The Babysitters

The Babysitters

The Babysitters “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” Mary Poppins By all accounts, my cousin Nancy was a precious baby. She was the first of the twelve cousins of my generation. So it took six or seven months for Aunt Dolores to...
The Long and Winding Road

The Long and Winding Road

The Long and Winding Road “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined.” Henry David Thoreau My longtime friend John, and his dear wife Michele, moved north to Morro Bay about ten years ago to enjoy a slower pace of daily...
Jim and the Lion

Jim and the Lion

Jim and the Lion “One cannot plan for the unexpected.” Aaron Klug Way up in the forest, and miles from nearly anything else, stood The Christmas Tree Restaurant on a long slow curve of Highway 27. When we were up at Aunt Janice and Uncle Gordon’s...
Thank You, Vinnie

Thank You, Vinnie

Thank You, Vinnie “A man really determines himself by what he does.” Vincent Edward Scully Growing up in Los Angeles, Vinnie, as every fan called him, was a major influence in my life. He and the Dodgers moved to LA the year I was born, and his voice and...
Mrs. Winston’s Green Grocery

Mrs. Winston’s Green Grocery

Mrs. Winston’s Green Grocery “Loyal customers, they don’t just come back, they don’t simply recommend you, they insist that their friends do business with you.” Chip Bell When I saw this sign in Mrs. Winston’s Green Grocery, which, by the...