THE LADY AND THE LAMP

LONG AGO WHEN I WAS TWELVE,  I SAW THE LADY AND THE LAMP.....RESTLESS AND EXPLORING SPIRIT..THE NIGHT WAS VERY DAMP.  HEAD UPON MY PILLOW, STARING THROUGH THE PANE....HER WRINKELED FACE SHOWED CONCERN, IN THE DIM AND DISMAL RAIN...SHE DISAPPEARED BUT LEFT BEHIND THE  LANTERN ALL A GLOWING....THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS THERE STILL REMAINS......THE LOVE IN HER BESTOWING....

THE TOUR GUIDE

LONG AGO AN INDIAN BOY WAS HEWING STONES ONE DAY....THE OLD CHEIF CAME TO SEE HIM.....YOUR MOTHER JUST PASSED AWAY.  HAND IN HAND THEY WALKED  DOWN TO ...CEREMONIAL FIRE BURNING....SHE WENT UP TO LAY DOWN HER CARES AND WITH THE ANGELS LEARNING...  AND NOW THE TOUR GUIDE SPEEKS AS HIS HAND HOLDS A STONE...THIS STONE WAS HEWN FROM SOLID ROCK,  PERHAPS A BOY ALONE........HE TOLD HIS STORIES AND ALMOST TOOK A DAY.....AND WITH MANY WORDS AND GESTURES, EXPLAINED THEIR LIVES AWAY...   

THE SEARCH

HE TRUDGES ALONG, LIFE'S ROAD...HIS BREIF CASE IN HIS HAND....LOOKING FOR THAT POT OF GOLD IN A FAST AND GREEDY LAND. HE NEVER STOPS TO PONDER THE THINGS HE PASSED THAT DAY.....THEY WERE JUST DISTRACTIONS AS HE WENT ALONG HIS WAY.  AT THE END, HE STOPS TO PONDER AT HIS SEARCH TO FIND MORE....THEN HE REALIZES THE THINGS HE HAD PASSED, WAS WHAT HE WAS  LOOKING FOR.

WHEN THE STORM GROWS WEARY

 WHEN THE STORM GROWS WEARY...ITS ENERGY SPENT, THE  TREES STILL DRIP.  ,  .FROM HEAVEN'S SENT...BUT, NOW. IT HAS MOVED ON .TO...ANOTHER PLACE....WHERE THE FLOWERS AWAIT.... WASHING OF  FACE.  A DYING BREEZE  SAYS GOOD BYE...THE TREES NOD THEIR HEADS...THANK YOU, AND GOOD BYE..

THE TAPPING OF THEIR STICKS...

ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, I WAS A GUEST OF AN OLD TIME FRIEND WHO LIVED ON ROSELAWN, GLENDALE.  HE WAS VERY GRACIOUS AND TOOK ME TO (GOD HELP ME) DEUKAMAGION PARK AT THE FOOT OF SAN GABRIELS.  THE SANTA ANAS HAD BLOWN ALL NIGHT, BUT QUITED DOWN.  WE TOOK A SMALL HIKE UP A TRAIL.  THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SCHOOL KIDS THERE ON A FIELD TRIP, AND THEY HAD LONG STICKS IN THEIR HANDS,,,THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER AND LISTENING TO THEIR TEACHER,,,WONDERFUL CHILDREN....AS THEY LISTENED, THEY SUDDENLY BEGAN TO TAP THEIR STICKS ON THE ROCK SURFACE BELOW....IT WAS SOME KIND OF A SPIRITUAL THING IN MY EARS,,,ROD AND I HAD ASCENDED UP THE TRAIL AND WE COULD LOOK DOWN ON THIS DAY IN A CHILD'S LIFE....THE TAPPING....I COULD FEEL THE SOULS OF CHILDREN....GENTLE TAPS, YET, SO PERSONAL, IT SEEMED.  ROD AND I WENT UP QUITE AWAYS, AND STOPPED TO LOOK OUT AND OVER THE LOS ANGELES BASIN.....THE AIR HADE BEEN STRIPPED OF MAN'S SMOKE,,,,JUST AIR..AND THE OCEAN AND THE BIG SHIPS AT SEA SEEMED TO BE IN OUR BACK YARD,  I UNDERSTOOD MORE CLEARLY WHY OCEAN VIEW WAS SO NAMED....BACK THEN.  THE KIDS WENT TO THEIR BUS TO TAKE THEM BACK,,,,,NO SOUND,,NO TAPS...JUST...NOTHING....BUT, JUST EVERYTHING RECORDED WHERE IT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY.....THANKS, ROD....NEVER FORGET IT.......B

DUCK TAILS....(HAIR STYLE)

THE VERY EARLY FIFTIES WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS IN TRANSITION FROM A BOY INTO A MAN (EVENTUALLY)....UP UNTIL THAT TIME, I WAS A WELL MANNERED LITTLE BOY WHO MADE STRAIGHT A'S IN SCHOOL AND TOOK PIANO LESSONS.  I WAS A JEWEL IN MY PARENT'S SHOW CASE.....SOMETHING HAPPENED.  THERE WERE A FEW HAIRS GROWING WHERE HAIR DOES NOT GROW!   I FELT DIFFERENT.  OUT OF CONCERN, I SHOWED MY MOTHER THE SEVERAL HAIRS.  SHE SEEMED UN-COMFORTIBLE AND TOLD ME TO SHOW THEM TO MY FATHER...WHY, I THOUGHT, HE HAD TONS OF HAIR THERE.  HIS DISEASE WAS FAR MORE ADVANCED THAN MINE.....I WANTED TO TALK TO A PERSON WHO WAS WELL.   EVERY THING WAS TOPSY-TURVY...I SAW A NEW HAIR STYLE..THE DUCK TAIL....SOME KIDS HEADS WERE BETTER SIZED FOR VERY COOL DUCK TAILS.  I WAS BORN C-SECTION AND DID NOT GET A GOOD SQUEEZE  ON MY HEAD,  THEREFORE, MY HEAD SEEMED VERY WIDE ABOVE THE EARS.  I DEMANDED THAT I BE ALLOWED TO GROW LONG HAIR SO I COULD COMB IT INTO A DUCK TAIL.  MY PARENTS CONCEEDED....AND LONG IT GREW. I ROLLED MY SLEEVES UP A TURN OR TWO.....OTHER KIDS DID IT, SO WHY NOT ME.  SOME OF THE KIDS LOOKED SULKY...I DECIDED I WOULD LOOK SULKY TOO.  I WORKED ON MY DUCKTAIL UNTIL I WAS SATISFIED THAT IT WAS REALLY COOL.  MY DAD SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO BURY AN AXE!  SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED....IT HAPPENED WHEN  MY PARENTS WERE AWAY.  I FOUND MY WAY INTO THEIR BEDROOM, SAT DOWN IN AN EASY CHAIR...MY HANDS WENT SOUTH....I WAS HOOKED.  I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO HIDE THE VERY STIFF HANDKERCHIEF THAT I KEPT UNDER MY BED....MY FIRST TWO WHISKERS CAME OUT TOGETHER....THE MAC AND MUFF OF PRIMERS.  LOWER CORNER OF RIGHT CHIN....LATER..MUCH LATER...I FIND THEM GROWING OUT OF MY NOSE AND EARS.   SO, I HAVE READ THE WHOLE BOOK.....QUITE A TRIP....SEEMS LIKE I HAVE BEEN ALIVE FOREVER.....WHAT HAPPENED....I WANT TO GO BACK....DONT WE ALL.....BUT, IT  WAS A TOTAL BLAST......B

SEE YA LATER, SAM....

NOW, THESE WERE THE EXACT WORDS OF ONE PHILIP OEHLER WHO LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.  HE WAS ONE OF THE NEATEST FRIENDS I EVER HAD.  HIS HOME ON CORNER SPANNED TWO LOTS.  HE AND I HIT IT OFF FROM DAY ONE. BLOND, A LITTLE HEAVY SET,  CREW CUT....HIS FACE WAS ALWAYS FILLED WITH FUN....KIND...GENTLE...HE IS THE ONLY PERSON I MADE TO FALL DOWN WITH LAUGHTER.  WE CROSSING ROSEMARY AND GOING TO HIS HOUSE.  I HAD KNOCKED OUT ME TWO FRONT TEETH IN A BIKE ACCIDENT YEARS EARLIER, AND I HAD A REMOVABLE PARTIAL TO REPLACE TEETH. ANYWAY, IN MY SPARE TIME, I LEARNED TO USE MY TONGUE TO REMOVE PARTIAL AND TURN IT END TO END AND REPLACE IT...ALL IN MY MOUTH.  I DID THIS AS WE CROSSED STREET AND I STUCK THE TEETH OUT OF MOUTH AND GAVE PHIL A SILLY SMILE.  HIS LEGS WENT OUT FROM UNDER HIM AND HE COLLAPSED IN LAUGHTER.  THE SUMMER OF 52 GAVE US TIME TO INVENT GAMES.  THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR TO THE SOUTH INCLUDED TWO GIRLS.  OUR STREET WAS ON A GRADE GOING UP  AS YOU WENT NORTH.  IT KEPT GOING UP ONA GENTLE SLOPE  UNTIL IT REACHED THE SAN GABRIEL MTNS.  PHIL AND I DECIDED TO LAUNCH AN ATTACK ON THE BRANN FAMILY NEXT DOOR.  FORMIDIBLE WEAPONS....PEA SHOOTERS AND PEAS.  WE PUNCHED A LITTLE HOLE IN MY PARENT'S  SCREEN OUTSIDE OUR DINING ROOM AND PROCEEDED TO BOMBARD THE BRANN HOUSE WITH SALVO AFTER SALVO... WE RAN OUT OF PEAS AND THE BRANNS LAWNS LOOKED WHITE AS SNOW....THEN...DAD CAME HOME.  NOT PLEASED AFTER A HARD DAY'S WORK.  HE SCOLDED ME AND TOLD ME TO PICK UP ALL THE BEANS, AND FOR EVERY ONE HE FOUND, I WOULD GET A WHIPPING...I SPENT THE REST OF DAYLIGHT PICKING UP BEANS.  NEXT MORNING STILL PICKING UP BEANS UNTIL I COULD SEE NO MORE...AFTER DAD'S INSPECTION THAT NIGHT, I PASSED AND MISSED A GOOD THRASHING.....NEVER-THE-LESS......TIME REVEALED SOMETHING THAT BOTHERED ME....BEAN SPROUTS EVERY WHERE...SO, INSTEAD OF PICKING UP BEANS, I PULLED SPROUTS BEFORE HE GOT HOME.   LET'S MOVE ON TO PEACHES....HARD PEACHES.  THERE WAS A TRIANGULAR SHAPED PIECE OF GROUND TWO BLOCKS SOUTH AND THIS LOT BORDERED LA CRESCENT BLVD.  BUSY STREET PLUS A NUMBER OF TREES RIGHT ON THE EDGE AND ONE WAS A PEACH TREE.  PHIL AND I HID BETWEEN THE MANY BRANCHES AND PLUCKED WONDERFUL HAND GRENADES FOR ENEMY CARS.  WE THREW THEM AND HEARD THE REWARDING THUNK.   ONE CAR WAS HIT AND HE HIT HIS BRAKES, DID A U TURN AND HEADED RIGHT TOWARDS US.  THE DRIVER STOPPED AND EMERGED IN FULL MILITARY DRESS.  OH GOD, AND OFFICER....HE WAS SEETHING...PHIL AND I TOOK OFF RUNNING AND PHIL YELLED BACK AT HIM..."SEE YA LATER SAM"   HE CHASED US ALL OVER, BUT WE WERE YOUNG AND LOST HIM...SO, AFTER ALL OF THIS DRIVEL....SEE YA LATER....FRIEND!

ITS A WONDER WE LIVED THROUGH IT

I SPEAK OF OUR CHILDHOODS, ESPECIALLY BOYS.  THE GIRLS WERE SUPERIOR IN COMMON SENSE.   I SPOKE OF LIVING ON NORTON AVE IN GLENDALE.  BACK THEN, THERE WERE STILL VACANT LOTS HERE AND THERE.  THERE WAS A HUGE LOT ON SE CORNER OF NORTON AND SAN FERNANDO RD.  SOME OF THE BIG BOYS ON OUR BLOCK DUG A WORLD CLASS FOX HOLE.  IT WAS VERY DEEP AND THE BOTTOM 1/3 WAS DISHED OUT SO THE HOLE WAS BELL SHAPED.  IF THAT WASNT ENOUGH, THE BOYS SCAVAGED SOME 4X8 WOOD PANELS AND MADE A 4 SIDED STRUCTURE TO COVER THE HOLE.  A SECTION OF THE HOLE THEY CALLED THE ART GALLERY.  WHEN THEY WERE NOT AROUND, I WOULD USE THE LADDER IN HOLE TO CLIMB DOWN AND LOOK AROUND.  ONE OF MY PALS SPENT THE NIGHT WITH ME AND THE NEXT SATURDAY, I TOOK HIM DOWN TO THE HOLE.  HE CLIMBED DOWN AND WAS LOOKING AROUND WHEN I ACCIDENTLY DISLODGED A ROCK AND IT HIT HIM IN THE HEAD. HE CAME OUT OF THE HOLE SCREAMING....BLOOD TRICKLING DOWN HIS FACE.  WE RAN TO HOME AND MY FATHER PUT A TOWEL AND ICE ON HIS WOUND.   HE WENT HOME!   I LOOKED AT THAT BLOODY TOWEL AND DECIDED TO KEEP IT IN MY CLOSET.  IT WAS THERE FOR MONTHS UNTIL MY MOTHER FOUND IT.  I RAN ACROSS SAN FERNANDO MANY TIMES.....BUSY...LOTS OF TRUCKS.  THEN I CROSSED THE S.P TRACKS ON WAY TO GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT TO WATCH PLANES TAKE OFF.  DURING THE WAR, AN ARMY COL. WITH FLYING EXPERIENCE WANTED TO FLY A P=38 LIGHTNING.  HIS ONLY INSTRUCTIONS WERE  "IT FLIES DIFFERENT"   HIS CO-HORTS WATCHED HIM TAKE OFF AND IT WAS IMMEDIATELY CLEAR HE WAS IN TROUBLE.  THE PLANE NEVER GAINED ALTITUDE AND THE MEN GOT INTO A CAR AND CHASED THE PLANE.  IT DISPPEARED FROM SIGHT AND BLACK SMOKE ROSE INTO THE AIR.  THE PLANE CRASHED INTO AN APT BLDG, KILLING THE PILOT.  NO ONE ELSE INJURED.  ONE DAY ON WAY TO SCHOOL (4TH GRADE)  I WAS RIDING MY BIKE DOWN AN ALLEY AND SUDDENLY A CAR BACKED OUT OF A GARAGE ADJOINING THE ALLEY.  HE NEVER SAW ME AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW, I WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT UP AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS GAS TANK.  NOT HURT !   ONE SUNDAY I RODE MY BIKE DOWN TO A FRUIT STAND WHICH HAD A LOADING DOCK BEHIND STORE,  I RODE UP THE RAMP AND CIRCLED AROUND TO THE RAMP.  I MISSED IT AND PLUNGED HEAD FIRST ABOUT FIVE FEET ONTO ASPHALT PAVING.  A LADY NEST DOOR SAW ME FALL, AND WHEN SHE SAW I DID NOT GET UP, SHE RAN OVER TO ME.  BLOOD COMING FROM MY MOUTH AND OUT COLD.  WHEN I CAME TO, SHE GOT ME TO SAY MY ADDRESS AND SHE DROVE AND TOLD MY FATHER.  HE CAME TO PICK ME UP AND CARRIED ME INTO HOUSE.  BACK THEN, THE DOCTOR MADE HOUSE CALLS, AND HE CAME AND DECIDED I DID NOT NEED TO GO TO HOSPITAL,,,I HAD KNOCKED OUT TWO FRONT TEETH.  WHEN A TEEN, WE DROVE UP ANGELES CREST HIGHWAY IN MY FRIENDS OLD MERCURY.  ON WAY DOWN.  THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR.....WE DID GET IT STOPPED BY PULLING OFF ONTO A FLAT AS THEY CALLED THEM AND USED SOME SOFT BUSHES TO STOP US BEFORE THE PRECIPACE .  THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW, SO WE PEED IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WORKED WELL ENOUGH TO GET SAFELY HOME.  SO, I AM THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I DODGED SOME BULLETS....

THE RISE AND FALL OF GREAT POWERS

PAUL KENNEDY WROTE SUCH A BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT,  HISTORY IS A STORY OF "MAN" AND THE ATTEMPTS TO BECOME SUPREME AMONGST THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.  PRIDE AND GREED ARE THE TWIN FUELS TO POWER THE DESIRE TO BE SUPREME AMONGST THE NATIONS.  YET, HISTORY SHOWS THAT NO NATION IN RECORDED HISTORY HAS BEEN AT ITS PRIME FOR MORE THAN 300 YEARS.  THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS AT ITS ZENITH FROM 96 TO 180 A.D.    YET,WAS IN ITS DECLINE FOR OVER FOUR CENTURIES.   ROME FELL!!!   AGAINST ALL HOPES, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS FALLING FAST, AND THERE IS NO RECOVERY....WE REACHED OUR ZENITH IN THE 50'S.  MATERIALISM AND THEN INSATIABLE GREED FOR MORE, BETTER, BIGGER, FASTER.  WE BECAME DELUSIONED THAT WE WERE THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD; THE SOLVER OF ALL PROBLEMS, THE MILITARY ANSWER TO ALL THREATS.  KENNEDY, IN HIS BOOK, SHOWED THAT THE DEMISE OF EVERY GREAT POWER HASBEEN SUCH.   THE DEMISE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.  AN OVER ESTIMATION OF A COUNTRY'S ABILITY TO FINANCE ITS DREAMS , ITS PRIDE, SUCH AS THE BILLIONS SPENT IN OUTER SPACE EXPLORATION....AN EFFORT THAT HAS PRODUCED SENSUAL AND STIMULATING DISCOVERIES, BUT DOES LITTLE FOR US ON EARTH.  OUR DEBACLES IN VIET NAM, THE MID-EAST.  WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE OR WHAT WE CAN AFFORD?   SADLY, WE SHALL FALL TOO....SHARING THE CEMETERY WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE....STRANGE BED FELLOWS TO SAY THE LEAST....SORRY,

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC I EVER HEARD

FIRST, I WRITE IN CAPS DUE TO POOR VISION.  THIS SUBJECT ENVOLVES A PHYSICAL CONDITION THAT HAS A NAME.  IT RUNS HAND IN HAND WITH LOSS OF HEARING.  IT IS REPORTED THAT BEETHOVEN WROTE HIS MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC WHEN HE WAS GOING DEAF.  I ALSO HAVE RINGING OF THE EARS...TINITUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.  I CANNOT REMEMBER MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THIS MUSIC....I DO KNOW I RUN A FAN AT NIGHT FOR WHAT IS CALLED "WHITE NOISE"  ONE NIGHT, I AWAKENED AND HEARD THE MOST FAINT AND MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC....IT WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD.  SO INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL.  IT DID NOT FRIGHTEN ME, BUT IT DID AROUSE MY CURIOSITY.   I TURNED MY HEAD ON PILLOW TO ANOTHER POSITION, AND FOR A MOMENT, THE MUSIC WENT AWAY, ONLY TO RETURN.  I, THEN CHANGED SPEED ON THE FAN, AND AGAIN, A TEMPORARY INTERLUDE, ONLY TO RETURN.  I REMEMBER THINKING THAT IF THIS COULD BE RECORDED, IT WOULD TOP THE CHARTS...STRANGELY, IT WAS BLUES....THREE PIECE BAND.  I HAD ANOTHER EXPERIENCE OF THIS MONTHS LATER.  I AWOKE TO SOMEONE SINGING A BALLAD....AND I ALSO SAW A DIM VISION OF THE SETTING.  THE SONG WAS ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WHO SAW THE WOMAN OF HIS DREAMS STROLLING AROUND A ROSE GARDEN...ALONE.  THERE WAS A WALL AROUND THIS GARDEN, AND HE COULD NOT GET IN....ONLY GAZE AT HER....HE CAME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN TO SEE IF SHE WAS THERE.  SHE NEVER CAME BACK.  THE ONLY LYRICS I REMEMBER ARE..."OH ROSE, OH ROSE..WAIT FOR ME"    AGAIN, IT WAS A BEAUTY NOT KNOWN TO ME.  SOMETIMES THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE AND OUR OWN MAKE-UP GREATLY......SCARES ME!    THE B

MY TITLE MENTIONS GLENDALE

......MIGHT BE GOOD TO MENTION IT ONCE IN AWHILE.  I WAS FIVE IN 1944 WHEN MY PARENTS MOVED FROM TULSA, OKLA TO GLENDALE.  I PERCEIVED AS A FIVE YEAR OLD PERCEIVED.  WE MOVED FROM AN ACERAGE IN THE COUNTRY IN OKLA TO A BLOCK IN A HUGE AND ENDLESS PLACE CALLED LOS ANGELES.  MY FATHER WORKED FOR A MEAD BROS DRILLING CONTRACTOR HERE IN TULSA.  HOMER MEAD WAS WELL TO DO, AND WHEN HE RETIRED, HE MOVED TO HOLLYWOOD.  HE PRECEEDED US TO CALIF.  WHEN MY FATHER WAS TRANSFERRED TO LOS ANGELUS OFFICE OF AMERADA PETROLEUM CORP., HOMER AND HIS WIFE MARIE, PUT US UP IN THERE LOVELY BIG HOME IN HOLLYWOOD.  I FELT SO DIS-PLACED...A SENSE OF NERVOUS AND INSECURITY IN THIS STRANGE PLACE.  MY FOLKS FINALLY FOUND A HOME ON NORTON STREET  IN GLENDALE.....839 NORTON.  MY FIRST MEMORY OF NORTON WAS ALL OF THESE KIDS STANDING AROUND IN A SEMI-CIRCLE WATCHING OUR MOVING VAN UNLOAD OUR THINGS.  EVEN AT THAT EARLY AGE, IT OFFENDED ME...NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS...BUT I COULD NOT ARTICULATE THAT THEN.  I REMEMBER THE REALTOR SHOWING US WHERE WE TURNED THE SPRINKLERS ON IN BACK YARD.  THERE WAS ONE PLACE I TOOK SHELTER...MY ROOM.  SMALL, BUT NICE TWO BED ONE BATH HOUSE....IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF TIME TO ADJUST TO ALL THE DIFFERENT KIDS ON BLOCK.  SOME OF THEM WERE BULLIES.  I LOVED CLIMBING TREES AND HIDING UNDER SECRET BUSHES....I DID QUICKLY DEVELOPE FRIENDS MY AGE VIA KINDERGARTEN AND ON...GIRLS....I BEGAN TO NOTICE THEM...THE WAR WAS STILL ON AND WE LIVED TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT.  THE SOUNDS OF ENGINES RUNNING DAY AND NIGHT.  SAN FERNANDO ROAD WITH HUGE TRUCKS BLOWING BLACK SMOKE.  THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRACKS WITH STEAM ENGINES PULLING LONG TRAINS. I WAS FASCINATED WITH ALL THE MOTION AND NOISE OF MY NEW HOME.  IT WAS A DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE SENSE OF TRAFFIC...BUT NOT BAD PEOPLE.  AS I GREW A LITTLE OLDER, MY PARENTS TRUSTED ME FAR MORE THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE.  MY BICYCLE ALLOWED ME TO TRAVEL TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!   I DISCOVERED THE GREAT DRAINAGE CHANNEL CALLED WASHES.  I FOUND WHERE I COULD CLIMB OVER A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND USE IRON RUNGS TO CLIMB DOWN INTO A WASH AND FIND MYSELF AT THE LOS ANGELES RIVER,,,BACK THEN...LOTS OF RUSHES AND BAMBOO...FROGS AND TADPOLES....I BECAME FASCINATED WITH THE OLD, RED-GLOBED KEROSENE LANTERNS THAT WERE SET AROUND CONSTRUCTION SITE.  I LIKED THEM SO MUCH, I STOLE ONE...I TRIED TO HIDE IT, BUT MY FATHER FOUND IT AND I WAS PUNISHED BY NOT BEING ALLOWED TO STAY ALL NIGHT WITH DEANY HURD,,A SPECIAL FRIEND OF MINE....TOO MUCH TO TELL..I REMEMBER SITTING AT MY LITTLE DESK AND I SAW A TINY BUG CRAWLING ACROSS THE DESK.  I CRUSHED HIM BENEITH MY FINGER,,,AND LOOKED AT A LITTLE SPOT AND BEGAN TO CRY....."IM SORRY LITTLE BUG."    I AM SURE I EVENTUALLY WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT AND ASKED MY MOTHER TO LEAVE THE HALL LIGHT ON.  I HAD WONDERFUL PARENTS....ONE LAST MEMORY...V=J DAY.....I KNEW WE WERE AT WAR...MY FIRST MEMORY OF THAT DAY WAS I WAS WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL AND A FRONT DOOR OPENED ON OUR BLOCK, AND I SAW A WOMANS ARM STICK OUT AND SHE WAS RINGING A BELL...THAT EVENING MY FATHER DROVE US AROUND AND EVERYBODY WAS HONKING THEIR HORNS,,,GAS STATIONS WERE GIVING GAS AWAY AND MY DAD PULLED IN AND FILLED HIS TANK.......SO, TO YOU, GOOD NIGHT...ENOUGH FOR TONIGHT.......THE B

DREAMS

ONE OF MY GREATEST FASCINATIONS IS WHY WE DREAM WHAT WE DO?  MY DREAMS ARE VERY DETAILED AND THERE IS NO WAY I COULD THINK THESE UP WHEN AWAKE.  I HAVE RECURRING DREAMS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO FLY LIKE SUPERMAN.  I DREAM I CAN SWIM LIKE A OLYMPIC SWIMMER WHEN I CAN'T SWIM AT ALL.  THESE ARE MY FAVORITES.  I HAVE TROUBLE GETTING OFF THE GROUND IN FLYING DREAMS..IT SEEMS TO BE A POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING TYPE OF THING.  I HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER ALTITUDE.. ALSO, I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF DREAMS WHERE I CAN FLY A PLANE,  I ALWAYS TAKE OFF FROM LAX AND OFTEN TIMES HAVE TO FLY A BIG PLANE THROUGH A TUNNEL TO DODGE INCOMING AIRCRAFT.  THE SCARIEST DREAM I EVER HAD WAS I DREAMED I WAS ASLEEP RIGHT WHERE I WAS.  I WOKE UP AND SAW THIS HAIRY BALL WITH SPIKES STICKING OUT ALL OVER AND IT MOVED BY MOVING THE SPIKES.  IT WENT OUT OF VIEW WHEN IT GOT RIGHT NEXT TO MY BED.  I WAS IN TOTAL HORROR LIKE I'VE NEVER KNOWN.  THEN IT JUMPED ON TOP OF ME IN BED AND I WOKE UP FEELING LIKE I WAS GOING TO DIE FROM FRIGHT..COULD NOT BREATHE FOR A MOMENT.  I THINK DREAMS HAVE A CONDUCTOR, SOMETHING THAT WRITES FROM A SCRIPT.  I THINK THIS SCRIPT IS PUT TOGETHER FROM ALL EVENTS IN OUR LIVES, THOUGH THEY DO NOT RELATE.  IT IS THIS CONDUCTOR THAT FASCINATES ME SO.....WHY DID IT...HE...CHOOSE THE ELEMENTS THAT HE DID?.....GREAT MYSTERY HERE.....PLEASANT DREAMS

EARTH'S SWEETEST PERFUMES

I ONLY SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE....THE SMELL OF HAY DURING A SUMMER SHOWER....THE KANSAS PRAIRES...FLAT, PRODUCTIVE, HARD WORKERS..SUN TANNED FARM BOYS DRIVING A HAY TRUCK AND I AM RIGHT BEHIND ON MY MOTORCYCLE...RAIN SHAFTS , A LIGHTNING BOLT...SHEETS OF WATER COMING FROM THEIR TIRES...THE SWEET SMELL OF NEWLY MOWN HAY....ANOTHER:  THE AROMA IN GRANDPA SWANSON' S OLD BARN....COWS LONG GONE, BUT A WAFT OF HAY AND MANURE STILL REMAINED AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS...AS A BOY, I LIKED TO EXPLORE THAT OLD LEANING BARN.. SHAFTS OF LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE CRACKS..ERRANT DUST PARTICLES PASSING THROUGH   AND BURSTING INTO A SILVER SPECK UNTIL THEY WENT THEIR WAY...THE SMELLS OF MOODS....SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH....EVERY ONE SLEEPY AND NODDING OFF  AFTER FRIED CHICKEN MASHED POTATOES, HOME GROWN VEGETABLES AND APPLE PIE.   IN THEIR CHAIRS NOW....  THE OSCILLATING EMERSON FAN...MOVING THIS WAY  AND THAT...TO MAKE SURE EVERY ONE HAD SOME COMFORT.  THE SWEEP OF AIR HIT THE NEWSPAPER, NOW FOLDED IN GRANDPA'S LAP..AND LIFTED ITS PAGES IN A LITTLE GREETING AS THE BREEZE SWEPT OVER...LATER IN AFTERNOON....SOMETHING IN THE AIR...GRANDPA AWOKE...THE SKY WAS GROWING DARKER AND DARKER...DISTANT THUNDER....DARKER AND DARKER....A BLINDING FLASH AND A LOUD BANG....TORRENTS OF RAIN...TRASH CAN LIDS SETTING SAIL...TREES BENDING OVER...SOON THE STORM PASSED AND THINGS  GOT QUIET....WE VISITED AND SNACKED ON LEFT OVERS....I WAS TUCKED IN ..THE LITTLE ROOM ON BACK..THE SMELL OF COLD CREAM..GRANDMAS DEAR FACE...ALL IS QUIET NOW.  SO NICE AND COOL, AND THE OLD BARN SMILED AT ME IN THE MOONLIGHT...GOOD NIGHT ALL....B

TYPICAL FRIDAY NIGHT IN GLENDALE 1956

FOOTBALL GAME AT GHS....GAME OVER AND EVERY BODY STREAMED OUT TO GO TO BOB'S OR CRUISING BRAND.  CRUISING WAS A WAY TO SEE WHAT WAS OUT THERE....I MEAN,,CARS AND CHICKS!   BEHIND ALL OF THE ROUGH LOOKS, DUCK TAILS AND ALL, THERE WAS A SORT OF INSECURITY.  THE FLAT HEADS WERE FADING TO THE CHEV V8'S.  UP AND DOWN THE STREET WE WENT..JUST LOOKING.  THE OTHERS LOOKED TOO, BLONDS STARED AT RED HEADS,,,,NO FRIENDLY LOOKS..THAT WOULD BE WEAK!  AS FOR US, WE WERE IN A 34 FORD WITH A 48 MERC FLATHEAD.  THE BLOCK WAS 3/8 X 3/8 (BORE AND STROKE)...3/4 CAM, PORTED AND RELEIVED, EDELBROCK HEADS...H AND C IGN.  IT WAS FAST!  TURNED 101 IN QUARTER MILE.  MUSIC FROM EVERY CAR....SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN,  GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY....WE HAD ICED BEER AND WE HEADED FOR DORAN..A DARK STREET.  WE PARKED AND OPENED BEER NUMBER ONE... WE LIT UP AND SMOKED....AFTER ABOUT A SIX PACK EACH, WE  NEEDED TO PEE...NOT A PROBLEM; WE ARE BOYS!  OK, LETS GOT TO BOB'S ON COLORADO.....AS WE APPROACHED, LONG LINE OF CARS WAITING TO GET INTO THE PLACE.  SOME DUDE IN A 40 FORD RUNNING A CHEV KEPT DRIVING BY AND REVVING HIS ENGINE.....NO DICE, WE WANNA EAT.  FINALLY, WE GOT IN, MADE THE CIRCULAR WAITING LINE AND PULLED UP.   THE WAITRESSES ON SKATES WERE HAVING A BALL.  HOW THEY BALANCED THEIR TRAYS AND SKATED ...I COULDNT DO IT.   TWO BIG BOYS, FRIES AND A COKES....A CHICK IN NEXT CAR KEEPS STARING AT US.  BEING A BIT STONED, I GOT OUT AND DANCED AROUND A BIT.  TOLD TO GET BACK INTO CAR....FOOD GREAT, BUT WE NEED TO MOVE ON..STILL A LONG LINE..THE DUDE IN FORD IS STILL CRUISING LOOKING FOR A RACE...OK, YOU ARE GAME.  WE STOP SIDED BY SIDE AT A LIGHT.  HE LOOKS OVER AND SNEERS.  OUR FLATHEAD AT 3,000 RPM AND JUST WAITING....GO.....BOTH CARS BURNING RUBBER...WE SLIP THE CLUTCH A LITTLE AND THE CAR HOOKS UP....WE GO TO SECOND AND THEN THIRD...WE ARE AHEAD BY A CAR LENGTH....THEN, WE NOTICE SPARKS COMING OUT FROM BENEITH HIS CAR.....THE CAR FALLS BACK....HE BLEW SOMETHING....AND....THE REST IS HISTORY...GREAT NIGHT ON THE OLD TOWN...NOW, LETS GO HOME AND EXPLAIN TO OUR PARENTS !

SECRET PLACES

I AM PRETTY SURE THIS ONLY SPEAKS TO CHILDHOOD..BUT, I AM NOT POSITIVE IN THAT.  WHAT WERE SECRET PLACES AND WHY?,  IN OUR VULNERABLE YEARS, WHEN THE ADULT WORLD RULED OUR FIRST EXPOSURES, IN SOME PRIMORDIAL WAY, WE PERCEIVED WE NEEDED A HIDING PLACE... A PLACE ALL OUR OWN... ALTHOUGH WE COULD NOT ARTICULATE IT AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE, YET, LIFE  SEEMED TO MUCH TOO FAST IN SOME CASES.....SOME OF US RECOGNIZED SPECIAL PEOPLE.....WE LEARNED TO SAY MAMMA AND DADDY....THEY SEEMED TO COME AND GO, AND IN SOME CASES THEY WENT AWAY...WE LOOKED FOR WARMTH, THAT WHICH BECKONED WITH LOVING ARMS.... A BUSH TO PLAY UNDER, OUR BUSH, AND NO ONE KNEW...IN SOME CASES, LONLINESS BECAME OUR BEST FRIEND....WE LEARNED THAT THE PRESENCE IN LONLINESS WAS THE BEST DISCOVERY IN LIFE.....THE HALLOWED HALLS OF THOSE AGO..WHOSE VOICES STILL SING FOR EARS ATTUNED.  NOTHING DEAR REALLY GOES AWAY...WE JUST HAVE TO FIND IT.....

GOING TO BED

THIS COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF WHEN AND WHERE.  I FEEL SO OLD NOW, GETTING TIRED, AND I THANK GOD FOR BED TIME.  I TOLD MY WIFE THE OTHER NIGHT THAT OUR BED WAS THE MOST COMFORTABLE PLACE IN THE WORLD...WONDERFUL MATTRESS...GOOD SHEETS.  MY BONES FEEL SO GOOD THERE...IT IS SOOO QUIET WHERE WE  LIVE.  SOMETHING ABOUT BED AT NIGHT THAT INVITES THOUGHTS....BUT, THEY DONT LAST LONG IF YOU ARE AT PEACE.  GOD'S LOVE WHICH SOME CALL NATURE, PULLS A WARM BLANKET OF REST OVER US....DREAMS, SOMETIMES/  I CAN NEVER OUT GUESS WHAT I AM GOING TO DREAM.  I NEVER COULD SWIM, YET, IN MY DREAMS I AM A WORLD CLASS SWIMMER...BACK STROKES, THE BUTTERFLY...IT IS SO WONDERFUL.  OFTEN TIMES, WE DO WAKE UP IN THE NIGHT,,,WEE HOURS...HALF AWAKE WE MAY ROLL OVER OR TOSS AND TURN...LEGS THRASHING TO FIND A COOL PLACE ON THE SHEET....A GOD GIVEN  TIME OF REFLECTION AND OTHER.  I FEEL SO OLD AND WORN OUT NOW, AND I ACTUALLY HATE TO SEE THE LIGHT OF A NEW DAY.   BUT NOT FOR LONG, ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE....BUT, THE NEW DAY COMES....LIKE THE DRILL SEARGENT TO HIS RECRUITS...."WAKE UP...HIT THE FLOOR, TIME FOR ANOTHER ROUND"   .  ONLY, IN MY CASE, MY SLEEPY WIFE ASKS IF THE COFFEE HAS BEEN MADE YET.  CARBON COPY DAYS..JUST THE SAME, BUT THE REWARD IS THE NIGHT.....SOFT, TENDER, PERSONAL....MANY THOUGHTS...FLEETING...WORRIES WHICH SOON DISAPPEAR....THE WHOLE DESIGN IS ACTUALLY QUITE BRILLIANT......THE B.

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD.1940'S

JUNE, 1944...FIVE YEARS OLD....NEW HOME, NEW TOWN, NO OPENS FIELDS WHERE THE HAY BALERS WERE CHOMPING HAY AND ALL WAS QUIET.....MY FATHER WAS TRANSFERRED TO L.A. AS AN ACCT WITH AMERADA PETROLEUM.   TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH HOUSE ON NORTON AVE,  TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF SAN FERNANDO ROAD.....WW2 STILL ON....GAS STICKERS ON WINDSHIELDS, FOOD STAMPS,    ALL NEW TO ME.  MY FIRST MEMORY OF OUR NEW HOME WAS THE MOVING VAN ARRIVING FROM TULSA, OK.  OUR BELONGINGS WERE BEING UNLOADED AND THERE WAS A GROUP OF KIDS GATHERED AROUND TO WATCH.  MY FIRST UN-EASINESS THERE.  THE REALTOR SHOWED MY PARENTS WHERE SPRINKLER TURN ON VALVE WAS IN BACK YARD...WE LIVED THERE FOR SIX YEARS.  LOOKING BACK, I AM AMAZED AT HOW MUCH LIBERTY MY PARENTS GAVE ME.  ONE DAY, MY MOM COULD NOT FIND ME.  WITH THE HELP OF NEIGHBORS, THEY FOUND ME ON MY TRICYCLE WATCHING THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS CHANGING COLORS ON SAN FERNANDO ROAD.  LITTLE GIRL NEXT DOOR, MY FIRST FRIEND,  SHE AND I WALKED UP TO GLENOAKS AND JUST LOOKED AROUND. TO THE WEST, A MASSIVE INFLUX OF CARS COMING IN A BUNCH.  SHE SAID "LOCKHEED"......TRAFFIC FROM END OF SHIFT....IT DID NOT TAKE ME LONG TO REALIZE NORTON HAD ITS FEARS.  A BULLY NAMED RICHARD.   IN RETROSPECT, I REMEMBER MRS WITT NEXT DOOR COMMENTING ON HIM...."HE WAS THE BAD ONE"   AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WAS BEING BUILT ON THE NW CORNER OF NORTON AND GLENOAKS.  THE FRAMING HAD BEEN DONE.....I FOUND A PLAY AREA....I RAN UP THE STAIRS TO THE TOP FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING AND I WAS AMONGST THE TREE TOPS....I BECAME A PILOT UP IN THE CLOUDS, BOMBING THE GERMANS.   I DID NOT NEED TO SEE RICHARD, I COULD SENSE HIM...A FOREBODING....I RAN TO STAIRS AND RICHARD WAS COMING UP....A SHARK SENSING BLOOD....LEERING, CRUEL LIPS...HE GRABBED ME AND DANGLED ME OVER THE EDGE...I COULD SEE THE GROUND BETWEEN MY FEET TWO STORIES DOWN.  I BROKE FREE AND RAN. FOR MY LIFE I RAN... I USED BACK YARDS..OVER ONE FENCE...RUN..OVER ANOTHER...I LOST HIM.. I WOUND UP IN  THE BACK YARD OF A NEW FRIEND, ROLAND GOFF.  HIS MOTHER SAW ME CRYING IN HER BACK YARD AND GAVE ME SOME BANANA BREAD SHE HAD JUST MADE.  I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT.  I LEARNED TO CARVE OUT SECRET PLACES, JUST FOR ME.  A CERTAIN BUSH TO SIT UNDER, AN OLD ABANDONED BUS IN THE STORAGE AREA OF AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP ON SAN FERNANDO ROAD.  MY SECRET HIDE OUT. I CAN STILL SMELL THE MINGLING OF OIL AND PEPPER TREES.   I LOVED PELANCONI PARK.  GREAT SWINGS THAT ALLOWED YOU TO GO ABOUT AS HIGH AS YOUR NERVES COULD STAND.....THE SAND BOX....THE SLIDE...THE SMALL BRICK BLDG THAT WAS A PEE PEE PLACE.....THE COVERED AREAS UNDER WHICH WERE TABLES WHERE WE PLAYED CARAMS ON SUMMER DAYS....THE WHISPER OF THE WIND,  THE PASSING OF A STRANGER....ALL SAFELY TUCKED AWAY IN MY MEMORIES.....THE B

IS GOD KNOWABLE ?

IT DEPENDS UPON WHO YOU ASK.  THIS SUBJECT IS SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE FOR MOST.   THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GREAT BARRIERS. ONE IS THE PHILOSOPHY THAT THINGS OF THAT NATURE CANNOT BE KNOWN WITH ANY CERTAINTY, THEREFORE, ANY ONES IDEAS ARE AS VALID AS ANY OTHER IDEA.  THE IDEA THAT THERE IS ONE DOOR AND ONLY ONE INFURIATES RELATIVISTIC THINKERS.  WHO ARE YOU TO SAY, THEY SAY.  MANY DESIGN THEIR OWN RELIGION, FIND THEIR OWN CHURCH.  THEY GO WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTIBLE.  THEY GO WHERE SIN AND ACCOUNTIBILITY TO GOD IS TABOO.  RELIGION IS TO GOD WHAT BOTANY IS TO FLOWERS.  YOU CAN GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN EVERY FACT ABOUT PLANTS, BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE WALKED THROUGH A DEWY ROSE GARDEN  IN MAY, YOU DON'T KNOW FLOWERS AT ALL..YOU KNOW ABOUT FLOWERS !   JESUS SAID  "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME"   HE ALONE DIED FOR OUR SINS AND HE ALONE WAS ABLE TO SATISFY A HOLY GOD THAT SINS WERE PAID FOR.  HE WAS THE LAMB  OF GOD THAT TOOK AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.  JESUS SAID.  "AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MAY KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM THOU HAST SENT." I BELIEVED ON HIM YEARS AGO, AND I KNOW GOD....NOT ALL ABOUT GOD...I KNOW GOD.  YES, GOD IS KNOWABLE THROUGH HIS SPIRIT, BUT YOU HAVE TO COME TO HIM HIS WAY.....READ THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IN A QUIET SETTING AND SENSE SOMETHING BLESSED.....GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU.  BOB