We should all be so lucky to have a friend, a creative inspiration, like Ed Ricketts.

After the first moment, I knew him; and for the next eighteen years I knew him better than I knew anyone.

They were best friends. They fed each other ideas. They told each other truths. The jolted each other beyond the boundaries of the ordinary. They refreshed each other.

Character and Charisma

The unique elements of Ed’s character showed up often in Steinbeck’s work. He was Doc in Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday, Dr. Phillips in the short story “The Snake,” Friend Ed in Burning Bright, Doc Burton in In Dubious Battle, Jim Casy in The Grapes of Wrath, and Doctor Winter in The Moon is Down.

Ricketts wasn’t really a doctor. He had no degree. He was simply devoted and passionate about his work, as a marine biologist, philosopher, writer (Bach to Buddhism), and renaissance man.

And he was a significant catalyst for Steinbeck’s writing as well as a role model for living life to the fullest.

Ricketts was not a stellar businessman, but he was a workaholic who followed the tides and established a system for studying and recording marine life that is still a model today. He wasn’t just interested in where things lived but how they lived.

If you asked him to dinner at seven, he might get there at nine. On the other hand, if a good low collecting tide was at 6:53, he would be in the tide pool at 6:52.

He kept the most careful collecting notes on record, but sometimes he would not open a business letter for weeks.

The lab that Ricketts lived and worked in—Pacific Biological Laboratories—is still on Cannery Row in Monterey, California. When you visit, you can hear the waves crashing just outside the back door, testimony to how perfect the lab was as a setting for Ricketts’ study.

Life on Cannery Row

The street, too, was full of life. The canneries and characters were captured by Steinbeck in the novel Cannery Row.

Cannery Row is . . . a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.

After the novel Cannery Row was published in 1945, the lab (and Ed) became even more of a magnet for visitors and evenings of music, deep conversation, food and drink.

And, even though the book made Ricketts more famous (and infamous) than he ever wanted to be, he forgave Steinbeck. He found the book “exceedingly funny, with an undertone of sadness and loneliness.”

Gone Too Soon

Ed Ricketts died tragically (at age 50), his car hit by a train when it stalled on the tracks on his way to get food for the usual gathering of friends back at the lab.

In life and in memoriam, it was clear that his friends loved him. Steinbeck’s writing showed his exceptional character. The creative inspiration he provided to so many people was undeniable.

Doc would listen to any kind of nonsense and change it for you to a kind of wisdom. Everyone who knew him was indebted to him. And everyone who thought of him thought next, ‘I really must do something nice for Doc.’

“Oh, I See” Moments

Every description of Ricketts, for me, became an “Oh, I see” moment—lessons from life and literature. He was inspiring. A true bohemian with a generous and honest soul.

Of all the tributes, one stood out, words offered by Steinbeck in Ricketts’ eulogy—traits that were at the core of their mutual respect.

The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.

Steinbeck added that one of Ed’s most admirable qualities was his ability “to receive anything from anyone, to receive gracefully and thankfully, and to make the gift seem very fine.”

The Steinbeck quotes are from Cannery Row and About Ed Ricketts/Sea of Cortez, with acknowledgment to Viking Press and Penguin Books.

$\"B&W$

Ed Ricketts at his lab on Cannery Row
\u00a9 Pat Hathaway Collection\/www.caviews.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Creative Inspiration among Friends<\/h2>\n
We should all be so lucky to have a friend, a creative inspiration, like Ed Ricketts.<\/p>\n
John Steinbeck said that \u201cknowing Ed Ricketts was instant.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the first moment, I knew him; and for the next eighteen years I knew him better than I knew anyone.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
They were best friends. They fed each other ideas. They told each other truths. The jolted each other beyond the boundaries of the ordinary. They refreshed each other.<\/p>\n
Character and\u00a0Charisma<\/h4>\n
The unique elements of Ed\u2019s character showed up often in Steinbeck\u2019s work. He was Doc in Cannery Row<\/em> and Sweet Thursday<\/em>, Dr. Phillips in the short story \u201cThe Snake,\u201d Friend Ed in Burning Bright<\/em>, Doc Burton in In Dubious Battle<\/em>, Jim Casy in The Grapes of Wrath<\/em>, and Doctor Winter in The Moon is Down<\/em>.<\/p>\n
Ricketts\u00a0wasn\u2019t really a doctor.\u00a0\u00a0He had no degree. He was simply devoted and passionate about his work, as a marine biologist, philosopher, writer (Bach to Buddhism), and renaissance man.<\/p>\n
And he was a significant catalyst for Steinbeck\u2019s writing as well as a role model for living life to the fullest.<\/p>\n
His mind had no horizons. He was interested in everything.<\/em><\/p>\n
Ricketts was not a stellar\u00a0businessman, but he was a workaholic who followed the tides and established a system for studying and recording marine life that is still a model today.\u00a0He wasn\u2019t just interested in where things lived but how they lived.<\/p>\n
If you asked him to dinner at seven, he might get there at nine. On the other hand, if a good low collecting tide was at 6:53, he would be in the tide pool at 6:52.<\/em><\/p>\n
He kept the most careful collecting notes on record, but sometimes he would not open a business letter for weeks.<\/em><\/p>\n
Once, a cheesecake arrived in the mail. Three months later, Ed opened it.<\/p>\n
$\"The$
The Pacific Biological Laboratories still standing on Cannery Row
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
The lab that Ricketts lived and worked in\u2014Pacific Biological Laboratories\u2014is still on Cannery Row in Monterey, California. When you visit, you can hear the waves crashing just outside the back door, testimony to how perfect the lab was as a setting for Ricketts\u2019 study.<\/p>\n
$\"Cannery$
Now tourist attractions, the fish canneries were the center of life and livelihood on Cannery Row.
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
Life on Cannery Row<\/h4>\n
The street, too, was full of life. The canneries and characters were captured by Steinbeck in the novel\u00a0Cannery Row.<\/em><\/p>\n
Cannery Row is . . . a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.<\/em><\/p>\n
After the novel Cannery Row<\/em> was published in 1945, the lab (and Ed) became even more of a magnet for visitors and evenings of music, deep conversation, food and drink.<\/p>\n
And, even though the book made Ricketts\u00a0more famous (and infamous) than he ever wanted to be, he forgave Steinbeck. He found the book \u201cexceedingly funny, with an undertone of sadness and loneliness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gone Too Soon<\/h4>\n
Ed Ricketts died tragically (at age 50), his car hit by a train when it stalled on the tracks on his way to get food for the usual gathering of friends\u00a0back at the lab.<\/p>\n
$\"Memorial$
A memorial to Ed Ricketts at the site of the fateful train crash
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
In life and in\u00a0memoriam, it was clear that his friends loved him. Steinbeck\u2019s writing showed his exceptional character. The creative inspiration he provided to so many people was undeniable.<\/p>\n
Doc would listen to any kind of nonsense and change it for you to a kind of wisdom. Everyone who knew him was indebted to him. And everyone who thought of him thought next, \u2018I really must do something nice for Doc.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n
“Oh, I See” Moments<\/h4>\n
Every description of Ricketts, for me, became\u00a0an \u201cOh, I see” moment\u2014<\/strong>lessons from life and\u00a0literature. He was inspiring. A true bohemian with a generous and\u00a0honest soul.<\/p>\n
Of all the tributes, one stood out, words offered by Steinbeck in Ricketts’ eulogy\u2014traits that were at the core of their mutual respect.<\/p>\n
The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n
Steinbeck added that one of Ed’s\u00a0most admirable qualities was his\u00a0ability “to receive anything from anyone, to receive gracefully and thankfully, and to make the gift seem very fine.”<\/p>\n
Thank you Ed and John. Your gifts were\u00a0very fine.<\/p>\n
$\"Close$
Renaissance man and bohemian spirit\u2014Ed Ricketts
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n
The Steinbeck quotes are from <\/em>Cannery Row and <\/em>About Ed Ricketts\/Sea of Cortez, with acknowledgment to Viking Press and Penguin Books.<\/em><\/p>\n
Find\u00a0more information about Monterey, CA\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n
Comment<\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>on this post, or inspire insight with your own\u00a0OIC Moment\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n
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