A Soft Granny

Today I was on the orange line that runs from San Fernando Valley to Hollywood, and there was this older lady that got on the bus. I was going to get up and give her my seat, but the gentleman next to me offered her his seat. When she started to position her self to sit, the bus moved and she was about to fall forward, so I reached out to catch her to keep her from falling. I proceeded to hold on to her until she was seated. She thanked me and just patted my leg with both hand in gratitude.

At this very moment I was thinking of how soft she felt. She must have been close to 80 yrs old, not that she looked it, because she was going about her way just as we all were on the bus today. Her skin was a little wrinkley, in a pleasing sort of way, and her skin felt like a baby’s butt. It was such a comforting thing when I touched her and felt how soft she was. I started to think of it is things like that which makes grandmas so special. Yes we know that is is the cookies they bake, the stories they tell, the way they make bad things go away, but it is also that cushiony smooth touch you get when you put your arms around her, when her face touches your; when her skin touches yours, it is something so comforting and loving in that touch.

A Soulful Reminder

A Soft Granny

Today I was on the orange line that runs from San Fernando Valley to Hollywood, and there was this older lady that got on the bus. I was going to get up and give her my seat, but the gentleman next to me offered her his seat. When she started to position her self to sit, the bus moved and she was about to fall forward, so I reached out to catch her to keep her from falling. I proceeded to hold on to her until she was seated. She thanked me and just patted my leg with both hand in gratitude.

At this very moment I was thinking of how soft she felt. She must have been close to 80 yrs old, not that she looked it, because she was going about her way just as we all were on the bus today. Her skin was a little wrinkley, in a pleasing sort of way, and her skin felt like a baby’s butt. It was such a comforting thing when I touched her and felt how soft she was. I started to think of it is things like that which makes grandmas so special. Yes we know that is is the cookies they bake, the stories they tell, the way they make bad things go away, but it is also that cushiony smooth touch you get when you put your arms around her, when her face touches your; when her skin touches yours, it is something so comforting and loving in that touch.

A Soulful Reminder

Le Pain Quotidien in Studio City

After walking about 5.5 miles there was rumbling in my stomach. Deciding on what and where to eat in Studio City  is always hard because there are so many great places to eat.  Passing this little bistro while on that 5.5 mile walk and stopping in to eat on the way back was the plan. . The bakery and communal table was esthetically pleasing, and the food also looked great.  I asked the waiter to tell me what the place was famous for and the first thing  he pointed out was the Quiche Végétarienne.   This  was one of the things that I was considering after looking over the menu.  The next thing he suggested, which was his absolute favorite was this fabulous spinach salad with baked goat cheese, thinly sliced apples and caramelized nuts.   It is obvious from the description which one I decided on.  This salad was served with two different slices of their famous breads.   It was incredible.

I was equally as pleased with the service.

Those Red Doors-The Jack Stacey House

Jack Stacy House, photo from realtor ad

  I often think of returning to Savannah, Georgia to live.  First because it is where I grew up and my family still lives there, secondly because I still think there is still so much that can and need  to be done in the African American Community.  I still have some fight left in me and I want to contribute to my home town.  I don’t know when or if this will ever come about, but I decided to look  to see what the housing market was like specifically in the Historic District.

This familiar house popped up on my screen. A house that I had frequented quite a bit as a teenager.  It was where my good friend and partner in crime grew up, Mary Stacey.  I have not seen Mary in over 30 years, but this house I recognized immediately.   Yes, the Jack Stacy House was a full house for sure.  As I read through the realtors ad, I realize for the first time that there were only 4 bedrooms in this house, because they had eleven kids. I guess Mr. Stacey redeemed himself with the five bathrooms because about half of those kids were girls.  I remember there being at least four girls.

They had an older sister Hollis Stacey that became quite famous in the female golf circuit of female golfers.

Hollis Stacy - 1971 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship,from USGA Museum, via internet

Hollis Stacy, courtesy of LPGA via internet

Later Martha married the golf pro, John Leach, because she too had taken up the sport following in Hollis’ footsteps.  Martha and her husband were running the pro shop at the Savannah Inn and Country Club the last time I saw her. The country club was torn down in the 1980s, but the golf course is still quite active. Martha and husband John are in Kentucky, where John is golf director at Traditions Golf Clubin Heron, Ky.

Martha Stacy Leach - 2009 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, Steven Gibbons/USGA

 

 

 

These red doors will always be significant as was the family that lived there.

A Peek into Hollywood: Made for TV

Living here in Los Angeles brings the Hollywood Scene rather close and personal, so I decided to peek inside. The 80th Anniversary Hollywood Christmas Parade was the perfect opportunity. This parade is televised every year and being behind the scenes and sitting in the grandstand, of which there was a price, was a treat. The grand stand is the audience for this televised event. The other option is to be lined up along the streets hoping you can see over those that so often ease their way in front of you.

Marie Osmond - Grand Marshal

Marie Osmond was the 2011 Grand Marshal, but in light of the political climate, the Marine Corp Band from San Diego was the real highlight at the start of the parade.   Marie may be a celebrity, but these Marines were the true stars, the true heroes, and I think that they could feel the love from the crowd, by the standing ovation from the band stand and the cheers from the crowds on the street demonstrated that love and gratitude. The band was led by the Marine Corps Color Guard also from San Diego, California.

Marine Corp Band from San Diego

Marine Corp Color Guard from San Diego

Erik Estrada and Laura McKenzie were the parade hosts, these  two introduced all of the parade participants to TV land  and to us in the bandstand. It was an experience that I will never forget.  Listening to the two of them repeatedly read the teleprompter was disappointing and embarrassing. These re-takes added time to our sitting there waiting for the parade to continue, while they got it right for the cameras.  Many of those sitting around me were shocked because more is expected from  these trained professionals.  This is what they do for a living so the lack of preparation was shocking.  At one point I was beginning to wonder if Erik Estrada could read at all, he had to repeat three sentences from the teleprompter 12 times before getting it right.

Laura McKenzie and Erik Estrada

A few celebrities listed in the program were no-shows, the two that I was looking for was Lou Gossett Jr. and Christel Khalil from The Young and The Restless;  three other cast members from the show are below.

Kate Linder ~Daniel Goddard~Christian LeBlanc

There were so many politicians in the parade until it started to feel like a rally.  Appreciating the mayor of the city is one thing but there was one councilman who picked up his mike to speak and I felt like I was on the campaign trail.  It was quite annoying and really showed me just how phony Hollywood is.

The first time seeing a 6 foot balloon reminded me of all the years I watched the Macy’s Parade on television.  Looking down and seeing the red carpet laid out in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard along with the warm temperature reminded me that I was in California.

Elmo

Elmo's handlers

Judith Hill is the singer that was hand selected by Michael Jackson to be a part of his last World Tour, but with his sudden passing she performed at his memorial service.  In the car with her is Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. from Americas Got Talent.  They performed a compelling duet. The power in these two voices was captivating.

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. and Judith Hill

Vivica Foxx is stunning in pink and actually even more so in person.

Vivica A.Foxx

Vivica A. Foxx

Winterlit Concert feat. – Santa Monica Discovery

Andy Grammer

Andy Grammer got his start  busking on Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade, where he played his guitar in front of the McDonalds for three years.  In 2009, Ben Singer saw Andy  there and signed him on to manage his music career.   Tonight, Andy Grammer  returned home to give a free concert where he got his start, on Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade. Andy’s first album debuted June 2011 He will be performing at the Annual Santa Monica Winterlit Celebration and Concert along with YouTube sensation, Savannah Outen