Matt Moberg

I think every human being 

eventually has a moment

where they are standing outside in sweatpants

that have lost the will to be pants,

holding a trash bag, a divorce, a parking ticket,

or some other receipt from the universe

that says, “surprise, this too is part of it.”

And then the sky bruises purple.

And the air touches your face

like it knows your whole story.

And suddenly you realize:

all the real is actually unreal.

The dirt.

The breath.

The weird little bones in your hands.

The fact that we are here,

on a floating rock with pollen counts,

paying bills,

missing dead people,

loving living people

who say “leaving now”

while still fully naked and looking for socks.

And still,

the moon clocks in.

No applause.

No benefits.

No note from management saying,

“Great work being ancient and luminous again.”

Just the moon,

working nights

like a single mother with no applause,

packing silver lunches

for every dark thing

that still has to rise.

Tell me that isn’t holy.

Tell me there is a better word

than sacred

for the way light keeps returning

with no guarantee

we will actually stop and take note.

I know people who believe in therapy,

probiotics,

tarot,

twelve-step meetings,

manifestation journals,

and waiting exactly eleven minutes

before texting back

so they do not appear emotionally available,

even though their whole nervous system

is standing in the driveway holding flowers.

And underneath all of it,

every ritual,

every doctrine,

every smoothie with chia seeds,

the prayer is the same:

Please let me be loved.

Please let me be forgiven.

Please let this strange little life

mean something

before my lower back

submits its formal resignation.

What is going on?

For real tho—What is this place?

This unbearable tenderness

of being alive long enough

to watch steam lift from coffee in winter

like a soul practicing leaving.

To see your friend laugh so hard

they slap the table

as if joy is a mosquito

they are trying to kill.

To hear a child say “pisghetti”

and, for one shining second,

realize language

has finally been improved.

I know I already noted this in the first piece,

but the older I get,

the less use I have for certainty.

Certainty has never made me pull over

because the sunset looked like God

dropped a jar of peach jam

across the whole midwestern sky

and decided to be lazy

and not clean up.

Certainty has never made me gasp

at rain on hot pavement.

Certainty has never found me

in the cereal aisle,

holding Captain Crunch,

suddenly remembering

that everyone I have ever loved

was made from stardust,

hunger,

and a series of decisions

we probably should have slept on.

No.

It has always been awe.

Awe was the first church.

Before steeples.

Before committees.

Before men got involved

and started making rules about skirts.

Awe was there

with its wild hair

and muddy feet,

saying:

Look.

Look again.

Look until looking

becomes love.

Awe, and soup.

Awe, and someone rubbing your back

when you are sick.

Awe, and old couples at Target

arguing gently about avocados,

as if marriage is not one vow

but ten thousand errands

performed beside the person

who knows exactly

how you like the cart pushed.

Maybe gratitude

was never meant to sound elegant.

Maybe gratitude sounds like:

“Damn.

That woodpecker is trying

to beat that tree from itself.”

Maybe gratitude sounds like:

“Thank you, body,

for continuing to drag me through this world

despite the many slim jims 

I have done to you

at gas stations.”

Maybe gratitude sounds like:

“Thank you to the dogs

who lose their entire minds

when we come home

as if we have returned from war

and not Walgreens.”

For me, that might be my gospel.

That joy that does not wait for us

to be impressive but only needs us

to come through the door.

Because the truth is,

this life is devastating.

And ridiculous.

One minute you are 22 and invincible,

driving too fast,

eating gas station nachos

with the confidence of a Greek god.

The next minute you are googling,

“Can sneezing cause a hamstring injury?”

and the answer is,

apparently,

“Welcome to the second half of your life.”

But even now—

even tired,

even grieving,

even emotionally held together

by iced coffee, playlists,

and one very specific wolves hoodie—

we keep finding reasons

to stay soft.

We plant tomatoes

even though grief is real.

We bake bread

even though the news is on fire.

We send photos of the sky

to people we love

with captions like,

“LOOK,”

as if beauty is an emergency

and we are all volunteer firefighters.

We keep saying,

“You have to see this,”

because wonder

is the oldest form

of resurrection.

So here’s to the believers

and the atheists

and the agnostics

and the people whose entire theology

is just trying not to cry

in the DMV line.

Here’s to the people clinging to faith.

Here’s to the people clinging to Xanax

and oat milk

and the one group chat

where nobody pretends to be okay.

Here’s to the tender-hearted weirdos.

The accidental mystics.

The ones who can contemplate mortality

for six straight hours

and then become emotionally attached

to a perfect peach.

The ones who know

despair has a mouth,

but so does laughter.

May we never stop being drop-kicked by beauty

in the middle of a Sunday afternoon.

May we never become so polished

that we forget how to stand

in the Starbucks line of existence

with our dumb, gorgeous hearts open,

feeling the enormity of it all

rattle around in our bones

like thunder

looking for somewhere to laugh.

And may we remember:

whatever else this is,

whatever mess,

whatever miracle,

whatever cosmic group project

no one was prepped for—

all’ve it is astonishing.

that we are here.

that we have loved enough to be ruined.

that the moon keeps showing up.

that bread exists.

So pass it on.

Tear off a piece

with your bare hands.

Take it in as you take it down. 

And then go outside and look at that moon.

Note: the current expectation is that this light will be active thru the 2028 Big Sur Marathon.

Date:	Tuesday, May 26, 2026
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Ashton Harris
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO ACTIVATE ON HIGHWAY 1

AT THE ROCKY CREEK BRIDGE ON FRIDAY, MAY 29

MONTEREY COUNTY – A temporary traffic signal system will be activated on Highway 1 at the Rocky Creek Bridge on Friday, May 29, at 6 am. The Rocky Creek Bridge is located 12 miles south of Carmel.

These signals will operate 24/7 and travelers can expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

This signal system is being activated in support of an Electrochemical Chloride Extraction (ECE) treatment project designed to extend the life of the bridge. Signals will be in place for the entirety of the project, which is now estimated to be complete by June 2028, weather permitting.

Prior to the activation of the temporary signals, travelers will encounter overnight one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers from 8 pm to 6 am starting Tuesday, May 26 thru Friday, May 29.

The Rocky Creek Bridge is experiencing active corrosion of the steel reinforcement due to the presence of chlorides in the concrete which cause degradation of the structural concrete elements.

Electrochemical Chloride Extraction treatment will restore the health of the bridge and extend the life of the bridge by halting the active corrosion of the steel reinforcement through the removal of chloride ions.

There will be permit load restrictions throughout the duration of the project. Wide and heavy loads are advised to contact Caltrans Permits Office prior to planned travel or plan an alternate route. Detours will not be posted or available.

Please note that due to weight restrictions resulting from the scaffolding being erected beneath the bridge structure, the signal will remain on during public events such as the 2026 and 2027 Monterey Car Week and the 2027 and 2028 Big Sur International Marathon.

Travelers are advised to give themselves extra time when travelling through the area.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.

Our crews deserve to get home safely too.

Drive slowly and carefully in work zones.

CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.gov

Traveler information at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

Not really a photo, but I like this.

Created by See Monterey. Slogan by Kate Daniels, Supervisor, 5th District

Monterey County Board of Supervisors Fact Sheet:

Bixby Bridge Parking Moratorium

Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 19

Topic: Proposed parking restrictions near Bixby Bridge in Big Sur

Board Actions Taken

• The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with a

12-month moratorium on parking in the immediate vicinity of Bixby Bridge.

• The motion passed 3-0, with Supervisors Chris Lopez and Luis Alejo

abstaining.

• County staff were directed to:

o Draft a temporary ordinance establishing parking restrictions.

o Return the ordinance to the board for at least two rounds of review

before implementation.

o Pursue required permits from Caltrans and Coastal Commission

process.

Implementation Status

• The parking ban is not yet in effect.

• No implementation date has been finalized.

• The original goal of implementing restrictions before Memorial Day

weekend was delayed due to:

o Permitting requirements

o Staffing needs

o Enforcement planning

Reasons Cited for the Action

County officials identified several concerns related to increased visitation and

congestion around Bixby Bridge, including:• Emergency vehicle access delays

• Traffic congestion affecting residents and commuters

• Illegal roadside and in-road parking

• Pedestrian safety concerns

• Increased tourism following the reopening of Highway 1 on Jan. 14

Tourism and Traffic Data Brought Forward in Board Referral

• Northbound traffic at Ragged Point reportedly increased by more than

900% year-over-year.

• Caltrans reported:

o Restaurant and retail guest counts up approximately 40% year-to-

date

o Peak weekends nearly doubling previous 2025 levels

Enforcement and Operational Considerations

Officials discussed several enforcement-related issues that still need resolution:

• Determining whether enforcement costs will be covered by the county, the

state, or both

• Preliminary estimates projected approximately $15,300 per month for one

CHP officer working weekends

• Additional enforcement options under consideration include:

o Monterey County Sheriff-based enforcement agreements

o Drone monitoring

Concerns Raised During Board Discussion

Some supervisors expressed concerns regarding:

• Potential legal issues involving California Coastal Commission regulations

• Whether a full parking ban could shift congestion into travel lanes

• The need for active enforcement to prevent unsafe roadside stopping

Next Steps

• County staff will prepare draft ordinance language.

• The ordinance will return to the Board of Supervisors for additional public

review and approval before any restrictions are implemented.

• Emergency Coastal Development Permit efforts will begin

• Caltrans permitting efforts will begin

Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of the summer tourist season is almost upon us. Tuesday the Board of Supervisors took up the issue of a moratorium on parking at Bixby Creek Bridge. It passed by a majority vote with 2 abstemsias. It will take effect at sometime in the not to distant but unknown future date. It is just the most recent attempt to address an out-of-control situation that has resulted in a dangerous and unsustainable condition that has been present ever since Big Little Lies made it part of their opening credits in 2017.

Those who live and work in Big Sur need no reminder of what it can be like to try to get anywhere that involves crossing Bixby Bridge or heading home up the Coast Road. Just this past Tuesday, a Big Sur friend who had an appointment in town on Tuesday wrote me that Bixby Bridge was “insane” — her word, not mine. That’s on a TUESDAY in May, not a weekend during the summer. Here is what Bixby Bridge was like in 2024 — when the road was still closed to the south.

See Video shot by Marcus Foster Memorial Day weekend 2024 here: https://youtu.be/cLybEK7sS9w?si=0lCEAwMke2aBrE8k or here: https://bigsurkate.blog/2024/05/28/bixby-bridge-memorial-day-weekend/ (I apologize, I did my best to embed this video here, but it didn’t’ think this version of WordPress was compatible with the current version of you tube, despite the fact that it is still playing on the prior post linked above. It is beyond my pay grade to spend any more time on it, just click on the prior bigsurkate post.)

Since it opened, Traffic heading north at Ragged Point has increased 900% — you read that right 900%. That will quickly turn Highway One between Ragged Point and Carmel into a parking lot. Of course, Mama Sur has a way of shaking off or tossing out too many people and particularly the wrong type of people who do not respect her. If in fact we get the Monster El Niño which seems to be developing for this winter, the road will close again somewhere. The only question is where. There are several places that have slid before that I notice are moving again. I am not the only one noticing.

So my advice to those visiting is to enjoy Big Sur and all her beauty, but treat her well. Be mindful of others who will pick up after you so there is no health hazard and so that others may enjoy her beauty; be mindful of traffic, and treat ALL your fellow travelers on this highway with even MORE respect than you expect to be treated. Only stop where there are turnouts and at businesses that can and will welcome you. And lastly, both the mountains and the ocean here are quite treacherous in Big Sur. Please don’t put our first responders in danger by needing to be rescued from some bad decision YOU made. We love and need them. Thank you.

What recovery after a wildfire looks like, six years later…

.Big Sur is used to landslides, but having two back to back which closed the highway for there years was new to us. It was difficult for the businesses to stay afloat at first, but they managed. Residents had to adapt as well, but Big Syrians are adept at that. Now that the highway is open for the summer, they are well on the way to making up for the lost revenue and more, way more, if the figures from January through May are any indication. Big Sur Chamber of Commerce, San Luis Obispo County Chambers, Caltrans and Governor Newsome’s office hosted an “opening” celebration at Ragged Point yesterday, 5/15/26 for the iconic highway that opened in mid January. It was an excellent photo op and free publicity for the road that needs no publicity.

Visit California, the nonprofit organization tasked with promoting California tourism, stated that northbound traffic at Ragged Point is up more than 900% since the highway was reopened, showing a “pent-up demand for travel to this iconic coastal corridor,” according to state officials, like Newsom’s Senior Advisor Dee Dee Myers.

Local businesses in Big Sur are experiencing what businesses describe as an “on switch” effect. Year-to-date guest counts at restaurants and retail locations are up approximately 40%, with peak weekends nearly doubling 2025 levels. Lodging patronage further underscores this momentum, with February and March occupancy rates reaching 80% and 96%, respectively (up from 70% and 85% last year). Forward-looking indicators are equally robust, with hotel revenue pacing 108% ahead of last year over the next 12 months and 200% above 2025 levels for the critical travel season from March through August. (Per a PR issues by Caltrans

“The robust and sustained increase in visitation is allowing our business, employees, and larger community to recover rapidly from the three-year closure,” said Kirk Gafill, owner of Nepenthe restaurant in Big Sur. “We have experienced a 45 percent increase in guest volume following the reopening of Highway 1 in January.”

With Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer tourist season around the corner, and due to the craziness that has become Bixby Bridge, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is taking up the issue of parking at this InstaGram online sensation and is considering a one year moratorium on parking on or near the bridge at the May 19th Board of Supervisors meeting.. Just driving over the bridge to get to town has become a nightmare due to double parking, people stopping in the middle of the road, getting out, locking their car and walking over to get what they think is ai mandatory souvenir — a photo of a man-made artifact of the 1930’s. (Note: this exact scenario happened to this blogger a few years back and others have written saying it happened to them.)

We were pushing back at the issues of the mess at Bixby Bridge at least as far back as Memorial Day 2019.if not before See: shttps://bigsurkate.blog/2019/05/28/tourist-tuesday-bixby-bridge-memorial-day-weekend/

Taken July 4th last year…while the road was still closed further south.

While we are glad to see our visitors returning and sharing the beauty of our coast, we simply ask of our visitors:

And above all harm no one and no thing. Make sure you leave this sacred place at beautiful and natural as you found it so that future generations and feel the magic, too.

Central Coast, Stand Up! 📣 Join us at a town hall to learn what proposed changes to the Roadless Rule could mean for Los Padres and our public lands.

For 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of intact national forest from new roads, large-scale logging, and mining, including more than 635,000 acres in and around Los Padres National Forest.

Now, the U.S. Forest Service is proposing to roll back these protections while limiting public input in the process.

Together, we can show that our communities are paying attention—and that we will fight to protect our forests.

🌲 OJAI – May 28 at Sane Living

🌲 VENTURA – May 29 at Topa Topa Brewing Co. on Colt St.

🌲 SANTA BARBARA – June 10 at Toad&Co. Courtyard

🌲 SLO – Details coming soon…stay tuned!

👉🏽 RSVP: https://ow.ly/ue7c50YZSyz