Well, it seems that Al Fonzi has thrown in the proverbial towel and gone back East to Trump country (“From over here,” Dec. 2). Al will soon discover why things are “so much cheaper” in eastern Tennessee. I hope he is not living downwind of that pile of burning leaves, and let’s hope the fires are not left unattended.
Just like some of Al’s new neighbors, I too am proud of my “colonial pioneer heritage.”Four of my mestizo ancestors were with Portolá in 1769 and 14 others came with Anza in 1774. One of them married a member of the Acjachemen Nation giving me indigenous roots to my beloved California, and two more were Africans who helped establish the city of Los Angeles in 1781. But, unlike the pioneers of the “Volunteer State,” in 1846 my ancestors, although poorly armed and outnumbered, fought to defend their California home from the invader. I wish others of Al’s ilk would follow his example and find a cheaper place to live somewhere back East.
While taking in the countryside of his new Tennessee home, Al may notice that the African slaves have all been replaced with underpaid Mexican migrant labor. Perhaps seeing them stooped over in the fields picking his food will provide him with fond memories of his time in the “woke” Golden State?
Finally, I don’t understand Al’s comment that people in Tennessee “still wish each other ‘Merry Christmas’ without hesitation or fear.” Many of us here in central California would like to wish Al Fonzi a “¡Feliz Navidad!” … y gracias por irte.
Lisa Casillas-Lugo de Siemsen
Orcutt
This article appears in Last-Minute Gift Guide 2021.
Thanks to the author for this articulate and enlightening response to Al Fonzi’s farewell letter to California.
Al sounds like a smart person. This author, not so much. Vete.
“Al sounds like a smart person.”
Mr. Fonzi is most definitely a smart person—his columns are always highly literate and interesting. Unfortunately, he has been left behind by a world that is changing rapidly. He doesn’t understand it and so he lashes out at the Democrat (emphasis on the “rat”) Party, climate scientists who warn we are on the edge of a cliff, activists who simply want to level the playing field when it comes to race and anyone else who disturbs his 1950’s fever dream of a perfect America. I think Mr. Fonzi will find a great deal of peace In Tennessee. He can take his dogs hunting and always find neighbors who completely agree with his opinions.
Hilarious post, claims Al will be smelling burning leaves in Tennessee. I guess burning hundreds of thousands of acres throughout California along with homes and buildings every year, I wouldn’t mind if it were only leaves. I have a nephew who moved there last year and he loves it, he just graduated college and has already bought his first home, one of many benefits living away from this sh****le.
How naive can you get thinking that California is the only place to live, the one thing this state has over many others is the mild climate. How about the rise of criminal activity, taxes, costs of living along with all those state regulations, mandates and lack of affordable housing, don’t forget the homeless in the thousands craping on city streets and window smashing in SF. How’s it feel that people entering the State illegally getting those benefits for housing, school and medical needs off your tax dollars, but you complain about the costs of healthcare? California has an exodus of citizens along with businesses for the first time ever, they are taking billions away from the State, yes California has a surplus only because they figured out a way to add fees (taxes) on just about everything possible, and your content.
Granted Al was a right winger but he tried to enlighten you with facts about the decline of California, but the blind leading the blind over rules. Time to wake up.