Seeking the "Ah - Ha" Moments

https://tpezone.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/the-m-manifesto/

Grooving at The Grove

Groovin' at the Grove has became a new favorite past time of mine since
rediscovering it recently, after falling in love many years ago with
the old farmers market.

Waking up at the crack of dawn to attend the Barnes & Noble autograph signing of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" novel, at the Grove, we started to line up at dawn waiting to get into the book signing, when I slipped into another world as the line cascaded through the cobblestone streets. Barnes&Noble provided water for the crowd of 1100 fans, some of who lined up two days prior. Organized by a great team st The Grove, they made waiting on line almost a pleasure.

Majestically placed at the epicenter of Hollywood where I went
regularly for lunch and mid-afternoon breaks from my job down the
street at E! entertainment, it brought back the elegance of a by gone
era with the deep green awnings and European style cafes amongst the
many vendors holding court throughout time.

Adjacent to the old market, is the redesigned upscale megga complex conveniently located at the epicenter of this historic area, where culture, cuisine, and fabulous shopping come together. Something for everything and everyone, The Grove has it all, from the best of LA's restaurant culture to the latest cutting edge fashions. Catering to a multitude of tastes, cultural and a diversity interests at this wonderful retail and entertainment complex, is not to be missed. Check out the webiste for listings of free events weekly. There's a party going on at The Grove and you don't want to miss out on thd fun.

Love On The Ferry

   My earliest memories of my sister meeting my brother in law, was when he came to pick her up in his vintage Corvair, except it wasn't "vintage" then. Initiated into our family, my brother in law's parents became a second set of parents to me as well, along with a new paradigm of brothers and sisters who reacted totally different than we did. We were total opposites - our family was loud and emotional, usually hosting family parties that went on into the night, while my brother in law's family were picture - perfect, never loud or speaking out of turn, quiet and intellectual. Despite the differences, we celebrated numerous holidays, births, and departures together that created lifelong bonds, that picked up after numerous years apart and miles between us, just like no time has passed.

  When I got the call last night that my brother in law's Mother had passed on, I remember her vividly - she being the decorum of couture with her matching hats and gloves with her every diminutive outfit. Helen was the original Mrs. Clever, wearing only dresses, stockings, and heels, even on casual occasions, she was always dressed to perfection unlike my Mom, who really like to "let it all hang out". It  always amused me, that my Mom and Helen got along so well, but they became close friends and were at our house quite often. On of of those occasions, where the family parties always ended around my parents dining room table, Helen told us the story of meeting her husband Vincent, on a blind date on the Ferry around Manhattan. As they each took turns describing how they fell in love that night as they circled the city, around and around, you could see the magic in their eyes as they recounted every moment. Vincent would describe how shy they both were, as Helen would eagerly fill in how sweet she thought he was when he took her hand and they strolled around the deck, talking for hours until the last passengers had departed the Ferry. Vincent made a point of saying he knew he was going to marry her from that moment on. Helen would simply smile and say, she knew too - and yes, from that moment on, they were a couple. Love should always be this easy.

    As I spoke with my Mother last night, we recalled the night around the dining room table listening to them tell their special story, and we both agreed that a love like that is a rare find. It seems harder and harder for couples to stay together these days - maybe because we've made it's so easy to leave.  When Vincent passed away several years ago, we all knew Helen would not be the same, who began keeping in touch with my Mom, who lost my Father about the same time. I realized something greater that Helen and Vincent made them stay together, not just through hard times, but an ethic of what I thought life and love should be, even if I didn't achieve it, I certainly tried.

  So I didn't cry when I heard the news of Helen passing initially, as I thought of her long fruitful life, just months shy of what would have been her 100th birthday. I thought of how grateful I was for having Helen and Vincent in my life, my brother in law Joe, who is more than a brother and more like my Dad, always there for me, as I tried to navigate my parents crazy relationship growing up. And
then the tears finally come, thinking of Helen and Vincent finally reunited again, sitting on that Ferry around Manhattan, holding hands and staring at the stars. And I smile.