Grocery Shopping for Memories

Back in my hippie days we lived in an area that went off the grid during storms leaving residents without access to food, water, or power. It taught self reliance real quick and now that I live where that isn't a problem during storms, I still shop and store as if it might happen at any time. There is a supply in the garage of just about everything to get by for a week or more if necessary.  It helped in the 94 Northridge quake, we didn't lose power or water but friends did. We didn't need to run out to the store right away and if we had lost power or water it wouldn't be the end of the world. Inconvenient, yes but with the survival skills I learned, we would get by.

 Still, when storm weather comes (and what a delight here in La La Land for stormy weather) I relish supplying the larder. You need food that cooks in one pot, hopefully for a long time to help warm the house and make it a comfortable place to hunker down. The aroma of slow cooked meals simmered on a wood stove while you sit in front of its cast iron belly to read, craft or chat with family and friends is something usually savored at campsites. Time to open a bottle and contemplate whatever it is that needs contemplation. Time to slow down and enjoy the simple things life has to offer like a warm meal shared with others.

Everyone has their own way of navigating the isles of grocery stores. I start at the entrance and wind my way down each isle until I reach the other end where the produce is stored. But that depends on the reliance of the store keeper. There might not be what I'm looking for in the one department and that might mean changing course, going back to a previous aisle for what I could use instead. At the end of shopping, my last item is at least one block of ice. I like my beer cold.

Back at home, with a look at the weather report while stocking the pantry, I think back to those hippie days and the people I met. There is, unfortunately, no one left alive that I know, except for a friend's son who called two years ago to say his mother was dying.  Apparently she did for I never heard from her that Christmas. That leaves me and my memories.

So here I am with a glass of Merlot as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young play softly to the storm that will bring rain and wind to shade my memories of the  laughter and songs we once had a long time ago. To Johnny Reno, Lee and Roxanne, to Richard, Henry and Jeff, to all those that came in and out of our door during bad times and good that storms bring. May you go in peace just as you lived. 

The Hood Is Going To The Dogs

Spring in our park inside of La La Land. Notice the pink flowers on the trees, we would have nothing else.

 

As me and Sweet Pea left the house I told him we are on a great adventure, a new route through less traveled places, some unknown to both us.  Sweet Pea is all for adventure as long as we are on it together, and I feel the same. We headed East toward Balboa Park.

It was a blustery day for the wind did crack its cheeks with an icy breath. But Sweet Pea and I have felt cold before and it would not deter us. It seemed not to deter others either for we ran into a number of folk taking a stroll. It's due to living in La La Land where warm (and every year it is noticeably warmer than the year before) is most days. The joy of a change in weather is too strong to resist and L.A. wants to savor that change to the fullest. Can't blame them.

La La Land is the heart of Fruits and Nuts California. Our first encounter with one of the nuts was right on our block. Someone had bought the house of someone we knew at one time who happened to be a therapist, we have a lot of therapist here to help deal with the nuts and the two come in about equal numbers. I'm not sure though which came first. Before I could pick up the poop of Sweet Pea, screams of rage and profanity rang from the house once owned by the therapist neighbor. We were not on his lawn but the public sidewalk when Sweet Pea decided he needed to take care of unfinished business. I don't know what the man wanted me to do, but before I could get the paper towel out of the plastic bag he was on the porch yelling at me to make sure I took care of Sweet Pea's now finished business. Once the dog completed the task at hand, I wrapped it up and told the raging lunatic he had a definite attitude problem before walking away and disposing the waste in a trash container across the street from him. I figure we're lucky he didn't shoot us for this outrage committed by an eight pound dog. That's one of the things you learn when living here. Avoid the Nuts, the Fruits aren't nearly as disagreeable.

We took to a busier street, I wanted to show Sweet Pea that some streets near us had a lot more traffic than ours and I think he understood for he was very happy once we hit the green grass of the park. And who wouldn't? Our park is really nice and the two of us diffidently felt better once in it. Our walk now became a leisurely stroll to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a quiet oasis set in an island surrounded by cars. If La La Land wasn't so big, more people, I think, would walk around. But here everyone drives before walking, except the two of us, we left the gas guzzling fat-ass caddie in the driveway back home. 

Everything after the earlier and uglier encounter of the day was pleasant. Nods of "Hello" were given when applicable. Sweet Pea was in a fine strut, holding himself quite well and handsome. An elderly couple sitting on a bench even commented on Sweet Pea's well mannered ways and I was proud of him, boasting he was just over a year old and already an accomplished wayfarer.

Then, on our way back from the park another encounter. This time with a person who wanted to know if we were attacked by a pit bull. Specifically his pit bull. Apparently a dog irritated his dog and a fight ensued whereas the pit bull won. I looked at Sweet Pea and shivered at the thought of him defending himself against a pit bull. There would be little defense for him to give and I would be terror struck if something like that happened to him. I've never known a dog to give so much love as Sweet Pea.

That's it every where you go in life. Some days are walks in the park and then other can be strange and frightening encounters with the dark side. Maybe more trees that flower in pink should be planted, or more therapists for the nuts. I'm not sure what would work better but our great adventure, like most great adventures showed us both.