Special Delivery for Julia, By Joe Ortiz

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Special Delivery for Julia

By Joe Ortiz

What would it feel like to get on an airplane with the paranoid sensation that you are a smuggler transporting contraband? Try bringing sourdough starters to Julia Child’s house for a video shoot.

What seemed like an easy mission at first, quickly became a morbid fear that my unlabeled jars of pasty mixtures would be critically “inspected” by TSA agents, who might not know a mother dough from a facial lotion.

A week before the trip, I lay awake every night, worrying about whether my concoctions would bubble up and ooze out of their containers in the overhead compartment—microorganisms on their way to Cambridge to entertain Julia coming alive on a 747, running wild in the aisles. The humor and absurdity of the thought helped me relax.

Yet, my mind ran away with me. No, actually, I was freaked! I feared the TSA inspectors would confiscate my luggage and haul me off the flight in handcuffs just for trying to smuggle through a few active yeast cells for making peasant country bread. Would the agents suspect my goopy mixtures as some sort of catalyst for an explosive?

I’ll admit I was working myself into my own self-imposed paranoia, supercharged by the gravity of my “momentous undertaking.” And I’ll also admit I’ve been given to exaggerating the significance of bread’s contribution to human existence. Could this be the tragic flaw of any craftsperson or artist? Hubris on the scale of a modern-day Don Quixote, tilting, not with a lance to fight windmills but with a teaspoon or chopstick to stir and nurture an elixir to save the world?

Or can it simply be the artisan baker’s occupational hazard of inhaling too many fumes?

From what I understand, TSA inspectors are prone to question anything suspicious: What evil motive lurks in the mind of a person who would carry a jar of microorganisms on a flight?

Chemical warfare came to mind. Or a guarded caution about an unknown substance:

“Explain this to me, mister! You’re bringing a wet, slimy paste across country to do what? Make a peasant country “boule.” And for who? Julia? Sure. What the hell’s a boule anyway, smart alec? And who’s this Julia? A code name for some spy cell? Some covert operation?”

Oh, no, I think. Julia and her husband were both CIA before she became a celebrity chef. Spies!! What am I getting myself into?

“Unfasten your seatbelt, wise guy,” the TSA agent tells me in my fantasy shakedown. “Stand up, put your hands behind your head and exit the plane.”

These were the thoughts that ran through my mind several nights before my flight to Cambridge.

Plans Change

Afew months earlier, my wife Gayle and I were in Scotland for the Open golf tournament when I got a call from our bakery: “Julia Child just called, and she wants to talk to you about changing your presentation next week.”

“Julia Child” page 7

Joe Ortiz with Julia Child

Good Shepherd Catholic School

is accepting applications for Fall of 2022

“Soquel High” from page 1

Joining her as valedictorian are: Laura Bennett, Ciara Cantlen, Eva Claussen, Audrey Finch, Adonay Gonzalez, Nicolas Graessle, Alyson Kosek, Danika Marlatt, Kyra Phelan, Lily Sonnenblick, Edita Stein, Ruby Storey, Alexandra Weiss and Max Cote.

The salutatorians are: Serena Crane, Tyler Holden, Rolando Mayoral Peralta, Sierra Long, and Maya McCain.

At the awards night May 25, some received scholarships; others received departmental honors and/or the California Seal of Biliteracy.

The Capitola-Soquel Times asked valedictorians to share what they enjoyed about Soquel High, how Covid affected their experience and their future plans. Their answers follow. •••

Nicholas Graessle

Iwill be attending UCLA in the fall. I will be majoring in biology on the premed track.

At Soquel, I was the varsity water polo team captain, varsity volleyball team captain, president of the doctors of tomorrow club, president of the Red Cross club, president of hype club, and Associated Student Body vice president.

Covid was extremely harmful and destructive to the strong connections of the legendary Soquel community, but as soon as we returned to in-person instruction that Soquel family reunited.

I love the community at Soquel. From Link Crew to Homecoming to MultiCultural graduation, Soquel is so unique and special to all of its students.

Parents: Molly and Brett Graessle

Alyson Kosek

Iwill attend the University of British Columbia in the faculty of Science in the fall. I plan on majoring in computer science.

I have been involved in the girls tennis team for four years, Bring Change to Mind club as the treasurer and vice president for the past four years, and National Honors Society.

Covid has made it harder to want to continue pushing myself academically. Being isolated from my friends and peers just made it difficult to overcome the hardships as I no longer had the same strong support system as I had previously.

I enjoyed the welcoming community that was built during my time at Soquel.

Parents: Kristen and Bradley Kosek.

Danika Marlatt

major. It is a combination of leadership, communication, and business.

At Soquel High, I was involved in sports, clubs, and leadership. I played softball all 4 years, volleyball for 2, and tennis for 2. In terms of clubs, I held positions and was a member of Women in Science, Interact, Link Crew, Soquel UKnighted (National Coalition Building Institute), Hype, Doctors of Tomorrow, and Biology. I also was class vice president freshman and sophomore year, Associated Student Body Vice President junior year, and Associated Student Body President senior year.

The social component of high school is just as important as academics. I derive a great deal of my motivation from those around me so not being able to physically see my friends and teachers made me lose some of the enjoyment of school. I had to be creative in adjusting to online learning and underwent many trials and errors. It was difficult to say the least but once we returned back to school, there was definitely a palpable sense of appreciation across my entire school. If I gained one thing from the pandemic, it was to appreciate the small things.

I enjoyed all of the long-standing traditions at Soquel High. Homecoming week, Mr. SHS (male pageant show), and musical chairs every Friday are just a few. Soquel’s spirit is unmatched. Some of my fondest high school memories are screaming in the bleachers for my friends out on the field, court, or pool. Also, I enjoyed all of the connections I made with my peers!

Parents: Monica and Eric Marlatt

Cover Photo: Soquel High School Valedictorians

Front row (from left): Alyson Kosek, Laura Bennett,

Nicholas Graessle, Danika Marlatt, Alexandra Weiss.

Middle row (from left): Edith Stein, Kyra Phelan,

Maya Rhee-Pizano, Ruby Storey, Adonay Gonzalez.

Back row (from left): Ciara Cantlen, Audrey Finch,

Max Cote, Eva Claussen.

Not pictured: Lily Sonnenblick

Maya Rhee-Pizano

Iwill attend UCLA in the fall to study physiological sciences on the pre-med track.

At Soquel High, I was the president of the National Honor Society, a member of Doctors of Tomorrow, and Women in Science.

I played varsity volleyball all four years at Soquel High and our team won the Central Coast Section this year.

Parents: Summer Rhee-Pizano and Eddie Rhee-Pizano.

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