How It Was

When something moves you can tell that time has passed. --Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Collected Novelas, from Novela #1: LEAF STORM  

Alan wasn’t too thrilled to see the movie TOM and VIV but I wanted to see it, so we did.   It was starring Willem Dafoe and Miranda Richardson.   It was one of those period pieces set in 1915.     T.S. Eliot (Willem) and Vivenne Haigh-Wood (Miranda) who decide to elope.   She ends up having some emotional and gynecological problems that disrupt their planned honeymoon.  And her father is upset that T.S. Eliot’s poetry isn’t bringing in enough money for them to live on.  Her mother—on the other hand—is simply happy that her daughter has found a tender loving husband.   I know—sounds boring but I like going back-in-time to get a feel for ‘how it was’.  

Meanwhile, I was able to escape for the quick flight to Oakland to spend time with mom and see my nieces (and nephew who is almost two years old now).   Holly had a soccer game so that was on the itinerary.  It was fun to be outside and watch the game.   I could tell Holly was happy that I was there for her game.   I was happier than she was.    

I couldn’t believe how grown-up Dylan looked since the last time I saw him.  Sherri’s a good mom. 

I managed to drop over with mom to see my brother, Tony, and Helen in Castrol Valley.    It was also Helen's birthday recently (October 1st), so it was bit of a belated celebration for that as well.  

Lauren and Leigh had a sleepover with their cousin, Nicole (she is Geneva’s daughter; Geneva is Helen's sister).  I was surprised how cooperative they were about my request that they pose on the stairwell as if I was taking a ‘Brady Bunch’ family photo.  It looked very cute.   

I’m glad I tacked on an extra day as I arranged a breakfast outing with former coworker, Barbara Reynolds.   I made a cassette tape of songs for her.   It was nice to drive over to Berkeley for a change.  I still recall how I planned to move to L.A. in 1989 and in two years (1991) my intention was to move to Berkeley; however, I’m still in Los Angeles.  I like L.A. because where I live it is by-the-beach and I can walk around or bike around.  

Returning to Alameda is always fun but I notice tidbit changes; be it a new STOP sign, a newly painted house, a restaurant that is no longer there.  I am coming to realize that Southern California is becoming my other home.   Still...it’s always special to come back to feel ‘how it was’.  

“If poisonous weds are not removed, scented flowers cannot grow.” 

--Nien Cheng, LIFE AND DEATH IN SHANGHAI