Category: Pasadena

Future Obituary – Pledge of Allegiance

Hugo Torres officially became a United State Citizen on June 22, 2016 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 
Mr. Torres became an American many years earlier at/about the age of 10 in Mrs. Ross Fourth Grade classroom at Malabar Elementary school. After having spent many months learning English as a second language a young Hugo Torres was handed a small sheet of paper with words first drafted in 1892 by Francis Bellamy. He was told that he would join the rest of the class the next day as they would raise their hands to their hearts in unison and expressed allegiance. Hugo took the sheet home, told his parents and then spent hours on his bed practicing, and practicing and practicing. In the course of that afternoon he had looked up many of the words that then he thought too obscure. Once he understood their weight and realized the responsibility they required he knew he was ready. The next morning, once the class settled down and Mrs. Ross asked the group to rise at attention, young Hugo Torres pledged “allegiance to the flag of the United State of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Young Hugo caught Mrs. Ross smiling at him as she asked everyone to sit. 
Mr. Torres was an American in his heart from that morning until his passing last Tuesday afternoon. 
Source: Mr. Torres’ Future Obituary.

The Quiet One

A young family sat at a nearby booth at the restaurant in Pasadena where they sell brews by the Yard. 
One of the adults was highly animated and spoke with a booming voice and waved his hands wildly to make the point. The kids were rambunctious as kids can be but their sounds blended well with the cacophony composed by clanking silverware, the yell of the crowd cheering or booing the soccer match on TV, or the roaring laughter of a ladies group nearby. The family’s matriarch was a bit demure but it was clear the beers she’d previously enjoyed were now taking effect and she was now getting in on the fun. 
Then I spotted their most quiet of friend sitting calmly next to the dad. He, in his little vest, was an island of silent composure in the chaos. He just sat there and looked around. Not paying attention to the food, or the dropped silverware that even startled me. His equanimity infected me and I could not help but stare at him and his Mona Lisa smile. His pink socks gave me an internal chuckle as they contrasted cheerily against his deep black complexion. When the family got up to go my trance finally broke and that’s when my daughter noticed him. She too noticed his vest and asked me why he couldn’t be petted. I told her that this fury friend was on the job and helping the man who held his tether. 
Then they walked off and for a moment his eyes and I connected but then he got back in line. I think I spotted pride and I salute him for it.