March 14, 2003
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Today, I lift a sigh and let my stiff shoulders relax with the Japanese Bath qualities of my local El Pollo Loco. Latin rhythms pouring their trumpet Mariachi sounds right above my head, I think of why I love LA. Behind me, a Latino man, tired and dirty from maybe construction work. Next to me, an African-American woman – wrinkled and colorfully adorned – leaning over her bounty, offering grace. In the corner, a unique goth-punk couple are playing tonsil hockey. Passing by, a group of punk junior high kids rough-housing, thinking they’re cooooool. …
About halfway into my meal, a mother and nana walk in with three wild kids, the oldest sobbing with that distinctive you-didn’t-buy-me-what-I-want sound. They leave him to cry while they order their roasted chicken family meal. Nana gives him a little arm slap that says, “Now, this hit looks soft and imploringly affectionate but keep this up and I’ll pull out the paddle at home.” Well, he cries some more.
But I see Something Pretty. Chomping my chicken burrito, thinking of something much too serious for a young, handsome man (Ha!), the grandma adjacent says loudly, What you got on your feet?!? Crying boy looks up and is confused. I said, what you got on your feet?!?
Spiderman, trembles his shaky reply.
You kidding me?!? Let me see that! Shy at first but increasingly bold, he walks over to her and lifts his right foot. Ooooh my!!! That is Spiderman! He’s mah favorite! YEAH. Tilting her head, feigning a squint: You kinda look like Spiderman.
By this point, the beautiful cunning wisdom of age is in full bloom. Gone are the tantrum tears of two minutes prior and in its place, the pride of wearing the coolest shoes this side of Olympic and Vermont. The next five minutes are spent on demonstrating Spidey’s appropriate web-slinging hand techniques. He corrects her at least four times, thinking: Silly woman, how can you not know!? The thumb goes HERE. She plays dumb and has the hardest time “learning.”
I am seriously moved by all this and can’t help from chuckling. It is one of those sequences that capture Life in momentary purity. I want to go over and say:
Ma’am. You are a beautiful person – a Painting. You are the beauty of humanity captured: breathing, eating guacamole, laughing, playfully ignorant of Spiderman’s superhero ways. Here in a bless-ed, busy, dirty little corner of this City of Angels.
And then she says to me:
What you got on your feet?!?
We laugh. She wins me over.
A sweet ol’ lady I’ll never see again
Til we’re standing at the Gates
With our Peter Parker shoes.
————–
The military art of Woody Ishmael
Sometimes Apologia
What’s your take on the
State of Humanity
While we’re all grappling
With the terms of We
When we’re just beasts
Inside slumbering Snores
Who don’t really give much
Damn
My apologies.
What a France Wants, What a France Needs… if you read only one article, read this one. insightful for all sides of the debate. Goes well with William Safire’s latest blurb in the NY Times. For the war or against it, don’t glorify France in the process.
Enjoy the day/night.
click Matt11:28
Comments (15)
I love your writing. I love all the unique pictures you seem to have a knack for locating.
Wish I could give you a grocery-cart full of eProps.
heh! how’d you get music on your site, dp?!
i hate you…
<grin!>
Oooh. Another chance to eProp you!
I definitely plan to post a review.
The brown-monster-thingy is named Domokun. He is from Japan. I affectionately dub him “The Turd Monster.”
The current background is of Sadako from the Japanese version of The Ring (Ringu) – have you had a chance to view it? The week that I started my xanga, I watched Ringu 2 and Cube 2: Hypercube. If you have not seen The Cube, I highly recommend that you do. Then watch the second one, because I’m still perplexed and need someone to provide additional insight.
You’re a vampire like me! I blame it on jet-lag, albeit my overseas trip was over in late January. Haha.
Adieu.
hey daniel…about the second clip. i had the same problem, then i realized that i only had quicktime 5, and the latest version is quicktime 6. just upgrade to the newest version, and you should be able to enjoy.
wasup homeboy… love your posting man. something like that is what i need right now… a good wholesome story about Spiderman…. i’m gonna call you right now.
great story and loved the poem! couldn’t help chuckling too as i read it all. u really see the beauty of life even as a Realist. very sweet.
BW
…as I read the story which takes place at the El Pollo Loco!
hey, my smile didn’t show up…so, here’s an e-prop
I think North American culture has forgotten the wisdom, experience, and kindness that is fostered by a life of living. I am glad that you have pointed out a little bit of it for me. Kinda makes me want to be old and wise, knowing secret thoughts that nobody else can hear, making connections where nobody else can see.
As far as your France article goes, I think this is very biased newscasting (well, maybe it is just biased differently than Canadian news, but biased nonetheless). Of course France wants regulations to control more powerful states like the US. But they aren’t doing that as an independant body, they are appealing to the US as a part of an international committee where everyone is SUPPOSED to be equal. This means they should have a say, just as the US would have a say if France was doing something they disagreed with, or Russia, or wherever. The entire point of the UN is to make sure that countries don’t go off on a power kick, and that includes the US (who don’t even pay their UN dues).
I know exactly what you mean. I so look forward to having a full head of grey, laughing an old wrinkled smile. But of course, I better these Prime years while I can! *smile* The Grey years will come soon enough. ha!
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I agree the article is biased but my only intention was to dispel any notions that the French have nothing to gain by barring a war with Iraq. There are mixed motives on both sides. I do have problems, however, with the caricatures of GW Bush being pushed around the world… that isn’t journalism by any means. There are a growing number of Americans who are – right or wrong – becoming disillusioned with the UN and the European community. The look at the war efforts in Kosovo and wonder why the protesters weren’t rallying against the United States then. And you’re right: Though the US may be behind in UN dues, one has to remember that the whole military viability of the UN (which gives credibility to any UN decision) is through the United States. And without the United States, the UN is rendered irrelevant. In every UN sanctioned military affair, the US provides the spearhead for attack… always assuming greatest risk and ultimately the greatest financial burden. Once the initial action phases have passed, int’l armies are brought in as peacekeepers.
The recent NATO debate over Turkey brought out a lot of ugliness. Chirac made very underhanded remarks re: the Eastern European countries that supported the US. He threatened to boot them from the Alliance. They were very testy words.
Furthermore, a growing number of US diplomats are wary of the UN precisely because of developments prior to the Gulf War. With all the resolutions passed ten years ago, how many are enforced? Compliance is pretty minimal and in Iraq’s case, almost nil.
Rather than arguing for or against war, I simply want ppl to see that France isn’t simply an altruistic, peace-loving nation. Of course, I’m speaking of the gov’t not the citizens. In the end, it is American lives that are being risked. And as any former Iraqi citizen will declare, the ppl. of Iraq are living in dire circumstances that need to change. Watching world protests, I’m saddened and frustrated to see ppl. who would actually rejoice to see the US face defeat in Iraq. How did Saddam become a victim?
I saw a great interview with one of the chief German diplomats. He was very articulate and I was impressed. But even he admitted that there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than the media report.
I wholly appreciate your Canadian perspective, lalala. I look forward to hearing more! Take care and have a good weekend.
What an amazing pictorial image you provide with your writing. I love the story and you wrote it in such a unique and astonishing way. Isn’t it so admirable the way the elderly are so wise? This is the reason why I absolutely enjoy talking to grandmothers and grandfathers. They have so much wisdom, so many stories, and they have gained so much knowledge. Hopefully I’ll reach that point someday
I didn’t comment last time I read this…but I always remembered it. Halmunees… represent so much LIFE. Just to know their intuition and wisdom is a gift from the Almighty. Oh how they KNOW love.A tear falls.. =)
This is what I needed. Thank you, friend. (:
juggie. it’s my lova.
Smitten