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
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