Time Warp Vacation

7-17-06
I have this week off for vacation. I came up to Los Angeles for the week. I was unable to come up last week for my mother's birthday; or two weeks ago for my aunt's minor surgery. So this is my first chance back up here for a few years.

Yesterday, did a coin-up car wash in preparation for the drive up and then on the drive through Sorrento Valley today, there was a 5 minute burst of rain. I was not amused. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get to the San Fernando Valley. Luckily, I was listening to a CD of a recording of Ernest Holmes and it kept me sane.

Ironically and/or coincidentally, as I was driving through Orange County and having passed Disneyland, there was a DJ on the radio sharing the information that on this day, July 17th, 51 years ago, Disneyland opened its doors--one year after it began construction. Coincidence and timing. And then I realized the date had significance to me and it gave me pause and an interesting laugh. The kind of laugh that comes from being in the midst of life and hard for an actor to re-create because it is so spontaneous and often, odd-sounding.

Driving through familiar terrain and listening to KRTH Radio 101.1 on a very hot summer day in the Valley (For sure,dude!) singing along with the oldies began the time warp. What year is it? Where am I? WHO AM I??? Asking these questions as I arrive at a hotel place in Mission Hills deep into the Valley.

Then later today, I went over to my aunt-in-law, Cetta's house. My wasband, David is staying there now with (our) dogs, Rosebud and Zeke. Zeke who is an all black lab/greyhound mix is now showing grey on his muzzle and looks older. Rosebud hasn't changed and she seemed quite disconcerted seeing/smelling me after so many years. No wait, was that David? Nah--it was Rosie. Brought them each a tasty bone when Rosie quickly took hers and ran to hide and eat it; and Zeke took it and then went back to bring me his toy so that he could bury the bone for later.

David and I left and went to get a bite of lunch/dinner. Wanting to stay close to my food program, we went to McDonald's where I had one of their healthy salads with the low-fat Paul Newman Sesame Ginger dressing. While we were eating I asked David if he knew what day it was. July 17th.? Oh yes,he remembered.. Oh my gawwwwd. Happy Anniversary! Today was the day that we met 25 years ago. Yes, you read that correctly. TWENTY-FIVE years ago we met at Michael & Roger's party. See what I mean about time warp??? It's hard for me to think of knowing anyone 25 years (other than my mother) that is such a chunk of time/ A 1/4 of a century. We laughed in amazement. I did not and could not have planned for us to be together 25 years to the day. Serendipity? Coincidence? And given the history we have shared and our not being together the past five of those years....whoda thunk?

So we celebrated in style at.... Starbucks. Then what else would we do after that excitement? David and I worked on my iBook!!!!! Cleaned up some stuff, I learned some other stuff while listening to iTunes. He told me that when I get my new MacBook (and it comes with iWeb software to use with my .mac account) I will be able to put my sermons on a podcast for the world to download and even available for subscriptions. KEWL!

Surreal.

Tommorow, I visit my mum.

Nighty-night.