We met at Coffee Bean on Pico Blvd, a block west from Beverly Drive. It was eleven o'clock and after taking six buses and two trains, it was great to meet up with Connie and my Grand Child, Nellie.
The West L.A. area is called Little Jerusalem by many, since store front synagogues, Kosher restaurants and food stores, and gift shops are what Pico is all about. Today a rabbi offers help to a young girl with marital problems while a lawyer discusses a divorce with a rather upset Persian.
There is a strong westerly breeze and a blue sky today. Connie i have known for several years and it amazes me that this 97 year old can still get around. The one and only pill she takes is aspirin, and two years ago, this tall lady who always wears a hat was a performer at the Comedy Club in West Hollywood.
As always we meet at Coffee Bean where Connie and her grandchild wait for me. I had taken five buses and two trains to get here, but well worth it. The North Westerly breezes came off shore.
"George, just need a Mocha coffee. Let's stop at Coffee Bean on Second when we arrive in Santa Monica.
"No trouble, but can you put Nellie inside the stroller. My shoulders are killing me."
Providence has kept me alive to watch the weekly growth of Nellie, soon to be eighteen months. I am her God Father but she calls me just Pops. She has brown inquisitive eyes, a cute pug nose to go with page boy brown hair. Many at the coffee shop come and can't get over how unique this baby looks and acts. Just maybe an act of God brought her to me.
We take the Blue Number 7 bus to Santa Monica. It goes straight down Pico and makes a right off of Forth Street with Santa Monica College to our right. We get off at Colorado and again place the baby into a stroller and wiggle down to Pacific Palisades
Nellie is a blue eyed tall infant with a mind of her own. Everyone stops and stairs on Third Street as she waddles up to everyone with a high five. Nellie has long brown hair and as usual wears a braid. She is a plump little lass with eyes that capture the attention of everyone on the strand. She is the daughter of Connie's second daughter Karen.
After a snort hitch at another Coffee Bean where Connie indulges in another mocha blend drink. we stroll down Santa Monica Blvd, Cross Ocean and ride the path around Pacific Palisades Park towards the pier. I wish to find out if Nellie is still scared of the ponies on the Merry-go-round. The pier brimming with people e pier in a hurry to get to the fun zone and all of its rides at the end of the pier. A couple of barkers are selling religion and their sounds could be heard for miles around.
We cross over and enter the Merry-go-round. I pay two dollars for one adult and place Li'l Nell on a horse while Connie goes to the soda fountain that is inside the Merry-Go-Round for a chocolate cone. The fountain reminds me of those in the fifties.
"That horse is stationary. Let me take you to one that moves"
A operator tells me to ride a horse that goes up and down, or not stationary. Nell is now on the horse and appears happy until the piece of wood goes up and down. Her lower lip quivers and she leans towards me. As the horsey goes faster, up and down, she cries I hold her till the ride is over.
We go to the fun zone and in front of the quarter arcade are metallic cars, fire trucks and other means of transportation. I insert four quarters into a slot and place Little Nell inside the car. She turns the steering wheel but as soon as the car begins to go up and down. she wants out. She is frightened.
"George, I feel like finding some grass so I can change Nell's diaper."
Next to the Hot Dog on a Stick is a singer who welcomes the thousands of pedestrians who saunter up and down the walk As we walk up a hill towards Ocean Park Blvd, I remind Connie of a park that has just been finished. We find a light and cross Ocean to the New Park.
New Park we visited two months ago. The large park has a large free fun zone for kids. Besides the rock climbing, slides and the rope climb, another attraction has been added. I was surprise as was Nell when we found out about it.
Nell saw kids stomping on water. Connie removed her shorts and tops and she waddled into the puddles of water. Out of nowhere, a waterfall cascaded on her. Scared to death, she ran back to Connie who consoled her.
It appeared to rain anytime kids stomped on a spot inside this area. To little Nell it must have felt like our own Niagara Falls on the border of the U.S.A and Canada.
That is where I got into the action. I felt like being a kid again at almost 79 years young. I pulled up my pants and sprung into action. I too stomped on these buttons that caused a Geiger to shoot up to the sky. Out of the corner of my eye, Little Nell began to slowly join me.
We both got drenched, but she discovered a mud puddle not far from the pool of water She jumped and down in the mud puddle until she was black.
And our day in Santa Monica had only just begun. Later we strolled to the Third Street Mall. Little Nell wanted a balloon fashioned to look like a tiger. Stubborn as all kids are, I was forced to give fife dollars for the balloon.
Today Li'l Nell practices sitting on a curb or taking step off the curb. But Connie wishes to go to the Gap, since there is a 30% sell today. It is on the corner of Third Street and Santa Monica.
Connie buys a few items while I search all over for a hidden Li'l Nell This daredevil picks out clothes, and removes them off the rack She loves to shop.
But it is getting late, almost five o'clock and Karen is to pick us up where the buses stop across from the new Salvation Army and a clock from where the Expo line empties
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
A Smile on the Number 1 bus.
Never could I imagine what the number one bus had in store for me today. It was five o'clock and as usual, I needed to end my day by the seashore. The ocean breezes ward off some of my bad moments during the cay. In front of the Waterfront Hilton Hotel is a bus stop. The destination of this bus is San Clemente, going east and my favorite stop before connecting with the Metro-Link train for Oceanside.
The Pacific City Shopping Center is one of my favorite hangouts. It has a wonderful view of the ocean and some great restaurants No I don't drink, but love to watch the people and their dogs walk in the shopping center. I bought a coke with a long neck and duck in and out of the LA. Times The newspaper is beginning to rival the New York Time in its inside stories of today. At four forty five, I strode to my bus stop, across from the Hilton.
As usual, these bus stops have no overhanging roof but do have a hard core cement to sit on. I guess the Huntington Beach needs the money for its events, and I
am no event. Yet the temperature was only in the seventies and with a token breeze, I felt great to relax and leave the driving to the Orange County buses. At a little after five, I looked north and saw my bus at an earlier stop. With my pack pack on now, I waited for the bus to stop.
I allowed a hotel worker to board the bus and then I mounted the steps. The bus driver was in a heated conversation with a gal who sat in the front seat. a girl looked somewhat familiar in back in the next seat.
Those on board the bus could have been a leper colony They all seemed lost except me. I found room next to a busy shopping cart when all of a sudden I heard my name. I turned towards the front of the bus and saw the smiling blond lady.
"That you Leslie ?"
She stood up and threw me such a look.
"Tried to find your meeting yesterday but it was not across the Hilton."
"No trouble. Here is my e mail to reach me."
The bus now was at my Magnolia stop. She threw me a sweat smile as i dismounted the bus
Her smile I carried towards the concrete wall that separated the sand from the strand. Kids learning volleyball. A boom box played some catchy melodies. I danced with Leslie until the next 33 bus came to pick me up. I carried her smile on the bus and all the way home.
The Pacific City Shopping Center is one of my favorite hangouts. It has a wonderful view of the ocean and some great restaurants No I don't drink, but love to watch the people and their dogs walk in the shopping center. I bought a coke with a long neck and duck in and out of the LA. Times The newspaper is beginning to rival the New York Time in its inside stories of today. At four forty five, I strode to my bus stop, across from the Hilton.
As usual, these bus stops have no overhanging roof but do have a hard core cement to sit on. I guess the Huntington Beach needs the money for its events, and I
am no event. Yet the temperature was only in the seventies and with a token breeze, I felt great to relax and leave the driving to the Orange County buses. At a little after five, I looked north and saw my bus at an earlier stop. With my pack pack on now, I waited for the bus to stop.
I allowed a hotel worker to board the bus and then I mounted the steps. The bus driver was in a heated conversation with a gal who sat in the front seat. a girl looked somewhat familiar in back in the next seat.
Those on board the bus could have been a leper colony They all seemed lost except me. I found room next to a busy shopping cart when all of a sudden I heard my name. I turned towards the front of the bus and saw the smiling blond lady.
"That you Leslie ?"
She stood up and threw me such a look.
"Tried to find your meeting yesterday but it was not across the Hilton."
"No trouble. Here is my e mail to reach me."
The bus now was at my Magnolia stop. She threw me a sweat smile as i dismounted the bus
Her smile I carried towards the concrete wall that separated the sand from the strand. Kids learning volleyball. A boom box played some catchy melodies. I danced with Leslie until the next 33 bus came to pick me up. I carried her smile on the bus and all the way home.
Monday, July 9, 2018
A Feast in Nate and Al's
"Take the matzo ball soup with rye bread and pickles."
"Do you wish noodles too?"
"Yes, and come to think of it, what about some green tea?"
The corner table at Nate's and Al's is the scene on a murky monsoonal day in Beverly Hills California. The number 14 Beverly Blvd bus took me to Dayton and from there the iconic restaurant was a block and one half away. The tall clock to my right tells me that it is eight o'clock. Stayed in Beverly Wood at the Connie Glickman's home last night Many of the homes are without air conditioning.
Who ever heard of Beverly Hills having 118 degree temperatures? Well a couple of days ago it happened. Few ventured out of their homes. A couple of days ago in Surf City, Home Depot sold out of AC's to the tune of 310 in just two days at an average cost of $300. Huntington Beach's store on Magnolia had been ready for it.
At a table in front of me, two old wrinkled blond spinsters give me the eye. Guess my hair cut two weeks ago had paid handsome dividends. Now all I have to do is buy new tennis shoes as my Pay Less soles have been shredded -- so much so that my socks have holes in their arches now.
I look back at my table and my order sits waiting for me. I pick up a pickle and bite as head off. This gets my digestive juices flowing. I now engage a matzo ball and let its juices slowly dissolve in my mouth. To my right is a slice of fresh rye bread. It cost an extra two dollars now but is worth it.
"Why not," I say to myself and open three jellies and spread its jam over the bread along with a a couple portions of butter. I am in heaven as these members of the table do a dance inside my palate. I squeeze a slice of lemon juices inside my cup and the tea makes me hot and sweaty. What a way to begin my day!"
I inspect the blond lady in front of me. A walker stands next to her. She must have been some looker in her day of been some looker, i say to myself. She slowly stands,or tries to stand and I notice that her legs are swollen to triple there original size. Her friend picks up the tab and they slowly walk out.
The waiter fills my tea holder and I feel happy that I have only a few floaters bothering me. I know that they can be removed by laxer. The tab is brought to my table. The bill is a few cents over eleven dollars. I give three fives to the cashier and am only too happy that i can give my waiter three dollars. That is a lot for me.
It is nine o'clock and pick up my book called The Heir Apparent. I am going to take it to the,library and try and renew it. The monsoonal air is a bit heavy but I make it to the library and Kelly's where the AC if free.
Yes I am old, but appreciate more the little things in life.
"Do you wish noodles too?"
"Yes, and come to think of it, what about some green tea?"
The corner table at Nate's and Al's is the scene on a murky monsoonal day in Beverly Hills California. The number 14 Beverly Blvd bus took me to Dayton and from there the iconic restaurant was a block and one half away. The tall clock to my right tells me that it is eight o'clock. Stayed in Beverly Wood at the Connie Glickman's home last night Many of the homes are without air conditioning.
Who ever heard of Beverly Hills having 118 degree temperatures? Well a couple of days ago it happened. Few ventured out of their homes. A couple of days ago in Surf City, Home Depot sold out of AC's to the tune of 310 in just two days at an average cost of $300. Huntington Beach's store on Magnolia had been ready for it.
At a table in front of me, two old wrinkled blond spinsters give me the eye. Guess my hair cut two weeks ago had paid handsome dividends. Now all I have to do is buy new tennis shoes as my Pay Less soles have been shredded -- so much so that my socks have holes in their arches now.
I look back at my table and my order sits waiting for me. I pick up a pickle and bite as head off. This gets my digestive juices flowing. I now engage a matzo ball and let its juices slowly dissolve in my mouth. To my right is a slice of fresh rye bread. It cost an extra two dollars now but is worth it.
"Why not," I say to myself and open three jellies and spread its jam over the bread along with a a couple portions of butter. I am in heaven as these members of the table do a dance inside my palate. I squeeze a slice of lemon juices inside my cup and the tea makes me hot and sweaty. What a way to begin my day!"
I inspect the blond lady in front of me. A walker stands next to her. She must have been some looker in her day of been some looker, i say to myself. She slowly stands,or tries to stand and I notice that her legs are swollen to triple there original size. Her friend picks up the tab and they slowly walk out.
The waiter fills my tea holder and I feel happy that I have only a few floaters bothering me. I know that they can be removed by laxer. The tab is brought to my table. The bill is a few cents over eleven dollars. I give three fives to the cashier and am only too happy that i can give my waiter three dollars. That is a lot for me.
It is nine o'clock and pick up my book called The Heir Apparent. I am going to take it to the,library and try and renew it. The monsoonal air is a bit heavy but I make it to the library and Kelly's where the AC if free.
Yes I am old, but appreciate more the little things in life.
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