Thoughtful Gifts

I just have to take the opportunity to thank everyone once again for all the beautiful baby gifts you've given us. A little earlier today one client brought in a darling baby blanket his mother had knit especially for Little Charles in a cool lightweight cotton yarn. Just perfect for summer.

DH and I are touched that you would think of us and our baby. We're so happy to be new parents, and the fact that people wish us well just adds to our happiness!

Love,


Jen

High Gas Prices and Public Transportation

It's no surprise that with gas prices going up to nearly $5.00 per gallon, more people are turning to public transportation.

I've taken the bus for years--since my early teens! But Los Angeles-area public transportation has improved immeasurably since the days it was still known as the RTD (Rapid Transit District). Back then the RTD was anything but rapid, the drivers moseying along their routes at about 5 MPH, you were always in danger of being assaulted by disgruntled fellow travelers, the buses never arrived on time, and the air conditioning always seemed to be broken during the hottest months of the year.

One of my food service bosses from my teenage years,(His name was L.R., but everyone called him "Mary" for some reason--I told him "Loretta" would be a better name, and it stuck! EVERYONE started calling him "Loretta"!)refused to take the bus, though he lived just a mile away from work. He spent more time looking for parking than it would have taken him to just walk to work. He would say, "Nobody walks in LA." or "I'm too good for the bus." I was horrified at his way of thinking, but to be fair, he was not the only one who thought that way. Public transportation, particularly in Los Angeles, has long been seen as declasse.

This was not the case when my parents were children and took the streetcars, which were disbanded, probably by the political influence of the tire and gasoline companies. My mother used to regale us with stories about her childhood trips to Long Beach on the streetcars. But I digress....There is even a song "Nobody Walks in LA". The song refers to how uncool it is to be seen walking here. I guess to some, walking means you can't afford a car, an unforgivable sin in a society that assumes we're all just one purchase away from happiness.

Even after I became an attorney and could afford a car, I've stuck with public transportation to get to and from work.* It's not only less expensive, it's also less stressful and I can use the time for reading, writing, or doing needlepoint. And don't even get me started about the environmental concerns that have long motivated me to use public transportation...

Plus, frugal bankruptcy attorney that I am, I love the fact that I am saving money! When you factor in the wear and tear on your car, the parking, the high gas prices that often cost more than some people's car payments, more and more middle-class people are electing to take public transportation. And that can only be good news. With greater demand for safe and quick public transportation maybe the MTA's somewhat ridiculous slogan, "It's better on the bus" will become a reality!

As a side note, the Bus Riders' Union (see my webpage for details), has not been as effective as it might have been, probably because most of its members are working class Latinos and African-Americans. But maybe things will change now...

Best Wishes,


Jen

*When I was pregnant I drove to and from work during the summer. It was just too hot for a pregnant woman to be walking around, and plus, I took my dog to work. However, you CAN take your dog onto public transportation--just call 1-800-Commute for exact regulations. Your dog (or cat) just has to be enclosed in an approved carrier so he can't bite anyone. We have one for Sharky that's on wheels, and I just pull him along like it's a briefcase. Only it doesn't contain legal briefs, but rather my faithful dog friend.

A Dog's Life

 

The phrase a dog's life usually refers to a miserable existence. It was first historically documented in the 16th century, referring to the hard life and low status of dogs. By the 1660s there was a proverb--It's a dog's life, hunger and ease. It's also the title of a 1918 Charlie Chaplin comedy about a man and is dog surviving in the city. This is a very funny movie--I saw it in early childhood and have remembered it all these years. Anyway, I really wanted to make the point that my dogs' lives are better than most people's. They lounge around all day, eat specially prepared foods, and get better medical care than the average uninsured American. It's kind of sad that dogs are often more valued than people--however, when I think of some of the people I know, maybe that's not so sad or even surprising! My late father used to say, "If you ever want to see real love, go to a pet cemetery. The graves are covered with flowers to an extent you'll never see in a people cemetery."

Best Wishes,


Jen

Pass me the Prozac.... Make that a Double!

As we age, more things tend to go wrong. I am seeing this on a daily basis with our geriatric dogs, especially Sharky.*

As he's an insulin dependent diabetic, and glucose levels rise and fall sometimes unpredictably, I have to stick the poor little dog's ear with a glucometer twice per day to test his blood sugar. Just like all my elderly friends in the rest home! However, the nurses don't test my friends' ears--usually just their fingertips.

I'm very matter-of-fact about it and don't unduly pity the Shark. There are spiritual benefits to taking care of the sick, whether animals or people, but it is still very sad.

And this sadness cannot be glossed over with delusional Chicken Soup for the Soul mythology. Life is very complicated, with many outcomes. None of us knows what cards life will deal us, or how we will play them.

Best Wishes,


Jen

(my hero! He saved Little Charles and me from a burning car when I was 4 mos. pregnant.)

Creative Living

 

This is a little garden with a fish pond that Chuck spontaneously assembled on the back steps of his office. I'm so proud of him. I do believe he's very creative!