That Old Town Fig Tree

 August the 16th of 1939 was when I was born to Edith and Harry Goldberg. The seventh month also breeds figs. I needed something to remove the taste of the Monsoonal weather in San Diego. Old Town provides all the figs I need in the summer months. A policeman escorted a bearded back-packer out of the park. The city fathers wish all the homeless to seek out downtown San Diego to make the tourist experience a memorable one..

A bloomin' Tree 

   After a short trip on the #567 Amtrak, I de-trained at Old Town and made my way to the grand fig tree. Two lonesome Sparrows showed me the way provided I allowed them to feast on the fruit at the top of the mighty tree. I picked ripe figs and dropped them into my Ralph's shopping bag. 
   The overripe ones I dropped into my mouth and sucked their skins until they evaporated. My mouth unraveled the skin and sucked it in. The first figs of the season lifted my spirits. 
   I said "hello' to a passing a yellow blooming tree, one of many in Old Town today. I stolled to the old church built close to  Father Serra's original.  The Immaculate Conception Church was packed like always. I walked up to the Choir area where several others were sequestered.The organ music put me into a spell I no not how to explain.
   In the Rectory room I celebrated by eating four donuts, and two cups of orange juice.  But I just knew the rest of my day would be blissful. I gave Maud some of my figs. She promised to return with fig jam next week. Her caretaker Lynn looked so lovely Harry and I could not take our eyes off of this tall Goddess. She is also a great artist. .  
I took a contrary action after my second Mass. Computer work would have to take a back seat to Bing Crosby and Del Mar.  The voice of Bing Crosby singing from an old platinum record excites me. I used my Compass Card to board Amtrak's ten forty which stopped in Solana Beach. From there I hopped on the double decked bus for my ride to the track. My yellow Diamond Card allowed me half off of admission and included a free program. The elevator took me to the fifth floor where I found a seat overlooking the track. 
   It was clouded and a very muggy. It felt bad so many horses buckled and were destroyed because of the turf course. As an old grass grower, I knew it took several months for grass to embed itself into the soil. Otherwise, I slid and fell during our touch football games. 
   I finished off a peanut butter sandwich and watched the fist two races. The third interested me since Drayden Van Dyke rode the number one, My Jealous. Patty the Hat came out ahead betting on him at Los Alamitos. The program listed this four year old at 15/l. It was a claiming race for horses three years and up. I bet the one and Desormeax's number 5. 
   My Jealous smoked out of the gate leaving the others to choke on dust. I knew he would not finish the race...yet there saddle cloth 1 remained to dike the others into submission.  I felt like a millionaire and ran to the windows. Instead, all the cashier gave me was a few bob over thirteen dollars. The horse must have been bet down to five to one. 
   In the infield I saw a multitude of fans leaving the track. Now the rain mixed into the turf and my breathing apparatus opened up. I spent the next race watching horses being saddled until my eyes began to close. 
  I pictured myself as an owner helping Van Dyke up on my horse, George's Birthday.