Some Childhood Memories

This is a recently published oral history which Mike brought to my attention. Like this Japanese American I too was raised in Boyle Heights (East Los Angeles) though my childhood years were a bit later she speaks of life in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. The latter two decades I was experiencing so many of the same things. We had chickens in our backyard. My grandmother bought fish on Wed. mornings from the fish man she speaks of. A good sunday dinner after church was going to Little Tokyo and having the whole family enjoy chinese food at Far East Cafe. My mother would take our own 8x10 pan to Manuel the owner of El Tepeyac on Evergreen to get our Hollenbeck burritos and Manuel Special. The junkman she speaks of would go by our house and the back alley on his cart pulled by horses (I can't believe in my lifetime I have seen this). He would yell "Junkman, Junkman" as he rode by. HIs cart would be piled with what looked like rags. The store this woman's father owned "Hill top Market" was at the corner on the street where I lived. The owner in the late 1950's were the Kino family. People still put things on "the tab" to pay at the end of the month. We would have a nickel after school somedays to buy a candy. Caesar Chavez Avenue was called "Brooklyn Avenue" when I was growing up. Anyway if you have the time this womans history is a piece of Boyle Heights that I experienced. This was my life, my childhool on many levels.  

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mJW87PqOHVI&feature=youtu.be

The Trip I Did Not Take

   

“You are the trip I did not take;

    You are the pearls I could not buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

     You are my piece of foreign sky.

You are my Honolulu moon;

     You are the book I did not write;

You are my heart’s unuttered tune;

     You are my candle in the night.

You are my flower beneath the snow;

     In my dark sky a bit of blue,

Answering Disappointments blow

    With “I am happy!  I have you!”

 

The Key to Your truth: You Are the Author of Your Story

 "Your Journey has molded you for the greater good. It was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think you've lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. and now is right on time." Asha Tyson

Wishing You All Of This and More

To Be or Not To Behave

Just Breathe

What Looks Good

Happiness looks good on you!

Many Many Paths

"There are no wrong turns. Only paths we had no idea we were meant to walk."

Celebrating the Guys Birthday's in our Family

The guys in our family have birthdays in July  Vicente, August Randy, September (David and Mike). We celebrated them all tonight at our family party. A special shout out to my one and only best bro Randy who turned 70). He doesn't look it at all! We BBQ' steaks and salmon and ate a new recipe mandarin orange cake. Wishing all the guys a healthy happy year ahead! Thanks to my sister in law Barb for organizing and hosting.


 


 

 


 



 


 

 

Celebrating Mike's Birthday

Took the birthday boy to breakfast this morning. We will be celebrating multiple family birthdays tonight with my family! Today Mike is having fun with his new insta pot gift from his sister.


 

 

 


 

 

 

What Makes You Happy

Start Your Day This Way

Breakfast at Schooner or Later, Los Altos Marina

 In August some retired co-workers from Carver elementary met up to celebrate life.  Our friend Judy's daughter had had a baby and so we welcomed Judy into the "Grandmother's club."


Judy, Donna, Barb and Lynda all proud grandmothers. 

A Birthday Party for Karen

 We had fun in late August celebrating our friend Karen's birthday with lots of her family and friends.

 We also celebrated our three friends Fred, Tom and Wolfie's birthdays too!

 Lifelong friends Deb, Barb, Karen and Jocelyn

We'll Always Have Paris

Brunch Party of Seven Minus One

 On Sunday August 19th we hosted a brunch in honor of my cousin Pati's arrival from Vermont.  Unfortunately her plane was delayed so the guest of honor missed the party.  In due time we made up for it with many celebrations. Still we missed her presence this day.