Those who I hold in highest regard are the ones who in spite of our disagreements in points of view still seek me out to break-bread or empty a bottle of wine.
Magazine Street
Then: Subscribed to the LA Times, WSJ, Maxim, Gentlemen’s Quaterly, National Geographic, 4 Wheel Parts, Playboy & Playgirl (don’t ask) Wired & Men’s Health.
Now: Read whatever magazines they have at the barbershop, my mom’s copies of El Classificado or the Scholastic Book Catalog.
Salt Lick
It happened to my pop and now it’s happening to me. (No not the receding hair line but thanks for bringing that up). I’m taking about the need for salt. We used to get on his case about it and now look at me pouring it on!
Morning Chores
My favorite part of the morning wasn’t waking up relatively late to the hot coffee she re-heated for us, or the sausages topped with syrup, the steaming mount of colorful hash-browns mixed with ketchup or the eggs scrambled at my plate. Nope my favorite part was watching my son’s face grimace while doing his chore and cleaning out the chickens’ coop. Him yelling out “nasty” was a highlight in every sense of the word.
Check List
Citizenship – Check
Drivers License Renewal – Check
Real Estate License Renewal – Check
…Marriage License? – Pending ReCertification. 😒
Bill comes Due
The first time I shelled out over $100 at a grocery store was at a Vons in Montebello. My girlfriend and I had just moved into a little one bedroom apartment (with a peeping site manager) and we needed to fill our hand-me-down fridge. I wasn’t happy! Fast forward 2 decades and how I long for them “cheaper” store runs. Don’t tell me about the bill when these kids turn to trends…my heart and wallet just can’t take it.
Hugo Fun Fact 24
Hugo Fun Fact #24 – I have sat and introduced a President of the United States a Vice President of the US & the Chair of the Democratic National Committee at a local function.
All Apologies
I owe an apology. To my parents because now that I think of it I didn’t give them enough moments of sheer terror like my children do. Did I charge the camera? Do I need to move meetings around? How will I navigate the sea of parents also trying to get a picture? Does she know I’m here and I didn’t forget? I just wasn’t that kind of student. Luckily (for my mom at least) her grandchildren succeed where I didn’t and I don’t might riding their coat-tails a bit.
Grew Up Fast
I got the keys, I got them in the car, I waved them off, I got stuck in traffic, I poured some coffee, I worked on client files, I poured more coffee, I paid a few bills and then I and I and I.
Some mornings it hits me that adulthood snuck up on me when I wasn’t looking. Then again at least I haven’t lost wanting to know where the ducks go in the Winter time.
Juicing
My pop bought a juicer once from a guy! For a few weeks there we’d get carrot juice after church. Sunday after Sunday we had carrots. I grew to hate’m and also scraping their pulp off the sides of the machine I had to clean. Ironic that sometimes when give a choice at the Jamba Juice that I’d choose some carrot goodness. Guess it makes me feel like a kid again.