West Side Stories Petaluma

While camping, she and a friend heard the sputter of a plane with a wing sheared off and ran toward the sound, only to find police and fire engines at the scene. The next day they learned the drunk, unlicensed pilot had crashed into a trailer — the very one they’d stayed in two days earlier — and ever since, the sound of a low-flying plane sends her heart racing.

After a therapist suggested divorce, she saw a psychic who told her, “When the seasons change, you’ll know it’s time to go.” She moved to Eugene, where in quick succession her dog died, wildfires raged, her back gave out, both parents passed, and a trip to Mexico for alternative medicine landed her in a psych ward — but in the end, she came back to Petaluma, stubborn yet wiser from the whole shits...

When he had to prep for a colonoscopy, the “me time” on the toilet brought back a haunting childhood memory of being three, when the toilet overflowed and left him covered in his own mess. After weeks of avoiding the stool sample, he finally faced his maker — and felt… nothing.

He was in charge of a bike tournament awards ceremony when, at the last minute, they were told to “stretch” the program. His friends helping out started break dancing and one woman broke into a full three-verse rendition of “Davey Crockett,” and when the Race Director asked what was going on, Jerry just shrugged and said, “Shit happens.”

Camping on the Sonoma Coast with her wife and friends, they were in an altered state, soaking in the stunning sunset. Later, back at camp—and very stoned—they realized they were locked out of the rig… with four animals inside. A wobbly table, some teamwork, and a heroic climb saved the day.

On a family camping trip, he’s feeling the distance growing with his now-teenage daughter Jenny. After a tense moment over whether she’d go whale watching, they end up on the boat. When a humpback suddenly breaches, he sees Jenny’s face light up—and in that moment, he’s taken back to when she was three, realizing he hasn’t lost her after all.

On a family camping trip, he’s feeling the distance growing with his now-teenage daughter Jenny. After a tense moment over whether she’d go whale watching, they end up on the boat. When a humpback suddenly breaches, he sees Jenny’s face light up—and in that moment, he’s taken back to when she was three, realizing he hasn’t lost her after all.

After college, while in the Peace Corps, she came down with malaria and woke up to find her underwear on her forehead—to cool her down. She and her brother had one wild day on a moped before catching a bus to find a doctor.

New to camping, he and his wife joined their kids’ school trip with families of all experience levels—including the expert “Actuallys.” After one of their kids pelted him with a balloon, he impulsively fired it back, knocking the kid flat. He never confessed… but it felt oddly satisfying.

In 1969, he and a friend camped in Ensenada with another vet fresh from Vietnam. When nearby demolition work shook the ground all night, no one slept—but in the morning, the vet smiled and said, “That was great!”

While snorkeling with her family, they got caught in a current and drifted out of sight of their boat. As she calmly reached for her kids, unsure what would happen next, another boat appeared and rescued them. She reflects: parenting is staying calm and afloat, even when the current pulls you off course.

Thirty years and forty pounds ago, he fell in love with mountain climbing. Even after getting struck by lightning once, he kept going. On another climb, a friend’s bathroom break delayed their descent—leaving them racing down as lightning struck all around.

After finding a leftover classroom pet crayfish named Crusty, she tried to return him to nature—only to witness a brutal crawdad attack. Feeling guilty, she made a flower wreath and held a small farewell for Crusty.

On his Maui honeymoon, he reflects on marriage while taking in the island’s natural beauty—from rainy skies to stargazing and standing at the edge of a volcano. Nature helps him see the big picture.

Matt tries to answer whether any of us really know our fathers.

John recounts tales akin to Tom and Huck on the Missippi River because hasn't everyone said "We should build a raft" at some point in their life?

The swim that will haunt Katherine forever.

Flashback to the days when Mary knew all the town gossip working at the local flower shop.

Rick takes us back to Haight & Ashbury and how easy it was to make friends (or roommates) with hippies in less than a day.

Leslie reminisces about her first and best friend; her mom. She reminds us that moms always know more than we do.

Bobby remembers the time he became a man, the Italian way.

Lendri takes us back to the time she took her class on a field trip to gold country and had an experience she'll never forget.

Carlos compares real problems from his childhood in Columbia to the "real" problems facing Gen Z.

Flashback to Ben's favorite adventure as a caregiver for dementia patients.

JP remembers the time his mom forced him to come to parties to overhear partygoers conversations as her hearing declines and he learns the joy of gossiping.