Category: Monrovia

Giving Thanks

Chickens fed, wife dropped off at work, dishes in the washer…all before 7 am. 
That was my rushed morning as I pulled up groggy to the gas station on the corner of Route 66 and Mountain at 7:05 am. 
My thoughts were on the day’s itinerary as I opened the door to my car and almost immediately I caught a glimpse of a man at the pump next to mine. I noticed him, took in his wears, glanced at his steely glare and wanted to say something. Something stopped me and I proceeded into the station to get some java and order gasoline. 
He was still there as I began to make my way back to the car and with a sip of coffee in my belly I resolved to address him. I caught him by surprise and in the middle of him wiping the back window of his black sedan. 
I squared up to him, met his gaze, wished him a good morning and thanked him for Service. The soldier in him didn’t miss a beat and almost immediately said “thank you for your support.” 
With that our moment was over but I’d like to think that others before me have shown him appreciation and that’s why he knew just what to say and how to say it.

Look About Town

We began our walk back home after dining at local spot. Heading east this evening, the cold that has gripped the valley broke earlier today and made it nice enough to enjoy Monrovia’s air without a sweater. 
Along the way we passed a set of stores and within them a colourful assortment of folk. 
There was the man who own the Locksmith store who seemed like he had lost his keys. A white haired woman focusing on an iPad while a young boy near her concentrated on his fingers at the violin. They resided together inside the Music academy. The intent young lady filing at a woman’s nails at the furthermost corner of her shop. I spotted no lawyer lawyering at the law office but I’ve heard he does exist. The smell of asada tacos from the Mexican joint competed with the aroma of fish tacos from the spot that sells those big shrimps. Both places had their staff quite busy. 
Soon we were leaving the downtown and would be greeted by a row of Crafstman houses and others so I decided to look back one more time at the Boulevard. My last memory was the sight of Venus in the sky and the crescent moon that seemed to be smiling down on our All-American town.

Bumped Up

I found a bump on my body today. A terror washed over me and as I toweled off I caught my reflection in the mirror. All a sudden I looked frail and I lost trust in my body. 
Then I thought about my wife and then my kids. Right after that I felt guilt of not having thought of them first. How terribly selfish of me. I did a lot of mental math and considered answers to short term concerns and quickly pondered what I could miss. My mind always goes for the worst.
 Now after visiting and talking to a doctor I found that this bump is a common condition. The MD joked that I’m sure to see a whole lot more sunrises in life. 
That’s a good thing…I’d hate to miss checking out more rainbows with those I should have thought of first.

A Failed State

Sometimes when I think about my posts I wonder what my children may come to think of them. I hope they’ll smile, a few may make them think but I have a feeling they’ll just roll their eyes a lot. Either way my hope is that they’ll will come to concur with my descriptions of love for them, my wife, our friends, the house, ye olde neighbourhood, the mutts and chickens. 
I will consider it a failed life if the person delineated on the screen is far far different from the man who was their real life dad.

Lack of Silence

I remember the night when we marked the sign that told us if we should call it quits. We were at The Stinking Rose on La Cienega having dinner and across our booth we saw a somewhat-40 couple having a too quiet dinner. They hardly shared a glance and there was almost no chit-chat.
We agreed then that if we became like them then it was time to rethink things.

Years later the two of us were blabbing to each other at the Pho spot in Monrovia and for a moment I stopped and thought…hey we’re still ok!