira, wearing white, with her sister Loretta)

Half Moon Bay Memories (HMBM): Elaine, when you were growing up on the Coastside, did you work?

Elaine Martini Teixiera (ETM): As I grew up, I worked in the family store in Moss Beach, not only serving the public, but stocking shelves when the grocery supplies came in.

There were two companies that had salesmen come in for orders on canned goods and then a drayage company would bring in the supplies. Fresh sliced bread was delivered from SF, along with bagged cookies, packaged cakes and chips, etc.

We also got deliveries from HMB: Alves dairy brought fresh milk and supplies, Ed Alves, and later his younger brother, Frank Alves, drove the milk truck.

The HMB Bakery delivered fresh bread to our store, the driver was Joe (Beans) Salomone and also Mr. Gihlardi. Mr Gilhardi often had his oldest daughter with him, Lina, and though we were the same age, we did not know each other, but, later, we were in the same class in high school!

A butcher truck came up from HMB, though my Mom did not sell meat in the store, she would make purchases for our family, saving a trip to HMB.

The meat market was Fred Marsh’s, the driver was Mr. Centoni, his two daughters later were in high school with me, and then Joe Nunes opened a market and drove his truck out our way.

During the summer months, while I was in grade school, I would go with my older sister, Gloria, and later by myself, to pick peas our many relatives who farmed in the area: Tony & Lilia Torre, Albert & Eva Quilici,& Daisy and Antone Cardelini.

Cardelini’s peas grew on the lots in Montara, behind the Veterans bldg, up in the hills, on the old Harr Wagner property and the Torello ranch. Torre peas grew on the Marine View Road and the Quilici’s in El Granada behind the old train station and in Miramar near the beach.

With the money I earned, I bought school clothes and if lucky,, a new bikes. My first bike I got second hand from Gloria; later I was able to buy a new one, with brakes that worked!

HMBM: Thank you, Elaine.