It was a bit cold, but not too cold while I waited for the #33 bus. In back of me was the Sub and Pacific Bank, with Home Depot to my back and a little right of me. I was dark, real dark and I took a flash light so the bus could see me. Inside my nap sack I packed three drum sticks, potato slices and an orange.
The Green Farmer's market is within my budget. Two pounds of Norwegian Mackerel cost three and change, two large juicy oranges 75 cents, two pounds of drumsticks $1.23 and fresh red lettuce $75 cents. I had grilled the drumsticks and places three left-overs inside my sack.
The bus arrived and I placed a dollar into a slot and dropped two quarters into the change department. The bus driver placed a ticket into a slot and I took the all-day pass when it shot back up from the machine. The bus, as always, was filled by the boat people, many from Westminster. Like the bus driver, they hate white people who had entered their country and caused the death of their loved ones.
The war in Vietnam was none of our business and it was one war that we lost. On the bus sat about thirty ladies and three men. These were the lucky ones that General Gap did not kill as he invaded South Vietnam. They were lucky to have embarked from Saigon just as the Communists invaded their country.
I heard a lot of high pitched excited noise when entering the bus. The bus was filled with the boat people who had escaped Vietnam after the war and made it to Southern California and Camp Pendl he General Giaboat people as always joi I looked up and saw the cutest sight in the land. I have never seen a race of people so happy. Not a sad face in the bunch. A few removed their flip flops displaying clean feet with no nail polish on their toes None wore makeup since they don't have to. They had learned to enjoy each day to the fullest. Smart to run early by the waters edge before the toxic air becomes alive.
They live for the most part in their little hamlet of Westminster, just inside of Surp City. Their are almost 200,000 of these happy faces.
The bus continued on Magnolia passing Adams and then Edison High School. Not one unhappy on the faces of these boat people. They knew how to row their boats to the promised land, Huntington Beach. As mentioned before, they could have been cast from the same mold.
The bus now crossed P.C.H. and stopped at the round-about stop at the large parking lot. They looked to be in a hurry to get on with the day. No smart phones in the lot, they mounted a charge to the lifeguard tire and did their exercises. A smaller number walked east and to the bus stop going east towards New Port beach, Dana Point and finally its last stop, San Clemente.
The last to leave bus, I placed my nap sack over my shoulders and walked west on the cement strand strand. The fresh smell of the salt water quickened my steps. A few surfers rubbed their boards with was preparing their woods for the ocean. They locked their vans and ran towards the ocean. It made me shiver a bit even though they wore wet suits.
After awhile, I smiled with the knowledge that my fight to replace my tarnished life with a special varnish. I began to feel like a two year old, when it was OK to laugh, cry or sleep to my hearts content
To my left were several tents and sleeping bags on the beach. It appeared that the police allowed them to sleep on the beach. To my right a young gal began to pass me. I thought my walk was fast but I guess that her strides were a bit longer than mine. Soon, she would be only a dot on the horizon
After about two miles, I decided to stop and read notes from a journal against a small concrete barrier. To my left a tent began to wiggle. i removed my journal glad that I was on sand and not the water
At about seven thirty, I continued my walk towards the Slurp City Pier. Just south of the Hilton I saw some folding chairs being set up for my A.A. meeting. Just like a kid playing in the sand, this large group meeting is my sand box and has done wonders for shine I would place on my mind today.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
George's San Diego, Part 1
As they say in Real Estate, when buying a house, it is location, location and location. And so it was for me in the year of 1911. I needed a change, and the three years of living in San Diego afforded me a new one.
The Quality Inn housed me for one month in May of 2011 in the city of Carlsbad I had a plush mattress, a walk in shower and a frig to keep food fresh I rented the room for about one month and with the room came a breakfast in the lobby. I had a choice of three different cereals, bacon, eggs and bagels. I particularly enjoyed the freshly squeezed orange juice and bananas and apples.
The train station was bout one mile away and towards the beach. My $42 dollar monthly senior pass gave me the rights to see San Diego every day, via their Coaster Train. A fog would lift as soon as the train entered the new Santa Fe Station built in 1924. The station is in a plaza area with Mexican tiles and fountain in the middle. And wow what a beautiful view of the Harbor and skyline of Miss San Diego.
I must of walked a thousand miles in San Diego and for an old man like me, I needed a toilet now and then with now often a priority. A block east of the station is the old Army and Navy building now called the Y.M.C.A. It was there that I met Mr. Cartwright inside the lobby of said four story hotel. I had left the food court at the Superior Court building and needed to bathroom since this food court does not own one.
I discovered it was a friendly hotel and allowed the homeless off the street to take care of business, if you know what I mean. The two stalled bathroom just next to a baggage holding area smelled like a passenger ship with the toilets stopped up. On leaving my stall, a smell overtook me. There was a hand, a shiny black one and an aroma that could have been used in the best brothel in the land. That was when I met Mr. Cartwright. Now I must admit that I looked rather rough around the edges -- in fact even the edges were worn. With a slim budget, a barber did not fit my budge then. His marble eyes looked me over once or twice. In fact I thought they had left their socket
"You lookin for a place to stay..."
"Well I a..."
"Just you fill out this application...and turn it in. We have three rooms on the 2nd floor and look forward to having you stay here."
It was his heavy cologne..so heavy it smelled like perfume. His eye balls almost left their sockets while his hands shook mine. Just couldn't help but notice that his nails were polished and clipped so evenly.
I did not know then but this 1924 brick buildings location was across from two Broadway banks and next to a Starbucks on the corner. A bustling Seven Eleven was on C street on the corner. I crossed India Street and Kettner on my way to the Santa Fe Train Station.
Three trains share the track of this station. Amtrak and the Union Pacific roll on tracks two and three. My monthly senior pass was worth every dollar as the train lurched forward and made it way to Old Town San Diego. The local commuter train made about five stops and I descended in Encinitas where I had parked my car.
Each train station has a parking lot for those commuters who wish to park and ride. There is no charge to park. I left for the Quality Inn, across from the Motel Six. From a dish inside the lobby I grabbed an apple and paid the $200 or there-about that I owed. I fixed a slow leak in my right back tire from a auto shop went to bed.
I received a call from the Y that my application had been accepted. Mr. Medina told me that my room was ready for me. My clothes packed into my compact Chevy, I was off to San Diego the next morning. I found a place to park on India Street and walked across Broadway to the Y. I felt exhausted and hungry.
Mr. Cartwright was in the lobby. The housing authority needed my last pay check to make sure that to know what to charge me for a HUD room. I panicked since I did not have my last pay stub or so I thought. It dawned on me that I may have just left my last retirement check pay stub in my brief case under the passenger seat.
Mad as hell, I returned to my car on a cul-de-sac" street called India Street. The stub was there and when I returned Cartwright wished to make sure of my annual income. I needed to make a call for the state to fax a sheet to verify
my income.
Mr. Cartwright told me to return an hour later and number 204 would be mine. It was about eight fifty a month for the room and a security deposit of $400. I was left with only two hundred for the month for gas, and food.
I needed to eat something or I would drop dead. A year earlier, my then girl friend took me to Anthony's grotto off the Harbor. After the chips and chow main, my body came alive again. A few sea gulls flew down and whispered in my ear.
"Hey Mr. Chips, throw me a few my way."
I fell in love with the seagulls and what is a wharf without seagulls and fish. Sail boats, the coast guard and other craft raced in the water To my right was the airport and across from me was Shelter Island.
Mr. Medina gave me key card. It opened the door for me. Every-so-often I heard a door slam. There was no cushion to slow the blow. When night time came, I heard what sounded like an elephant in the next room. The noises last through the night
The Quality Inn housed me for one month in May of 2011 in the city of Carlsbad I had a plush mattress, a walk in shower and a frig to keep food fresh I rented the room for about one month and with the room came a breakfast in the lobby. I had a choice of three different cereals, bacon, eggs and bagels. I particularly enjoyed the freshly squeezed orange juice and bananas and apples.
The train station was bout one mile away and towards the beach. My $42 dollar monthly senior pass gave me the rights to see San Diego every day, via their Coaster Train. A fog would lift as soon as the train entered the new Santa Fe Station built in 1924. The station is in a plaza area with Mexican tiles and fountain in the middle. And wow what a beautiful view of the Harbor and skyline of Miss San Diego.
I must of walked a thousand miles in San Diego and for an old man like me, I needed a toilet now and then with now often a priority. A block east of the station is the old Army and Navy building now called the Y.M.C.A. It was there that I met Mr. Cartwright inside the lobby of said four story hotel. I had left the food court at the Superior Court building and needed to bathroom since this food court does not own one.
I discovered it was a friendly hotel and allowed the homeless off the street to take care of business, if you know what I mean. The two stalled bathroom just next to a baggage holding area smelled like a passenger ship with the toilets stopped up. On leaving my stall, a smell overtook me. There was a hand, a shiny black one and an aroma that could have been used in the best brothel in the land. That was when I met Mr. Cartwright. Now I must admit that I looked rather rough around the edges -- in fact even the edges were worn. With a slim budget, a barber did not fit my budge then. His marble eyes looked me over once or twice. In fact I thought they had left their socket
"You lookin for a place to stay..."
"Well I a..."
"Just you fill out this application...and turn it in. We have three rooms on the 2nd floor and look forward to having you stay here."
It was his heavy cologne..so heavy it smelled like perfume. His eye balls almost left their sockets while his hands shook mine. Just couldn't help but notice that his nails were polished and clipped so evenly.
I did not know then but this 1924 brick buildings location was across from two Broadway banks and next to a Starbucks on the corner. A bustling Seven Eleven was on C street on the corner. I crossed India Street and Kettner on my way to the Santa Fe Train Station.
Three trains share the track of this station. Amtrak and the Union Pacific roll on tracks two and three. My monthly senior pass was worth every dollar as the train lurched forward and made it way to Old Town San Diego. The local commuter train made about five stops and I descended in Encinitas where I had parked my car.
Each train station has a parking lot for those commuters who wish to park and ride. There is no charge to park. I left for the Quality Inn, across from the Motel Six. From a dish inside the lobby I grabbed an apple and paid the $200 or there-about that I owed. I fixed a slow leak in my right back tire from a auto shop went to bed.
I received a call from the Y that my application had been accepted. Mr. Medina told me that my room was ready for me. My clothes packed into my compact Chevy, I was off to San Diego the next morning. I found a place to park on India Street and walked across Broadway to the Y. I felt exhausted and hungry.
Mr. Cartwright was in the lobby. The housing authority needed my last pay check to make sure that to know what to charge me for a HUD room. I panicked since I did not have my last pay stub or so I thought. It dawned on me that I may have just left my last retirement check pay stub in my brief case under the passenger seat.
Mad as hell, I returned to my car on a cul-de-sac" street called India Street. The stub was there and when I returned Cartwright wished to make sure of my annual income. I needed to make a call for the state to fax a sheet to verify
my income.
Mr. Cartwright told me to return an hour later and number 204 would be mine. It was about eight fifty a month for the room and a security deposit of $400. I was left with only two hundred for the month for gas, and food.
I needed to eat something or I would drop dead. A year earlier, my then girl friend took me to Anthony's grotto off the Harbor. After the chips and chow main, my body came alive again. A few sea gulls flew down and whispered in my ear.
"Hey Mr. Chips, throw me a few my way."
I fell in love with the seagulls and what is a wharf without seagulls and fish. Sail boats, the coast guard and other craft raced in the water To my right was the airport and across from me was Shelter Island.
Mr. Medina gave me key card. It opened the door for me. Every-so-often I heard a door slam. There was no cushion to slow the blow. When night time came, I heard what sounded like an elephant in the next room. The noises last through the night
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Gratitude was on my Bucket List
Gratitude is how I felt when Armando placed the 28 hundred dollars on the Walmart table. I use Walmart to cash my state check and to electronically pay my utility bills.
It is only a couple of miles from Garfield to Atlantic and the Walmart shopping center. A upside down trash can kept me company at about eight o'clock. I had walked down Garfield the two miles to the bus stop. With only 27 cents to my name I asked God to get me there and have my check cashed. My stomach hungered for more the hot dogs and beans.
While in a trance, the bus pulled up. An effervescent smile said "Hello", and I said the same to the wonderful charming lady. The smile lifted my day as it pushed on to Atlantic and Walmart, the store that cashes my teachers state checks.
I turned left and went to the customer section. Another smile greeted me. He took my check and drivers license and fumbled around with a small keyboard. I placed my social security number in a small machine and the transaction was made. Again I felt gratitude that Walmart had cashed my check
Then it came to me. You see that the word "gratitude" is two words in one "Grate is the first half and attitude is the second.
Armando, from Anaheim, counted out $1,650 and handed me two money orders, one for a thousand and the other for six hundred and fifty. I folded them and stuck them firmly inside my front pocket. The cash followed and I made sure to place my driver's license back inside my wallet.
Thanks a lot Armando. Then my higher power spoke. It directed me to buy two steaks. A package had two New York steaks that looked good. I picked up some corn and a bunch of beets I placed them in my nap sack and fled towards the Beach bus stop. The bus took me to Garfield where I walked across the street to Florida Street. At the Sea Cliff Health Center, I gave Mel's dinner for two nights to Caesar and had his room number placed on it.
In bed 135 B slept my brother Mel. Mel seemed to be resting while his roommate in Bed one was awake. A maintenance lady was cleaning the bathroom. The Josie's in these Wax Museums do not get paid nearly enough They are the backbone of this nursing home. Mel's T.V. was on which meant that he had found a ray of sunshine - now that he could see a bit and that his inner ear cancer had seemed to be clear of cancer.
"Thank you for the steaks, and hope they don't forget in the kitchen. Did your daughter take the driver's exam?"
"How are the Dodgers doing?"
'I got a check in the drawer, and I wish you to take it."
"OK Mel, that is unless you wish to take it to Lucy." Lucy is the finance manager Mel now was up and about. I bough him a can coke from a dispenser,
I felt proud to have served god and my brother. There now was a bounce in my step. It was now going on ten and I would celebrate at t Whole Foods at the Bella Terra Shopping Center. It felt good to have a few delectable veggies in my stomach.
After computer work at the Main Street Library, i climbed aboard the #25 bus off of Orange and across from the Seven Eleven. It felt great to have paid my rent and have money now for food -- at least for awhile.
Off of Gothard is the a street mall where I sometimes buy my vegetables and fruit for a great price. On the left is my barber shop -- so good that generally I never need to look at the mirror. Today it would prove to be a mistake. Barber John cut too much off my sides and amplified my large ears. At least it was don.
T
It is only a couple of miles from Garfield to Atlantic and the Walmart shopping center. A upside down trash can kept me company at about eight o'clock. I had walked down Garfield the two miles to the bus stop. With only 27 cents to my name I asked God to get me there and have my check cashed. My stomach hungered for more the hot dogs and beans.
While in a trance, the bus pulled up. An effervescent smile said "Hello", and I said the same to the wonderful charming lady. The smile lifted my day as it pushed on to Atlantic and Walmart, the store that cashes my teachers state checks.
I turned left and went to the customer section. Another smile greeted me. He took my check and drivers license and fumbled around with a small keyboard. I placed my social security number in a small machine and the transaction was made. Again I felt gratitude that Walmart had cashed my check
Then it came to me. You see that the word "gratitude" is two words in one "Grate is the first half and attitude is the second.
Armando, from Anaheim, counted out $1,650 and handed me two money orders, one for a thousand and the other for six hundred and fifty. I folded them and stuck them firmly inside my front pocket. The cash followed and I made sure to place my driver's license back inside my wallet.
Thanks a lot Armando. Then my higher power spoke. It directed me to buy two steaks. A package had two New York steaks that looked good. I picked up some corn and a bunch of beets I placed them in my nap sack and fled towards the Beach bus stop. The bus took me to Garfield where I walked across the street to Florida Street. At the Sea Cliff Health Center, I gave Mel's dinner for two nights to Caesar and had his room number placed on it.
In bed 135 B slept my brother Mel. Mel seemed to be resting while his roommate in Bed one was awake. A maintenance lady was cleaning the bathroom. The Josie's in these Wax Museums do not get paid nearly enough They are the backbone of this nursing home. Mel's T.V. was on which meant that he had found a ray of sunshine - now that he could see a bit and that his inner ear cancer had seemed to be clear of cancer.
"Thank you for the steaks, and hope they don't forget in the kitchen. Did your daughter take the driver's exam?"
"How are the Dodgers doing?"
'I got a check in the drawer, and I wish you to take it."
"OK Mel, that is unless you wish to take it to Lucy." Lucy is the finance manager Mel now was up and about. I bough him a can coke from a dispenser,
I felt proud to have served god and my brother. There now was a bounce in my step. It was now going on ten and I would celebrate at t Whole Foods at the Bella Terra Shopping Center. It felt good to have a few delectable veggies in my stomach.
After computer work at the Main Street Library, i climbed aboard the #25 bus off of Orange and across from the Seven Eleven. It felt great to have paid my rent and have money now for food -- at least for awhile.
Off of Gothard is the a street mall where I sometimes buy my vegetables and fruit for a great price. On the left is my barber shop -- so good that generally I never need to look at the mirror. Today it would prove to be a mistake. Barber John cut too much off my sides and amplified my large ears. At least it was don.
T
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