Opinion - Columns - Kathe Tanner

Published: Thursday, Sep. 17, 2009

What is a Cambrian?

As many definitions as there are residents.

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What is a Cambrian? Ask, and you’ll get as many answers as there are North Coast residents. Maybe more.

Certainly, the replies could include adjectives such as: independent; feisty; friendly; nosy; smart and/or smart-mouthed; well-educated; passionate; wealthy or hard-working (sometimes both); retired; world-class naggers; big-hearted; committed to a cause; stubborn; generous to a fault; willing to stick one’s neck out; and even occasionally short-fused and grumpy.

That’s a Cambrian. They care. A lot.

Some people move here, but never become real Cambrians. Perhaps there’s not enough action, whatever that means, or the weather’s too cold, the town’s too small and there’s no resident symphony or Starbuck’s. Eventually realizing their mistake, most non-Cambrians move on.

I’ve been musing about all this ever since I talked to a man from Los Angeles who related a sad yet curiously upbeat tale.

On Aug. 31, Gregory Randall lost his fiancée’s engagement ring in mid-proposal off the far end of the San Simeon pier. The whole amazing episode was caught on videotape — he had set up the camera ostensibly to film wildlife, but really to capture the surprise start of their new life together.

Linda Messerman accepted Greg’s proposal. But when his shaking hand reached for hers to put the ring on her finger, the symbol of their love slipped from both their hands and disappeared into about 20 feet of water below the pier.

The ornate 14 karat, white-gold bauble appraised at $6,000 included a 1.2-carat diamond. In the process of their search, Greg and Linda found silver linings all around them. “Everybody was wonderful,” he said.

They frantically searched for an agency, a group or an individual to help them. They found all three when they connected with Ben Boer of the Cambria Community Services District and the North Coast Ocean Rescue Team.

After hearing Greg’s tale, Ben immediately said, “We’ll go look for it.”

Now that’s a Cambrian.

A few days later, Ben had rounded up members of the Sheriff’s dive team, who volunteered their time and expertise. For more than an hour in the sea, they searched for the ring with high-powered lights and an underwater metal detector.

Sadly, they didn’t find the treasure. They think a fish may have mistaken it for a lure. “A ring is bling, and fish love bling,” said Andy Rasmussen, coordinator of the dive team.

But before and after that attempt, when I spoke to Greg, he sounded so upbeat that it was hard to believe he’d just taken a huge financial and emotional loss.

As he talked of rollercoaster feelings, the newly engaged wildlife specialist quipped, “This is the only time you’ll hear ‘Congratulations’ and ‘I’m so sorry’ in the same sentence.”

Part of his optimism, he said, stemmed from his deep confidence in the goodness of Cambrians, beliefs formed over many trips here when “people were so very nice even when they didn’t have to be.”

He recalled one late arrival and driving up to their restaurant of choice to find the owner or manager locking up for the night. Greg began to drive away, but the restaurateur turned and said, “You two hungry?”

When Greg demurred, saying they didn’t want to be a bother, the man opened the doors, lit the fireplace and said, “The chef is gone, but I can make you some sandwiches if that’s OK. The cash register’s empty, too, so how ‘bout 5 bucks a sandwich?”

Another Cambria night, Greg was exclaiming over an item in the window of an antique store that had closed for the night. A clerk in a competing antique shop nearby overheard his comment and asked if he was interested in something specific. When Greg said yes, the clerk said, “Oh, I know the guy who owns the store. I’ll just go call him,” and then did just that.

The smiling shopkeeper arrived, unlocked the door turned on all the lights, and said, “Take your time.” Those are Cambrians.

Randall and his fiancée say they want to be Cambrians, too, after he retires. I think they already are. And perhaps that says even more about the little town we love and the people who live in it.

Anyone who finds the lost ring can call Boer at 927-6239. Randall has offered a $1,000 reward, and given a large donation to North Coast Ocean Rescue team. Boer said he’ll make sure some of the donation goes to the Sheriff’s dive team. The highly trained members of both groups regularly risk their lives on behalf of others.

E-mail Kathe Tanner at ktanner@thetribunenews.com. Read more “Slices” at thecambrian.com.