I, in truth, had been a bit nervous about visiting our former church (25 years!) on Sunday. So many wonderful friends, and so little time! First of all, I don't like to be the center of attention, ever. Second, I become the proverbial deer-in-the-headlights under such circumstances and just about forget my own name. How to talk to so many people! So many questions to ask!
Of course, everyone is so merciful and kind and welcoming and understanding (and impressed with my pony tail!). It was, yes, rather difficult for me (though Tom sails right through!), but it was glorious to see everyone. Basically, we hung out in the lobby and chatted with folks the whole time, though we sneaked in to hear the choir perform a favorite piece accompanied on the new (to them) baby grand piano, the combination of which sounded amazing! Karen did her usual outstanding solo on Like a Tree. What a treat!
Afterward, Gwen and John invited us for lunch at their house with some good friends. So comfortable and fun, so tasty! We could catch up in a little more detail with them, Tic & Terrie, Craig and Valerie. It was a time to treasure. Here's a pic. Looks like a fun group, right?
Too soon, we had to hop into the car to go what felt like a short distance to LaVerne, east of LA to visit Mom G. Once again, a lovely, home-cooked meal! Classic comfort food, even--mac 'n' cheese! At 87, she still hasn't lost her chops in the kitchen! We chatted, and watched some Masterpiece Theater (fave of all of ours).
Monday morning, over breakfast, Mom happened to mention her longing to see a house in which she'd spent some particularly happy years of her childhood. It's located in the Hollywood area, near Normandie and Beverly Blvd. I don't know. I guess after hundreds of miles and umpteen hours spent in the car over the previous several days, an extra few hours over to Hollywood and back for such a trip seemed almost negligible. So we went.
She took extra Kleenex, expecting to be overcome with wistful feelings and warm memories. As we turned the corner of Normandie on to Oakwood Avenue, what we heard was, "They painted it! How awful!" Somehow, in the 71 years since she'd lived there (ages 10 to 16), some rude and reckless occupant(s) had the poor judgement, and, let's be frank, bad manners, to paint what had been a nice brown house (the perfect color), beige without so much as a thought as to how previous residents might feel about it. Seriously. Not only that, but on whose authority did they remodel the porch, add a fence or remove the garage? Nevertheless, after she recovered from the shock, she was able to reminisce about their roller-skating routes, kick-the-can games and interesting neighbors. Nary a tear.
We also drove by Alexandria Ave. Elementary School (also inexplicably changed) and a few other neighborhood landmarks, some still visible, some not so much. As it happens, Tom's dad spent a distinquished career as a professor and researcher at LA Community College just a stone's-throw away (Melrose & Vermont), so we drove past, paying homage, on our way to Griffith Park Observatory, which was a big feature of the area in those days (and these). It'd been quite some time since Tom or I had been to visit the recently-renovated landmark, as well. Unfortunately, it was closed on Mondays, so we couldn't go inside to see the cool Foucault Pendulum we all remember as kids. But we got a nice view of LA and the Hollywood Sign.
We went home by way of Glendale, a major feature in all of our lives. On our own,Tom and I have driven past all our old houses and haunts in the area from time to time over the years. This time, we went back to the house Tom lived in from the time he was 10 until he went to college in '64. It's on Oakridge in south Glendale, near Forest Lawn Memorial Park (close enough for squirrely boys to throw dirt clods at mourners from time to time). Nice neighborhood, and the houses are in good shape. The folks who live in The House were gone, but the next-door neighbors were in the yard (lived there since '80) and chatted with Tom and his mom about the house and the neighborhood. Really nice folks! Still in quite good shape was the front concrete walkway Tom and his dad put in one weekend long ago. Afterwards, we drove by the apartment building a few blocks away where my family lived for a year (concurrently, but not knowing each other) when I was 12.
Then it was time to get back to LaVerne, where Tom's brother, Ken, was hanging out. We visited a bit, but, around 12:30, fortified with bags of cookies in case of severe sugar deprivation, we started home.
Uneventful. One nice "cherry-on-the-top" of the trip was stopping for Rubio's tacos about an hour from home. Love Rubio's. We arrived around 8:30 (all cookies long gone) in the rain that we love (still some scattered showers, 1 1/2 days later), happy to be home. We do love it here. But we're also so glad to have the chance to go out and visit some favorite folks now and then, thankful for their generous hospitality. Of course, we look forward to returning the favor.
