About 25,000 people live in Bernal Heights, and each one of them has a story to tell. In fact, there’s a story behind each story, and at least one or two stories behind that, and maybe even a few more behind those. That’s an awful lot of stories when you start to do the math, but the real point is: The stories we tell each other are often vastly more complex than they might seem at first.

For example, two weeks ago, Bernal Neighbor Steve Sisler became intrigued by the story of Neighbor Laurel May, who wrote that lovely goodbye note to all of us shortly before she left Bernal to move to Las Vegas.

Neighbor Steve decided to interview Neighbor Laurel as part of his ongoing video series about Bernal people, and with the camera rolling she revealed that the story Bernalwood had received was only small part of a much larger, and more complex, and more moving story about the journey that Neighbor Laurel has embarked upon:

On her last day in Bernal, freelance writer Laurel May opens up about deep attachment to the neighborhood, having Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer and about living a meaningful life. From the mad scientist experiments she and her partner Brett hosted at Halloween, to Prize Panties on Cortland Avenue (and other pranksterish fun), to walking around with her bulldog Manchester, the 4 years Laurel spent in Bernal were the most at-home she’s ever felt anywhere.

Laurel and Brett are moving to Las Vegas, where they’ll be part of the Downtown Project — building a neighborhood from scratch in a blighted and rundown area. But although she’s moving on, Bernal has carved a place in Laurel’s soul forever. She’s also been named Chairwoman of the Bernal Heights Alumni Network.

This one-take, no-edit interview is most powerful intact and untouched from start to finish — with a run time of 21:46. We realize that’s bit on the long side, but this video is a not-to-be-missed gem.

Here’s Steve’s video, with an haute-couture celebrity cameo at the very end:

On top of all that… after Neighbor Laurel declared her desire to be Chairwoman of the Bernal Heights Alumni Network, Neighbor Steve ran out that very same day and created awesome plaque to make it official:

Godspeed, Neighbor Laurel.

You can follow her continuing adventures on the Twitter, or on her blog, canceristhenewblack.com.

Sad News: Neighbor Andrés is moving from Bernal Heights. But before he departs, he created this lovely montage of the places and spaces that will represent Bernal Heights in his memories:

As I move out, I think about the images that remind me of Bernal Heights. I’m sad that I’m moving out, but this place will always be my home and it’s only an 80 minute drive away.

Aloha, Neighbor Andrés, and come back soon.

PHOTO: funkyfijoles on Instagram

Neighbor Micky sends along news about Neighbor Mary Isham of Andover Street, who is now battling liver cancer. Her fundraising drive to pay for cancer treatment will soon come to an end.

Micky says:

Bernalwood’s January 7 story on Mary Isham’s campaign to raise money for much-needed cancer treatment helped her generate over 25 donations on her fundraising drive which ends on March 31.

When Mary returned from her first trip to Germany, she was detained by customs in San Francisco for over 2 1/2 hours because of a difference in the radiation identified in her body and her backpack. San Francisco Chronicle covered the story and when she returned form her next trip to Germany, she was barely off the plane when she was pulled aside by custom officials. They apologized for her difficult experience the last time and personally escorted her through many doors until she landed on the street without any search or scans!

PHOTO: Mary Isham in Germany after her first trip in September

Neighbor Micky writes with some difficult news about a crowdsourced effort to help Neighbor Mary Isham pay for her cancer treatment:

A few weeks before her 50th birthday, Mary Isham, a 35 year resident of Andover Street in Bernal Heights, was shocked to be diagnosed with a rare pancreatic tumor. Her doctor told her to get her affairs in order. That was over 13 years ago! When doctors see her now, they are the ones that are shocked to see that she is still alive and thriving despite 13 grueling years after a ten hour surgery that removed her pancreas, her spleen, her gall bladder, part of her stomach and small intestine.

But now, Mary faces metastases of the cancer in her liver. She has located a promising cutting-edge radiation treatment only offered in Europe. She has made one trip and needs to return three more times at a cost of $20,000. per trip. Given the exorbitant cost of the travel and treatment, she turned to Give Forward – an innovative crowdsourcing website designed to help people raise money for much-needed medical expenses.

Mary is well known in the progressive community, as she has been active in one cause after another for the last 40 years. She moved to the city in the early 70’s at the height of the anti-Viet Nam War movement and was influenced by that turbulent and exciting time. She began her nursing career in the city at Huckleberry House in the Tenderloin and went on to work as a nurse in the SF City and county jails and juvenile hall. She continued her commitment to health education at San Francisco General Hospital’s Patient Education Resource Center and then went on to serve as the director of the Health Center at Mission High School, where she became well known for her expertise in adolescent health care.

There’s more information about the campaign to help Neighbor Mary at her page on Give Forward. She’s currently raised almost $25,000 toward her goal of $60,000.

PHOTOS: via Give Forward

Claudie Young of Ellsworth Street died last Friday. He was 97, a World War II veteran, and a major presence on his street. Neighbor (in abstentia) Peter writes:

I just wanted to pass on news about another sad passing in Bernal: Claudie Young (the “mayor” of Ellsworth) was found dead in his home today.  He was an epic person and a fixture in the neighborhood chatting up everyone who walked by and waving at every car. Our son grew up watching and waving and trading mime routines with Mr. Young from our big window across the street.

Here’s a recent pic from our house. We are so sad and will miss him dearly…

If you have recollections or memories of Neighbor Claudie to share, please avail yourself of the comments.

PHOTO: Neighbor Peter