Faces of the West County: Pepperwood “Pepper” Danielsen
This 17-year-old from an old West County family is heading to Switzerland this summer
The school year is over, so I thought I’d feature a local kid who is heading into that fantastic gift that is summer vacation.
I met Pepper 10 or 12 years ago, but really hadn’t seen much of her since. She was a bubbly, infectiously optimistic, and upbeat kid then, and from the short time I just spent with her, she doesn’t seem to have changed a lick. Except that she’s a teenager now.
Pepper was born with some pretty significant physical limitations, but—together with her parents and a fair share of medical interventions—she has found a way to power through them and make the best of life. She is a huge inspiration.
We sat together on a deck at her house about two miles outside Occidental, vineyards and chickens in sight, her two cute dogs underfoot, and her parents puttering around in the background and chiming in every so often.
Her mom had just picked Pepper up from school at Analy. Pepper was sipping on her new favorite drink, a Grande Butterfly Refresher from Starbucks. We could have talked for days.
Where and when were you born?
May 30th, 2009, at Sutter Hospital. I’m now 17.
(Bonny, Pepper’s Mom, adds, “We tried at home, but had to transfer to the old Sutter up on the hill at the last minute. I was actually born there too.”)
Who’s in your family?
Well, there’s my Mom, Bonny; my Dad, Lance; and my little brother, Wylie. Then there’s our two dogs, Allen and Bear, and a cat named Blue, who I’ve had since I was two.
Tell me about this home of yours.
Well, we’re close to Occidental. We live on my family property, which was actually my great-grandfather’s farm. Our family has been here since 1882. They used to grow apples and chickens. Now it’s mostly grapes. We pick apples for fun, and what we don’t eat, we donate. My dad also grew pumpkins for a while.
Doesn’t your grandfather live here on the property too? Tell me about him.
Well, he goes by the name Hunky. That’s what students he used to teach called him. It’s an old nickname. His real name is Davis Danielsen, Jr. That’s Norwegian. He’s 82 and very independent.
(Lance adds that Hunky taught American Government and World Civilization and was a PE teacher at Tomales High School and that he eventually retired from El Molino. He’s also an old retired commercial fisherman. “I broke the 1,000-year family tradition by not becoming a fisherman,” Lance said.)
Hobbies/interests?
I like drawing. Freehand, with pencils and markers. And I like to observe lizards. Bluebellies mostly. I stay away from alligator lizards.
Plans for the summer?
I’m going to Switzerland with my family!
Why there?
Because my mom backpacked with her mom and sister there, and now we’re going to do it.
That’s pretty ambitious of you.
With my walking sticks, I’ll be fine.
Wow! For how long?
Two weeks.
I hope you eat lots of good chocolate there.
Oh, I could eat whole buckets of chocolate!
Any ideas about a career or direction you want to go in?
I really want to be a meteorologist. Or maybe a pre-school teacher. I’ve always been into big storms and big weather. It fascinates me. I’ve been taking earth and space science at school.
Are you thinking of college yet?
Probably the JC to start, but if I can, I’d like to go to school in Hawaii. I love it there, especially Kauai. It’s so luscious with plants there.
Does anything scare you?
AI scares me. It might take my job as a meteorologist away from me.
And I’m also scared of being left alone.
Me too, about the AI. It’s got lots of us spooked.
How about a favorite restaurant?
Well, I used to like Campanella before they closed down. Hopmonk is next, for their hamburger with sweet potato fries. And you’ve got to add ranch in there or it’s not worth it.
Favorite subject or teacher?
Choir (she answers in a nanosecond). I’m a soprano. Mr. Burrows, the choir director, is my favorite teacher.
Favorite singer or musician?
Yaelokre. They’re a they/them. Their actual name was Keith, and they’re Filipino and Icelandic. I saw them in San Francisco with two of my friends last year. They’re from Europe. Switzerland, actually.
Giants, 49ers or Warriors?
All three! My dad took me to a few Giants games. The loud noises were difficult for me. (Pepper sometimes wears a headset to help blunt noises that can startle her.)
I think one day soon, you’re going to really like the Valkyries.
Favorite TV show or movie?
I like watching “Epic: The Musical” on YouTube. It’s based on the Odyssey. If I had to pick a movie, it would probably be “Project Hail Mary.” It makes you shed tears and get really scared, but then [spoiler alert] everything works out in the end.
Do you have a hero or someone you really look up to?
Well, clearly my Mom and Dad. My Mom is really there when I need her the most. I can call her anytime, and she’s there.
We all have various challenges. Some bigger, some smaller. You have a pretty significant disability. Do you see it as a challenge to be overcome or just what it is?
It’s just what it is.
I think you’re missing some pretty important vertebrae in your back. Is that right?
Yeah. I don’t know which ones. They’re just not there.
(Bonny says, “All the lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum.”)
Does it hurt or cause you any pain?
If I walk long distances or need to stand for a long time, then it starts to be sore. But I’m not all boo-hoo about it. My right leg is shorter than the left, but it doesn’t really bother me.
Do you think some of your physical challenges actually make you stronger, or more determined?
Good question. I would say it does make me stronger, but it works the other way too. It makes me more empathetic of other people in general.
I went to Camp Painted Turtle last summer. It’s for kids with different physical challenges. It’s in the LA mountains. Paul Newman helped create the camp. Anyhow, I made a bunch of friends there with similar disabilities. I’m going back there this August with my mom for a family camp. There’s a zip-line and boats—stuff like that. There’s even a ropes course that people in wheelchairs can do!
Pepper, is there something you would want people to know about you?
Yes. I’m stronger and more capable than you might think. And that you can approach me to talk, and not just stare at me.
Sometimes I can tell that people are looking at me and trying to figure out what’s going on with me. Even when I don’t see them, I can feel it.
Hey. It’s hard enough just dealing with the challenges of being a teenager. You’ve got that to deal with too.
(Pepper just nods in agreement and smiles.)
At this point in my visit, Bonny offered me some of Pepper’s leftover birthday cake from a few days ago. It was perfect.
Then, noticing that Pepper had an Apple Watch, just like the new one I just got for my own birthday, I asked her for some tech support, as I can’t really figure it out. She was very patient with me.
When I finally left, Lance walked me out to my car. We chatted about this or that, but then, with a surprise tear in my eye, I told him what a remarkable gift I thought Pepper was. He too could only nod in agreement.
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Once again, this is why I love the Sebastopol Times. Real people bringing real life into our homes. Thanks for continuing the stellar reporting that makes a difference in our lives.
What a great read, and it is lovely and brave of Pepper and her family to share so much of themselves. Maybe I will run into her one day in town and can say hello! Hoping the summer of hiking in Switzerland works out to be a memorable and fun break before college.