Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Tale of the Pee Green Pinto Station Wagon
I remember when my mother turned fifty. I was eighteen and my sister was twenty-three. My father decided that we should do something really special so he made reservations at the Beverly Hills Hotel for dinner...in the fancy restaurant not the Polo Lounge. It was July of 1979 and my father drove a lime green Ford Pinto Station Wagon with faux wood paneling. It was atrocious and he loved it! Once he was stopped at a red light and the guy in the car next to him recognized him, "Hey! Aren't you that guy from Green Acres?" he yelled across at him. My father was playing it cool and modestly said, "well, yes, I am." The guy then got a confused look on his face and said "Then why are you driving a Pinto?" Classic. We never let him forget it. My sister and I begged my father not to take the Pinto to the Beverly Hills Hotel. We were embarrassed to ride in that car to the supermarket let alone Beverly Hills, but he refused. "They'll get a kick out of it!" he said, trying to persuade us, but we weren't buying it. So we all piled into the green Pinto station wagon, in our fancy clothes with all the birthday presents neatly arranged in a Neiman Marcus shopping bag. At least we could show that we had some taste. We pulled up in the driveway and stopped for the Valet. My sister and I tried to act sophisticated, but it was just so humiliating. If I had paid better attention, I think I would have noticed that only did no one really care, the Valet was really nice and happily drove the car as far away as I'm sure he possibly could have! So off we go in to the beautiful lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel, each step me and my sister are shedding the Pinto vibe and walking just a little bit more confident now that the car is safely out of eye shot. We arrive at the restaurant and it is old classic Beverly Hills. The maitre'd was at the door and welcomed us into a very elegant dining room. Obviously, he did not see what we drove up in because he treated us like royalty. He grabbed the Neiman Marcus bag and led us into the room. I think it was done in pale pink with a big circular booth in the center that sectioned in four separate booths each facing out into the main room. This was where you sat to see and be seen. Again, we were feeling pretty special as he sat us down at one of these booths. Just as we got to the booth the Neiman Marcus bag with all our beautifully wrapped gifts made a terrific ripping sound and tore apart like a trailer in a tornado, cascading the gifts all over the floor. We froze, all eyes upon us as. Did I have a sign on my head that read "Arrived in pee green Pinto"? The maitre'd didn't skip a beat, "Neiman Marcus?" he said, as if "I can't believe Neiman Marcus makes such crappy bags!" After that, we settled in and had the most wonderful meal. It was special, like what a 50th birthday should be. We were having such a great time that I couldn't care less what sort of transportation brought me here. We all walked out feeling rich in so many ways. Rich in family, rich in memories and rich in thought as we waited for the Valet to get the car, juggling the presents in our arms, surrounded by Rolls Royce, Mercedes, BMWs and the like. Then up come the Pinto. As the Valet got out of the car he said to my dad, "Hey Man! Do you have a Rolls Royce engine in this car because it drives like a dream!" And there you have it. Happy Birthday to my dad, who's birthday wasn't until December, but it totally made his year. We laughed the whole way home and I still get a chuckle when I think about the sincere look on that guys face that he thought someone who had a lot money would buy a crappy Pinto Station Wagon and put a Rolls Royce engine in it. God bless him and my dad for giving us so much to laugh about.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
50 Random Thoughts
I thought I would celebrate my 50 years on this earth with 50 random thoughts about what I've learned. Here goes...
1. Be kind, especially to yourself.
2. There are always two sides to every story.
3. Being raised by "carnie folk" wasn't so bad.
4. Be patient with your parents.
5. Home ownership is overrated.
6. You will eventually turn into your mother, but will be the last one to see it.
7. Do something that you've never done every year on your birthday.
8. Meditation in underrated.
9. When you have your health, you have everything.
10. No matter what anybody says, High School is not the best years of your life.
11. Don't believe what fashion magazines claim as "beauty".
12. My dog will always love me just the way I am.
13. Life is not fair, get over it.
14. You can have anything you want, you just can't have everything.
15. If you put 80% into a relationship the other person can only put in 20%.
16. Always check yourself in the mirror when leaving a bathroom.
17. Lipstick makes me feel like I got my "face" on.
18. You can't help others until you've taken care of yourself first.
19. Expensive shampoo is better than cheap shampoo.
20. Floss.
21. You don't always have to win or be right all the time.
22. Change is good.
23. Laugh at yourself at least once a day.
24. Your first instinct is usually right.
25. No is a complete answer.
26. Question authority.
27. Always max out a slot machine, because if you win you win big!
28. Sometime in your life, visit Venice, Italy. It's magical!
29. Be the calmest one in the room in a crisis.
30. The most dangerous part of a flight is the drive to the airport.
31. Afternoon Tea at the Hotel Bel Air is priceless.
32. I'm blessed to have the greatest friends in my life.
33. Take a vacation.
34. Hawaii is more beautiful than I ever imagined.
35. Be tolerant.
36. Take an art class. You might be surprised at your hidden talents.
37. Take time to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
38. Life experience is something you can't learn in school.
39. When faced with a difficult situation, feel the fear and do it anyway.
40. Quit smoking. It's the best gift you can give yourself and your loved ones.
41. Buy yourself flowers.
42. The rug can be pulled out from your feet at any time so learn how to fall gracefully.
43. Be a girl scout, always be prepared.
44. Being present at someone's birth or death is an honor.
45. The biggest lessons come from the worse mistakes.
46. Do what you love and love what you do.
47. Splurge and fly first class at least once in your life.
48. Create your own luck.
49. You can't change someone's action you can only change your reaction.
50. Age is only a number, it's not what's in your heart.
Happy Birthday to Me!
1. Be kind, especially to yourself.
2. There are always two sides to every story.
3. Being raised by "carnie folk" wasn't so bad.
4. Be patient with your parents.
5. Home ownership is overrated.
6. You will eventually turn into your mother, but will be the last one to see it.
7. Do something that you've never done every year on your birthday.
8. Meditation in underrated.
9. When you have your health, you have everything.
10. No matter what anybody says, High School is not the best years of your life.
11. Don't believe what fashion magazines claim as "beauty".
12. My dog will always love me just the way I am.
13. Life is not fair, get over it.
14. You can have anything you want, you just can't have everything.
15. If you put 80% into a relationship the other person can only put in 20%.
16. Always check yourself in the mirror when leaving a bathroom.
17. Lipstick makes me feel like I got my "face" on.
18. You can't help others until you've taken care of yourself first.
19. Expensive shampoo is better than cheap shampoo.
20. Floss.
21. You don't always have to win or be right all the time.
22. Change is good.
23. Laugh at yourself at least once a day.
24. Your first instinct is usually right.
25. No is a complete answer.
26. Question authority.
27. Always max out a slot machine, because if you win you win big!
28. Sometime in your life, visit Venice, Italy. It's magical!
29. Be the calmest one in the room in a crisis.
30. The most dangerous part of a flight is the drive to the airport.
31. Afternoon Tea at the Hotel Bel Air is priceless.
32. I'm blessed to have the greatest friends in my life.
33. Take a vacation.
34. Hawaii is more beautiful than I ever imagined.
35. Be tolerant.
36. Take an art class. You might be surprised at your hidden talents.
37. Take time to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
38. Life experience is something you can't learn in school.
39. When faced with a difficult situation, feel the fear and do it anyway.
40. Quit smoking. It's the best gift you can give yourself and your loved ones.
41. Buy yourself flowers.
42. The rug can be pulled out from your feet at any time so learn how to fall gracefully.
43. Be a girl scout, always be prepared.
44. Being present at someone's birth or death is an honor.
45. The biggest lessons come from the worse mistakes.
46. Do what you love and love what you do.
47. Splurge and fly first class at least once in your life.
48. Create your own luck.
49. You can't change someone's action you can only change your reaction.
50. Age is only a number, it's not what's in your heart.
Happy Birthday to Me!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Road Blocks Are For Sissies!
The Revlon Walk was yesterday and I thought I would share the letter I am sending off to the organization regarding my experience. I want to thank everybody who donated money for the cure for women's cancers. Although I did not officially do the walk, I did get one in! I'm expecting a form letter back, but I'll keep you posted.
To Whom It May Concern,
I signed up for the Revlon Walk after my disappointment with the organizational skills with the Avon Walk For The Cure. I knew friends who had done the Revlon walk in the past so I knew it would be a great event. Also, my sister Janet died in 2001, at the age of 44 to Colon Cancer so it had double meaning for me. I raised over $1500, got my t-shirt a few weeks early so I could write the names of friends and family, battling or who had battled with cancer and left my house at 6:45am to pick up my friend and then take the short 20 min ride downtown. I thought I had left in plenty of time. Boy, was I mistaken! I hit the traffic at aprox. 7:25am a mile before the off ramp for Exposition Park. We did not get off the freeway until 8:25am. One full hour on the freeway. We then traveled a painful 50 minutes up MLK to Vermont only to find that all the parking was full. There was nobody there to tell us if there was an overflow lot. No information at all. We drove up to Normandie hoping that there would be some signs to direct us to the event, but no luck. The race had started and we were in an "unfamiliar", not so safe, part of Los Angeles with no direction to go except north to the 10 freeway.
I'm disappointed on a few levels. The first at myself for not anticipating that kind of crowd. The second to Revlon/EIF for not realizing that there were a ton of people that would not only be able to do the walk, but also would not be at the finish line to see the vendors and get more information on Woman's Cancers. Isn't that really what the event is all about? Raising money and awareness? I feel a bit cheated out of the experience. I don't regret raising the money because I know it's going to a great cause, but next time, if there is a next time, I'll know to come extra early just to find a parking spot.
My suggestion to you is that you should pre sell parking passes to specific lots so that everyone won't be traveling to the same place at the same time and participants will know that there is a parking spot specifically for them. No walker/runner left behind should be your motto for the next one. I know I wasn't the only one who turned around and headed home.
And just for the record, we did do a walk around Lake Balboa. I wore my shirt with the names I had written on it the night before and still honored my friends and famliy, but it would have been nice to cross that finish line at the Colosseum. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Alyson Moore
To Whom It May Concern,
I signed up for the Revlon Walk after my disappointment with the organizational skills with the Avon Walk For The Cure. I knew friends who had done the Revlon walk in the past so I knew it would be a great event. Also, my sister Janet died in 2001, at the age of 44 to Colon Cancer so it had double meaning for me. I raised over $1500, got my t-shirt a few weeks early so I could write the names of friends and family, battling or who had battled with cancer and left my house at 6:45am to pick up my friend and then take the short 20 min ride downtown. I thought I had left in plenty of time. Boy, was I mistaken! I hit the traffic at aprox. 7:25am a mile before the off ramp for Exposition Park. We did not get off the freeway until 8:25am. One full hour on the freeway. We then traveled a painful 50 minutes up MLK to Vermont only to find that all the parking was full. There was nobody there to tell us if there was an overflow lot. No information at all. We drove up to Normandie hoping that there would be some signs to direct us to the event, but no luck. The race had started and we were in an "unfamiliar", not so safe, part of Los Angeles with no direction to go except north to the 10 freeway.
I'm disappointed on a few levels. The first at myself for not anticipating that kind of crowd. The second to Revlon/EIF for not realizing that there were a ton of people that would not only be able to do the walk, but also would not be at the finish line to see the vendors and get more information on Woman's Cancers. Isn't that really what the event is all about? Raising money and awareness? I feel a bit cheated out of the experience. I don't regret raising the money because I know it's going to a great cause, but next time, if there is a next time, I'll know to come extra early just to find a parking spot.
My suggestion to you is that you should pre sell parking passes to specific lots so that everyone won't be traveling to the same place at the same time and participants will know that there is a parking spot specifically for them. No walker/runner left behind should be your motto for the next one. I know I wasn't the only one who turned around and headed home.
And just for the record, we did do a walk around Lake Balboa. I wore my shirt with the names I had written on it the night before and still honored my friends and famliy, but it would have been nice to cross that finish line at the Colosseum. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Alyson Moore
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