Page 55 - Greet HWY 68 Loop Magazine September 2025

RESIDENT MUSINGS YOU’RE INVITED!

The Science of Everyday IMPOWER

Things: Telephones Join us for another inspiring luncheon

featuring keynote speaker, Ashley
BY ANDY POGANY, SAN BENANCIO
Chesney, Executive Director and Co-
Founder of Set Free Monterey Bay

I have a terrible innate sense of direction. People
would ask, “How bad could it possibly be?”
“I have to leave the door open in a phone
booth to find my way out” was my standard reply.
These days there are no phone booths,
and young people don’t know what the heck they are (there
is one at Nephenthe in Big Sur if you want to see one). Our
smartphones not only have no booths but also have various
navigation apps to help hapless, hopeless, directionally
challenged travelers like me. Also, much more useful stuff all of
which were sold separately back in the day: camera, calculator,
clock, books, puzzles, games, music, can now be held in the Ashley
palm of your hand. Chesney
Dating in the 1970s during my teenage years, there was And there was the telephone. And it was wired to a wall.
no texting, no Instagram, no Facebook, or email. There were Private conversations were rare and uncomfortable. Once my
hand-written notes that I would give my sister to give to my parents relented letting me plug in their phone in my bedroom,
girlfriend at school. I had to speak quietly, or my sister might hear and that would
be bad. Nevertheless, I was tethered to a wall. Dina Ruiz
As teenagers we had phone time limits because of “house Join the ladies of
rules” but also because if anyone was on the phone, nobody IMPOWER for lunch,
else could call us… especially my sister’s boyfriends. I learned inspiration and more!
it’s a bad idea to make my sister mad. Anyway, it was called
a ‘busy signal’ and the caller would just have to blindly keep Thursday, Oct. 2 11:30 - 1:30
trying to call back, because there was no call-waiting or The Club at Pasadera
voicemail. And of course, Googling or sending pictures on your Tickets are $70 and can be purchased at
phone weren’t invented yet, let alone being able to do that www.impowerwomen.org
WHILE you were talking!
There was also something called ‘long distance’ calling. Keynote speaker, Ashley Chesney a leader in the anti-
This was very expensive and charged by the minute, so the trafficking movement, author of memoir, From the Ashes,
“parental police” were very vigilant over every single minute and Executive Director and Co-Founder of Set Free Monterey
I talked to my girlfriend (later wife) once she moved to a Bay. She is a passionate advocate and expert trainer.
different state. Calling relatives like my grandfather in Lugano, She works closely with first responders and educates
Switzerland was out of the question except for a call during communities on how to identify human trafficking, paving
Christmas where us kids lined up to get one minute each with the way torwar its eradication.
zero idea what to say. In those days, my mom and aunt would Ashley is a compelling speaker and alumni member of the
correspond with their dad via a cassette tape. Mom recorded SCEC (Commercially Sexuallly Exploited Children) Advisory
one side, my aunt the other side. My grandfather would send Board with the National Center for Youth Law. Ashley brings
it back a month or so later, one side for each of his daughters. her lived experience to the forefront of policy and advocacy
9600 Blue Larkspur Lane, (Music and recordings are another story for the future.) efforts. Through her own journey, she found freedom, and
Suite 101
I leave you with this parting food for thought. During a now dedicates her life to walking alongside survivors as they
holiday family gathering at my cousin’s house in Canada, reclaim theirs. Ashley earned her BA in Collaborative Health
831-649-1506 which was a big deal due to lots of driving for everyone, he saw and Human Services from CSUMB, graduating summa cum
five of my 20-something nieces/nephews in a room texting each
laude with a focus on nonprofit management and social work.
other. My cousin lost it: “What is with all these ‘nonversations’? Ashley is a sex trafficking survivor turned thriver.
You’re all in the same room. Have some actual conversations!” Local celebrity, Dina Ruiz, will emcee the program.
Seneca Family of Agencies is
Tax Preparation and Planning | Accounting and Payroll Send us your stories, poems, historic anecdotes of the area, photographs, etc. - this section the featured nonprofit for
Estates and Trusts | Family Offices | Business Valuation celebrates the Loop residents’ creativity and passion. Contact Laurie at laurie.martin@n2co. the luncheon.
com or call 272-4620.

54 September 2025 Greet HWY 68 Loop 55