All MY MOTHER’S CHILDREN

     There on the top of a pile of old pictures from sixty years past, is a small photo that features my mother’s three children. We are walking through piles of stones in Yosemite National Park. I am a head taller than Taylor who is two heads taller than Stuart. What has become of my mother’s children is not what this story is about. It is about my mother and about her other children.

     I knew that my mother loved cheese, was a good friend and neighbor and learned to drive a car later in life. I knew that she was president of several organizations, after overcoming paralyzing shyness. She prepared only the freshest foods and never served fish. I knew that she fiercely loved her children and would go to the ends of the earth for them. What I didn’t know about my mother was what I will call her secret life. The life she lived parallel to ours.

     The other woman who lived in our home for 28 years was my parent’s housekeeper, Lula. Having all of my mother’s household duties performed by another gave her a lot of free time. My mother’s free time was daytime hours because when my father came home at 5:30 p.m. sharp, our mother was there dressed to the nines. I had no idea what my mother did in the daylight hours. I knew everyone liked my mother because as I look back, people sought my mother out and were overly friendly and very thankful. They would gush and smile while blessing her, thanking her and hugging her. I didn’t know what my mother did, but I knew she did something important.

      I wanted to know more about where my mother went and what my mother did, so I stayed home from school with fake excuses of being on death’s door. When my mother slipped out of the side door, I slipped out right after her. I had to put the move on because since she did not drive at that time, she had become a speed walker. I followed her to the poultry market, which was on the corner of State and California. I saw her through the window. She received a paper and read back the information to the individual behind the counter. He nodded and off she went. She did not slow down for anything, even sped across busy streets. I almost lost her, but got myself to speed along almost as fast as my jaunty mother. She slowed down to read the paper and made a turn into a building that housed several families. She disappeared into one of the doors and did not come out. I got tired and bored with just my fingers to pick, so I ended up going back home for the comfort of my bed.

     Every so often for years I would fake being sick and follow my mother. She again and again would return to the poultry market, receive a paper and off we would go. I’d follow, but she would repeat her disappearing act each time at a different location. I suspected she was a spy for the FBI and I thought if she were, I would have one of my own dreams realized in my mother. You ask, why didn’t I just ask my mother what she was doing?  I did and she would always reply with, “ Oh, I m visiting a sick friend.” At the time I wondered why my mother had so many sick friends.

     When my mother got her driver’s license, my father surprised her with a little dark gray ladylike car. She practiced and practiced. She had an obsession with proper hand signals and you would see her with the driving manual under her arm wherever she went for months. . Pretty soon I could tell she felt pretty confident behind the wheel of her car. I was sinking inside knowing that I could never follow my mother once she drove off in her car. I knew there was something more to her life than what I knew. I could see it in her eyes. I watched her self-confidence grow.  I knew my mother was growing into a person with special qualities, but back then, in my child’s mind, I saw my mother as my mother not the person who began to be the center of attention wherever we went. She was glorious. My father was oblivious to all of it.

     One night after my mother started driving her car, she called to say that she would be late and to go ahead with our dinner without her. After that time more calls came in with messages that contained, ‘go ahead without me for dinner’. When the calls came in for my mother, she would jot down an address and go in her car somewhere. She didn’t walk to the poultry market anymore.

     I kept thinking to myself all those years before I got my driver’s license that when I got my license, the first thing I would do would be to follow my mother and see what she did that I didn’t know she did. I got my driver’s license, borrowed my dad’s junkyard car and followed my mother in her car many times. I never saw more than her arrival at a residential destination. She would do the same things every time. She would take her bag from the back seat, disappear into the building or home and would not come out for hours and hours. Usually my impatience won and I would drive off, not being able to uncover her secret.

     I knew that my brothers had no idea that their mother and mine had a parallel life. I knew my father was unaware of what she did and when I asked him if he knew where 

our mother went, he would say, “She has a household and children to attend to.”  I respected his answer. There came the time in my life to move from our home in our small southeastern town to the west coast of California. I finished my degrees and settled down with a job, family, home and friends. 

     Our mother died on August 24, 2009, during the early morning hours. We decided on a small graveside service since our family is small and there are very few of my mother and father’s friends still alive.  On the day we buried my mother, next to my father, over  two thousand people lined the burial site. I was astonished to see this crowd of people and before the service began I talked to many of them. I thought maybe they had the wrong site, but no they were here for my mother. Through several conversations with some of the mourners I was able to realize that my mother’s secret was midwifery. I learned my mother was a person who was very suitable for this position. She had all of the abilities and all of the skills to perform her duties. She loved her work and had a very sympathetic disposition.  She was quiet and had a calming effect in high anxiety situations. It is still astonishing to me that my mother was a midwife. A midwife!

     All of the people at her graveside were connected to her, connected to each other and connected to all my mother’s children by the work she did for all of us. They each had a story of wonder about when my mother helped them have a healthy pregnancy and a natural childbirth experience. The children of these births were of all ages. They were here at her final resting place to send her on her way to the almighty. It took me some time to gather and process all of the amazing grace my mother performed without the knowledge of her family and friends.

     I can only question how did my mother do all of this work without any of us knowing about it. It seems so supernatural. Also, I query why she kept it a secret. Did she know that my father would have put an immediate end to it?  If he knew he never let anyone know. Did she worry what her children would not understand? Did she want something for herself?  Did my mother know that she was on the right path and did she know she had the approval of God and did she cherish the love of these thousands of connected souls?  May this power of holiness and may this power of the spirit carry my mother to her just reward.

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Flossie’s Mandel Bread

SIFT TOGETHER:

3 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR UNSIFTED

1 TSP BAKING POWDER

1/4 TSP SALT

BEAT TOGETHER:  3 Eggs

1/2 CUPS SUGAR

1 CUP MAZOLA OIL

1 1/2 TSP FRESH LEMON JUICE

1 CUP CHOPPED WALNUTS, ALMONDS ETC.

ADD FLOUR MIXTURE BY HAND

ADD NUTS LAST

OIL ALUMINUM PAN

BAKE AT 350 20-25-30 MIN: LIGHT BRN

COOL 5 MIN

CUT AND BAKE 15 MIN ON EACH SIDE

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Amazing grace!  How sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found.  Was blind but now I see. 
Amazing Grace, John Newton (1725-1807) 


This morning I went for my annual doctor’s appointment. I arrived 15 minutes early and sat down for “the wait.” AS I waited the nurse called other names. I actually had to sit up with my jaw open when she called Albert Sweitzer. No way, right? An Albert Sweitzer did get up and shuffle over to the admittance door. Now it is my turn. You know the drill with gowns, blood pressure and the usual questions, so I will spare you the words. I wait some more. Finally my brilliant little doctor comes in the door, politely nods hello and assumes his position at the computer. He spends 20 minutes on the computer intermittently asking pertinent questions.

Then he popped the question. He said, “Do you mess around?”

“What does that mean?”

“Do you have multiple sexual partners?”

“Huh? Actually I am lucky these days if I have one.”

“Then at you do not need a pap smear.”

“If I messed around then I would?”

“Yes, but considering your age, and your sexual practices, you don’t need one.”

“Okay”

“You need a bone density test and a Mammogram.”

“Okay”

I am thinking to myself, is this guy ever going to touch me, listen to my heart, knead my breasts, and bang on my knees.   I guess not. I finally broke down and asked, “Aren’t you even going to touch me?”  So he gets up from his chair and with an ungloved hand, pokes me in the belly.  He asked, “Does that hurt?”

I said, “No.”

“Then you are fine,”

“Huh?” What just happened here? I was asked to come prepared to discuss my past medical history during this appointment. I said, “Doctor, I wanted to discuss a few things with you.”

“I want to discuss a few things with you, too. Now how is your diabetes?

“My what?”

“You have diabetes type 2.”

“I do not.”

“Yes, it says here you are being treated for it.”

‘No I am not.”

“Well, it is here on your medical records. And, also you are being treated for Hepatitis C.”

“No, no stop right here. There are big mistakes here and I think you have someone else’s records mixed into my name. You don’t even know whose records you are reading and those are not mine.”

I began to kind of throw a tantrum, a tirade, and heard an outburst I am unaccustomed to hearing from me.

“Now just a minute, you know we are installing a new computer program where all of the records will be computerized and we do expect some discrepancies.”

“Will you take off those discrepancies immediately?”

“Well, no I can’t, but I will report it to the department that is imputing all of the data.”

“Will I be informed when it is done?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then how will I know that this false information about my medical history and my false illnesses are removed?”

“I don’t know.”

I gave up and left only to call membership services over and over again to have the false data removed. I still do not know if I have been successful. My goodness gracious, me oh my, amazing grace!!

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This Reader is in Tarzana, north of Ventura Blvd on Wilbur Ave. I have counted 9 Psychic Reader’s in Tarzana, so far. There is a Miss Stacy, Tanta Diane, Miss Tina, Jin, and signs popping up on lawns and business buildings. I am not recommending this one but this sign was just in the way of my camera. I looked up Psychic Reader’s in Tarzana and found very few who are advertised on the Internet. If you decided to use any Psychic Readers please report back to me. Report from any state, any country just anywhere. I am interested in your results, but I am personally afraid to hear my own.

 The Marvin Baude Mulholland Gateway Park is in the Santa Monica Mountains with its trailhead at the southern end of Reseda Blvd in Tarzana. I remember the fight for many years that Marvin Braude a Councilman and Jill Swift of the Sierra Club had to save these beautiful mountains for hiking, biking and lifelong preservation for generations to come.  There was talk of building a highway that would start in Tarzana at the end of Reseda blvd and wind over the mountains to the Pacific Ocean.  I’ll admit the thought of having that kind of access to Malibu and the Pacific was interesting, but when you take into consideration the need for preserving more of our natural lands, there is no question that the efforts to preserve this large expanse of undeveloped wild land cannot even be questioned.

For a great family hike and one for an introduction to the Santa Monica Mountains would be the one that starts at the MBMGP at the end of Reseda and is the 3.5 Caballero Canyon loop. We will hike tomorrow.

Today is tomorrow: Hike Day

On the ride from the Ventura Freeway (101) you exit on Reseda Blvd and head south into the Santa Monica Mountains because you have a date to hike the Caballero Canyon Loop. You will be passing homes, the side of El Caballero Golf and country club, and a magnificent gated community called Silver Hawk. As you continue south you will pass another golf and country club called Braemar as well as another gated community called Braemar Estates. Again as you continue, you will pass Mulholland Park, another most magnificent gated community with brilliant views of Tarzana and beyond. Very soon after Mulholland Park you will pass through a gate that allows you entrance into the park and the Santa Monica Mountains. Read the signs carefully. There is a pay for parking machine I do not understand.  Remember this when you are ready to leave the park. There is a camcorder waiting there to video you if you do a California roll through the stop sign.  In several weeks you will get a whopping ticket and proof that you did not stop at the sign leaving the park. Once you have driven up to the stop and whether you stopped or not, you have been videoed. If you have not made a complete stop, you are ticketed and posted on the Internet. If you stop there is no posting. They get you coming and going, but it is worth the effort. I have this information from an informant who  has gone through the process.

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MY SAFARI IN TARZANA: Day # 11

First we went to Tarzana Park where I have fond memories of the coop day care. Parents would take certain days to help the park’s day care director. Since I had twins, I was scheduled for two days a week. What’s fair is fair’

 The park is in beautiful condition and is ready at all times for people to come and enjoy the surroundings.  There is a new recreation center with beautiful wood floors. Enter the center and young, middle-aged and older men are engaged in a heated basketball practice. The bouncing of the ball and the squeaking of the shoes makes for a symphony of melodious sounds; the men make it a feast for the eyes, and for the participant’s camaraderie.

It was time for lunch so we picked Thai: Thai Restaurants in Tarzana are:

Takzin Thai, Thai Original BBQ and my new find Lemongrass Thai. The food at Lemongrass is a fine mixture of Chinese and Thai and what comes of that mixture is heavenly. What a nice discovery at 19560 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana. Takzin Thai has been a favorite for years, but the new taste of Lemongrass was delightful. You cannot go wrong in any of the three Thai eateries here in Tarzana. Once the food was consumed at Lemongrass, they brought the tariff and on the tray were two fortune cookies.  Believe me, I do not like my fortune told and usually do not open my cookie, but today was Tarzana Day and I reluctantly I unwrapped the cookie. So you know, it read: “It is much wiser to take advice than to give it.” I agree, but when I turned it over, my jaw dropped and I read: “Es mas sabio seguir consejos que darlos.” Is this a sure sign of assimilation? Is this just plain silly? It is what it is.

Next stop: Mrs. Beasley’s

 This particular Mrs. Beasley’s is located in Tarzana.

I do believe it was the first location in what has become a large corporation delivering their “fresh and gourmet cookies and cakes nationwide”. How can they be fresh when they are in route? They boast that their delicious “homemade products are made the old-fashioned way.” This Tarzana store is on the south side of Ventura blvd between Tampa and Corbin. At the Beverly Hills and Pasadena locations they provide curbside service. Order in advance and have curbside pick up. That’s a new one on me. Fairly recently, Mrs. Beasley’s bought the rights to Miss Grace Lemon Cake, and now posses the rights to make, bake this famous “ award winning” cake.  Now it is advertised as Mrs. Beasley’s Miss Grace Lemon Cake. Approximately twenty years ago, Skip and I stopped at the original Miss Grace to buy a Mrs. Grace Lemon Cake for a dinner party. It was a tiny little thing, but packed a powerhouse of sweet and tart flavor.  The lady put it in a box and handed it to Skip with a smile and said that will be $15.99. Skip nearly dropped the box and said,” I am not going to need this.” He gave the box back to her and we left the store. He drove to Tarzana’s tried and true bakery, Bea’s Bakery and bought a cake for 3 or 4 dollars. The Bea’s cake was beautiful, decorative to the maximum and delicious. Nothing was lost in translation. Every so often, Skip and I would go into Miss Grace Lemon Cake to see how the prices had elevated. The first trip brought is up to $19.99, then, $22.99, then $25.99, then we lost track until today in the Tarzana Mrs. Beasley’s store where it is now $29.99 with free shipping. To date: we have never bought a Miss Grace Lemon Cake. Skip has his principles.

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There is a coyote problem in Tarzana, but if you keep your pets inside at night, bring in the pet food and remove fallen fruit from trees, you most likely will not encounter a problem. There are thousands of Coyotes are out there, so arm yourself with a stick when you are out walking your dog at dusk or after nightfall.  Most coyote attacks are against small animals and pets. It is quit rare for coyotes to attack humans. Many families have suffered losses of their unprotected dogs left outside in the back yards at night. Our family has lost two dogs and two cats to prowling coyotes. We learned to keep our pets safe. I remember a naturalist giving a talk at one of the travel stores and she said, “Remember who was on your land first, so have respect when they are still there.” I wonder if she meant the trillions of jackrabbits on our lawn. The problem was nearly non-existent some years back and now the hungry bunnies have ruined our backyard lawn. In recent years and especially this year, they seem to be a major pest. This is from Catherine Carpenter: `”I live in the hills in Tarzana,” she wrote, ”and unfortunately our back lawn has become the community lawn for families of rabbits. No amount of Liquid Fence (a deer and rabbit repellent), hot pepper spray or even our 100-pound German shepherd keeps them away. They frolic and eat our lawn and flowers to their hearts’ content.”

Our yard has become nearly impossible to walk upon, because it is now a carpet of bunny pellets. They say the only way to keep bunnies at bay is with a three-foot fence on top and 6-10 inches into the ground. Our property is too big for that option, so we thought about a dump truck full of rat poison, but that won’t work either. Do we want to poison the lovely birds in our yard, the quail, the bobcats, the friendly snakes, lizards by the gross, owls, squirrels, and I wouldn’t mind feeding the poison to gophers, mice, rats, and as stated, the rabbits, but then again who wants to mess with the ecosystem just for the sake of a carpet of bunny pellets.

They say there are mountain lions in this environment, but no one I know has ever see one.  We have seen and even caught a bobcat. They are huge and dangerous to your pets.

I remember my Uncle Leslie bought the rights from Disney to use Bugs Bunny ‘s saying” What’s Up Doc?” He used them on a series of sheets and towels and they sold like wild fire. Good for Uncle L.

Clearly, Bugs is back and has brought the generations of his family to live and eat in our backyard. Oh Bugs.

What did you say? You wanted to see the carpet of rabbit pellets? Oh come on. Who goes out early in the morning to capture photos of fresh bunny poop? I did, just for you. Look! Well fed bunnies.

 We will have to take some action regarding this carpet of pellets. I think any action that will work is illegal, so end of discussion

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If you take a driving tour around Tarzana, you will notice a trend

called “mansionization.” You will notice oversized new houses where they have torn down the existing house replacing it with one that is huge in comparison and certainly much larger than surrounding houses. They look out of place to the eye because most are built on undersized lots with turrets and faux-chateau pretensions. You are probably familiar with this trendy phenomenon. You may have it going on in your neighborhoods as well. The Tarzana Property Owners Association (TOPA) believes they are here to preserve and enhance the quality of life for residents of our community, so they recently passed a Mansionization Ordinance. First is the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance, which was passed in June of 2008 and limits the maximum size of homes as a function of the zone and lot size. The second stage is underway right now and that is to better define the hillside areas. Finally the third state is still in early planning which will develop a Hillside Mansionization Ordinance.

 

I mention these ordinances because today I was invited to help one of the neighbors residing on the valley floor to pick and take lemons. The family bought one acre of land where an existing house resides. They built a magnificent guesthouse, which will house them as they bull doze the main house and rebuild something wonderful. They are working madly to get the process done before some mansionization ordinances come in to play. They fall into the category of 50% of the lot size, so they have lots of room for a legal mansion.

 

I took away knowledge, a great appreciation and awe of people who can work all of the angles in the mighty process of designing and building a house from the ground up. I took away a huge bag of lemons.  I thought of the saying…when life gives you lemons… and began the process of making lemonade even though it does give me heartburn.

I interviewed an architect who has been residing here in Tarzana since 1959. After surveying all the possibilities offered in Tarzana at the time he was buying a piece of land to build a family home, he chose a beautifully wooded piece of property containing dozens of Eucalyptus and Pine trees, located just above the din of Van Alden. He wanted this piece of land and only this one.  It so happened that it came with covenants and restrictions that would run with and bind the land forever. The agent at the time told him this restriction was that he or anyone in his family could not sell the land to any Asiatic persons. He was stunned because his Chinese aunt was sitting right next to him and as the agent imparted these words, flashes of awful memories enduring World War II as a boy in Manila, Philippines came back to him. He knew that Asian blood ran in his veins, but he signed the paper anyway. What did it mean to him? He said he wanted that piece of land to design and build his dream home and so what did a declaration of covenants and restrictions mean? Nothing.

Now look at Tarzana. We are a perfect example of America’s melting pot; covenants, restrictions declarations, be damned.

 

Lovely friends Linda and Bob came to visit and cheer us up. It was great visiting and it made time speed. It helped Skips pain wane.  It struck us as funny that our conversations kept drifting back to the death of friends, their illnesses, our own and talk of folks gaining in age.  There is an adage that says, “No pain no gain.” I would like to rearrange that one to read, “Gain no pain.” 

 

 

 

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I decided you still have to eat whether you are on an exotic trip or just at home in your exotic environment. I began my journey to the market. On the way to anywhere from our house you must go down the hill and there is no getting around passing a store called Ross Dress For Less. I thought stopping there would be like a little extra field trip in downtown Tarzana. I was right.

After shopping the store, I found a number of items to try on. Some of you may already know the drill. You hold your selected items out for the clerk to count them. She gives you a number to correspond with the number of items you have. Eight items is your limit. No more than 8 items and they are very strict. If you have more than eight items, you leave the extra ones in your shopping cart parked just outside of the dressing room. When you try on the ones you have taken into the dressing room, you can bring your number out, put the items you want in your cart, give the discarded ones to the counting clerk and take more in to try.  If you are finished and have no more items to try, you just continue with your cart to do more shopping or go to the check out stand. I found a great shirt and now with the events that followed it has become the best shirt I have ever found in my life. Why because it is gone. Yes, someone stole the shirt out of my cart when I was not looking. I know, I know there is a code of honor at Ross and it is that no one takes anything from anyone’s cart and no one has ever taken anything from me, but this time someone else thought it was the most perfect amazingly fantastic shirt in the world, too.

Why in heaven’s name am I telling you a story like this one and why am I explaining the honor system and the checking system in Ross? I will get to that in a few. I never made it to the market.

I went back this morning. Like I am really busy right?  Now, remember theoretically we are to be on an airplane or far, far away.  I guess I really wanted the shirt.  I could not get into the parking lot because of the weekend line up. Finally, I got into the parking lot. Yeah. Then, believe me when I tell you there were no parking spaces in the entire vicinity of the store. I drove around a little while and then thought to myself, this crowd is amazing. I have driven by this store for decades. There is always parking. Is this the sign of the economy? Is the Dress For Less logo really true? Yes it is. Does every one want to look for my stolen shirt? No, but everyone wants to get one just like it. I drove off into a sunset with God’s fingers dipping from the clouds, pointing in my direction telling me to count my blessings and go home to count all the shirts I have in my closets that I am not wearing and wear them.

I related this story so you will know the drill at Ross’ in case you want to Dress For Less; in case you haven’t been there before and want to go.

I still never got to the market.  “Tomorrow is another day.”

I have had some requests for information on the little house I featured yesterday. Yes, it is in Tarzana and yes, it is really for sale. I did some research for you: Go here: Look:

http://www.californiamoves.com/Property/propertydetails.aspx?SearchID=5761556&PropertyGUID=3214AC9C-D9BB-483B-BFBC-24CA337CF0D9&RowNum=67

I do not profess to know anything about real estate, but I do think the house is very high priced for the area and for what is happening now with the financial world. I do know offering a very low-ball price is not harebrained. It is a sound move. When we first moved to Tarzana, we paid $57,500 for our home.  We looked at one on Viviana Dr. that was spectacular. It had a stable for horses, pool and cabana; endless exquisitely landscaped grounds and a high-ticket price. We just walked away with our heads in our hands. When we found out that it went for nearly 50,000 less than the asking price; we realized we could have done that and we learned a lesson. Offer what you want to pay. Wait. Don’t be afraid to wait. Negotiate. Those are lessons in life that come the hard way: Look, listen, offer and wait. Do it over and over again. Easier thought than done.

Someone mentioned the indiscretion of speaking about my brother in that way was not good. It was good for me.  I was not able to get a word in edgewise with him, so I got it out there the best way I know. Even though there are these discrepancies regarding our relationship, he can call me anytime and I will do whatever I can to help him and do whatever he needs, if I am able. He is after all, MY BROTHER. 

Norman R says: ” I am a firm believer that all families are at some level dysfunctional and it sounds like yours is keeping the trend  moving.”

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Travelogues from Tarzana Day # 2

Usually travelogue writers reach acclaim by traveling to the world’s remotest locations and writing about them.  Since as I mentioned before we are destined to stay in our present location for quite awhile, I did not want my writing skills to lie dormant, so I have elected to report from where I am, not where I planned to be.

They say Travel literature is travel writing of literary value and that this individual work is sometimes called a travelogue. It is true that a great portion of travel literature is not written on the spot and is fictionalized. Did you know that?

This is true, our scheduled plane to South Africa took off at 7:36 this morning and I am at the gas station at the corner of Van Alden and Ventura Blvd, mid Tarzana. On the ride down the hill I noticed the landscaping of the homes that line the way. I noted that the snapdragons, primroses and pansy’s are at their optimum beauty. They are straining to get the last of winter out of their lives and making way for Iceland Poppies, Calla Lilies, Dahlias, Shasta Daisy, Cannas, Gladiolus and the hundreds of Daylilies that have opened this morning only to be replaced tomorrow. The roses are in full bloom showing off their many colors.  People have recently taken to planting white roses, so there is the white color in abundance. It is a nice backdrop for the colors surrounding them.

In the hills of Tarzana, we have the chickweed, Popcorn Flower, Elderberry, Spanish Broom, Bermuda buttercup, White Sage, Yucca, Paint Brush, Prickly Phylox, Castor Bean and Golden Yarrow.  There are so many more wilds growing, but I can’t name them. This is a lovely time of year to be alive all over the world. Congratulations world.

By the way, Tarzana has a Jungle theme about it. Well, of course, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Tarzan speak to the theme. The city put big rocks in designated places along the sidewalks and called the part of Ventura Blvd. that runs through Tarzana, Safari Walk. They put animals of Africa on the lampposts and if you are not careful you will bump right into those big silly rocks and stub your toes.  When you drive though Tarzana, I guarantee you will miss the tiger, monkey and lion lampposts. You will wonder why there is such an elaborate amount of construction on Ventura Blvd where there will be a Whole Foods Store, Condos and many new stores, especially when you see many closed stores all around the area. You will be told that this construction was contracted over 10 years ago and no matter what the economy dictates now, that was not the way it was when contracts were bid and signed.

A new tidbit for your information: Edgar Rice Burrough’s mother is also buried on Ventura Blvd. Come to Tarzana and I will show you!! Thanks Deb.

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TRAVELOGUES FROM TARZANA

I had such great plans to send travel logs from South Africa. I was going to report all of the wonderful things we saw and did. I probably would have moaned and groaned about some things and raved about others. I would have discussed the people we met along the way, fellow travelers as well as citizens of places we were scheduled to have visited. You know I would have sent wonderful pictures of all of our sights and for sure there would have been some animal photos to delight. Alas, there will be none of that because we have cancelled the trip.  Skip could not have traveled with an active attack of diverticulitis, but with the added attack of shingles, well that sealed our fate for now. We have been grounded. Your first question is did you insure. Oh yes, and it remains to be known what we will and will not get back. I am confident that our travel agent has that all under control. I will tell you that the airfare was not insured, so we will have a gazillion dollars credit on Delta. It was a long and expensive flight.  Just think of the many places Delta flies.

Since I have a brand new computer to write travel logs, I must now write them from Tarzana. You say where? I said Tarzana.  We live and play here. Allow me to give you a little history about Tarzana.  Tarzana is a district of Los Angeles. It is considered south San Fernando Valley.  Most of the residents live south of Ventura in the foothills of Santa Monica Mountains. We are located in this area. We are between Tampa Avenue and Reseda Boulevard. Our house sits on a bluff and we can see many mountainous areas, housing, streets, the Grapevine, to the north, shopping malls, coyotes, rabbits, quail, opossum, doves, hawks, many birds of a feather, an occasional deer and much further a field on a clear day.

North of Ventura Boulevard there is a smaller population that lives in apartment buildings and condos. For the residents of Tarzana, there is everything you want and need. You may need to leave the immediate area for some cultural events, but basically you can live, work, and play and have a good life here in Tarzana.  Some early history of Tarzana states that this area was once part of the San Fernando Mission. If you come to visit, the Mission is a nice field trip. I just learned that this area was full of wheat farms in the 1870’s.  In 1909 a company called Los Angeles Suburban Home Company purchased the area in and surrounding what was to be named Tarzana.  Otis, founder and publisher of the Los Angeles Times invested in the company, which owned the land that is Tarzana.  In 1909 Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author and creator of The Tarzan Stories, purchased land from Otis and built a large home and renamed the property Tarzana Ranch. Eventually Burroughs subdivided and sold land for residential development and the neighboring small farms were also converted to residential areas. You have begun to guess it. We have our home on a very small portion of the land that was the Tarzana Ranch, which was re-named Tarzana in honor of Burroughs and his famous literary character, TARZAN.  Edgar Rice Burroughs is the only resident who is buried on Ventura Boulevard in front of his office.

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