Month: October 2019

When my pal Marilyn picked me up at the Burbank airport recently, she told me we would be going to the Last Bookstore in downtown L.A.

I was thrilled. It was a journey I’d been longing to take.

I must admit, like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird , I don’t remember learning to read. I’ve always been a book person, in love with words.

I loved reading the comics, and I’d sneak off to the variety store down the strip mall from my father’s hamburger joint at age 5 or so to read the comic books for free. Later, the pharmacist at the Rexall Pharmacy in Market Town used to warn me by saying “ A penny a minute rent!” before kicking me out of the store.

My sister and I were taken to our magnificent Carnegie library when we were young, and I was in awe as I walked up the steps and through the door of this Temple of Knowledge.

As I walked silently past the stern-faced ladies at the charging desk, I wandered through the nooks and crannies of the building, going up and down stairs, peeking at the homeless men in the reading room, checking out the action in the stacks before landing at my favorite books in the children’s section. I went for the shelf housing the Nancy Drew books. My sister went for the Oz books. I settled in to a corner to do some reading.

It was such a privilege to be in this beautiful building.

When I entered the Last Bookstore, I had a flashback of our Carnegie library. This beautiful building that originally housed a bank was constructed at around the same time. Now, as a bookstore, the wares were displayed by subject. There were comfortable chairs for reading. There was even a section with LPs, CDs and other media.

The fascinating element that made this bookstore different from other “normal” retail establishments was that the books were part of the decor. Not all books are now useable, so these recycled pieces of paper became sculptures to delight and stimulate the patrons.

I’m still a book person and haven’t gotten used to the Kindle or other electronic devices. I enjoy the smell of books and I love to hold a book and cuddle it, as its words lull me off to sleep at night.

NEXT STOP: the California desert.

Where is Saint Mary’s and why am in a tent?

No, it’s not the circus, but it IS a circus in many ways. People are coming and going, fighting for space, and some have taken up residence as their home-away-from-home office. Students are offering flashlights, lanterns, food and drink. There is a line outside. People aren’t giving up their seats or charging stations. After all, there’s free WiFi in a land without power.

Saint Mary’s is my local college, a few miles down the road, famous for its basketball team and now a haven for those of us who are victims of the firestorms that have been engulfing our state.

The good news: our houses have not burned.

The bad news: we haven’t had power since Saturday.

I’m writing because this is just an example of the best laid plans don’t always work out as we’d like them to work out.

I’ll be sending out a post shortly – when the lights come back on – about a few days recently spent in Los Angeles and the Palm Springs area. It was a great mini vacation and will give you a glimpse of a wonderful area of California.

I’m also packing to leave on a very big journey soon, which will take me to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, then back to Hawaii. It’s not so easy to pack in the dark but I’m taking advantage of daylight as much as I can. I gathered my socks this morning, and when I get home, I’ll work on other items of clothing.

This year hasn’t been a big travel year for me, since Life interfered with some of my plans. I underwent surgery for a benign tumor and lost twenty pounds over night – instant spa! All is well on that front. I was also caregiver to a dear friend who lost his battle with cancer in the summer. Both events deeply affected any travel plans I might have had.

Now, healthy and hearty, though a little bit sad, I am ready to get back on the road.

Are you ready to join me?