Streetlife

Life in the streets is full of history and personalities....



Downtown LA is splendidly
vibrant.









"Sunset Blvd" was playing at one of the old theatres - The Palace.







Once vaudeville ruled....now
there is street theatre.








Blue man group appeared...

almost darting out
of their custom
van.

















































































A peek at Beverly Hills - cameras flickering.






A hawk perches on 3rd balcony....

he's very much a local says the parking attendant.
























Fine time for a respite.....






















albeit hairbender coffee....direct from Portland, OR

Vera

Vera, a tortoise shell tabby was a very sweet cat. At 17, she grew weak with kidney problems, common for older cats. I had to put her down today - which makes it a very sad day.

She was a gift from a stranger and an uncommonly kind cat...

She is sorely missed. I'm wondering how many days of looking out from underneath my feet to really recognize that she's gone.

Candles are burning....may she rest in peace.

Foggy Maine day

The fog can lull you in....

















allow you to retreat with abandon.

































All the while, offering ripened colors for the eye to feast upon - like the splendid lilac

Fog suits me fine.

LA Bookfare - Patti Smith & Dave Eggers

The LA Times annual bookfare had a few sell-out crowd crazy events - Patti Smith and Dave Eggers was one. I missed getting tickets but just stood in standby and got in!

Patti Smith's book "Just Kids" won the National Book award..... I read it last year and so loved it.

She is sweet, self-effacing and a remarkably talented woman. Almost with a girl-crush, I walked up to get my book signed. We both were born in Philly and agreed it was a wonderful spot.















Dave Eggers, has got a multitude of followers....from his earliest work -"A Heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius, " the quarterly McSweeney's, as well as the screenplays of "Wild Things"
and "Away we Go." Perhaps it is the sensitivity of any artist, but his work is extraordinarily original.






Both felt it such a blessing to work at craft that they love....truth seekers, warm souls and hopeful for a better world if you can act on it.


















































I was a bit mixed up being downtown near the new location, USC...but I got to see some
unexpected sights.....















Since wedding season has begun, I joined the cart lady to watch the newly weds. She remarked only "bonita."

Yes, bonita, truly bonita!

Heading home

Just getting back into normal takes a bit of time, feels like we've been tunneling through this dark, nervy, and unfamiliar landscape.

I know there is light at the end of the tunnel....but it's gonna take some time to get there.

Peace be with you.

Last camellia

I found the fallen flower on the doorstep today

a beauty, really....















but today was the day my mother succumbed to sickness and found a tranquil resting spot.
















She planted the magnolia tree in the front yard after a big Oak had toppled. I loved seeing it's budding beauty, even on this cold and rainy February day.

She was a tremendously loving mother, funny as all get out and I shall miss her terribly. Like any beautiful flower, the color fades but the brilliance of her presence still shines brightly in my heart and mind.

....we come and go....loved and loved some more by our mothers. Mine was a truly sweet one, most of the time. She was deeply caring and a port in the storm for us.

She left today feeling well loved and appreciated.....I will see her in so many forms from now on.....especially in the flowers that surround us in winter.

Waiting to move...transport stops

I love to watch people - even for a split second.


Skies ablaze with dusky cool and warm colors.































Seems like the sky writing has gone south...