8p Ring the Pots!

Here in LA, I live on a residential street, and all around me is a square of "town".  It's very similar to my old neighborhood back in Chicago, Andersonville---residential street tucked between commercial streets.  When I lived in Andersonville, all of my closest friends were within 2 miles--so we called going to Clark street "going to town".  In college, if you went to downtown Oxford, it was actually called "uptown" and I still have dreams where I'm going "uptown".  Growing up back in Elyria, we could easily bike or walk to school, downtown Elyria, the library, etc.  I like to strap on my backpack or load up my bike with empty bags and head up to the neighborhood grocery store.  Though here, in LA, I don't have a walkable Aldi, so I have to drive to the magic place.  I don't particularly like strip malls or commercial shopping areas: I'm a little snob--I like them cute, and walkable.

Anyway, where I live in LA is Los Feliz...and it's pretty fancy.  Homes around here cost a lot more than I'll see in my day, and the rent is super-high for my little one-bedroom apartment. 

But here's the thing---every night at 8p up at the end of my block, all the neighbors gather and do a clapping/shouting/bang on a cowbell/pots and pans tribute to front line workers.  I like to go on long walks at night, and more and more, I find myself drawn to that corner.  Someone chalked out a welcome/come join us.  I have no idea who in the vicinity is or isn't a first responder...it's something people like to do so I follow along like a little lemming.

One night, someone took out their trumpet and started tooting away on their balcony. I couldn't see the player..but as a fellow trumpeter, I really appreciated the effort.

Another bangs out notes on their keyboard, and another neighbor made a big banner on their balcony that reads "Hope" or somesuch. I guess I should take a picture of it.

It's been really lovely to make it part of my day when I can, and how wonderful to see the human spirit shining through. I was jealous of all the people in Italy who were singing from balconies...so I can go up the street and wipe out some of that fomo.
Video here

Some other fun community-type things:
THE BUCKET
My apartment faces a courtyard:  neighbors have rigged up a "pulley" system to move a bucket between the 3rd floor and 2nd floor.  It's like the neighbor mailbox in LITTLE WOMEN!  They recently got a longer rope so I get to participate!  We exchange food and return tupperware and it makes me so very giggly when we pass the bucket.

MJE
We have a little lending library in our apartment building:  People have been leaving masks, TP, food items, muffins, puzzles, etc and of course, there's books.  I kept eyeballing one book that was there forever:  a Fannie Flagg.  But, I thought "I've read that".  Finally, during the pandemic, I grabbed it.  I opened up the front cover and saw written in there "M. J. E".  It was my mom's book! (MJE = Mary Jane Eldridge.  She died almost 2 years ago and it still SUCKS!  So, she comes up a lot in this blog!  Anyway, we loved to call her MJ.  I don't she liked it so that made us even more excited to call her that.) I must have put it in the lending library during a prior purge.  I was delighted and then, of course, was delighted by "The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion".   She's a really great, joyful writer and I fell into the world she created in Alabama and Wisconsin.  HIGHLY recommend! And lesson learned---don't give away your Fannie without looking under the cover!

THE PICKLE FLOP

When I take a longer walk, I go around the block to a street called Dracena.  It's LOVELY--filled with old California Craftsman Bungalows, old-growth trees, sidewalks with tiny hills and cracks from roots breaking through...it's like a dream street for sentimental old me.  Anyway, lots of neighbors hang on their front porch, and Pickle loves a good show-off moment..so she pauses, and then flips on her backside in the grass on the curb lawn, rubbing and turning like a horse without a saddle, or a lady without her bra...and the world loves it.  I act like I don't enjoy the attention (I DO! I ALWAYS DO!) and it always makes me laugh.  Everyday. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Craftsman

VALLEY GLEN, PLEASE
Andy and John live in a really fun neighborhood called "Valley Glen".  Every Friday during the pandemic, the neighbors gather at the Cul-de-sac in front of Andy's drive for Happy Hour. I was at the first one, and got to meet many of the mostly middle-aged and senior neighbors.  Many of them have been there for years...so have a great deal of pride.  I was invited up each week---but finally made it this week.  (When they ask Andy and John--they say "where's that lady? I love being called an anonymous being..It makes me laugh!).  Anyway, the lady showed up, and they had set up chairs, coolers with snacks, and drinks. I pulled up, and asked "how are things here in Van Nuys?" and they all playfully admonished me and said "It's VALLEY GLEN".  I think they like to avoid saying Van Nuys because it was such a hub for porn production, and there are kids around? Anyway, one of the fellows is quite a gabber. In the course of 10 minutes, I was reminded that he's a musicologist professor at Occidental College, is currently learning to play an 8-stringed Bulgarian instrument, lost 38 lbs on Keto, his hair is still naturally dark brown and he has a lot of it, and is 70.  He's my favorite of the neighbors!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambura_(instrument)

After, we had turkey burgers that Andy made.  Andy likes to pretend he knows how to work a grill...but he kept forgetting to check the turkey burgers.  I know from my time with the Weber grill master at Sunset that one should never flip a beef burger...just let it cook. Don't push down on the meat to release juices...even though it's a really satisfying sound to hear that sizzle.  Just keep that grill cover closed.   https://www.weber.com/US/en/kevin-kolman/weber-26112.html

But a turkey burger requires a bit more attention. Mine was certainly well-done.  But, what was even better was sitting there visiting with Andy and John and Pearl and Pickle.  They have transformed their backyard into an oasis.  We caught up on how our families are doing, how we all are doing and it was a damn delight.

Our friend Gillian came by our building to drop off puzzles to share.  She's a good pal of 3 of us, so we met out front and did a socially-distanced visit.  Oh my god it was fun.  We had to keep parting way for people in the sidewalk (my one neighbor flips her lid when she sees someone without a mask. It's very important to her...and she is very passionate about it.  I don't like to tell people what to do (I just like to think it inside my head) so I enjoy when she fights her reaction.  She wears her heart on her sleeve and it's a wonderful quality.  So, that was pretty fun).  Anyway, we talked about life, quarantine, old people, moms, how the increase in technology has brought relationships closer, etc. What a wonderful visit!

(Gillian has been keeping us entertained with her cooking show:  https://www.instagram.com/gillianbellinger/?hl=en )