Life in the Retirement Home

The theme for this month's Birthday reception was "The Jungle." There was a performance. The dance below was performed to the tune "See Ya Later Alligator." There was also a line for snacks. It is difficult to describe how slowly a buffet line moves in a retirement center. Perhaps the picture below gives some indication, except it doesn't include the residents in wheelchairs.

Walk for the Ancestors

Meeting people. It's what I do. In this case, I met some folks in front of Whole Foods.

So I met these good folks, Caroline and Kagan Holland, on their Walk for the Ancestors. They're indigenous California indians (Tataviam Tribe) seeking to draw attention to the crimes committed against their people by the Spaniards during the colonial era. I listened to their story. I liked them. But I found their cause to be rather questionable, to be honest. They claim there was a Spanish holocaust that is not taught in schools. That's possible, I suppose, but I remain unconvinced. Devoted bloggers can judge for themselves.

http://walkfortheancestors.org/

The End of the Beginning for One, The Beginning of the End for the Other

Two old classics going in opposite directions. The car passed smog and will soon be registered. The store behind it, which was never really a store, is being liquidated. The owner is (reportedly) now unable to manage his own affairs and his heirs have taken control of the property. They are making an inventory of the contents and removing them piece by piece, as the below picture shows. Note the antique guns and ornate counters are already gone--replaced in part by the large table with piles of soon-to-be-gone treasures.

World's Safest Beach

Summer Weather in October

What Legacy?

Final curtain or a new beginning? As the smog check saga continues, the world wonders.

Brathaus

A darn fine restaurant with authentic German draft beer--including hefewiezen. Meine frau and I were sitting on the balcony across from the intersection where Alcalde and I, about forty years ago, saw a mini-riot during Old Spanish Days.